Continued... Whoops sent too soon... For more than 50 years, I ate what I wanted, with no noticeable differences... Difficult fiber, like raw celery and carrots, I avoided, and I think I only had a serious blockage once or twice (from a pastry filled with poppy seeds). Some nuts caused problems, but I was able to eat well-cooked veggies, most fruits, especially balanced with carbs, bread, potatoes, pasta, etc. Balancing a meal made all the difference (rarely ate salad alone). But about 5 years ago, I started to get frequent "runs", with output looking more like urine than poop. I had to change my diet significantly (now start the day with oatmeal and half a banana). It worked for a time, but when the persistent gas started (filling up the pouch without output), I went to the doctor. He diagnosed it as a form of IBS, complicated by not having a large intestine. He recommended the "FODMAP diet"... letters stand for the hard-to-digest sugars found in many fruits and veggies, including lemons, limes, most fruits, and even in artificial sweeteners. If gas and extreme liquid output is an issue for you, research the FODMAP diet. Not all doctors are familiar with it. My gastro "says" that without a large intestine, we may be missing some of the enzymes that help digest foods. Also, digestion changes as we get older. So, I've eliminated most of the target foods, but have been counseled to "try" those foods one at a time, to see if tolerated. It doesn't mean you can always eat them, and don't do more than one at a time. An example is tomato (which I love). I can have a slice or two with no problem, or a few spoonfuls of "sauce" on occasion, but not a lot and not often. It made cooking and eating out quite boring, but I've adjusted to that as well. Occasionally, I still have loose or liquid output, but only for an hour or two, not for days on end. Prior to that, I had to be rushed to the hospital for dehydration (losing a pint of liquids every half hour). That was scary, depressing, and extreme. But it seems under control now, except for the excess gas, which is still an issue especially at night. I use Convatec with the filter, but it's not as effective as it should be. Feel free to write if you have any questions. Best wishes to all. Marsha
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