Had my colostomy reversal about a week ago and was wondering if it's okay to eat solid foods or how long I should wait.
Ronnie
Aug 08, 2024 11:06 pm
Audrey Warren
Aug 09, 2024 1:21 am
Best to ask your doctor. Can't imagine you didn't receive instructions when leaving the hospital.
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Posted by: iMacG5
About seven years ago, just about every aspect of my life was ostomy related. From the moment I was told an ostomy might be needed until some months down the road I existed as a person afflicted with a colostomy. I feared someone other than my immediate family might find out I had a bag. Ugh! What could be worse? Suppose it filled real fast when I was out with no place to hide and take care of myself. God forbid should it leak in church! Suppose I roll over on it in bed. I was a lesser creature, destined to a life of emotional anguish and physical routines different from most of the rest of the world. I felt like a freak. Then I found folks like you guys here, read your stuff, really “listened” to what you had to say and I began looking at things differently. We know perception is everything and I began to understand how good things were relative to what they could’ve been. So many folks had it so much worse than I did. That didn’t make my discomfort go away but it exposed how fortunate I was to be dealing with my stuff and not their’s. I felt a little guilt, maybe selfishness but quickly forgave myself by understanding I just wasn’t smart enough to fix my feelings. Then, I wonder what smarts have to do with feelings. My perception was warped so my perspective toward my existence was warped.
I learned over the last few years with the help of lots of folks right here at MAO that I could be better at living just by accepting some facts. It is what it is and so what? It’s not the worst thing to happen to a person.
I think everything is, in some way, related to everything else. I just put the ostomy thing in the back seat and drive forward.
Respectfully,
Mike
Footie97
Aug 09, 2024 6:47 pm
When I left the hospital after the reversal, they told me to eat small meals regularly and avoid spicy foods for a week or two, then return to a normal diet as I tolerated it.
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Beachboy
Aug 11, 2024 5:27 am
I would probably extend being careful with diet and avoiding crowds for a little longer, maybe 4 weeks. You're still healing for quite a while. Taking it easy for a month or two won't hurt. And that includes sneezing and coughing. It's easy to develop an incisional hernia. If possible, hold a pillow firmly against your stomach during a cough or sneeze.
elledubuque
Sep 15, 2024 1:07 pm
My best advice: NEVER experiment with new foods outside your home as you are introducing foods back in.
Things I ate with my osteomyelitis became issues after my reversal and had me running for the toilet or outranking my dog for the stinkiest farts of the day award.
Then foods I thought would be an issue weren't - kale, black beans, pickled cauliflower…
But now I am basically allergic to nuts, and I have a post-reversal friend who says if he even looks at a bean, he'll poop his pants.
Oh, and NEVER trust a fart. They turn into sharts quicker than “they're eating the dogs” memes hit after the debate.
Beachboy
Sep 16, 2024 2:49 am
Reminds me of a silly thing right after surgery. I'm at home and felt the urge to let out some gas. So I did... not. I forgot, but no longer connected to the colon. I passed... mucus. Yikes, what a mess. Now, whenever I feel any urges, I mumble: "Butt not connected." To remind myself.