Questions About Eating After Ileostomy Surgery

Hi, I'm a 34(m), and this is my first post on here, and I needed to see if anyone else deals with this. I have had an ileostomy since 2019, and I have never had a problem swallowing my food, that is until my last surgery in 2023. Since then, I have had problems with the first bite of my food and sometimes while eating if I eat too quickly or am not sitting straight. I forgot to add that I've had multiple surgeries related to my ileostomy since my first one. If anyone has had similar problems, I would like to know. 😊

Probably down to scar tissue; the more surgery, the more we get. If it is scar tissue/adhesions, you can have surgery to hopefully relieve it.

Welcome from Oz 🇦🇺

Hi 👋

Sounds like you might have a stricture.

Go see an ENT. You might need your esophagus stretched. My sister has to have this done periodically.

Try to make sure you drink liquids while you are eating to keep it moist so food will go down easier.

I think Karlie is onto something. Sometimes this kind of thing can happen with a stroke too. So definitely get checked out. You will want to know if it's a physical stricture or a mild stroke that impacts muscle control.

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Eat slowly, drink plenty of fluids, and pause every once in a while to let things go down. With so many surgeries, there are bound to be consequences and problems. It could be scar tissue, or your digestive system could be on overload from all the surgeries. It might be that you aren't chewing enough. If you don't chew enough or bolt down your food, you are going to choke. If you eat very dry things, too, like crackers, it's good to follow up with something to drink. Sometimes I get a catch in my throat when I eat something dry. I might choke. I do tend to cough a lot. Try eating soup and see if the same thing happens to you or not. That should give you a comparison. It might answer some of your questions. Make it a smooth soup at first, like tomato or cream of chicken or something like that. Then, if you don't choke, the answer may be that you are choking on drier things like bread or crackers. If you still choke, you might be looking at a more serious problem and need to let your doctor know what is going on. But remember, it's not a race to see how fast you can eat; slow down and chew thoroughly.

I also had to have this done. It was a very quick procedure done in the doctor's office.

It's scary when food gets stuck in your esophagus. You have to wait for it to work its way down.

As a result, I take smaller bites and chew them well.

Yes, it is a very quick procedure. She's had it done a few times. Seems if you have it done once, most likely you will have to have it done again.

It is scary! EMTs were called a few times, so she decided it was time to do something.

Good advice, pretty much what I was going to say! I sometimes have issues swallowing denser foods, so I drink before I take my first bite and eat very slowly; I also sip during eating. Sometimes a warm beverage, like tea, helps. And try to drink more while eating if you're having denser food, like toast.

An ileostomy is a long way from your pharynx. A different issue. I had a cookie swallow with ENT. My choking is due to a spastic left muscle in my throat. I have MS. They told me to eat small bites and chew 30 times. I enunciate EEEE at the highest possible note. Play a recorder, too. Sit upright to eat!

Thanks for sharing this. I thought I was the only one who noticed that weird "first bite" struggle. My doc said it might be nerve sensitivity or tension from the healing process. You're definitely not alone.