Opinion differences on food selection

It’s been 13 months since my sigmoid colostomy and have read approximately 50 or so long term diets for people after the initial 6-8 week period. The great majority, with some differences, seem to agree on foods to avoid permanently. While they agree on most of these specific foods to avoid like salad, mushrooms, sea food( other than fish)other uncooked vegetables and many more types. have pretty much adhered to these avoiding these food types. Recently, however, I’ve spoken to stoma nurses and other similar patients who literally say emphatically that I should be able to eat everything. In fact, some patients report that do eat everything without any problems. And yet, the extensive reading I’ve been doing for the last 9 months indicate that there are still groups of foods that will cause blockage, diarrhoea, fast transit time.

As a precaution, I take one Imodium before breakfast and 2 before dinner primarily to slow down the transit time particularly to reduce bathroom cleanings after dinner which can be a many as 6-10 before sleep. My gastroenterologist said just let the waste accumulate and fall into bag. But at the top of my 2 piece Hollister starts to fill quickly and becomes too large and tends to loosen so I have to clean out before it just comes off entirely.

Hope some you kind folks can respond especially your personal experiences especially with food selection. Thanks

Just eat it and see how it goes you can't spend the rest of your life in fear of food because someone else might of had a problem with it or they could of just been having an off day as I call them you will find with experience we get loose output and clogged up at times for no apparent reason from food we've eaten many times before without any problems .....try everything in small amounts at first then if it were to cause a problem it will be short lived.......as meds go Imodium is safe but long term use does comes with risks so I would reconsider taking it daily if you can manage without it.

Generally, someone with a colostomy (and intact colon) should be able to eat anything. The exception would be someone with lots of scar tissue that could cause blockages. There is so much conflicting information out there about ostomates and diet. Some 'professionals' will recommend avoiding certain foods, when in reality the majority of people with colostomies should be able to eat anything. The only way to know for certain is to try foods, slowly, in small amounts, and see how you tolerate them. Why miss out on foods you love, if you don't have to?

Terry

I eat anything I want, whenever I want. I do, however, avoid certain foods in large amounts. For me, and you’ll find all your readings to be generic and not a 100% answer for you, I avoid popcorn, salad, nuts/seeds. It’s not that I don’t eat that stuff but I’ll limit those by choice. For example, I’ll eat a handful of popcorn but that’s it. Or, I’ll eat half a salad and leave the rest. Nuts/seeds I avoid if I can but will eat stuff with them already in it. The nuts/seeds are more so cause they come out as they went in and I don’t like “rocks” in my bag. I also avoid corn, like canned corn, for the same reason. Otherwise, it’s a free for all. 😋

G-Day Ojibwa,

You have to try foods to see how you go but remember to CHEW CHEW and CHEW.

As long as you can break it down to small pieces it should pass through OK.

But as Alex said, No Corn, Nuts and things with a tuff skin.

Remember you can always put some of them things through a blender.

Regards IGGIE

Airport Security Tips Living with an Ostomy with April | Hollister

Hubz has had colostomy since August and is learning which foods do what *for him*. It's been challenging as things won't always replicate so he's been trying everything... more than twice! 🌻

It’s trial and error. Before my crohn’s I ate lots of raw fruits and vegetables so I decided to try that diet after my ostomy. What a mess - I have a fistula so not only my bag filled with watery stool it poured out of my fistula. I can eat beans and other stuff but I have to limit amounts and chew well.