I would like to hear from other patients who have had there illeostomy reversed. What kind of foods were you allowed to eat after your surgery, recovery time etc. My doctor said to eat what ever I wanted, but I am not sure this is wise. I also take pancreatic enzyme replacement to digest my food due to having my pancrease removed.
white rose
Jun 06, 2014 1:38 am
Primeboy
Jun 06, 2014 3:17 am
Hi White Rose. I had a reversal back in 2004. My surgeon was not at all concerned with my diet but only with two issues: lifting and spinchter strength. He was adamant that I not lift heavy items for 90 days. He also encouraged me to do Kegel exercises to strengthen my spinchter. In retrospect, I ate anything I wanted and had no bad results. I remember the importance of not overeating, however, because the J-pouch has its limits. Your best strategy seems twofold: go slowly with questionable foods but live life to the fullest. If you believe your doctor is competent, trust his or her judgement and have another cannoli.
PB
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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
Wilski
Jun 12, 2014 3:56 am
I had a reversal three months ago. You can eat almost anything, but beware of dairy and salads. Both of these things gave me a bad case of diarrhea. If that happens to you, take anti-diarrheal meds. Good luck.
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blindsided
Jun 12, 2014 3:34 pm
Wilski
I had my ileostomy reversal on Dec.2 of last year. My surgeon said that he had no restrictions on what I should eat as my body would keep me informed of it's likes and dislikes. Amen to that. I kept and still do keep a log of foods, certainly new ones I am starting to eat. I had an ileostomy to give my small intestine a chance to heal and six months after doing that surgery they reversed it. I had serious bouts of diarrhea and tried various medications from the doctors. I am currently taking Welchol and take Imodium as well. I eat pretty much what I want and life is slowly getting better. Along with the meds I also drink Chamomile and Fennel tea. I put a bag of each in my cup and have 2 or maybe 3 cups of tea a day. I am becoming a believer in the power of the tea. Fennel goes back to the Greeks for some of the same uses. Dairy was and to some extent still a problem. I love ice cream but it does not always love me in return so I'm careful with it. A little Hagen Daz is a nice treat. I eat pretty much all veggies but some only when cooked/steamed. I like Thai and Indian food and eat it on a somewhat regular basis. I like very spicy food and when limiting intake I have no serious problems. Keep trying foods, both what you normaly had eaten and introduce new ones but keep that food log. Life will get better, just keep on down the road.
blindsided