Help! Restricted diet - what can I eat?

I am struggling on what to eat because I have been told I can no longer eat my veggies, salads, nuts, seeds, etc. I am not a big meat eater. I was told no celery, onion, mushrooms, etc. What do you guys eat?

Hello dmp. I wrote a long reply to your post but it has just been lost to the computer gremlins that seem to bug this site. Unfortunately this inconvenience has pissed me off sufficiently to dissuade me from starting again. Thus, you will get the short version of what I was going to say: 

I am vegetarian; at first I liquidised my food but now I eat whatever does not adversly affect my digestive system and I cook it normally; Trial and error  seems to be the answer. but don't be too worried about the errors. 

Best wishes

Bill

I'm not sure why you can't eat those veggies, salads, etc. I also have a colostomy and other than the first month or so after the surgery, when you have to watch what you eat until your colon adjusts, I can eat anything I want to with no problems. Is there some particular reason why you can't eat that stuff and everybody else can? People with ileostomies have to be careful with what they eat, but as far as I know, people with descending colostomies (if that is what you have) can eat anything, as you have a lot of colon left. I'd get a little further clarification from your surgeon on this if I were you. I would hate it if I couldn't eat whatever I want...but I can. So unless there is some specific reason why you can't eat those things that I'm not aware of...you can probably do it too.

Thank you for your input...I was told that I couldn't eat broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, mushrooms, onions, green pepper, and no beans. I make chili and homemade soups this time of year. I also cook in a crockpot a lot because that is easier for me with my RA. I did try chili recently and the beans were in my bag. I am also having problems with my meds in the bag. My primary care is going to try to get me to Chapel Hill (it is a larger hospital around 3 hours away). My surgeon discharged me after post-op and doing a CT scan due to developing hernias. I was told the veggies and beans, and nuts would block my stoma and yes I still have my rectum so I deal with that mucus plug. I even tried canned veggies and rinsed off sodium as much as possible and they were in my bag. Thank you for your input. I live in the Wilmington, NC area, not many specialists in this field. We have one colorectal surgeon. I was even told by a nutritionist to eat baby food. Yuk, not happening. If you don't mind me asking, can you eat steamed broccoli and other steamed veggies?

I have a ileostomy and have problems with everything I eat. Some foods are worse than others. I have a hard time eating, but anyways, praying it will go away and I'm in pain always.

I am able to eat just about every kind of fruit and vegetable. The key is to eat small amounts at a time, and chew thoroughly.

Experiment in the beginning, and chew, chew, chew. Bananas are a good choice, of course, due to their texture.

Moderation in all things is, of course, the key.

Best wishes.

Hi dmp,

You didn't say what kind of a colostomy that you have. If it's a descending colostomy, it's the same as mine. I was told that after a month or so, when my colon was all healed up and adjusted, that I could go back to my regular diet. Which I did. As countyclare said, it's always good to chew everything well, though. But, yes, I eat steamed broccoli and other steamed veggies. I also eat them raw. I eat absolutely everything that I always ate before...with no problem. If you have a descending colostomy like I do, it means you have a lot of colon left and by the time the food gets to your ostomy, it's all pretty well digested and nothing seems to ever block mine. Including nuts, by the way. Just try to chew thoroughly if you can remember to do so. I don't usually remember to do that, but still haven't had a problem. (knock on wood) lol Good luck to you. I hope you can work it out. Food is one of the joys of life. It would be very hard for me to give any of my favorites up...and hopefully, you won't have to either. Linda

Eat whatever you want, just in small portions at first to see how you get on with them.

I have had a colostomy since October 23, and today I have not had any problems whatsoever with any cooked or raw foods. The only thing that bothers me a bit are nuts, but they bothered me before my colostomy. Wishing you luck.

Thank you everyone. I will try one veggie at a time this way if I have a problem I will know which ones to stay away from. I don't know why I was told this. I was told not to eat all sorts of stuff because it would block my stoma... Oh well, trial and error it will be... sick of eating oatmeal and grits and Greek yogurt. Oh, and by the way I have my rectum still and have a descending colostomy. Thank you everybody for your input...

Good to try everything in small amounts! I eat everything and yes, sometimes I have corn or other whole kernels in my bag but it has not caused me any issues! Chew everything extra well and enjoy!

Pup

Which one do you have? Colostomy can eat anything!

I have an ileostomy.

I have an ileostomy.

I have an ileostomy.

Hi DMP, welcome to the group. I have been part of the organization for many years. I do not understand why you can't eat what you enjoy? It could have been recommended to take things slowly post-op, such as limiting the amount of veggies and fruit consumed. Raw fruits and veggies are more difficult to digest and pass through a new stoma (sometimes). Why don't you try cooked fruits and veggies at first? Try a baked apple or pear without skins or maybe some cooked squash or broccoli. See how things go.... I have an ileostomy and eat most foods. I do avoid skins on fruits and veggies, and I do not eat raw nuts any longer. If I crave nuts, I buy nut butter and it satisfies my craving. I chew a lot more than I did prior to surgery too. I make certain to drink a lot of liquid during my meal to make it easier on my GI tract to digest the food. That being said, test the waters slowly and introduce your favorite foods back into your diet. Good luck!

Dmp,

As everyone has said, chew your food thoroughly to almost a paste consistency. It aids in digestion, makes the "I feel full" meter work better so you don't overeat, and you absorb nutrients better.

When medical professionals tell you that you "can't" eat those foods, usually they mean immediately after surgery. I have an ileostomy and was back to a normal diet 2-3 weeks after surgery.

Below is a link to an Ostomates food reference chart. There are several online, but this one is simple. Hope it helps.

Ostomates food reference chart

Bain

Lots of souped veggies. I had my ileostomy in 2010 and still have a hard time with raw veggies. Occasionally I can tolerate a bite or two of a raw carrot. However, I have to chew each bite 25x - and yes, I count. I have Scleroderma, so I also have problems with peristaltic wave function and esophageal motility problems.....I use gravity to help propel the food down....so my dinner hour is no later than 3pm.

Wow, the range of problems people have. From none to lots! For what it's worth (and much like many people on the site), I had to start with what dieticians call a low-residue diet - easily digested, very little fiber, easy to pass through the digestive tract. This was for the first 3-4 weeks. After that, I introduced my old foods one at a time until I was on a long-term healthier diet. Yes, a low-residue diet will help your colon heal, but in terms of general overall health, it is one of the worst diets you can go on long-term! Within a couple of months after that, I was pretty much back to my pre-surgery diet with only a few exceptions. I found out that some foods swell in my intestine and are hard to pass, like popcorn and some seeds. Occasionally, corn gives me problems and appears to pass totally unchanged. And beans and split peas need to be cooked longer than usual or they tend to give me gas. Other than that, we (my husband and I) eat a mainly vegetable-based diet with lots of stews, soups, salads, etc., filled with lots of vegetables. No real problems. So you do have that to look forward to. But please do follow a low-residue diet until your surgery heals; it will give you a leg up toward a more normal diet in the future.

Hi DMP,

I have not read all the replies to your post, so I may be repeating advice. Time will tell what you can and cannot eat. In the first few months after surgery, you should stick with easy-to-digest foods - eggs, baked or mashed potatoes, and avoid spicy or foods high in fiber, especially corn and corn products. As time goes on, you should introduce more of the foods you prefer and see how your body handles them. I was eating most foods in a few months to one year from surgery, EXCEPT CORN. Everyone is different, so it is trial and error. Within a year, I was able to tolerate any and all foods - salads and raw veggies included. Good luck and stay well.

I didn't know; there are different colostomies? I had one and now I have an ileostomy.

I eat anything I want. I haven't had any problems with nuts or veggies. I have an ileostomy. But so far I'm able to eat anything. I chew my food really well and I drink loads of water.

You definitely need to check back with your doctor. Unless you have other issues, there should not be a reason that having a stoma rules out those foods, so the restriction might just be for immediately after surgery. I have an ileostomy and I eat everything. The ideas mentioned (chew your food, moderation, trying one at a time) are all perfect suggestions.

Eliminating fiber will tend to keep your output more watery. I eat an apple every day (with skin), and that fiber seems to be a huge positive.

The other very important thing to consider is that you have had a major surgery and things have been moved around, and if you had a lot cut out, they have been moved around dramatically. You might be 70-80% healed in 4-6 weeks, but you will literally be healing, and organs settling into more comfortable positions for themselves for years. That means don't give up on foods. You might eat 3 pinto beans and chew them well today with bad success, but in 6 months you are better healed and they might be no problem. Keep trying over time, especially the foods you love. I also find that combinations can sometimes work better than individual items. Try a nut and a banana or a nut and an apple - to me they seem to break down quicker in my mouth when eaten together.

Hey there DMP. I believe what you are referring to is diet restrictions for those with an ileostomy. If you have a colostomy then you shouldn't have many restrictions. I would add a veggie every couple of days and see how you do eating them. Some food can cause excess gas and that can make you noticeable in public.

I have an ileostomy that I swear, thinks it is a colostomy LOL. But I am very fortunate and can eat just about anything. Moderation is the key! And try one thing at a time at first and see how it does. Sort of like when you start a baby out on food -- one thing at a time so you can gauge any reactions.

As everyone else has asked, what sort of ostomy do you have? I have a descending sigmoid, but I also had a hernia and cancer, so I understand eating problems although for different reasons. Try baby food...no joking, I still have some in my icebox. I lost three teeth and some bone (at my gumline) to chemo. Can you eat bread? If butter and oils are causing a problem, try baby prunes on toast. It will give you fiber, sugars, and depending on the bread you use, starch and more sugars. I love real Jewish Rye--caraway seeds and all. That, and pumpernickel has the most fiber and the least sugars of all breads (pumpernickel has no sugar). My point is that when I was alone, chemo'd and just sooo sick, I could drag myself down to the kitchen and feed myself. Another thing to try is yogurt--plain, as 'flavored' yogurts are full of sugars and preservatives that essentially negate the healthy bacteria that helps digestion. Eggs, custards, bananas--and yes, baby food. It will be temporary but you'll be stronger for your next round if you're well nourished. Ask your Docs what you should be eating, not what you can't!

Yep, trial, moderation, and chewing very well are the keys to it. There may well be some things you'd rather not eat for fear of a blockage, but eating small amounts of them is what you do to figure that out. I can eat just about anything, except nuts on their own. If something contains nuts, or I eat them with other food, I don't have issues. But sitting down and snacking on almonds or the like is an absolute no-no for me.

Hi DMP, I'm a pescatarian, so meat is not on my menu. I eat seafood when I can afford it. I was told no salads (but I will still eat them, although not everything digests), and veggies are okay if cooked. The only problem I have had food-wise is that initially I could eat whatever post-jejunostomy, but as time goes by, my stoma has become more sensitive. I cannot eat anything too salty, no jalapenos, and no chopped garlic. Sometimes they end up sitting on top of my stoma and just burn. Whereas I used to do a lot of stovetop cooking with spices, I do more broiling now with a little salt + pepper.

Hello, I used to steam my veggies with an ileostomy! Steve

Hello, I do eat salad. It all depends if you like looking at what you pass.......lol..... But as for nuts, seeds, sweetcorn, peas, it's a no-no as it will block your stoma.... My doctor told me that when I eat an apple or pear, then I need to peel it and chew it very finely.... Bananas, they are very good for you... I eat mostly fish, chicken, very little pork, and beef. If I do eat them, it's once a week... I hope this is helpful to you. If you would like to know more, I will sure try and help to answer your questions. Take care and all the best to you.... Regards, Baygal xxx