This topic is about someone who has been living with an ileostomy since 2012 and is now facing challenges due to repeated blockages caused by adhesions and stoma hernias. Their doctors have recommended a permanent liquid-only diet to prevent severe pain and emergency hospital visits. While sweet liquids are manageable, they are struggling with strong cravings for savory foods. As a long-time vegetarian, they have reluctantly started eating meat again to address cravings and iron-deficiency anemia, which is causing them distress. They are looking for practical advice on maintaining nutrition, managing cravings, and possibly staying vegetarian while on a liquid diet.
Here are some helpful suggestions:
1. Seek better medical support
- Consider getting a second opinion from another specialist within the NHS or through a private consultation. Keep a detailed symptom diary and be persistent if you feel your concerns are not being fully addressed. Many people emphasize the importance of finding experienced clinicians to deal with unresolved blockage issues.
2. Use commercial liquid nutrition products
- Try ready-to-drink or powdered shakes like Carnation Instant Breakfast, Ensure, Boost, OWYN (Only What You Need), Kate Farms sole-source formulas, and SPIRU-TEIN. Mixing instant breakfast powders into ice cream can also help increase calorie intake and improve taste.
3. Blend regular foods to a baby-food consistency
- Puree vegetables, fruits, and even cooked meats in a blender to achieve a baby-food texture, which often passes through without causing blockages. The texture might seem unusual at first, but many people adjust quickly.
4. Explore prepared texture-modified meals
- In the UK, services like HILS (Hertfordshire Independent Living Service) offer Level 5 & 6 meals that are semi-liquefied but still look familiar. Vegetarian options are available nationwide through similar "Health & Independent Living" services.
5. Address anemia without meat
- Consider taking iron supplements, specifically ferrous gluconate, to help correct low iron levels and reduce the need to rely on meat.
6. General tips
- Keep experimenting with savory flavors in pureed form, such as blending soups, sauces, and spices. Ensure you maintain adequate calorie and protein intake by having frequent small liquid meals and fortified shakes.
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