This topic is about someone who is navigating the challenges of living with an ileostomy, which was created in March 2024 during treatment for three types of leukemia. They are facing difficulties with ostomy care, diet, medication absorption, and finding the right doctors. Here are some insights and advice that might help:

1. **Doctor Recommendations**
- Consider consulting a board-certified Colon & Rectal Surgeon for stoma-related issues and keep a Gastroenterologist on your healthcare team.
- Look for a certified WOC (Wound-Ostomy-Continence) nurse, often found in hospital wound-care centers.
- If local care is lacking, major centers like the Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic have strong ostomy programs and might be worth the travel.

2. **Diet and Food Testing**
- Use food lists as guidelines and try foods in small amounts, chewing thoroughly (aim for 60 chews).
- Start with a low-residue or soft diet, introducing one food at a time, and track your results with apps like “mySymptoms” or “My Ostomy Journey”.
- Common thickeners include bananas, mashed or puréed vegetables, rice, pasta, white bread, potatoes, and more.
- Be cautious with foods that can cause blockages or high output, such as nuts, seeds, raw veggies, and fizzy drinks.
- If sugar or dairy causes issues, consider limiting them or using alternatives like lactose-free milk.

3. **Medication Absorption**
- Avoid enteric-coated, extended-release, gel-cap, or capsule forms of medication. Opt for uncoated tablets, liquids, chewables, gummies, or fast-dissolve options.
- Test tablets in water for an hour; if they remain intact, they might pass through the stoma whole.
- Crush tablets if safe before swallowing and confirm where in the gut a drug is absorbed, as ileostomates may miss distal-ileum absorption.

4. **Hydration and Electrolytes**
- With an ileostomy, fluid loss is higher, so sip water throughout the day and add oral rehydration salts when output is high.

5. **Hospital and Self-Advocacy Tips**
- Bring your own supplies, like night bags and snacks, to the hospital.
- Have a family member or friend with you, as staffing gaps can worsen when patients are alone.
- Document any incompetence, file complaints, and insist on proper care and hygiene.
- If healthcare staff mishandle the pouch, correct them firmly and provide education.

6. **Professional Support and Peer Help**
- Seek an IBD-focused Registered Dietitian rather than a generic nutritionist.
- Join local or Zoom ostomy support groups for shared experiences and product tips.

7. **Products, Brands, and Resources**
- Be cautious with Onureg (oral chemo) as it may pass through whole in some ileostomates.
- Watch for cumulative doses with medications like Levaquin.
- Explore resources like the VeryWellHealth article on low-residue diets and the Cleveland Clinic soft-diet guide.
- Consider using apps like “mySymptoms” and “My Ostomy Journey” for tracking.
- Use Loperamide melts, chewable or gummy vitamins, and Foley night bags with adapters for convenience.