This topic is about helping a 68-year-old woman who recently had a colostomy due to rectal cancer. Since her surgery, she has been struggling with severe nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, gas, and rapid weight loss. Her family is looking for ways to alleviate these symptoms and prevent further weight loss. Here are some suggestions and insights that might be helpful:

1. Seek Medical Review
- Although it's still early in her recovery, persistent severe symptoms should be checked by a physician or stoma nurse to rule out any complications like obstruction.
- If over-the-counter remedies aren't effective, ask for anti-nausea prescriptions. Hospitals and chemotherapy units often have protocols to help manage these symptoms.

2. Diet in the Early Weeks
- Follow guidelines from the United Ostomy Associations of America.
- Start with low-residue or BRAT foods such as bananas, rice, applesauce, toast, jellies, thin soups, scrambled eggs, and canned fruits.
- Consider comfort foods like homemade baked custard, tea with honey, buttered toast, peaches, and chicken noodle soup.
- Avoid greasy, fatty, highly spiced, fibrous, or raw foods until her bowel adjusts. Introduce new foods one at a time.
- Smoothies, fresh-squeezed juices, and creamy soups can be easier to digest.

3. Products & Supplements
- Probiotic yogurts with minimal lactose, like Dannon Activia or Yoplait, can be beneficial.
- Beano can help with gas, as antacids alone may not be effective.
- Some people find probiotics more helpful than digestive enzymes, though both can be useful.
- Over-the-counter antispasmodics like Buscopan can help with cramping.
- Acid-reducers such as omeprazole and Zantac can assist with gastritis.
- Motilium can help with delayed gastric emptying.
- Citalopram, an anxiety/antidepressant, may calm gut spasms related to stress.
- Consider supplement kits from BeyondHealth.com for post-cancer nutrition support.

4. Managing Gas & Cramping
- Check for lactose intolerance, though yogurt is usually tolerated.
- Use Beano with foods that cause gas and limit milk, colas, and caffeinated drinks initially.
- Warm, calming drinks, relaxation music, and deep-breathing exercises can be soothing.

5. Dealing With Anxiety & Depression
- The emotional impact of having a permanent stoma can worsen nausea or appetite loss.
- Support groups, stoma-training nurses, or trained ostomy visitors can aid in acceptance.
- Staying occupied with light exercise, hobbies, or helping others can improve mood and appetite.

6. During Chemotherapy
- Be prepared for possible diarrhea, especially with medications like Xeloda. Avoid milk and other foods that might worsen symptoms.
- Treatment centers can provide anti-emetics and dietary guidance. Nutritional drinks like Boost or Ensure can be alternatives when solid foods are difficult to consume.
- Using plastic utensils can help reduce metallic taste changes.

7. General Recovery Expectations
- Many people take 6 to 12 months to return to near-normal eating habits.
- If vomiting persists, there's a lack of output, or pain increases, seek immediate hospital evaluation for possible obstruction.

8. Further Resources
- Consider reading "Anticancer, A New Way of Life" by David Servan-Schreiber for long-term lifestyle guidance.