After having ileostomy surgery, it can be quite challenging to figure out what to eat, especially when you're feeling nauseated and struggling to keep food down. Here are some practical suggestions to help you navigate your post-surgery diet:

- Start slowly with clear liquids like oral rehydration drinks, tea, and broths. You might also try nutritional shakes like Glucerna or Ensure. Once you feel ready, you can gradually move on to very soft foods such as scrambled or poached eggs, mashed potatoes, oatmeal, soft toast, and fish.

- Eat small, frequent meals and make sure to chew your food thoroughly. This helps reduce the risk of blockages.

- It's important to drink fluids with your meals to prevent dehydration, as people with an ileostomy can lose fluids quickly.

- Everyone's tolerance to different foods can vary, so it's normal to go through some trial and error. Keeping a food log can be helpful to track which foods thicken your output (like pasta, oatmeal, and sweet potatoes), which ones loosen it (such as sugary foods and salad greens), and which cause gas (like onions, broccoli, and cabbage).

- For the first three months, try to avoid or limit high-residue foods such as nuts, popcorn, whole corn, seeds, fruit skins, and raw salads.

- Be aware of warning signs of obstruction, such as persistent vomiting, abdominal pain, and fever. If these symptoms last for 6-8 hours, seek medical attention immediately. Hot liquids and gentle abdominal massage might help with minor slow-downs, but pain medications won't relieve a true blockage.

- If you're taking medications, be cautious with extended- or time-release pills, as they might pass through too quickly. Ask your doctor for non-coated alternatives.

- To reduce pain and protect your incision or stoma when retching or coughing, hold a pillow over your abdomen.

- Some practical tips from those who have been living with an ileostomy for a while include using an online "Ostomy Food Chart" for quick reference, staying hydrated with water, electrolyte drinks, or tea after meals, and eating slowly to avoid pain or blockages. Homemade blended soups can be a gentle way to reintroduce vegetables, and finding one "safe" food, like grilled cheese or scrambled eggs, can be a good starting point.

- Remember, adapting to your new diet can take time, sometimes weeks or months. With patience, most people can eventually return to a broad diet, including meats, breads, and pasta, by introducing new foods one at a time.