Eating Popcorn with an Ileo & Dealing with Overnight Gas - Need Advice!

I get away with eating air-popped popcorn (no butter) by chewing, chewing, chewing, and spitting out anything that is "kernally". I've gotten away with it so far. But we all know there is risk. Raw ginger speeds up my bowel and makes things worse in my case.

I found ginger okay in a cookie or biscuit, works fine. I think raw ginger for me would be a no-no...ambies

Ginger cookies are really hard to find here - so I am trying ginger tea - will let you know how that works out

Popcorn and corn
brought me to ER a few years ago, I feel so scared to eat it.

Hi Tess, ginger herbal tea is just as good. I've tried it and it still works. Good luck, ambies...

Why do you feel you must eat popcorn?
If it causes you problems, then don't eat it! You must now change your eating habits to eat only those foods that do not give you problems. I like popcorn, especially at the movies, but after having an episode putting me in the hospital with a blocked stoma because of popcorn... guess what? You got it, I don't eat it anymore. I have had my ileostomy for 12 years and know what and when I can eat certain foods. Never eat after 6pm so you have a chance of an empty stomach later at night. No soda drinks at night. No curries. It's hard, I know. I'm with you all the way. Start training that unruly body. It's a spoiled child that wants its own way. Good luck. Danny.

Tommy6644 - I don't feel that I have to eat popcorn - I like popcorn - and I have found that even though I was told to stay away from certain foods - I have found that I can eat things that I was warned about - like grapes and strawberries and raspberries and oranges etc - I just wanted to see if there are ileostomates that do eat popcorn and what they experienced. If I am trying something new, I make sure that I eat a limited amount and drink fluids with it. BTW, I eat way way past 6pm and have absolutely no problems - unless it's something high in sugar LOL - I also have no problem in drinking anything that is carbonated at any time of the day or night - so goes to prove my point about me - if it's weird or unusual, I will be the one to experience it LOL

My gas has settled down a lot.

What works for me: absolutely no carbonation (soda, sparkling water, beer). No milk products after about 3pm. No drinking with a straw. A dry-type snack about 1 to 1.5 hours before bed (crackers, chips, dry cereal - this has made a notable improvement).

Note: I do get up a couple of times to empty during the night... but there's hardly any gas. I used to Dolly Parton Bag too.

P.S. Can't do popcorn.

Haven't tried crackers or dry cereal - I'll give it a go - thanks

My specialist said a strange thing to me. Do you like marshmallows? Why, I said, eat as much as you like. LOL. It goes to prove we are all different. God bless all survivors of the big C.

For my colostomy, I have been told that for diarrhea, I should eat marshmallows, jelly babies, and underripe bananas. For constipation, I should eat licorice and prunes. I personally can't have fizzy drinks, but I treat myself if I am constipated by having licorice with Coke to help things move along! I was also told not to eat corn (sweet or popcorn), nuts, and dried fruit. I guess every stoma nurse is different.

One of the few junk foods that I can't stand. Also, I'm not in love with bananas either - what's a poor girl to do? LOL

I have yet to eat popcorn although I love it. I have had my ileo for over 3 years now but I have so many issues with it just staying on without leaking out let alone trying a food that could cause a blockage!
I have woken up with my bag full of gas as well. I find that I have to wake up every 3 or 4 hours to check on the bag. No fail...if I sleep more than 5 hours at a time (which is a wonderful thing because I suffer huge insomnia) the bag fills and leaks out. I am not sure of the cause of it either. I try to stop eating by 8pm...and I have Greek yogurt for my last snack...although I do drink a lot overnight and I do get hungry so I eat dry cinnamon life cereal in the middle of the night. LOL. Try cutting yourself off from most foods by a certain point depending on when you usually go to bed...that might cut it down. Also...depending on what company you get your ostomy supplies from...they do make a pill you can chew for gas and they also have one you can stick in the pouch. I know that Byram Healthcare has it because that is the company that I use. Go to their website and either look around there or request a catalog be sent to you. You will find them there. They are charcoal or something like that.

I have not eaten popcorn because I know what it can do. I have learned the stretches and ways of getting rid of blockage from corn or not chewing and went to the ER so chew chew chew is the answer and I eat a lot of gummy lifesavers, luv em. No popcorn.

Just type in "hulless popcorn". I have a number you can call. It's really easy to find and not too bad on price either.

Thanks Weewee - Terry

You are very welcome.

Xtreme butter popcorn! Yum, yum!

As someone who landed in the ER last month after eating popcorn 2 nights in a row, I'm going to pass on it in the future. Not worth the pain.

Only thing that ever blocked me was fresh coconut, which I had followed with 6 pints (beer).
Was I full? (Belly was, bag was empty). Very uncomfortable, went to doctor, he prescribed an enema, which I had to insert into the stoma.
I managed to evacuate mostly into the toilet bowl, but it nearly detached it from its mooring.
Never tried coconut again!!

I am the queen of the popcorn bowl, LOL. If I eat too much, I might get a bellyache or things get a little 'slow' in the tummy for a while. But once it passes, I find myself making more, ha! Some can have it, some cannot. As for me, I gotta have that extra buttery, salty popcorn bowl at my side at least 4 nights out of the week. I've been pecking away at that comfort food treat forever, still munching and crunching. I've been an ileostomate for many years, never gonna give that stuff up, no way, LOL.

Yes, I agree....try not to eat too late and if you do, don't eat anything that's hard to digest. I find fish is the easiest thing to digest although the output tends to have more of an odor than things like chicken. The other thing I suggest for those worrying about the bag blowing off while sleeping....use a high volume bag that will accommodate more output.