Living with an ostomy - food articles

I believe that no one will refuse food, and food also occupies the most important part of our life . We all like to constantly try new tastes, but it is not so easy for ostomies. Many people with stoma are also confused about which foods to eat. Please rest assured that when you live with a stoma, you will still have many foods to choose from. Please follow me to explore now.

During the period after your operation, your diet may change a lot. During this period, relevant doctors will give you dietary guidance. Everyone should follow the doctor's advice, pay attention to the nutritional balance of the diet, and supplement after the operation. The required vitamins and proteins should be avoided from greasy and high-fat diets, and usually transition from liquid foods to normal diets. And with a period of adjustment during your recovery, new foods can be slowly reintroduced over time.

①How should the stoma patient eat after surgery ?

After surgery, you may not have an appetite yet. Since it will take some time for your stomach to recover, you can eat a liquid or semi-liquid diet. After the intestinal function is restored, you can eat some high-protein, high-nutrient, and easily digestible foods, such as fish and shrimp. Because you need to supplement enough nutrition after surgery to promote recovery after surgery. During this period, you can also eat more cellulose and fresh vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins, and drink more water, which can relax the bowels and prevent dry stools.

You may find that you don't have much appetite after surgery, so it's important to try to eat small, frequent meals to aid recovery and help the wound heal. Find a quiet and relaxing place to enjoy your meal, it is important to take the time to enjoy your food. Chew your food well and have a drink, as it all aids digestion.

②When can we introduce new food

After you have recovered for a while after surgery , you will find that your appetite is back to normal . During this phase, you may gradually introduce more foods into your diet. A balanced diet can help normalize and maintain consistency in your stoma production. So make sure your diet is a healthy mix of protein-rich foods, calcium-rich dairy products, carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables.

No matter what kind of ostomy you have, your daily diet and stoma care are important. A reasonable diet should be a combination of meat and vegetables, a reasonable diet. Eat more fresh vegetables, fruits, less unhealthy foods, less red meat, and more white meat in moderation. You should also quit smoking and drinking! Change bad eating habits and hobbies.

During this time , you may have to slowly get used to any smells, sounds, and sounds coming out of your stoma , which is completely normal. As your gut stabilizes, you'll learn which foods pass through your gut best, and which foods may negatively affect your stoma. By slowly reintroducing food, this will help your body process the food and avoid any blockages, wind or diarrhea.

us is different, so knowing your own body is extremely important.

③ What to eat with an ostomy bag and what to avoid

After the previous run-in period, we should understand which foods we cannot eat. For example, we should pay attention to avoiding foods that are prone to odor in our diet. Such as: beans, eggs, onions, leeks, garlic, beer, etc. These foods are prone to produce a lot of gas, or the taste is too strong, which can easily cause the stoma bag to bulge and smell unpleasant, and also cause certain difficulties in stoma care. Especially going out brings a lot of trouble and discomfort. Usually you don't go out at home, you can eat whatever you want, but if you go out the next day, try not to eat, otherwise you will have trouble and embarrassment.

Protein as part of a balanced diet can better help your body heal. Here are some post-operative calorie foods: milk, cream, eggs, tender meat, fish, and stay hydrated.

Starchy foods can help thicken the output of the stoma, making it more manageable. For those with colostomy who may be prone to constipation , add green vegetables (cabbage, sprouts, cauliflower), baked beans, onions, mushrooms, cucumbers, root vegetables, for example.

For more information on Innomed® ostomy pouch, refer to the previous articles. If you have customized needs, you are welcome to contact us; we will serve you wholeheartedly.

At Longterm Medical, we transform this data by innovating and developing products that make life easier for those who need loving care.

Editor: kiki Jia

Date: August 23 , 2022