Ostomates Have Questions About Eating and Food

Out of Ostomy Surgery And Your First Thought Is All Things Food

5 Questions You’re Likely to Ask and Some Answers

One of the first things you think about when you have ostomy surgery: What can I eat and how much?

It’s a natural question, really. These surgeries are the solution to our stomach problems of 1 kind or another, and we’ve had trouble eating for many years. Now, our guts have been rerouted. And parts of them are gone. Especially in that first 6-month-get-used-to-things now, it’s no wonder we ponder what’s fair game in the food arena, and how much we can eat at any given meal.

There seem to be standard questions as my interactions with fellow ostomates has shown me. While there are no absolute answers, experience has shown me some best practices, so to speak…and I’d like to share them with you here.

If you’ll excuse the pun…use these 5 questions and answers as food for thought.

1.        Can I eat like I've always eaten?

The answer to that question would be a resounding “No!” In the weeks following surgery, your stomach is small 1) because of the surgery 2) because there’s a good chance you haven’t eaten in weeks. If there was ever a time in your life in which you shouldn’t cave to cravings or overeat, the first weeks and months following ostomy surgery are it!  The best advice: Don't overdo. You’ll want to have small meals to give your body time to process the food, because you have to be more careful to allow your body to adjust to its new state. And then, you work your way up and introduce additional foods. Even then, though, you should introduce or reintroduce new foods slowly and in small amounts.

2.       But I've always loved broccoli. Can I eat the foods I’ve eaten before?

It is a good idea to eat foods that you know, but a softer version of them. In fact, when you leave the hospital, your doctor is likely going to suggest that you maintain a soft diet with a limited selection of food until your doctor tells you to move on to fuller, more robust meals.

All kidding aside about the broccoli…I have to say, I love broccoli, but it is very gassy, and it can be hard to digest. You have to be very careful when you reintroduce broccoli or other foods that are gassy or hard to digest to your diet. So, try the broccoli if you want and really observe how it makes you feel. Even record it. If you feel fine, that’s great. On the other hand, if you get a bad reaction, you will likely want to avoid that food in the future.

With foods like broccoli and other high-fiber vegetables, there’s another consideration: texture. With your ostomy, raw veggies (think carrots, cauliflower and broccoli which are hard and celery which is stringy, can bring on another ill. They can cause clogging and blockages when food collects behind your stoma. One solution is to cook your vegetables a lot and cut them into small pieces. That way, you can still enjoy them but in a state that is less likely to cause you problems.

3.       So, what about those not-meat-and-potatoes kinds of foods that are a bit unusual but oh so good?

Yes, there are those foods that even pre-surgery you didn’t eat regularly, but when you did, you really enjoyed them. People constantly ask me whether they can eat sushi or Mexican and other spicy foods, in particular. I have to say sushi and spice do work for me. But again, everyone’s different.

And, of course, your main guidance comes from your doctor or dietician. More often than not, it’s likely a little bit trailblazing and a lot vigilance both to what you want to eat and do eat, the habits you may be developing, and how you feel after you experiment with something new when it comes to eating in your ostomy life. 

4.      What about weight gain? Following weight loss due to problems pre-surgery, shouldn’t I be putting pounds on again? Or am I gaining too much. How do I get those extra pounds off?

Speaking for myself, I certainly wanted to put weight on when I got out of the hospital, because I lost considerable weight while I was there and before. My nutritionist and I worked up a plan before I left the hospital and shared the recommendations with my gastro physician. Our goal was to create a plan for me to gain weight the healthy way, and she suggested things like coconut butters and coconut milk – things that are high in calories and minus sugar…stuff that is really good for you.

Ostomates that have had Crohn’s or colitis are a lot like I was: bound and determined to gain weight. The important thing is to accomplish this the right way with a professional and your gastro physician. You’ve gone through hell for years and finally had the surgery. Now you want and need to get back to normal life and you have to accomplish this in the healthiest way possible.

5.       Are there other things about which I must be cautious?

Yeah, and these include some of the simplest stuff. For example, chewing. People often forget that chewing is an important part of the digestive process. So, chew your food slowly. Chew your food well.

Another lookout is the way you combine food and drink. It’s a good idea to wait 10 to 15 minutes after eating to take in liquid. Liquid introduced too quickly after eating can cause your food to pass through your intestines too quickly. When that happens, you’re losing nutrients as well. [link to hydration blog]

And, of course, overall, the best advice:

=>    Read, talk, and listen – Find common ground with others, but listen to professionals like your nutritionist and physician

=>    Recognize that everyone’s different – What works for someone else may not work the same way for you

=>    Avoid extremes – Don’t overdo either in taking in too many new foods or eating too much at one time

=>    Know your body – Monitor consistently to understand how your body reacts to different foods

You will have days when even eating – an act that should be so basic –becomes challenging. But take heart and keep at it. After a while things become habit, second nature, and life returns to normal. There are great days ahead. Trust me on this!

Life has an unusual way of pushing us to where we need to go. To me, that’s what Ostoh is all about. 

 If you’re interested in learning more about Ostoh and how it might increase your comfort, email us at hello@ostoh.com or use our contact

Free gift for you

In my first 6-months post-surgery, I got very diligent about monitoring my food and liquid intake – so much so that I created a journal and kept it on our coffee table in the living room. It was front and center, so I’d always remember to record not only my intake but also how I felt after eating. It was a huge help in keeping me on track. I turned it into my Ostoh Food & Hydration Tracking Journal, a book that’s for sale on my website.  

Here’s to enjoying eating once again.