Ostomy And Diet
Most people remain confused about the diet they should have after ostomy surgery. Most of them wonder which foods to restrict, and how long those restrictions are going to remain in place. Scheduling meals is also a point of concern for most people with ostomies. In this article, we will discuss the principles of diet restrictions, which should be in place after ostomy surgery.
Not much research data is available regarding what specialized diet should be taken after ostomy surgery. Most healthcare experts suggest that dietary changes after surgery depends on the way the bowel reacts to the procedure. Other factors include the body’s overall response to certain foods and earlier medical reports suggesting the occurrence of a problem in response to the intake of a certain food item. During the early days of the discovery of ostomy surgery as a way to treat bowel problems, surgeons used to create a strictured stoma, which generally resulted in the need to bring a dietary change.
The most critical time is right after surgery when the bowel is swollen. This temporary swelling appears in response to surgery, and it can narrow the lumen, which is the inner opening of the bowel. While creating the stoma, the surgeon has to pull your bowel through many layers of the abdominal wall. The presence of the abdominal wall’s tissues around the bowel also limits its expansion to a certain degree. A narrowed lumen, coupled with the presence of abdominal tissues around the stoma, can restrict the passage of certain types of foods. It generally takes 6-8 weeks for the bowel swelling to subside. After that, you can eat your favorite foods.
The most critical time is right after surgery when the bowel is swollen. This temporary swelling appears in response to surgery, and it can narrow the lumen, which is the inner opening of the bowel. While creating the stoma, the surgeon has to pull your bowel through many layers of the abdominal wall. The presence of the abdominal wall’s tissues around the bowel also limits its expansion to a certain degree. A narrowed lumen, coupled with the presence of abdominal tissues around the stoma, can restrict the passage of certain types of foods. It generally takes 6-8 weeks for the bowel swelling to subside. After that, you can eat your favorite foods.
Dietary restrictions are more commonly placed for people with ileostomies rather than for the ones with colostomies. Foods that turn out to be problematic in this scenario may include fiber, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains. You may still eat these foods without ending up having a bowel issue. It will necessitate you to chew your foods properly.
Even after six weeks, you will need to avoid jumping back to a careless dietary routine. Cooking your vegetables well enough to make them fork tender can help you avoid bowel issues. Instead of having a few larger meals, you can consider having several smaller meals a day. It will allow your GI tract to digest what you eat.
The confusion is generally about when to resume your pre-surgery diet. After the bowel recovery period is over, you can start by adding one out-of-list food into your dietary routine at a time. You can eat that food item in a small amount and check its response. If all goes well, you can continue eating that food. Otherwise, you may want to stick to the restricted diet plan for some time until you find yourself fit enough to eat your favorite foods.
You may not need to follow any specific diet plan if you have a colostomy. The good bacteria present in your colon will keep your bowel as healthy as it is in other people with fully intact bowels.
If you have any confusion regarding what to eat after ostomy surgery, you may speak to your doctor or healthcare provider.
Even after six weeks, you will need to avoid jumping back to a careless dietary routine. Cooking your vegetables well enough to make them fork tender can help you avoid bowel issues. Instead of having a few larger meals, you can consider having several smaller meals a day. It will allow your GI tract to digest what you eat.
The confusion is generally about when to resume your pre-surgery diet. After the bowel recovery period is over, you can start by adding one out-of-list food into your dietary routine at a time. You can eat that food item in a small amount and check its response. If all goes well, you can continue eating that food. Otherwise, you may want to stick to the restricted diet plan for some time until you find yourself fit enough to eat your favorite foods.
You may not need to follow any specific diet plan if you have a colostomy. The good bacteria present in your colon will keep your bowel as healthy as it is in other people with fully intact bowels.
If you have any confusion regarding what to eat after ostomy surgery, you may speak to your doctor or healthcare provider.