Hello, I'm back here again with my third ostomy. So far so good. I had more time to mentally prepare myself this time around so I feel a little better about things. I'm only 2 weeks post surgery and I'm finding out that each ostomy is different.

Here's what's going on: I feel like everything I eat is in my bag about a half hour later. I know I'm still adjusting but I feel so week and I'm afraid that I'm not absorbing much nutrition. I'm eating thickening foods like banana, apple sauce, peanut butter...but it doesn't seem too much better. Should I be worried or do you think it will get better?

Hi...
I went back to the ostomy the end of July, I too thought the same thing you are about not absorbing much nutrition.. but when I
saw my primary care doctor in August right safter my surgery, I was at 109 lbs....
when I went back in Jan. I was 124 lbs. So apparently I was absorbing!
I really think it will get better for you..I was eating alot of toasted chesse sandwiches, it helped with the thickening and the weight gain,which I need....
If you are drinking alot with your meal, it may be the reason you are feeling everything you
eat is going through you so fast...You do need to drink plenty...but try spacing it from your meal. Take Care...
Char.....

Hi,

Sounds like you may be starting to get dehydrated. That's why you're feeling weak. What's going into your system is going right out. If your appetite is okay, try to drink at least 64 ounces of fluid a day. Try drinking Ensure on ice. The colder the better; I like the vanilla flavor. Did your surgeon tell you you can take Lomotil? That might help you to slow things down during this transition period. Do you have an end or a loop ileostomy? Keep an eye on this whole thing. I ended up in the hospital twice for dehydration because my new ileostomy was so active. It will take time, but you need to get lots of fluid into your body, and not just water.

Caty

I agree with Caty. If you are not taking anything to slow you down (Imodium or Lomotil), then you should. Thickening agents do only that, thicken. They do not slow peristalsis so that your gut has more time to digest the nutrients. This is especially important if you have a high loop ileostomy, where less of your small bowel is being utilized for digestion.

Also, it is easy to let dehydration sneak up on you when you have a high output ileostomy. Avoid plain water and sweet drinks (AKA undiluted sports drinks and fruit juices), they will zoom through you too. They are fine in small quantities. Soups are great and so are the nutrition supplements.

I am sure you know the drill about small, frequent meals too?

Jan

yes , thanks, I'll have to ask about the Lomotil or Imodium. I'm not sure how high up this loop ileo is. I guess I have been drinking a lot of water and juice. Beside Ensure what else can I drink? It's so thick and sweet and I can't do more than one or two a day. I'd love some more suggestions.
Thanks!!

some suggestions for drinks are: Vitalyte, herbal tea, watered down Gatorade or G2.