Ok, I seem to have a problem with cheese and its a total bummer because I LOVE cheese! But I've eaten grilled cheese, and toasted ham and cheese, and even pizza with cheese and every time it causes me nothing but grief. The stool gets so thick that I doesn't want to come out through the tube until my pouch hurts and I get almost blockage-like symptoms!! I walk and walk and drink and drink and irrigate and eventually get relief but its very scary/frustrating.

I guess what I want to know is, anyone initally have a problem with cheese too? Will I ever be able to eat cheese again???

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katie

Chris ate all the things you mentioned and had no problems.
Maybe it's too soon.

Although the taste may not compliment the dish drink grape juice while you are eating these foods. Try eating smaller portions. If this is still not working...stop eating these foods for awhile and try them again later with just a little bit.

Are you getting cramping?

I eat a lot of cheese. Sometimes I really have to irrigate to empty pouch. Sometimes the cheese feces are not so thick. Don't know why. I seem to have less trouble if I drink coffee when I eat cheese. Don't have a clue why this is so. Even if cheese caused real thick feces, I irrigate a lot and it breaks it up.
TP60

Coffee is good and so is red wine

I irrigate as much as I need to when I empty.
But, for someone just out of surgery and getting used to the whole thing I would recommend staying away from foods that make life difficult for awhile and reintroduce them at a later time.

Are you sure its the cheese and the not the bread that goes along with the sandwich or pizza. Too much pizza causes havoic with my pouch.

Oh you are killing me about the cheese thing! I love cheese! I am not very happy! I hope it gets better.
Karmen

Coffee is a stimulant, so it speeds up digestion. Grape juice thins as red wine, you can also try Magnesium Supplements 400 mg is the daily recommended dosage. I have no trouble with cheese but everyone is different. Are you drinking enough fluids so you don't have problems? Very interesting how foods affect us all differently. As time goes on, you will be able to eat more foods without trouble.

Well I was having the cheese problem when I had my constant drain in. I am intubating on my own now (day 3) had a cheeseburger last night with no problems so I'm happy about that. I still intend to keep it low until I'm sure it won't be a problem.

I drink a TON with meals now, typically 32 oz of water or more so I feel that that is probably sufficient. I don't care for wine and I'm not the biggest grape juice fan. I'm trying cran-grape now which I do like, do you think that will work as well?? And I love coffee, so any excuse to drink that is fine by me

I really appreciate everyone's helpful insight, its a little scary starting this k-pouch thing and its great to have a group of people to come to with questions!

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katie

Leslie probably knows better but I don't think cran grape works the same as grape juice. It wasn't helpful to Chris.
Try different brands. Chris liked Dole but we don't have it here. He dislikes Welch's.
Water does not make the output thin as far as I know, does help keep you hydrated so your stoma doesn't get tight like Chris's did from not enough water.
Everyone is different and your k is very new, take it slow.
Holly

I have been experimenting with gatorade since March and have found that Grape Gatorade gets things moving FAST. For some reason its only grape gatorade, no other flavor works as well.