I know this topic has been discussed several times throughout many different threads but I wanted to get everyones inputs on what they have had problems with. I am going next week to my surgeon to start my intubation schedule so plan on soon trying new foods within the next month. Just wanted everyone to mention what they have personally had problems with or what foods they absolutely stay away from. Some question foods I were wondering about was sesame seed buns like from burger king? Also I saw fruits like cantelope were a problem for some is that melon and cantelope a bad food? Also how bad is popcorn, that's one thing I am in love with?

I never have any problems with food...I truly eat whatever I want...was just snacking on some trail mix...had cantaloupe for lunch, grapes, almonds....had mexican casserole last night for dinner...had granola for breakfast this morning with grapefruit...plan on some fine wine for tonight...kettlecorn is my favorite popcorn!! everyone is different...i have a large catheter..better known as the tube..empty's me out fast...so...it's always a try and see with everyone...good luck...dmarie

Pretty good idea to get a problem-food list started

I'm the one who had the problem with the cantaloupe but I can say on the day in question I had some at lunch and then a large bowl at night so that was my mistake Not going to stop me from eating it in moderation!!

Potato skins, apple skins, cucumber (or pickle) skins can be dodgy if you eat too much and don't chew enough. I often get in trouble with pickles when I forget I put some on a sandwich or burger.

I just eat fruit w/out the skin on it. its pretty easy to avoid potato skins.

I eat popcorn all the time

I don't do lettuce of any kind
coleslaw ok in small quantities

I don't eat to many raw veggies at all - just too much chewing to get it small enough to not be a hassle.

can't really think of anything else at the moment! Good luck

--
katie

It's really going to be trial and error.

My don'ts: bananas, mushrooms, celery, any fruit skins, any vegetable skins, beans (except refried), peas, or corn.

My do's limiting a few times per week: lettuce, nuts, popcorn, sesame seed buns, tomato slices (with skin), bell peppers (raw or cooked), onions (raw or cooked).

Your food just has to fit into the small catheter holes. Skin will stick to the inside of the cath, causing the poo to flow poorly. But, chunks of food will come out by sticking to the sides of the holes when you pull the cath out. Remove the food, reinsert cath and do this until pouch feels empty.

Just add little by little and see what works for you! good luck and enjoy!

dmarie, you mentioned you use a large cath. what is the name of the catheter you use and where did you get it from.

I use the Medena cath...Size-French 30 and I get them from Torbot.

Mark some kpouchers have a little bigger stoma and valve and can use a 32 french which is larger and larger cath holes. But, most of us use the smaller 30 french. I wouldn't use a larger cath unless your surgeon ok's it.

hey mark.... i'm probably the only one that uses an "argyle nasopharyngeal airway"...it's a 32 fr....in the very beginning i used a 34...but over the years the stoma has become smaller...it is curved and only 6 inches long..just one opening instead of 2 or 3 holes...so big chunks can get through...pretty gross!! i like the idea of not having a long tube...tried one and takes too long to empty..plus this can fit in my pocket in a ziplock...went to an ostomy conference many moons ago...some guy pulled this catheter out of his pocket...pretty cool...last time i bought some i actually got them on ebay...for $20.00 i bought 50...no one else was bidding..hehehe ..funny place to buy catheters...before that i ordered through the pharmacy... ask your dr. what would be best for u...dmarie

I'm only 9 weeks post-op myself and am still trying new foods, but have found all skins give me trouble when emptying. Onions, shrimp, and eggs give me a great deal of gas, but Beano works fairly well. I tried cantaloupe and it was horrible with clogging the cath, but put it in a blender and drink it - yum!

I suppose it depends on what you consider a problem. I eat whatever I want really and my only consideration is "is this going to clog the catheter?" 99.999% of the time I eat it anyway and deal with sitting on the pot for 15 min or so pulling out the chunks that don't digest. I don't pay much attn to things that make me gassy and really couldn't tell you what does except a few too many brews. Usually I am more worried about the headache the next day. I figure I can't fart so there is going to be some gas to deal with so why worry about it.

Starting out I stuck to a bland diet cause a clogged cath was more of an issue with the constant drain and training the pouch. Waking to a clogged cath and a full pouch or sitting on the pot for 15 min+ every 3 or 4 hours is not fun.

Everybody has different expectations of their pouch and different reactions to foods. Try it all and deal with what you can!

Janice, you don't eat bannanas? Why??? I live off of them, especially blended with tons of crushed ice and cocoa powder to replace ice cream in the summer (I love ice cream..it does not like my hips!)
What would I add to the list? Asperugus, fennel root, leaks, lettuce in large quantities, stringy mango, pineapple (I chew and spit out!) and dried figs (help!!!! the skin is really tough!) and anything mushroomy especially chinese (no, I am not racisist, just prejudice against tough fibers!)...I eat tons of fruits and melons but when sensitive like now (post op and bloating) I keep it light or blend everything but protiens.
Basically stringy and beanny is bad for me...chunky and no chewing is a no-no too...
By the way...could someone send me a tractor trailer load of beano????? We don't have it here and I am floating off of the sofa!
I eat popcorn but only the fluffy stuff and love caramel corn and nuts but chew like...well...a nut!
I eat tons of cheese, espeically the unpasturized French stinky stuff, and goat and sheep cheeses as well..great for reactivating all of the good bacteria in the digestive tract...
The last no-no...reallly dried out dried fruits that I don't chew well...take weeks to get all of the chunks out and red pepper skins.
Sharon

I eat bananas but only if I don't get too much fiber in the same day. they really clog me...they don't seem to like me - cuz I'll burb them up all day.

I have an add on to my list....olives!!!
Had a pineapple olive pizza one day and lost 10lbs afterwards...couldn't eat for 2 weeks until all of the pieces came out!
Sharon

Sharon...yes Olives I forgot. And pineapple is horrible. But, I don't stop eating if I have chunks of food stuck in my pouch. Adding food actually helps move them out of the pouch - just takes time to pull them out of the cath holes.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: JaniceM,

I am a really lazy chewer..more mike a gulp and swallow person...have been know to form rootballs of fiber that have accumulated around the base of the tube...you really do not want to know how I got those tubes out... ....
Sharon