Hi All,

You have helped me so much in the past during my J-pouch surgery and all but now I need some advice for my mother. She just had her colostomy reversed, more of her large colon taken out (due to ovarian cancer) and part of her small intestine, including the ileo-cecal valve. Now she has all the symptoms like I had with before my surgery, lots of diarhea, pain, bloating, gas, stomach hurting. Will probiotics help? What are some of your experiences with them. Also she is losing weight weekly, anyone have some hints on weight gain? I know Ensure and Boost but she hates those! Thanks for any help you can give us! 2 of us in the same family with these symptoms is just no fun!

Tanya

I'm sorry to hear of your mother's ills.

I'd have a hard time believing that probiotics would do any harm, and would be inclined to believe that she would derive some benefit from their use. If concerned about any detrimental effects, other than some potential temporary increase in gas, diarrhea, etc., you should ask her doc. If, after use, results are unfavorable, just discontinue using them.

The only experience I've had at preventing weight loss and maintaining weight is due to a neuralgia problem that oft prevents me from eating solids. I rely on shakes to get many of my calories during those episodes. A lot of those shake calories come from some weight-gainers protein powder used by bodybuilders. The downside is that the powder is loaded with sugar, and if they don't use sugar, they use artificial sweeteners. Not a big fan of refined sugar, I'm less of a fan of anything artificial. However, when the situation requires it, one is forced to make tougher decisions. Since I don't believe sugar to be beneficial for my body, I juice some veggies a couple of times a week to ensure that I'm getting some proper nutrients when consuming all of this sugar.

Hoping that you might derive some benefit through my rambling. Wishing you and your mother the best.

Thank you Lucky One, I hope your screen name reflects how you are feeling! I just got some of the weight trainer powder drinks, just have to get her to drink them now! Not as many calories as I was hoping in them! I think we will try the probiotics but will look out for temp increasae in bloating and gas and pray they work. Take care and thanks for ansewring!

TAnya

Tanya,

Check out this thread:
http://j-pouch.org/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9151071921/m/4921...771043422#8771043422

There are some good ideas for gaining weight in a healthy way.

Steve

Sorry to hear about your mom. Probiotics may help with some symptoms, but expect the help to occur over many weeks to up to three months. Plus part of her problem may also be the cancer, so you have to factor that in also. I would focus on what tastes good to her rather than trying to find the best nutrition. Often, those supplements just are not palatable for someone who is losing their appetite due to cancer. You may find that she likes things like puddings, milkshakes made with real ice cream, and sherberts (if she can tolerate dairy). When my dad had pancreatic cancer, he really did not like the usual supplements like Ensure and Boost, but he really liked Carnation Instant Breakfast (the ready to drink stuff in cans, which is lactose free).

Make sure her docs know she has the diarrhea because she should be getting medication for it. Slowing the diarrhea will also slow the weight loss. Here are some good links for you.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/g...ations/Patient/page6

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/eatinghints/page3

Jan

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jan Dollar,

The Carnation Instant Breakfast is very tasty indeed! Never had the ready to drink stuff, but I find the powder very tasty. I know the powder is wheat-free, having written the manufacturer. Not sure if it is gluten-free though.

I typically mix everything (Carnation Instant Breakfast powder, high-calorie protein powder, bananas, peanut-butter, a little bit of plain yogurt, and rice milk (lactose is a no-no for me)) in a blender. Ice cream is a great idea too.