I just had my ileostomy surgery last friday, and have been home for about 3 1/2 days after being in the hospital for a month. My j-pouch surgery is scheduled for april, and the takedown will probably be in june. Before I fell ill I was a recreational bodybuilder. Between the sickness and weeks on liquids or no foods I've lost over 30 pounds, all my muscle mass, and have what is left has turned to flab and mush. I also have lost my endurance, and walking is difficult. Since I've been home and eating again, my diet has not been the healthiest, and after new years eve I'm going to start cleaning it up, and trying to build up my cardio stamina once again, and eventually start lifting. I do have questions about diet. Before all of this happened I at 6 times a day, which consisted of oats, rice, potatoes, chicken, turkey, fish, beef, protein shakes, and a lot of vegetables. I know that potatoes, rice, lean protein meats, and after discussing things with a professional bodybuilder who had our surgery a whey isolate shake is ok, but does anyone still consume vegetables with the ostomy bag? I know my days of broccoli and spinach are pretty much gone, but string beans are pretty low in fibre. Any ideas?

Hi Jordan! You will have to try one veggie at a time and keep notes to see how you do. I eat any veggie, even small salads. String beans are one veggie that was served to me while I was in the hospital...as a "low residue food" which made me chuckle. Sometimes it might just matter how much the veggie is cooked. I do eat broccoli, but it's pretty soft, and I waited quite awhile to try it. Good luck!

thank you Michelle, that is a bit of a relief to me. Unfortunately The hardest part is going to be work my way back to where I was. It's hard to go from 45 daily cardio sessions, and throwing around 100's of pounds, to not having the power in your legs to crouch and stand without holding something to pull myself up.

Hi,
I eat every veggie out there cooked or raw and have never had a problem. I try to remember to chew well but sometimes forget, but knock on wood I have never had a blockage/nor bad reaction (excess gas) from any veggie and I am 3 year TD. I eat nuts on a daily bases too, I combine it with cheese and I have never had a problem. Fruit on the other hand is very hard for me to digest in the raw state. I have to eat it canned or cooked.
I think everyone is different and you will learn what you can tolerate one food at a time. Just remember to chew, chew, chew and drink alot of water when first trying each new food.
Good Luck
Age

dont worry about the muscle mass, I too was at the gym 5 days a week before my first surgery and lost most of my muscle mass. partially from U.C. and mostly from the prednisone(steroids) I even lost my hair..a year later Muscle mass returned and hair regrew.As for veggies,introduce them slowly try a juicer and juice everything. avoid celery like the plague you dont want the fibers blocking you up.
avoid gassy veggies for obvious reasons,(you may wake up in the middle of the hight with a new pillow on your side). don't worry so much about rushing back into shape for at first your energy may wane so be patient it will come back. remember slowly on the veggies cramps suck. good luck it gets better

Dear Jorank, I've had my ileostomy for 2 years (Jan.06), headed for a J-Pouch in January. I went in for emergency bowel obstruction, after losing 70lbs, I hit the emergency room at 110lbs., I was in for 37 days, everything went south. Could not believe the muscle loss, an having to learn to walk again. I work in the banquet industry and walk alot, I think that background helped to come around faster, as your bodybuilding will, but it took some time.
It really does come back. Your high protein diet is excellent, as I was told to eat 100grams of protein a day to heal, really did work! Hard for me to do everyday. But go easy on high fibrous foods, like celery, no skins, not fruit, potato, sausage skins,etc. Landed myself in hospital for small bowel obstruction eating an apple, and then sausage links. Just read somewhere mushrooms can be a problem, had a cherry scone, and the cherries gave me a scare afterwards. My rule is if you can't chew it down, don't swallow it, tough meats, etc.
Hope it helps, I've become an expert on ileostomies, but will be a newborn on a J-Pouch.
Best to you, Vicky

Hi Jordan,
Check this out: http://j-pouch.org/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9151071921/m/8521...521038052#8521038052
On page 2 Curious discusses his diet.

I have a juicer and I can drink any combination of vegetables without problems. In the early days and months after the surgeries, I was very sensitive to lots of foods (including potatoes and spaghetti), but I had no problems with 'super' foods like avocado, pumpkin, sweet potato and fresh herbs (especially parsley and basil).

thanks for your advice, its real funny you posted that link. Earlier today I randomly typed in jpouch surgery on youtube, because a nurse had recommended seeing if they show the surgery, and cam across a video of the same person performing that deadlift. I sent him a message through youtube, but now I know he's on this discussion site as well.