Pkitty,

Everyone is different when it comes to a specific diet which is frustrating. It will be trial and error to introduce different foods.

I enjoy pizza, mexican food, and have a bad sweet tooth. But for me, I have to stay away from all milk products so no more ice cream, cheese, and I love Italian food.

Be careful what you eat after your surgery. After my first surgery, they never even mentioned to me what food I should avoid, but stay away from nuts and popcorn and things like that. After my first surgery, I was not careful at all and paid for it. 3 months after surgery, I had gone to the movies and ate a large container of popcorn. The next morning, I was in such excrutiating pain and was vomiting and even though I had a stoma, all that popcorn caused a blockage so nothing was passing through.

I had to be hospitalized for 5 days. By the time I got in the ER, I was begging for pain killers because I hurt so bad but they delayed because they wanted to do an x-ray first. I saw no point in that since it was blocked. Finally they gave me some demeral or morphine. I was able to relax and fell asleep. As I slept, then everything was passing through and they said I filled up the trays that are normally used for a sponge bath, but I filled up almost 4 trays of stool.

Soda will give you gas because of how its made. Just be careful what you eat and eat small quantities. There are a lot of good, experienced people on this forum and they are a great source of support. Your body needs time to adjust.

Rocket

Pkitty-after my step 1 I stayed low residue for a good 6 weeks. After that I slowly added all foods back into my diet. I had pizza, fries, ice cream and other sweets. Luckily I never had a problem. I never tried popcorn or nuts/seeds. I limited my raw fruits and vegetables but eventually had a little salad and all was ok. Start slow. I just had my takedown a few weeks ago so back to the beginning again for me. Truth is you probably won't have a huge appetite after surgery. Good luck

The afternoon I left the hospital from my step 1 (I had my surgery in Philadlephia) I made my hubby stop at the famous Gino's cheesesteak place. I just had to have one! I ate half of it. I really don't recommend this to everyone but it was soooo good...especially after all the hospital food. Listen to your body and you will know when it's right to eat "normal" again after the surgery. But just take it easy in the beginning and soon after that you should be able to eat anything. It's all trial and error. After my takedown surgery I was a bit more cautious for a few weeks and ate really light. Then after that I was eating whatever I was preparing for my family. Just make sure you chew your food very well. Good luck!

I ate whatever I wanted. Including all the foods that people have mentioned here that gave them problems. Unfortunately it is trial and error. Try anything you'd like and see how it works with your plumbing. I ate/drank all of the things you mentioned.

kathy

I ate pretty much what I wanted a few weeks after surgery. I watched my intake of mushrooms, nuts and coconuts. If cautious of something then just eat it in moderation. I drank soda but not as often, and never close to bedtime cause boy ole boy gas and a bag not good lol.

Thanks all for the great info!

With bowel obstruction, is it correct that it typically happens (if it's going to happen) in the immediate weeks after the surgeries? And then you are safe? Or bowel obstruction can happen anytime even as the years go by?

Also gstubbe - what happens with soda and a bag? Stoma irritation or something?

An obstruction can happen at any time but you are most vulnerable right after surgery.