Like anything else the answer to the question is: it depends, and it's trial and error on an individual basis. Try a small amount and see what happens.

I had salad while I was still in the hospital. Go for it! Things may travel through faster but a lot of foods do that. It's not a reason to not eat them. Oddly, in the beginning I found that head lettuce worked better for me than leaf lettuce. Others have found the opposite to be true. So maybe try one kind or the other to see how it works for you.

kathy

I'd keep away from it if I was you. It's most probably way too early. I just made myself sick this week having a small salad. It's been 24 years for me too and my pouch still has bad problems with lettuce

Go ahead and try it but start out with a small salad and chew well. I was eating salads from early on and I practically live on them. Enjoy!

I had salad before leaving the hospital (second day eating). No problem other than diarrhea. But, yeah, small salad, small bites, chew well.

Jan

fq,

I am on a low residue diet and my GI said I have to stay away from salad and any other raw vegtables. When I did eat salad, it gave me problems and I could not digest it. I think my added problems were because I had a major bowel obstruction that resulted in me loosing 32 inches of small bowel due to gangrene.

However, my issues is the exception, not the rule for most of us. I would also stay away from veggies that can cause gas like broch, peas, cauliflower and so forth.

Take Beano before every meal and I also take activited charcol which helps with digestion.

In any event, keep a food log to how you react to what you eat. Like Jan said, jew slow. I would only try a little salad just to see how it goes. If you have no problems, then your OK. Or maybe it was too early. Our body has to adjust so that does take time. Be patient with yourself.

Rocket

I still have problems digesting salads especially if I don't chew them well, but for some reason I seem to have more trouble with mescalin and the course leafy salad greens (also including spinach).

However, I eat salads all the time. I particularly like the seared ahi tuna salad served by one local restaurant, and the "Savannah salad" served by another local restaurant which is chopped romaine, tortilla strips, shredded jack and cheddar cheeses, chopped tomatoes, black bean relish with corn, all served with a creamy chipotle-lime dressing and can be served with grilled chicken, steak or shrimp, if you wish. I probably have lunch and dinner entree salads 4-5 times per week. I don't always digest them completely but they go down fine.

I had a salad at 2 months out on my birthday. It mostly went ok. I can handle them pretty well now, though sometimes the lettuce doesn't get really get processed very well. Then again, I may not be the best example.

thanks for the responses! i thought about ordering a salad for lunch today, but i chickened out and went with my usual chicken dish
i might try a small side salad soon.

DJBHusky - the Savannah salad sounds scrumptious!!!! i haven't tried most of the foods listed in that salad - except grilled chicken and cheese. Maybe I need to try one ingredient at a time? like have a little chopped tomato one day, black bean another day, chopped romaine another day, etc.... if all goes well, combine them into a salad? Or does combining foods have totally different effects than eating them separately? guess it's trial and error, but i don't like experimenting on my bowels

If you have not had any of them try them one at a time.

I had the Savannah Salad with grilled chicken for lunch today. We (my office) order lunch every Friday from a local restaurant called Eli's, and we all get salads because that is what they do really well. Here is the menu:

http://www.elisonthehill.com/d...ford_dinner_menu.pdf

Had a salad not until 8 months after my takedown, my surgeries all went pretty smooth but I ahd issues after my takedown emptying my pouch found out I had paradox and had to have physical therapy and pretty much liquids for a long time. Now I am on a high protein low to no fiber low to no sugar diet that is waht Dr, Shen at Cleveland Clinic recommends for me. But I am able to eat whatever I want including salads vegetable and nuts, but i don't digest them well they pretty mcuh come out whole. Sorry being so graphic. But Dr.Shen said that is the best diet for me everyone is different and all pouches are different. Take things slow and listen to your body.