If you mean am I eating more now than I did when I still had UC then absolutely yes. I couldn't eat anything with my UC. I would be in agony anytime I ate. My j pouch has allowed me to enjoy food again. It's not perfect and certainly not like having a healthy colon, but I will take it any day over my old diseased UC colon.

If you mean stuff like Chile Verde, Carnitas , Carne Asada, Steak Ranchero, guacamole, rice, beans, salsa and cheese...

Then yes....

i mean were you severely limited on food choices with your uc and have you added many different types of food in after your j-pouch?

Yes. I don't have to be "careful" now or think about what I'm putting in my mouth. Unless of course I'm dieting which I have done over the last several months to lose a few pounds. When I had UC I basically lived on rice and grilled chicken.

For me, it's quite the opposite. My UC was under control for 15 years...I only had my colon out due to pre-cancer. Prior to my surgeries, I ate anything and everything. Salads and raw fruits and veggies were my favorites foods! I ate so healthy. Now, I limit fruits and veggies (especially lettuce) since they do not agree well with my pouch.

Tom,
I am almost vegetarian, and I eat anything. I mean anything! There is no food, besides apple peels, that I don't digest like a normal person. I eat a better variety of food now then when I had UC. I wasn't able to eat much then as it caused pain and misery. No matter what I ate really. I see that you are having a hard time these days. I hope you find out what the problem is and start to heal. I am one of those 16 year old pouchers that is very happy with my pouch. I feel completely normal. I hope you get there! We are all different in our path to healing, but you will arrive one way or another.
CJ

Hi chasingtime - this is such an individual thing, but yes, my diet has returned to near-normal after years living with my pouch. The only thing I have to be careful with is small tough things, which occassionally cause a blockage for a few years - the most recent thing was hard-fried bacon lardons(!). Apart from that, everything's fine. I guess the only way to find out is to slowly, and carefully, try adding in new things one at a time. Every pouch is different.