Who told you that eating fruits and vegetables are bad for you? My diet is heavy on fresh fruits and vegetables; I'm in excellent health, and get a lot of exercise. I don't know why you would consider eliminating or reducing these foods.

Sue

Thanks Sue! I'm just reading through others posts and some info online - it says fresh citrus (acidic), fruits with skin like apples, and leafy greens are foods to avoid as they cause "increased output".

Everyone is different though, so I'm going to start fresh with a new low residue diet and go from there. I have no idea what foods affect me and what doesn't as I've never monitored it. So we'll see....

Well yes, they do cause an increase in output, but provided higher frequency doesn't concern you, there is no reason to avoid them. My frequency is higher than the average, but it doesn't affect my lifestyle.

Sue

See, I just need to find a lifestyle that won't be affected by higher frequency....as it stands right now, that's not the case.

It's trial and error. When I first got my pouch my doc put me on a low-residue diet for the first 6 weeks and then told me to experiment slowly and keep track of what affected me how. You can try again later, as well. Some foods that I couldn't eat 7 years ago I can eat just fine now, and vice versa.

For me, I need to avoid all cabbage-related foods (haven't had any of my beloved broccoli in 10 years!) as the abdominal pain following is simply not worth it. Limited fresh citrus as well. I eat my heart's content of root veg, salad, and most fresh fruits within moderation; that is the key.

I also front-load my fresh fruits & veg; the later in the day I eat them, the worse my night is. By eating them earlier in the day, I'm only up once in the night to use the toilet.

So maybe back down for a couple of weeks and then try things and see what affects you most; that'll give you a better idea of what to avoid when -- and help you make smarter choices about treats!

Gin

I received the same (rather insane) direction/lack if direction from my doctors after my surgeries, but I have adjusted my diet a great deal and had good luck. I eat lots of veggies, but I am careful about having too much that is totally raw. Steamed or sautéed works pretty well. I will cook veggies and then put them on top of fresh green. I know it is faddish, but I have found that gluten is terrible for me. I've been off it for 17 years now and if I play with that I pay. It's a pain to cut it out, but it really did help a ton. That means that rice, rice crackers and rice cakes are my friend. Eggs always work for me. If I mix veggies or spinach in I usually do pretty well. I have to go very easy on most kinds of nuts, but almonds are good. I NEVER eat apples, the skin gives me terrible gas and I go easy on the citrus, though I can have lemon juice in things. Anyway, that is a lot if details about me and I know you will be different, so I agree with everyone so far that has said it is a lot of trial and error. I am religious about my probiotic and digestive enzymes have helped with the over all experience.

I ate everything for the first 20-ish years, apart from Portobella mushrooms (had a terrible event with one in 2000; never again).

Last 3 years, specifically, I have to be more careful. My outlet gets a bit narrow, so hard to digest things are bad for me. I definitely avoid most nuts (for me, almonds are the WORST), seeds, corn, peas, mushrooms, quinoa (woah, THAT was an experience - glommed up into a horrid ball, I could barely get it out, flew out after I nearly stroked bearing down to get it out), bamboo shoots and water chestnuts... That's my no-no list.

After doing FODMAP, I confirmed that apples and stone fruits got me, as well as the galactans: beans and I don't do well together. I have to watch lactose, as I'm intolerant, but I can usually tolerate cheese and yogurt.

I limit high fiber raw foods, like cabbage and carrots, but tolerate nearly all veggies cooked. My best fruit is strawberries, and I'm ok with cantaloupe and bananas and grapes. Increased output with watermelon (and tends to be block-y (fiber), and fresh oranges are also a no-no that works to block me.

Can usually eat a few bites of everything but my worst offenders, though, so if I'm DYING for a taste of orange, I can eat 1-2 slices, things like that.

I go between 4-10 times a day, depending on various reasons, but even 10 times doesn't bother me badly, because I can defer it, and it doesn't take me too long to evacuate, normally. I either sleep thru the night, or get up once, if I eat late, or have a glass of wine late.

Wow Rachel,
Your diet sounds almost exactly like mine and I have a k pouch!
I guess that having a narrowed exit would mimic the same challenges that k pouchers deal with getting anything to flow out of a tube.
I do really well with a hand held blender most days...the stuff that is really problematic but I love gets thrown in with a little fluid or juice and blended down to a smoothie...things like pineapple and other mega fiberous fruits and certain salads that get turned into gaspacho (cold veggie soups).
Hope you are doing well
Sharon

Hi, I'm new here, so thank you for having me, I think from reading the posts, that the one thing we all have in common (beside the pouch is lack of guidance regarding diet.

I have had my pouch for the last 16 years( since the age of 16) and it took a lot of time and painful attempts to find out what works and what not.

For me it is a lot like GinLyn, no cabbage, no passion fruit or other things with rough grains, certain greens.

As for things that help get through the day if it is a problem finding a clean 00:
Rice crisps( preferably chocolate covered ones these are plain miracle for me and sometimes even heal a sore belly.
Bread, pasta.

When I get home I eat my vegetables and plenty of it, because I feel safer.