Eat!  Enjoy your food again!  My son is on his second j-pouch.  I think maybe same pouch, second connection.  After being on clear liquids for 6 weeks, he dove right into the food.  I think the first thing he had was a slice of pizza, and lasagna and it went down from there!  He pretty much eats what he wants and his handling it very well.  Just limit the quantity.  We were out to dinner in NYC last week and the kid ate BBQ at a great restaurant!  He couldn't eat his entire meal, but he ate 1/2 of it.  He was fine.  I would suggest being smart about what you eat and don't go nuts, but you should be able to tolerate most anything, just watch the fat!  Enjoy food again!

Jeffsmom posted:

Eat!  Enjoy your food again!  My son is on his second j-pouch.  I think maybe same pouch, second connection.  After being on clear liquids for 6 weeks, he dove right into the food.  I think the first thing he had was a slice of pizza, and lasagna and it went down from there!  He pretty much eats what he wants and his handling it very well.  Just limit the quantity.  We were out to dinner in NYC last week and the kid ate BBQ at a great restaurant!  He couldn't eat his entire meal, but he ate 1/2 of it.  He was fine.  I would suggest being smart about what you eat and don't go nuts, but you should be able to tolerate most anything, just watch the fat!  Enjoy food again!

How is your son doing I hope all is better I've been praying for you both 

100% agree with Jeff's Mom...

I eat out quite a bit here...work obligations, family and friends all contribute to the need to eat out (although I love to cook and eat most food groups with a few restrictions).

A friend asked the same quesiton last week...I said that the only restaurants where I couldn't find anything to eat was the really fancy, expensive 2 and 3 star restaurants...where things get a bit complicated (and very expensive).

It is usually easy to find a couple of meals in each category...meat, fish or chicken, steamed veggies, a salad and ice cream or lava cake for dessert.

Soups are great, pasta too (unless you are on a diet) and just about every place I go has grilled meats.

Enjoy and stop worrying...

Sharon

I never limit the kinds of foods/drinks I have.  I just know that some of them will give me a challenge as they work their way through my digestive tract.  I use a barrier cream to help and I know that once a culprit food is out of me......everything returns to my "new normal"!  My surgeon did not believe in denying yourself foods you enjoy.  Just be prepared!

Sharon and CeeeCeee you guys are absolutely right !! And you too Jeffsmom... I have enough stress in my life and I'm making food one more bigger problem that I don't need 

I think generally too much focus is placed by new J Pouchers on what foods they can digest well, as opposed to what foods and food categories are generally not good for optimal pouch health.  Rice seems to be very popular from a digestive standpoint- almost everyone can handle it- but carbs are not good for the pouch, and sugar is worse.  I am like CeeCee, I do not limit foods based on what I digest well or not, but rather based on their health value to my Pouch and my body.  As a result I do not eat a lot of carbs and sugars.  I gave up potatoes, rice, bread, pasta, noodle dishes.  I just don't eat them.  I eat fruit and yogurt and a lot of salads, and for dinner I will eat meat (chicken, pork, seafood), which I like to make grilled with a fresh salsa, and fresh vegetables.  I gave up desserts, sodas, and anything that has a lot of sugar in it.  It does make a difference if you have or run into pouch inflammation or SIBO down the road.  A strategy that focuses on foods that digest well is generally short-sighted, first because it could lead to bad bacterial levels building over time, thereby causing inflammation, and second because the Pouch changes and adapts and will digest foods it once didn't in the early days.   Much of my thinking has been guided by chronic inflammation in my Pouch for over 20 years that was finally put in remission by Remicade, and experimentation with different diets including the Paleo diet, which I eat a modified version of to this date.

I have studied a lot of different diets and researched various authorities and attended lectures given by registered dieticians, and I am convinced that whole foods diets are the best way to go.  The heavily processed foods that are prevalent in modern western civilization and to a greater extent in the USA than in other countries are extremely bad for one's general health, stoke inflammatory bowel disease, and many would argue are responsible for the incidence of IBD in the industrialized countries in the first place.  I have slowly grown to accept this line of thinking, and have adapted my diet accordingly.  I think back to my diet as a kid growing up, and it was almost unthinkably bad, but not really any different than any other American kid growing up as I did in the 1960s and 1970s.  As a kid, my lunch would often consist of twinkies, devil dogs and Strawberry Nestle's Quik mixed with milk.  Other kids were eating the same crap.  These foods are highly processed and filled with addictive preservatives and additives which are designed to artificially increase one's appetite.  Hence the absurd levels of obesity in the USA (they made movies about it like "Super Size Me").  Obesity also breeds heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and other problems, but also are at the root of causing and/or worsening inflammatory bowel disease.

Sorry for being a party pooper but I think it all depends. I think I had a genetic predisposition towards UC as my father had it. I think that food intolerances triggered it.

After my takedown had settled down, I was eating all and sundry but after about 12 months I started to pass blood again. I tried all sorts of anti-biotic rotations and tried limiting foods but until I stuck to the low FODMAP diet, nothing seemed to work. I now believe even with my bowel resection, food intolerances affect me although my operations did give me a free pass for a while.

If you felt that food intolerance was part of the story before your operations then restricting those foods post-op would be prudent. Now that you are healthy again, the restrictions might be enough to stop any regression to pre-op symptoms.

CTBarrister posted:

I think generally too much focus is placed by new J Pouchers on what foods they can digest well, as opposed to what foods and food categories are generally not good for optimal pouch health.  Rice seems to be very popular from a digestive standpoint- almost everyone can handle it- but carbs are not good for the pouch, and sugar is worse.  I am like CeeCee, I do not limit foods based on what I digest well or not, but rather based on their health value to my Pouch and my body.  As a result I do not eat a lot of carbs and sugars.  I gave up potatoes, rice, bread, pasta, noodle dishes.  I just don't eat them.  I eat fruit and yogurt and a lot of salads, and for dinner I will eat meat (chicken, pork, seafood), which I like to make grilled with a fresh salsa, and fresh vegetables.  I gave up desserts, sodas, and anything that has a lot of sugar in it.  It does make a difference if you have or run into pouch inflammation or SIBO down the road.  A strategy that focuses on foods that digest well is generally short-sighted, first because it could lead to bad bacterial levels building over time, thereby causing inflammation, and second because the Pouch changes and adapts and will digest foods it once didn't in the early days.   Much of my thinking has been guided by chronic inflammation in my Pouch for over 20 years that was finally put in remission by Remicade, and experimentation with different diets including the Paleo diet, which I eat a modified version of to this date.

I have studied a lot of different diets and researched various authorities and attended lectures given by registered dieticians, and I am convinced that whole foods diets are the best way to go.  The heavily processed foods that are prevalent in modern western civilization and to a greater extent in the USA than in other countries are extremely bad for one's general health, stoke inflammatory bowel disease, and many would argue are responsible for the incidence of IBD in the industrialized countries in the first place.  I have slowly grown to accept this line of thinking, and have adapted my diet accordingly.  I think back to my diet as a kid growing up, and it was almost unthinkably bad, but not really any different than any other American kid growing up as I did in the 1960s and 1970s.  As a kid, my lunch would often consist of twinkies, devil dogs and Strawberry Nestle's Quik mixed with milk.  Other kids were eating the same crap.  These foods are highly processed and filled with addictive preservatives and additives which are designed to artificially increase one's appetite.  Hence the absurd levels of obesity in the USA (they made movies about it like "Super Size Me").  Obesity also breeds heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and other problems, but also are at the root of causing and/or worsening inflammatory bowel disease.

I'm only almost 7 weeks post takedown and I was told that rice potatoes white bread basically starchy carbs are my friend and try not to consume veggies fresh or canned because of the high in fiber and cause running stools to be honest I'm totally lost I've been eating grilled chicken on a bun and mash potatoes or white rice literally for 5/6 weeks now and rice cakes with peanut butter and that's about it if you have any ideas that I should try I would love to hear from you please feel free to PM me I value everyone's opinion and advice on here I would really appreciate it 

Those foods are good for you in the immediate post-takedown from the digestive standpoint. I was told to eat the same things when I had takedown in 1992. However whether those foods will be beneficial as part of your diet long term is a huge question mark. It's well established beyond dispute that sugars and carbs feed bad bacteria in your gut. Whether that becomes a problem in your specific case remains to be seen. 7 weeks is a very short period of time to be on any diet. I believe the available data shows that a drastic reduction in sugar and carbs in cases of SIBO will generally not reduce bacterial levels for 6 months to a year. Most people want instant results and instant and noticeable gratification from any diet but science teaches that is not how it works.

As was mentioned previously the application of any diet to any individual may produce varying results. The best advice is to experiment with what works keeping in mind things can change over time. I strongly believe any diet rich in simple carbs and sugar is not going to be good for any J Pouch over time. This is really fundamental science and anatomy. Look at a picture of a J pouch and understand that there is no backsplash valve like there was in the colon. That means bacteria in your stool is going to be back splashed into your ileum. That bacteria includes bad bacteria that feeds on sugar and carbs. 

I will just chime in that I find food tolerances to be a highly individual issues. There are general guidelines for new pouchers, but the keyword there is "guidelines."  The point is, you will not know how a food will affect you until you try it. Also keep in mind that tolerances can and do change over time. Don't be afraid to try things out first. Also, don't feel that just because one doctor or poucher tells you a food isn't well tolerated, doesn't mean that you personally cannot eat it.

For the most part, I've been pretty lucky in that I can generally eat most of the things I enjoy in moderation. However, over the years, based on pouch and digestive function as well as adhesions which have caused partial blockages, I have tailored my diet to reduce my intake of sugar, cut out white bread and pasta, almost completely eliminate meat intake (I eat almost no meat anymore, although I still eat fish, eggs, and dairy) and ensure that I am not eating founds considered high in roughage that could exacerbate a blockage.  I have also had to systematically eliminate certain foods that I previously loved as they caused watery stool (coffee) and excess gas (raw green peppers). Now, it doesn't mean I NEVER eat these things, it just means that I do so very rarely, and that I also do so knowing the potential consequences. I mean, I will still once in a while eat pasta, with no real problems, though if  were to eat it several days in a row, I might get pretty bunged up. Same with pizza. A slice here an there in moderation isn't going to kill me, though again, if I ate pizza a couple of times in a row, though, it's a trip to gas land, butt burn, and increased frequency. In the end though, how did I arrive at the above? Trial and error. I would have no idea what to eat/not to eat, if I didn't try it in the first place.

It may be worthwhile for you to keep a food diary in the early stages. It can be time consuming, but it will give you a clue as to how your pouch handles certain foods. It'll also give you a good indication of trade offs. You may not have perfect function after you eat something, but the key is whether or not you can tolerate the "unwanted side effects" of some foods. They may be mild and something you can put up with from time to time, if you really love a certain food. 

So get out there and don't be afraid to eat!

Thank you spooky I really appreciate your story on trial and error with your pouch and yes your right ill never until I try it would you recommend the foods I want to try should I be home and I hear people apply barrier creams on their bottoms before eating new foods ? Lol kinda crazy question 

I just wish I had a personal chef to make me these meals. I think if I did I would be more apt to eat better. I am a person that works 11 hours a day and always on the go. Its very hard to have well prepared meals. A lot of eating is done on the go, which entails fast food joints or a lot of processed foods. And I am a single guy that doesn't cook so that doesn't help my cause either. I wish this was just easier to do. I grew up not eating great but I am still only 150 lbs and 5'8. I have never had a weight problem. I don't eat a lot of candy or drink a lot of sugary drinks but I do love my bread, pasta, and pizza . PLEASE HELP ME..lol

There are no silly questions. Barrier cream is always a good thing to have on hand. I still occasionally get butt burn and I'm over 8 years out from surgery.  Since you are still early in your takedown, most surgeons would recommend that you use barrier cream on a regular basis, at least for the first few months. So definitely, go ahead and use it, whether you are trying a new food or not.

If you are particularly worried about trying a food with your pouch for the first time, for peace of mind you may want to try the food while you are at home, or a least in an environment where you know you will have easy access to a washroom.  Translation: don't eat a burrito and then take a 2 hour car trip. That probably wouldn't be considered a good choice.

Pouchomarx posted:

I just wish I had a personal chef to make me these meals. I think if I did I would be more apt to eat better. I am a person that works 11 hours a day and always on the go. Its very hard to have well prepared meals. A lot of eating is done on the go, which entails fast food joints or a lot of processed foods. And I am a single guy that doesn't cook so that doesn't help my cause either. I wish this was just easier to do. I grew up not eating great but I am still only 150 lbs and 5'8. I have never had a weight problem. I don't eat a lot of candy or drink a lot of sugary drinks but I do love my bread, pasta, and pizza . PLEASE HELP ME..lol

I was thinking the Same exact thing a few days ago about a personal chef .. I'm a self taught cook and I just loss the feeling to cook anymore I would post pics of my BBQ and other dishes on Instagram that I prepared and when I scroll through old pics the food I use to cook doesn't even seem like I made it I hope I can get that feeling back to cook and make people  happy with my food 

Poucho there are food services out there that will deliver personal meals to your door!  Expensive but might be worth a try. Let me think on the names of a few of the national ones. Nutrasystem comes to mind off the top of my head. Its a diet and all but at least its health stuff.  Also in the grocery stores there are salad bars with fresh salads and stuff. Just a suggestion.  I dont know if you can eat salad Jeffrey doesnt eat veges, but if can, its a thought. And slow down, lufe us too short to work that much!

dianne

Sonnyj thank you for adking about jeffrey. He is doing ok for now.  Spoke with surgeon yesterday and they want to do drain procedure next week.  Really this week but my husband and i went to Florida. Nurse said it was okay to go!  So we went. Anyway he was okay enough for us to leave him for a week. We will get through this latest complucation one way or another!  Thank you for asking!  

For me cooking is all about having the ingredients around me...if I have the spices and herbs and all of the goodies that give taste and pleasure then I have the courage to cook...if I have to make lists and go running out shopping then I am defeated in advance.

I am a great believer in frozen veggies, pre-freezing portions of meat or fish and pre-mixing spices. Then all I have to do is throw a whole bunch of stuff together in a pan or pot.

By the way, leftovers are my friends...I make lots of extra food, ziplock it or freeze it or pack it up nice an cozy for a future date when I am in no condition to cook.

Don't knock yourself out if you are not in the mood to cook...we live in a world where just about everything is at the tip of your fingers...if you can click or dial then you can eat well!

Sharon

In my senior years I've become someone who hates cooking.  Found it is more palatable to purchase interesting foods already cooked and combine them to make interesting meals.  Expensive, but worth it.  I don't exclude any food and I'm not the healthiest of eaters....I've never met a food I didn't like!  After three consecutive years of ulcerative colitis "Hell", I welcome crunchy salads and raw veggies.  They are better tasting and more appetizing to me than any dessert!

CeeeeCeeee posted:

In my senior years I've become someone who hates cooking.  Found it is more palatable to purchase interesting foods already cooked and combine them to make interesting meals.  Expensive, but worth it.  I don't exclude any food and I'm not the healthiest of eaters....I've never met a food I didn't like!  After three consecutive years of ulcerative colitis "Hell", I welcome crunchy salads and raw veggies.  They are better tasting and more appetizing to me than any dessert!

I love when I read people that's on her and so free spirited and enjoy their lives and eat what they want I want to gain that courage and become that strong I want to eat different foods and go back to what I use to love and that's cook but I sadly lost the feeling.. Like I said in other postings I just become more down at night time and the BMs are more often then in the day and that's what scares me to eat what I want .. I'm 8 weeks post takedown and I don't know what I should be experiencing honestly 

At 8 weeks post takedown uncertainty is just about universal. Maybe try breakfast as your bigger meal (instead of dinner) as an experiment, to try to alter that rhythm you've developed. In any case, there's no need to be scared of food, IMO. Just notice what you're eating and how it's going.

Scott F.... For weeks I start at noon one Imodium 30 minutes later Metamucil wafers then two rice cakes with peanut butter and then at 3 pm I go to Applebee's I have a grilled chicken sandwich with Swiss and white rice and at 6pm another Imodium and wafers then rice cakes with PB around 7pm and I don't eat anymore till noon the next day that's my sad routine everyday but I will say Tuesday I had 4 BMs only and I must say I was so happy 

I'm 10 weeks post takedown and I've been eating pretty much everything I can get my hands on!  It doesn't all agree with me and my BMs range from 6-12/day.  But, I'm trying everything and keeping a food/BM journal in the Notes section on my iPhone so that I can figure out what works and what doesn't.  I tried sticking with super bland, low fiber foods but that was hard to do.  It's so boring.  I love food and don't want to be so limited.  So, I'm trying stuff and figuring it out as I go.  

I just joined this site today and so far I have gained a lot of insight into what works for others that I can try for myself.  I haven't tried Meta Wafers yet but I'll be picking them up today and testing out what times of day are best to take them for me.  I'm also going to try and cut way back on sugary and spicy foods.  I have a HUGE sweet tooth and love putting hot sauce on pretty much everything so this will be hard.  But, if it's between eating candy or hot wings and going to the bathroom 10 times a day OR not eating candy or hot wings and going 5 times, I'm choosing no candy/hot wings every time.  But that doesn't mean no candy or hot wings ever.  Just limiting it to sometimes.  I'm also going to try and eat 5-6 smaller meals instead of 3 big meals.  See if that works. 

One thing that I know works for me is taking two Imodium and eating a banana before each meal.  I buy 5-6 yellow bananas and 5-6 green ones each week.  Then I have some for the whole week and don't have to worry about them going bad.  By the time I finish the yellow ones the green ones have turned yellow and are ready to eat.  I keep some at home and some at work so I always have one available.  I also like to add apple sauce to that regiment if I have it handy.  Then I eat what I want and update my food/BM journal and see how I feel.  

Like many people on this site say, it's all about trial and error.  I know it can really stink having to go to the bathroom 10+ times a day and dealing with gas and butt burn.  But, in the long run you'll know what works for you and be able to eat a much larger range of foods.  So, keep the flushable moist wipes and Calmoseptine close and eat away!  

P.S. 

If you are fresh out from your take down, flushable moist wipes and Calmoseptine should be your best friend.  You can find flushable moist wipes in almost any store near the toilet paper.  Calmoseptine is an ointment that you apply post BM clean up (aka wiping).  Make sure the "area" is dry before applying.  A little bit goes a long way.  

Also, if you are having issues with leakage try putting pads in your underwear.   The same pads woman use for their monthly visitor.  Being a guy, I had no idea the selection available for pads.  My wife really opened my eyes.  I've found that the thinner pads work fine and don't bother me as much when I'm sleeping.  Using them has saved me from so much more laundry.  

I've written much more than I planned here.  I guess I had a lot to say.  I'm going to re-post this info in a new post.  Thanks for listening!  I hope some/all of this info helps!