Struggling daily with food intake. I eat, but no matter what goes in...my stomach is the size of a basketball within minutes. It's painful-big, stretched out, churning, noisy like a leaky pipe, and just miserable. I tend to go as long as I can without putting something in because of the peristalsis that begins the moment I swallow. I am dehydrated, skin is seemingly beyond repair with scales which no amount of lotion or topical medicine has touched, full-then suddenly starved because I emptied my pouch, have constant irritated perianal area because of the pressure of feeling like I have to go, low b-12-taking shots, severely anemic (getting infusions), elasticity in skin all over body has gone, sagging like I'm 100 years old, and just overall a walking mess. Going back to post surgical diet with soft foods, protein shakes, no dairy, etc. Is there any return from the poor nutrition? How long before it will make any difference?
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Hi Sharon,
Well there is only one thing that I know that you can try and it is a litte unconventional...the Fit for Life diet.
It is basically the separation of food groups to help digestion.
You just decide to either eat carbs or proteins for the meal...chicken or pasta, meat or potatoes but not both together.
The groups go like this:
Protein: Meat, fish, chicken, sea food, soya, eggs, pork, cheeses...
Carbs: Pasta, rice, potatoes, bread, all grains, pastry, crackers..
You choose one group per meal. You can eat vegetables with either group.
Fats and condiments are also neutrals so you can season things with butter, oil, vinager, mustard...
Avoid most sugars and diary if and when possible.
In the mornings you drink water, tea or coffee, fruit juices, eat fresh fruits but nothing else...that gives your body time to clear out your body and digestive system every morning...it is rather healing.
You only eat fruit before meals (up to 20 mins before), never after them due to digestion.
You can start out with simple protein meals, like just chicken breast seasoned with olive oil and herbs...
Or Mashed freshly steamed potatoes with olive oil and sea salt (olive oil will give your skin the needed fats to get back its elastisity).
Or soups...fresh vegetables in chicken broth or beef bone broth...Both wil get you the nutrition that you need.
Then build from there...
If you have any questions then just PM me.
Sharon
You've probably investigated this, but if not, consider pouchitis.
I had a run of about 6-10 months of all over abdominal pain, gas, cramping, belching, etc.. I would have sworn my gallbladder was going to explode. Rashes and increased arthritis too. All my labs looked good and the only thing that came up was pouchitis when I was scoped. Antibiotics put me into remission, more or less.
Jan 
Yes....you got it Jan. Doc says I have chronic pouchitis but I'm not responding to antibiotics�� What antibiotics did you take? We've tried the usual flagyl but didn't work this time. I've been on another antibiotic for sinus issues recently too. Before that for recurring UTIs. Glad someone is actually talking to me about being malnourished finally though....doc is really trying☺️
I have been rotating Cipro, Flayl and Rifaximin. The Rifaximin does not work as well as the others, so I combine it with Pepto Bismol.
When things were at their worst my "go-to," Flagyl, was not working very well, even at higher doses. So we combined Cipro and Flagyl for 10-14 days, then I started the rotation.
Don't forget, I also am on Imuran and Remicade now. Hoping to get off the antibiotics after induction.
There is hope, but for some, pouch failure is the result with pouch removal.
Jan