Hello all, I know some foods that I am able to with no disruption to the number of bathroom visits or added gas (the worst, right??). I can eat well cooked vegetables (other than corn and beans), but am having trouble with fruits. I always cut skins off and don't eat fruits with seeds, like strawberries, but I still seem to have issues with some fruit, like apples. There has to be some fruit that is easier for us J-Pouchers to eat (besides bananas--I am tired of those).
Any ideas? Thank you!
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When I was having my pouch done (back in 79') I had some great nurses who taught me the laws of 'intake-output'...meaning what goes in, must come out.
So I learned about bulk and texture...I eat a lot of proteins with a green (over cooked) veggie for my meals ex: grilled chicken breast and green beans, ground meat & salad, smoked salmon and salad...I buy lots of frozen green veggie purées (not sure if they are available around where you are but just blend the cooked veggies with an immersion blender)...I eat a lot of squashes (very pouch friendly) but beware of the stringy ones....not good.
Zucchini, broccoli, eggplant, artichokes, green beans, orange or yellow squash with any meat, fish or chicken does me great.
But I am a k poucher who does not do well with most carbs...you may prefer a bulkier diet which means that maybe more sweet potatoes or puréed potatoes will help you in that area.
When I am antsy, sick or just cranky I make a pot of Basmati rice and eat it with sauce (canned or bottled is fine, I like the curries and spicy kind but that is just personal taste) or toast some whole grain bread with melted cheese on it...very satisfying.
For school lunches (I teach) I only eat Greek yogurt & banana...I cannot afford to be in the bathroom during the day (the installations are not the best for me) so I need very low residue, low gas...low everything...this allows me to eat and run and not have to deal with my pouch for 4-6hrs.
It is rather restrictive but that is the price that I pay for wanting to keep working.
Peanut or nut butter are a Godsend too...put them on toast, a bagel or banana and you are good to go.
Sharon
Hello, Lin.
Are you able to eat peaches, pears, or plums? If you cannot eat them raw, maybe try broiling, baking, or poaching them so they are cooked to the point of soft, and is broken down a bit so you can digest. You could cut them in half, leave the skin on to hold it together, sprinkle cinnamon, nutmeg or honey, put on a small baking dish and add a few tablespoons of water. Put dish under the broiler, or even a toaster oven, for three minutes (keep very CLOSE watch on it because it could burn quickly, keep checking every three minutes, or leave the door open), and leave in if not ready yet. It should be soft and bubbly. Poke it with a knife or fork to test softness.
Or cut a pear in half and poach it in a small pot. Google for recipes. I can only eat an apple if it's baked (leave the apple whole but remove 3/4 length of the core, and into the hole put cinnamon, nutmeg, a bit of butter, maple syrup or honey, add few tablespoons of water in the baking dish so the fruit doesn't burn. Sit the apple upright in the dish and bake until it is soft).
Can you try ripe cantaloupe or honeydew melon? Or ripe papaya. There are recipes using papaya in soup! Last summer when my pouch was still new I ate watermelon very carefully, and was okay. Or peel all your fruits and make into smoothies with almond milk or soy milk and cinnamon (I always have chunks of frozen banana in my freezer to add to smoothies for thickness). Add Greek yoghurt or tofu for protein. As your pouch matures and becomes used to all foods and fruits, your diet will expand. I can't eat citrus fruits such as grapefruit or oranges, but I keep trying every few weeks. Don't give up! Everyday you'll get better.
Thank you for your reply skin69. First of all, I am so happy to hear you have had your pouch since '79! That's inspiring. I am also a teacher with not-great bathroom facilities or the time to spend in them and I actually eat much like you do-greek yogurt, bananas, peanut and nut butters, especially at school. At home--lean protein, well cooked veggies (and too much sugar. It doesn't affect trips to the bathroom and something I am working on cutting down). Going out to eat is tough-finding plainer foods and not eating all of the meal, but I am doing my best. Also--no fried foods.
Thank you for the great ideas winterberry! I like pears and don't seem to have a problem with them. I am not sure about melon and apples. Maybe it's the time of day I eat them (late afternoon). I will try different times of day. Cooking them may help, too. It would be nice to eat healthy, like people with colons are able, with lots of fruit and veggies.
Lin,
Do you have an immersion blender (not sure of the name in North America)...It looks like a stick with a head with blades in it on the bottom...you plug it in and put it directly into the pot or bowl filled with fruits or veggies (cut, chopped or cooked first!) and wishhhhh...in 30-60secs things are blended.
I like it for veggies soups...I throw chunks of veggies into a stew pot, add herbs and boiling water and wishhhhhh....I have a creamy soup with no cream in it! Much more dietetic and delicious...Easy too...I have a graded jug with a handle that is my favorite...I throw ripe bananas in along with berries etc a few drops of juices and some crushed ice and I have my summer lunch (you can add Greek yogurt if you like for some protein)...do my salads that way too.
It allows you to eat healthy with breaking the bank or putting your health in danger.
Sharon
I want to throw my two cents in since I'm approaching 5 healthy years with a JPouch, but first I want to just say thank you to Sharon. I've been frequenting these forums for years now and probably should be contributing much more often than I have been...but it always warms my heart to see your unending messages of kindness, wisdom and hope to both new members and old.
Lin, as far as fruits and veggies go, take it slowly with what you introduce back into your diet. In my first year I struggled finding appropriate fruits and mainly ate applesauce, bananas and loads of nut butters especially peanut butter. I couldn't do stringy veggies like yams or celery and even now still try to avoid large quantities of them. I loved roasting broccoli, cauliflower and asparagus during my second and third years to help break down the resistant fibers and because roasting veggies tastes great! Steaming veggies should also be your best new friend. You can steam broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, potatoes, carrots, asparagus, kale, spinach and other leafy greens etc. Just add enough seasoning if you prefer it that way and see how you do.
Over the years I've slowly reintroduced almost every type of fruit including pineapple, nectarines (skinned), oranges, mangos, papaya, grapes, cantaloupe, honeydew, kiwi fruit, cherries, avocados, you name it!
The key I've found is ultimately learning how to understand your individual level of balance/equilibrium with your food choices and your bathroom habits. Over time your portion sizes will become second nature and you will just know what kind of foods to mix to ensure proper bulk for your pouch. One thing that is incredibly important going forward though is a healthy selection of pro and prebiotic rich foods. Always start in small quantities and increase to an amount that you feel comfortable with. Probiotics are fermented foods like kimchi, sourkraut, pickled garlic, sourdough bread and pickled grapes. Prebiotics are fiber heavy foods like asparagus, spinach, and cabbage that help nurture your microbiota (bacteria inside your intestines). If you can tolerate dairy, kefir (a sour yogurt type fermented drink) can work wonders as a nighttime probiotic snack along with some almonds, walnuts, and a dab of honey for sweetness. One culture that's particularly heavy on the fermented foods is the Korean culture so I would suggest seeking out the nearest Korean market and exploring the wide diversity of kimchis and other pickled goodies to choose from. Always remember balance in food choices and try to eat several small meals and snacks throughout the day as opposed to very large meals. Take it a day at a time my friend and good luck!
Matt
Thanks Matt, You are so sweet...
I come here (selfishly) to help because when I had my pouch done, internet did not exist, there were no support networks, groups or pouch-friendly help to be found...and I was terrified, lost, alone, confused and embarrassed to tell anyone about my 'deformity', handicap etc...I survived...but just barely and committed incomparable sins of the pouch, eating the wrong foods, dehydrating regularly, putting my pouch at risk constantly...so now, I come to help and teach those that I can, when I can.
It helps me to feel pouch-useful!
Sharon
I'm very inspired reading the replies. My J-Pouch surgery was in 2014. Since then, I've had so many digestive issues with burning, rashes, gas and cramping, , bloody stools etc.
In response, I've simply whittled down my diet to the bare basics. I'm a chef/restaurant owner...so life is busy with little or no time for bathroom visits. Not that anyone else has time for that either!
So, I eat eggs, chicken, small amounts of beef,, seafood, some shellfish, white rice, gluten free toast, applesauce and that's about it. I can drink very small amounts of tomato juice and do have lactose free steamed milk in my morning latte.
Two days a week, I have clear liquids only. That's to give my gut and bum skin a rest.
At work, we blanch fresh veggies and occasionally at the end of the day, I drink the veggie "tea". They used to call that pot liquor.
I've tried steaming the life out of veggies and fruits, also tried extracting, cold pressing, pulverizing, blending and spinning. All efforts to cram foods into my poor gut, that it was no longer able to process.
Since I gave up on "Healthy Eating" and adopted pain free eating, I've been gastro and colorectal surgeon free not to mention pain, cramp, burn and bleed free.
But it's not a healthy diet according to today's standards!
For me, it seems to cover the bases. I feel pretty healthy and quite free in eating what I can digest easily.
Might not be the best solution.
As I say, I'm impressed by the earlier diets mentioned. I had no luck with all that. I likely didn't give it a good try.
AKT2
Sounds like you found what works for you, and that is all that anybody could possibly ask for...
People need to stop doing what 'standardize medicine' tells them is healthy...we are not standard...We are 'above standard' and therefore need to custom make our diets...yours sounds perfect...
Mine is somewhat similar...mostly proteins with the extra bonus that my body loves both the steamed veggies and the veggie 'tea' (didn't know that it actually had a name)...I've been drinking it for years...it holds all of those lovely vitamins too.
Sharon
Hello, MHG26. Are you able to process kimchi? I used to eat it before my surgery and loved it. I hesitate to buy it now because of the chili, which I fear will burn on the way out and cause skin issues again, and because the cabbage might not break down. I try Brussels sprouts all the time but no luck yet. Kimchi doesn't bother your pouch? I eat sourdough bread with almond butter for breakfast. Would like to know how kimchi affects anyone here.
Hi Winterberry, sorry to hear you're having some trouble with Brussels sprouts. They are tough for most normal digestive tracts as it is and especially for pouchers. I can only eat them in small portions as long as I mix them with some white rice or another starch like a potato and some light protein like fish, ground turkey or chicken. I do handle kimchi relatively well although at times it can cause a little butt burn. Like what Sharon mentioned above, you have to find what works best with you and your body and keep trying to make a little progress at a time with new foods or foods that might be scary.
One way I sometimes will eat kimchi or other tough veggies is to take a knife and cut up all the large chunks of cabbage, etc into smaller mini pieces so they're easier for the tract to handle. You could also do what Sharon suggested above and use an immersion blender to make a sort of veggie soup or juice. Although I generally prefer to let my teeth do the work and eat whole pieces to help contribute to the overall bulk within my tract. The juicing is a great strategy to extract the micronutrients from tough to digest veggies like spinach or kale however for me I find I need to be careful because it generally runs right through me. As it is with mostly everything else I've found-everything in moderation goes a long way.
One kimchi I absolutely love is a type of radish kimchi which comes cut up into thin strips which makes it even easier to further cut up. I've only had it a number of times after my brother recently purchased it, but it had fantastic flavors and helped keep me regular. I can't stay away from that intense garlic and chili flavor! It's very unfortunate that when we flare or have problems, some of what I feel to be the most important foods that actually aid our systems and tame inflammmation (the fermented veggies and fruits) are some of the types that docs tell us to be wary of because of all the heavy fiber. It's quite the paradox. In any case, don't fear the butt burn and keep trying new things until you find what works for you, kimchi and anything elsel!
Matt
Hello, Matt. Thank you for the suggestion -- I will look for kimchi that is more finely sliced, and do further dicing at home. I also miss that garlic chili flavour. It's so good in pasta or stirred into hot soup, even in a sandwich!
Oatmeal works great for me.
Hello, AKT2.
In your restaurant if you have access to bones you could make bone broth! I have jars of homemade bone broth in my fridge all the time and have one jar a day, adding rice and well cooked carrots or sometimes yam noodles to the broth. For some reason it keeps me "normal". If I run out of the broth and go a week without then I start to have real problems with consistency. I don't know if it's because the broth is hydrating and has sodium, minerals, etc., but for me it works. Some butchers might give away bones for free, but most have wised up and charge a bit for bones.
Unfortunately like many other things, food and pouch function is highly individual. A food that may be fine for one person may cause numerous problems in another. It would be so much easier if there was one universal diet for pouchers to follow, unfortunately that is not the case. When I first had my colon removed, I was referred to a dietitian. She suggested keeping a food diary for at least 30 days, where you literally write down everything you eat and drink, and I do mean everything. You then also write down any symptoms you had (higher frequency, excess gas, watery stools, cramping, etc. You should do this in a side by side fashion - i.e. one page for the foods, and a page beside it for any symptoms). Although it sounds tedious, it is helpful, particularly if you are having issues and you don't know what food may be triggering it. With diary, you can then easily track back what you at and after the 30 days, go back and look if there are any common denominators (i.e. you had excess gas on 3 days and also ate green peppers on those 3 dates, for instance). Then you can eliminate or reduce those foods.
If you don't want to go the diary route, you can flat out try an elimination diet - i.e. no lactose for 7 days and see if there is a change; no refined sugars for 7 days and see if there is a change; no gluten, etc.
There are more simple solutions too, such as using Beano or digestive enzymes. Beano has been helpful for me for certain foods, particularly beans, onions, green peppers, cabbage, and pasta, but you must take it literally when you have the first bite of those foods or it won't work. Contrary to popular belief, Beano is not a gas eliminator; rather it is a digestive enzyme that helps your body break down and digest complex carbs so that gas doesn't form in the first place. If you've already developed gas, Beano won't do a thing.
Finally, I do recommend probiotics. Although research with respect to probiotics and pouchitis prevention/treatment is mixed, I find that I have far less gas and fewer frequency issues since I've been taken them. I have been taking Align now for 4 years and I'm happy with the results. Prior to that, I took the Jaimeson 4-Strain probiotic but Align seems to give me much better results. I've never tried VSL #3. It was prescribed for me, but unfortunately my drug plan doesn't cover it and it's too cost prohibitive for me to pay for out of pocket.
Good luck to you!
