Corn on the cob

I eat it all the time. I don't remember how soon after takedown that I tried it though. You should be fine....just start out with a small ear and see how it goes. For some reason it makes my stools very watery the next day.

Just asked my surgeon. She said no. Told me try brocoli or something first. This would be my first vegetable since takedown. So no corn tonight for me. Bummer. Oh well

What kind of luck have you been having so far with the other foods you've ate? If you haven't had much luck, corn on the cob probably won't work for you either. I eat it once in awhile, it just goes right through me though for the most part, same with popcorn too. That's not what I'd call "dangerous," but I wish it like many other foods would stick around longer. Try chewing it as best you can, that might help.

Cate87,

Corn is a problem food that comes out undigested even for many coloned people, and this was discussed by my CCFA support group last night. Everyone at that group, including those with J pouches, ileostomies and with UC, see corn in their stool.

There is no reason to rush things and push the envelope. Eventually, you will be able to eat corn. I personally love corn on the cob and eat it all the time. You, in due course and at the approriate time when your Doc feels you are ready, will be able to try it. Just be patient for now. I know it is probably hard because it's summer and everyone is having barbecues, graduation parties, wedding parties etc. but you just have to ease back a little bit on the throttle. You will have corn in the future, don't worry, you just are not ready yet.

Absolutely try it! With any new food that you are skeptical of, eat a small amount of it and see how you do. There are no 'bad' foods or time limits on when to introduce them. Corn does not digest, even in coloned people. The only difference is their stool is compact and they can't see it, whereas you will be able to see it pass. Enjoy both!

Sue

Chew more with stuff like corn. The issue isn't the corn it's that it doesn't break down well. You can help yourself by chewing the crap out of it before swallowing. This goes for anything you eat. You'd be surprised how many problems you can avoid for yourself by just chewing your food well.

I also agree that there are no bad foods. If your doctor said no to corn then you should listen to her. Many of us have been told that we can eat whatever we want. Have you noticed any problematic foods? You could start a food diary and see what foods work and which don't (at this point in time). Add one new food at a time so if you have a problem you'll be able to pinpoint it. Since things go through our systems so quickly you could probably try a new food daily.

As you've read, start out with a small amount and chew well. (I don't chew well at all and I don't have any problems.) So try broccoli (or cauliflower?). (Did your surgeon say why broccoli was alright but corn wasn't? Is it because of the insoluable fiber? Or do you have something going on that makes her cautious?) I don't think that corn is a problem food because it seems to come out undigested - it is totally normal to see the insoluable bits and pieces.

BTW - I had vegetables while I was still IN the hospital after my takedown.

kathy

Again, it just goes to show how different all doctors opinions are. Your surgeon said no and my surgeon told me there are no food restrictions after takedown. I don't think there are any right or wrong answers when it comes to this stuff but if your surgeon said no then you have to listen to her. You will get to enjoy some soon enough!

I had my takedown April 16th, had corn on the cob the other night! Gave me very watery diarrhea, and pain when I finally passed the corn! No blockage though, so I will be trying it again. Just going to wait a little while longer! Good Luck

quote:

You'd be surprised how many problems you can avoid for yourself by just chewing your food well.

There is definitely something to be said for this. I am by nature a scarfer, a person who wolfs down the food, and I sort of had to retrain myself especially after the early post-takedown blockages caused by rushing things in my opinion. The blockages were what taught me the proper eating etiquette lessons that my parents never could. 28 chews and then a swallow.

I guess I'm a dummy. The last person I'd ask about my diet would be my surgeon. I figure the surgeon would say the "better safe than sorry" advice. My surgeon just sent a dietician to my room before discharge. The basic advice amounted to "go easy."

I went easy, but never avoided any particular food.

Jan

I love corn on the cob and eat it whenever I can. That said, when you're first starting out, go easy. I didn't eat it at all with my ostomy since I had had several blockages, so shortly after I got my j-pouch, I happened to be at a BBQ and ate two back to back; first I had in a couple of years. The next 24 hours was a little rough, though I wasn't blocked, just in the bathroom a lot. Since then, I've made a decision not to be too overzealous with my corn eating. One is often enough.

The point is, chew, eat slowly, and don't overdo it, and you'll be fine.

You can try this: take a sharp knife and run it through each row of kernels. Really -- it's how I tried corn on the cob in the early years and seemed to do the trick. I don't do it anymore and still have no problems, but like noted above, chewing is the real key.