APPROPRIATE FOOD TO EAT AFTER COLON RESECTION SURGERY

I had 9" of my sigmoid colon removed in April and a procedure to correct scar tissue in late May (a setback). My doctor said I could eat anything. He was wrong. Dietitians, nurses, and other people who have had colon surgery recommend (easily digested) high protein for healing. That means protein shakes, eggs, Greek yogurt with no fruit, fish, fish, protein shakes, eggs, etc. Ideally, you need 80gm to 100gms of protein per day to heal your colon. The first time I was told that, I asked the dietician if she had lost her mind. She had not. Many experts have told me that is the ONLY thing that will heal my colon. They are right. It is working. I am healing. The only way I have found to get that much protein in each day is to have 2 protein shakes (30gms each - premier from Costco, not the best but it works and ready made). In addition to the 2 protein shakes, I have 3 eggs, 1 Fage 2% yogurt, salmon with mashed potatoes and green beans. If I didn't hit 100, I'd have another yogurt or fish. It worked. Important: do not eat fresh veggies or fruit for weeks, at least. Post op food is like pre- op food: over processed but as healthy as you can find. I used lots of salmon and cod because you can buy it frozen, but avoid farmed because of toxins. Frozen veggies but it needs to be somewhat over cooked because we can't digest well for a while after surgery. It does get better, just not fast. I did have it somewhat easier because I had laparoscopic and only 9" of my sigmoid colon removed. I, also, did not have cancer. I had long-term inflammation and infections that would not stop. On the down side, I vomited for many days after my surgery. They put a tube down my nose and throat and suctioned everything out of my stomach for a couple of days. When they took the tube out, we had to wait a day and a half with no food to make sure my stomach was ok. By then, I was getting hungry. I was very weak. I got to eat on day 8 after my surgery and went home after lunch. I did not have any protein shakes for weeks after I got home. My doctor's "eat whatever you want" made my life unnecessarily difficult. The good news is that I can eat fresh fruit without a problem. :):):) a big milestone this week, I ate fresh celery with hummus! This is a huge victory. I am having problems with bloating. I am needing to use mild laxatives. It is good progress. I'll be going to the gym and walking on the treadmill this week. A few weeks of walking more and working out with light weights should resolve the need to use laxatives. That is the plan. I lost a lot of muscle. It is still upsetting. I try to do some strengthening and I hurt a tendon or something. That is why I'll be starting with the treadmill. I wish you the best and am happy to share any info that might help. Peace, Bev No fresh produce, lots of VERY easily digested proteins, over cooked veggies and fruit (no prunes is what I heard). Nothing hard or crunchy. It is sore in there. But, it will get better. I

Mine is twenty-one years and counting.  Some things I've learned over the years that work for me: 
1.The purpose of fiber is to regulate the bowel movement texture, therefore it works to solidify loose stools as well as soften hard ones.  Fiber is my friend!  Good orange stuff!
2. Make sure I get plenty of B vitamins.  Several times a day.
3. Drink!  Drink!  Drink!  Water topped off with an inch or so of my favorite juice, soda, coffee, tea, etc. keeps hard water from irritating the lining of my stomach and making more acid.
4. I may never lose weight.  My metabolism was slow pre-surgery and is still extremely low despite a heavy work load (I run a cattle farm, garden, and keep my grandchildren every day in addition to keeping an eye on homebound relatives, housekeeping, putting up, and yard work). 
5. Sleep.  It's a great healer.  My family will (have to) understand.
6. I thank God every day for the miracles He put into place that night in order to save my life.  I really didn't expect to be living a near-normal life ever again.  I lost ten feet of small intestine, half the lower one, and both ovaries.  Yeah, I went through menopause at the same time, plus had all the back muscles pulled off the bones in my back.  You'd never know now.
I hope this helps someone. 

Hi , went to he gastro dr even thro I did not want to. Well, he saide try probiotics theey help your small intestines. The meds Levisin and lomotil he saide I could tae Lomotil 3x a day. Will let all know how this probiotics work hoping for the bet. This will be my life he saide . If i would have had just some inches removed it would be alot better. I a lucky to be alive. Just must go on and deal with this life. To all yes, it takes time and trail and error. Please keep trying some days aregreat some not to good. Guess, iwill neverhave to worry about gaining wt. When I need to go out i take 2 lomotil and always have my levsin in case the cramps get to bad. It helps with spazms. Have a good day to all.

how are you not having to go to the bathroom at least ten times a day? are you on a certain med? I had my colon totally removed and then was able to have my reveral surgery and its been a nightmare every since,

Yes, it was diificult in the first yr. Have been on a pill called Levsin ins. does not pay for it i also have lomotil. When I am going out for more than 2 hrs. I take either Levsin or Lomotil also if going out in the am. I never leave my home before 10am and d not have breakfeast. This ay I seem to be ok. I know were all the bathroom and clean ones are. Yu will now wht to eat and when it justt takes time. do not get upset withj yourself and depressed. It has taken some time to get use to this life. i also have a change in cloths and a diaper in th care when I go out. some nights I us sleep with one on in case. No big dea . Any ? pleae e me. Have a good day

thanks so much because my hope had been fading after my husband's discharge after surgery 3 days ago ---- the hospital graduated him from clear liquids to full liquids, then a HAMBURGER with lettuce and tomato and cucumber and he has been vomiting it up for days -- shame on them ----- i called the surgeon and he said the diet should be foods that you would feed to a two year old ---- very soft and not raw stuff ---- one thing we found he thought was so helpful was to chew on a few slices of raw apple --- maybe it was just enough for the digestive enzymes to kick in and homemade vegetable broth with celery, onion, garlic, parsley, green beans and zucchini was tolerated well AND doctor said lots of fluids and stewed prunes help.

Hello,

I had my colon re-sectioned ten years ago and I still fight with 'what to eat' I was nearly a vegetarian before the surgery and spent the last ten years finding out I cannot be one!  No one told me anything and I went to many doctors!  It is almost as if they don't know?  My surgeion never said anything about it. My gastro doctor didn't say anything about it that helped.  I have had diarhea for the better part of ten years now.  I suffer from cramps and gas.  I am starting to know what I can and can not eat.  The list of can not's are a lot longer!  I find it has restricted my life, I am always tired, can't go far from home due to the whole bathroom routine.  

Every night it is a challenge to make a dinner that I can actually also eat!  My daughter is vegetarian, my husband is a meat and potatoes man and I am simply mashed potatoes these days.  I hate to take away anyones hope but I had hope too, we are all different.  Each of us responds differently.  This surgery disabled me.  I cannot be in the bathroom for hours at a time at work!  I have finally accepted it.  I now purchase wet wipes for my constant diahrea and sore bottom. they are wonderful for this problem.  They are large and soft and keep you feeling clean.  They are made by Tena.  I got them at the drug store. 

I find it interesting that everyone is eating all those carohydrates?  Do you gain weight?  I am more into vegetables and the fresher the better.  I like fish and chicken but it gets old if that is all you eat.  I have to admit the foods I love, like cucumbers and broccoli kill me now.  I cannot eat onions anymore without suffering.  Anything Italian kills me too.  Anything with any acidity to it.  I find I can eat chicken ala king with rice.  Actually I think if you got any menu from an old folks home I could more than likely eat it!  I am TOO young to have to give up eating good food!!!

Thank you for listening.

 

Dawn

 

Hello, I had my resection almost 9 years ago. At that time I was told the the same thing when being discharged from the Hospital..."You can eat anything". Doctors would be smart to read this dicussion they probably would learn more here than in a class room. After two years of misery I finally figured out what I could tolerate. I stay away from spicey, greasy, high figer, foods. What I eat on a regular basis is..Mid mornings- two cups of coffee with a little half and half and sweet and low, two plain mini bagels w/ a little bit of cream cheese and peanut butter and greek yougart w/ fruit. (On Sundays I eat scrambled eggs, hash brown pototoes,(not greasy) and one small sausage link.) This is my breakfast and lunch combined. I eat only two meals aday. For dinner we eat mostly fish(lots of salmon my favorite) and chicken( grilled or baked) When we eat any kind of beef (once a week) it is always very lean, too much grease bothers my stomach. I have a very small mixed green salad w(depending on what is in the fridge) a little bit of carrots, cucumbers, tomatos, radishes, and a little dressing. If I don't have a salad I stick with either french cut green beans or plain canned corn (small amounts), and rice(either plain or Uncles Ben's wild rice/white rice blend) or potatoes (Yucon Gold, Russett, or New Red), for some reason some of the exotic potaotes on the market now bother my stomach. I eat them baked, mashed or roasted). I can not eat hamburgersor fries from most of the fast food places, too greasy. They almost all have grilled chicken. (Healthier). We still go out to resturants alot. I can usually find something on the menu that I can eat, and if they don't I enjoy watching my Husband have a great meal and when I get home he will make me something I can eat. He pretty much eats what I eat, which is pretty restrictive. To say that I never indulge in any of the foods that I love would be a lie. I celebrated my 60th recently and my favorite cake is Carrot Cake. It is one of the foods I have had to give up. It was my 60th and by God I was going to have a big slice of it with vanilla ice cream. I knew I was going to have issues after eating it, I did and dealt with it. That slice of cake was the best. If I want to indulge in some of the foods I can no longer tolerate I just know that I will have bathroom issues. It's a fact and I deal with it. I decided a few years ago after I figured out all the food restriction that every once in a while I would eat something I loved eating. I never eat mass quantites of it, always small amounts just enough to satisfy the craving. I stick to white bread, white rice or mixed wild/ white rice, potaotes, and very small amounts of veggies. I do eat fruit, grapes,raspberries,and strawberries. I eat these in very small amounts, usually in between meals. I have learned that I can eat a couple at a time I do make mental notes of how much I eat so that I don't have any issues. I do drink lt. beer and wine (Coors lt. w/lots of ice in a glass and same with wine). I usually only have one glass unless it's a special occasion. We just go back from Ireland and I was nervous about flying for that long ( as you know we all have to go to the loo more often than others even if we aren't having issues) and the food they would be serving. I gave most of my food to my husband. We brought crackers with peanut butter and I eat those when I got hungry. The day of the flight I eat a bagel and yougart and not much else I did just fine on the flight. I ate pretty much what I eat here at home. Sea food is abundant, as well as very lean beef, lamb and pork and potatoes. Never eat the bread, the brown bread will cause problems even if you don't have our issues. The reasson we have so many issues with food is that we need all of our colon so that the digested food from our stomach can be absorbed and solidified on the way out. Cutting a section out causes havoc with that very complex system. I know I will have stomach issues the rest of my life, that's a fact. I handle it by knowing what I can and can not eat, indulging a little every once and a while and accepting that to live this is a small price to pay. Above anything else be patient. It will take time to heal and adjust to the new eating regime. BE PATIENT.............

Hi all , I had my stomer reversal in March this year - was told to expect the runs but the opposite uccured - need to bust my gut to get any movement - eventually put on Laxido twice daily -one at night and one in the morning - living alone Itend to live on ready meals - mash potatoes -mince =fish - chicken variations - eat a big bag of cashew nuts over some weeks - told I must drink two litres of water - help ! but it helps - Ienjoy soft fruit - tinnedpeaches - fruit juice - youghts - fruit cake - all seem ok - I visit the toilet 2-3 hours - not at night - I have no feeling I need to go.

Not proper stools but not runny.  Idid have the runs one day last week - my Russian freinds mom told me to get dry tea green or black - I used black - grind it to a powder about half a tea spoon and swallow it and wash it down with a sip of water - the result was great - worth a try for those whom runs is the situation - Hard or soft poo 2-3 hours is my  norm and I need to sit and wait  otherwise compaction becomes constipation for me - and has resulted to two admissions to hospital - Best of luck my friends - Patrick

 

 

 

im having major problems and its been 6 months now since i had my whole colon removed..Im still losing weight..Imin severe pain..Dr does treat that by giving me methadone 2 pills 4 times a day and roxicodone for breakthrough..He also gave me less than a year to live..Where they cut me open for surgery,i still have a small whole the size of a dime that leaks pus constantly..Its been 6 months now.Hospice comes time to time with nurses to check on me,one talked to my mom,now im 38 but my mom is in connecticut,im in S.C. and she wants me to come home and my dr agrees if i want a chance to live go up north.Down here with no insurance i wont make it..I am unfrotunately on parole so im waiting for my transfer to go thru and im gone and hopefully get some answers and get better..im so tired of being sick and fighting to live

Dear Deadhead,
I am so sorry to hear about what you are going through. If you do not want to answer this I will understand, why has your doctor only given you a year to live? Was the reason you had your whole colon removed due to cancer?
Mine was removed in 6/2010, and I have only had problems ever since. It seems there is nothing I can eat that does not run right through me or cause constipation. Now I am having problems with my small intestines, it seems it never ends. I came very close to dying after the large intestine was removed. I could keep nothing in me, I was down to 107lbs and just skin, no muscle tone hanging from my bones. My doctor did put me on Loperamide, which corrected the problem for awhile but I stopped the drug, because I know there has to be a better way. I know the suffering you must be going through, it is endless, but please do not give up. I have found peace and direction through Jesus Christ. You are in my prayers.

Dear Deadhead, I am sorry someone your age is suffering so. I hope you can get back home to your Mother, she will take care of you. Sounds like you have an infection that isn't allowing that spot to heal. Did you have cancer? Why did they remove your whole colon? Sorry to ask so many questions but I would like to help you. My brother was 32 when he died and it was because he DID NOT have insurance. They will let you die. Please take care of yourself, keep in touch on the board so we know you are alright. If nothing else I would be happy to support you through your health issues.

I also find that wet wipes are amazing in my struggle!!!! My husband didn't understand it when I came home with them lol

I am 9 months post op and I am almost 100%. I find that veggies or high fiber as the Dr suggested for someone with diverticulosis is a big NoNO!! The pressure the fiber gas puts on my intestines is painful. Most of my discomfort is in the lower left where the removed the 7" section of my colon. Some days are great, then out of the blue and for no reason at all that spot with be uncomfortable. I get gassy Poften and constipated I have learned to deal with it as this to shale pass..... I put on 30lbs after my surgery which is very annoying!!!! Anyway if anyone else has an issue with the scared area getting sore please let me know. That way at least I know that is somewhat normal.

I was in prison when i started having problems with my colon i just didnt know what it was and medical wouldnt listen to me.They kept telling me im exaggerating on the amount of times i use the bathroom and the amount of blood that comes out..I lost 40lbs in 1 month and was denied ensure.Finally i ended up in a wheel chair, could barely move and got admitted to the prison infirmary.few days later they sent me to a regular hospital and they admitted me right away. Surgeon told me if i would of waited another day i probibly wouldnt of made it cause my colon ruptured and was leaking badly inside me for a bit..Had the usual i guess,,mega toxicolon, respiratory failure pneumonia etc.I stayed their for 2 months and i dont think i should of got released but since i was in prison they sent me back..Good thing on that was i made parole a while back and would of been home already but since i was hospitalized they postponed it..few weeks later i was home..I felt better,,ate great and started looking for the proper drs..Unfortunately i had to pay cash and was limited to who i could see.But the dr im seeing now is great..He has told me he doesnt deal with me as sick as i am but knows i pay cash and its cheap their..he gives me my meds and does all the test..I guess cause im dropping about 2lbs a week and from my blood test results and still having pus leak out my stomach is why he gives me less than a year but he said if i can get the proper medical treatment and surgries i have a great chance.Im 5ft10 and weigh 126..everything i eat comes right back out my bag.my body doesnt really digest anything and i would love to know why?i started getting twitches in my arms and legs real bad lol and thats annoying.I almost threw my drink across the room today my arm twitched so quick.My mom and i have never been close but that has changed alot the last couple weeks especially since she talked to m hospice nurse.Thats when she decided to come get me and bring me to her in connecticut..im in south carolina.As my dr said down here with no insurance i wont make it..I guess i have drs lined up to see me for when i get up their.Shes planniong on coming next friday..but im waiting for my parole to be transferred..Thats the only hold up.Im going to see if i can go up their for a couple week visit and fly down for my appts till its all finalized with the transfer..Thank u for being concerned.It really means alot to me..I am really scared.I have never been thru anything like this.Ive had nurses in prison pull me aside and tell me to sue the hell out of the system for doing me like this since its all in my records that ive been complaining for almost a year b4 they did anything..How did u deal with the weight loss?im embaressed to go out in public.and has anyone heard of or know why my stomach where they cut me open would still have a hole in it leaking pus 6 months after surgery..Done all the antibiotics and nothing has stopped it..Ill keep you all informed on how it all works out in connecticut with proper medical care and having family around..Thank u again for your replies..Please dont judge me on doing a prison bid.I made mistakes and have learned my lesson..Work was terrible and i took the easy way out to make money..i will never do that again..Lifes to short..