Story Content

An ileostomy is a surgical procedure that involves making an opening in the abdominal wall ( Stoma). It connects ileum to the abdominal wall, that can get rid of the waste products such as stool through this opening. The procedure can be useful if a person’s intestines are damaged or inflamed i.e. if the rectum or colon cannot function properly. This procedure generally require when person suffers from:

• Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
• rectal or colon cancer
• Intestinal birth defects
• injuries or accidents that involve the intestines

After this process, a person needs to wear external pouch temporary or permanently, to collect the waste products.

Ileostomy can be done temporary or permanently. If it is temporary, intestinal tract will be reattached inside the body, once healing occurs. If it is done permanently, surgeon will remove or bypass your rectum, colon, and anus. In this case, person has to wear pouch that permanently to collects the waste products. It can wear internal or external.

A person can start a liquid diet, while still in the hospital, then progress to other foods based on a doctor’s recommendations.

Diet to follow when you have an ileostomy: Some dietary changes are made after this procedure.

Food that thicken stool

After having an ileostomy, some people may experience thin stool, or diarrhea making them to experience malnutrition or low sodium level, which can be dangerous and require nutrition or intravenous, causing inconvenience.

To prevent this, a person can eat foods that thicken stool. These include:

• Applesauce
• Banana
• Cheese
• Marshmallows
• Pasta
• Smooth peanut butter
• Yogurt
• Fluids like rehydration drinks, fruit juice, vegetable juice, broth – It is recommended to drink extra fluids during hot weather or exercise. 

Foods that help thin stool

According to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center,  many people also experience constipation after ileostomy due to pain killer, inadequate fiber and fluid intake. Some of the foods intake that help to prevent from constipation includes

• Bran products
• Cooked, peeled vegetables
• Oatmeal
• Raisins
• Warm soups
• Hot water with lemon or lemon juice
• Coffee 

Foods to help in weight gain

Ileostomy causes weight loss. In order to maintain weight, a person can take following food intake which provide calories and nutrition to prevent from weight loss. This includes:

• Boost
• Carnation Instant Breakfast
• Ensure
• Glucerna, for those with diabetes
• Kate Farms Nutrition Shake
• Orgain Nutrition Shakes
• Oral nutritional supplements  

Foods to help in weight loss

Weight loss after this procedure is bit difficult as it is important to consume adequate minerals and vitamins. Still wants to lose weight, a person can eat low fat products like low fat dairy and lean proteins, and steamed or boiled fruits and vegetables, which should be peeled and deseeded. Along with this, certain change in habits also help to lose weight. This includes

• Avoid alcohol.
• Exercise
• Plan meals and snacks in advance.

Foods to avoid or Include in diet after Ileostomy-Each person after the ileostomy experience different output with different food. Based on this, one can add or cut their food intake.

Foods to Avoid

• High fat milk and dairy products.
• High fat meats, such as fried chicken or red meat with visible fat
• High fiber beans and legumes
• High fiber grains, such as whole wheat bread, bran cereal, or brown rice,
• corn or high fiber vegetables as body does not absorb this
• Raw fruits with skins, Nuts

Foods to Include

• Salt 
• Potassium found in banana, citrus fruits, potatoes, fish
• lean animal protein, such as skinless poultry
• Smooth nut butters, such as smooth peanut butter, white bread and refined or white flour cereals
• Low fiber food like cooked vegetables with the peels and seeds removed, such as zucchini, tomatoes, potatoes, or lettuce.
• Pulp-free fruit juice, cooked and peeled fruit, or canned fruit

Supplements

Those who had gone an ileostomy requires supplements as the food material does not reach the colon for nutrient absorption, which may leads to nutritional deficiencies. Doctor may recommend taking nutritional supplements in the form of liquid or chewable but non-gummy to ensure that the body can break them down. This includes

• Calcium- calcium citrate,
• Magnesium
• iron
• B vitamins
• Folic acid
• Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, and E

Summary

Ileostomy is a surgical procedure, that remove rectum or colon, making people to bring change in their dietary plan. Different person has different way to react to foods after having an ileostomy. Diet changes can help to live normal and well after this surgical procedure and help them to stay away from any nutrient deficiencies.