This information describes dietary (eating and drinking) guidelines to follow while your colon is healing. It also explains how to manage common side effects of having a colostomy. Show
General Eating and Drinking GuidelinesFollow these guidelines for the first few weeks after your surgery. This will help keep you comfortable while your colon heals.
Before you’re discharged (released) from the hospital, a clinical dietitian nutritionist will talk with you about these guidelines. After you leave the hospital, your doctor and an outpatient clinical dietitian nutritionist will help you as you go back to following your usual diet. Recommended foodsIt’s best to eat mostly bland, low-fiber foods for the first few weeks after your surgery. Bland foods are cooked, easy-to-digest foods that aren’t spicy, heavy, or fried. Eating bland foods will help you avoid uncomfortable symptoms, such as:
The following tables include examples of bland, low-fiber foods. If you have questions about foods not listed in these tables, call 212-639-7312 to talk with an outpatient clinical dietitian nutritionist. You can reach a staff member Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
* If you have diarrhea after having these products, try non-dairy milks, lactose-free cheese, or lactose-free yogurt instead. ** When trying eggs, start with a small amount (such as 1 egg). Eggs may cause a bad odor (smell) when you open your pouch.
* When trying fish and nut butters, start with small amounts. These foods may cause a bad odor when you open your pouch.
Some vegetables may cause gas or a bad odor for some people. If a certain vegetable causes you to have gas or a bad odor, don’t eat it. For more information, read the “Guidelines for Managing Common Problems” section.
Some fruits may cause discomfort for some people. If a certain fruit causes discomfort, don’t eat it. For more information, read the “Guidelines for Managing Common Problems” section.
When eating fats, start with a small amount. Fats may cause discomfort.
Reading Nutrition Facts labelsYou can find the amount of fiber in your food by looking at the Nutrition Facts label (see Figure 1). Nutrition Facts labels can help you compare the nutritional information between different foods. Figure 1. Fiber information on a Nutrition Facts label Adding foods to your dietAfter your surgery, you may have some food intolerances that you didn’t have before surgery. A food intolerance is when eating a certain type of food causes uncomfortable symptoms, such as diarrhea, bloating, gas, or bad odor. Sometimes, food intolerances go away as your colon heals. When you add foods back into your diet, introduce them 1 at a time. If a certain food causes uncomfortable symptoms, don’t eat it for a few weeks. Then try it again. No 2 people will react the same way to food. You’ll learn through experience which foods, if any, you shouldn’t eat. For more information, read the “Guidelines for Managing Common Problems” section. High-fiber foodsYour first follow-up appointment will be about 2 weeks after your surgery. At this appointment, your doctor will tell you if you can start adding high-fiber foods back into your diet. Doing this will help make your bowel movements bulkier (more solid). When you start adding high-fiber foods back into your diet, do it slowly. Only add 1 food at a time. Make sure you’re also drinking enough liquids. Aim to drink 8 to 10 (8-ounce) glasses (about 2 liters) of liquids every day. Back to topGuidelines for Managing Common ProblemsThis section has guidelines for changing your diet to help manage common problems. You don’t need to follow these guidelines unless you’re having the problems listed. If certain foods caused discomfort before your surgery, they’ll still cause discomfort after your surgery. DiarrheaDiarrhea is having loose or watery bowel movements, having more bowel movements than what’s normal for you, or both. Diarrhea can be caused by:
If you’re having diarrhea, follow these guidelines:
ConstipationConstipation is having fewer than 3 bowel movements per week, having hard bowel movements, having a hard time passing bowel movements, or all 3. Constipation can be caused by:
If you’re constipated, follow these guidelines:
Gas and odorFor the first few weeks after your surgery, it’s common to have gas in your pouch and a bad odor when you open your pouch. You may have more gas if you had a robotic surgery. If you’re having problems with gas or odor, talk with your wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) nurse. You can also follow these guidelines:
When to Call Your Healthcare ProviderCall your healthcare provider if you have any of the following:
If you have questions about your diet, call 212-639-7312 to talk with an outpatient clinical dietitian nutritionist. You can reach a staff member Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Back to topWhen does the nurse's teaching say that the client's new sigmoid colostomy should be irrigated?Irrigation of the Colostomy
The procedure of colostomy irrigation is started seven to ten days after surgery, with the patient participating in the procedure as much as possible.
Which issue would be an ongoing problem for a client with an intestinal ostomy?The most common problems of end and loop ileostomies are dehydration, skin irritation, and small bowel obstruction. Prolapse can occur in all types of stomas but is more prevalent in loop colostomies, especially those constructed using the transverse colon.
Which condition would the nurse expect a client to report when describing the pain associated with a suspected peptic ulcer in the duodenum?Epigastric pain is the most common symptom of both gastric and duodenal ulcers. It is characterized by a gnawing or burning sensation and occurs after meals—classically, shortly after meals with gastric ulcer and 2-3 hours afterward with duodenal ulcer.
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