Stoma dietary tips for the early days
Most people lose weight after their surgery. You must increase the number of calories, fats, and protein you consume to improve your body’s healing process. Your doctor will advise you to stick to the following things:
- Eat and drink frequently
- Consume fruits and vegetables daily
- Have foods high in protein every day such as meat, fish, eggs, cheese, milk, or yoghurt
- Include carbohydrates with each meal such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, and breakfast cereals
- Take milk and dairy food to three times a day because they are rich in calcium (you should always pick lower-fat varieties as a healthier option).
If you have colostomy or ileostomy, you will experience the same common digestive problems that occurred before the surgery, which include wind, odor, constipation, diarrhea and loose outputs (ileostomies only).
Foods that can lead to loose stool include:
- Fish
- Nuts
- Caffeine
- Chocolate
- Alcohol
- Fizzy drinks
- High fiber foods such as bran
- Fruit juice
- Fruits, vegetables, and salads
- Foods that contain a large amount of saturated fat/ processed foods/ fast foods
Foods that lead to excess odor/ gas:
- Onions
- Alcohol
- Peas
- Cucumber
- Garlic
- Kale, broccoli, cauliflower, sprouts, cabbage
- Chewing gum
- Fish
- Beans and pulses
- Fizzy drinks
Foods used to make output thick are:
- Jelly babies
- Pasta
- Mashed potato
- Rice
- Porridge
- Peanut butter
- Apple sauce
- Marshmallows
- Bananas
- Toast
- porridge
You can add the following meals to your normal diet:
- Full fat milk and cheese
- Snack on biscuits and cakes
- Foods high in protein every day such as fish, tender meat, and eggs
- Drink fluids frequently to avoid dehydration
- Double cream (add to soup, mashed potato, and puddings)