NB – if unsure, ALWAYS consult with your Stoma Nurse and never assume anything, these are just general guidelines. Your specific medical history, stoma, and needs should be taking into consideration as some information is case specific and does not apply to all.
When it comes to dieting you always must eat a well-balanced diet to keep your body in optimum condition and especially after surgery to rebuild your strength. When you become an ostomate you must realize that your GUT has been shortened and you must make a few slight changes to the way you eat, meaning you have to chew your food a lot more to assist in the digestive processes, eat slower and if needed smaller meals more frequently, and always have an adequate fluid intake. It is important to speak to your dietician when you have any chronic diseases like Diabetes, Renal Failure, Hypertension, etc., as these conditions will require special diets that needs to be adjusted for your specific medical condition and needs.
Thus, after consultation with your physician and dietitian about your specific medical condition and diet, there are a few general guidelines that might be followed when it comes to your diet, but before we discuss this, you need to first identify which type of stoma you might have because as we are all different, with different chronic illnesses and different stoma’s, there is not one specific diet that will work for all. In the beginning it is best to keep a diary and check how your body and stool output reacts to the various foods you eat, so that you can become aware of what works for you and what not.
Taste: After your surgery you might find that your food does not taste the same as it did before, or most patients verbalize that they have a “steel” like taste in their mouths, or that the food they used to love they now cannot stand, etc. This is all normal and will over time settle, what is however most important is that you must eat food. If you cannot eat a full meal, please divide the meals into smaller meals more frequently during the day, but you must get all the nutrients into your body that is needed to gain your strength and assist you on your road to recovery.
Medication: It is important to continue taking your chronic medication as prescribed by your physician and any other medication given after discharge from hospital. Medication can influence your stool output, for example it can change the color, cause either constipation or diarrhea, etc., therefore it is vital that you speak to your pharmacist when you collect your medication if you have any concerns or uncertainties.
Urostomy: Urine output needs to be watched carefully because it should always be a light straw see-through color. That indicates a healthy fluid intake and well-functioning kidneys in general. For a period of time after surgery you will experience a collection of mucus in the output and see it in the pouch, but this is normal and will subside. Food that causes odor in urine is mostly asparagus and seafood, but that does not mean that you should not have it, just be aware that they can cause a distinct odor and be not alarmed when that happens. Any other deviations should be discussed with your Stoma Nurse or Urologist.
Always speak to your support team of multidisciplinary experts if unsure and before you make major changes to your new lifestyle, but always remember to enjoy every new and additional day you were granted.
