New food sensitivity after surgery / reversal
Posted: 2020-01-10 11:15:22
I thought I would share my reversal story as it might help someone else as I haven't come across a similar story yet.
I had a colostomy for 6 months and then an ileostomy for 5 months as well as a sigmoid colon resection (12 inches) due to diverticulitis. Like most describe, my recovery to anything resembling "normal" bowel movements was very slow - 2 steps forward and then 1 step back.
Steps I took that helped included:
- Reducing insoluble fibre (especially anything raw) including whole wheat products
- Introducing soluble fibre in daily in the form of metamucil
- Limiting coffee to one a day
However, by last October, I still wasn't where I wanted to be. I was averaging around 3 bowel movements a day and still had clustering issues almost every day. And everyone once in a while I would have a really "bad" day where I was running to the washroom every hour or two.
I noticed a pattern (which I first ignored) - every bad day was preceded by me eating pasta. I ignored this because it didn't make sense - pasta was something that was supposed to be easy for my system handle.
After a really bad day (after eating pasta the night before) I wondered if gluten could be the issue. I hadn't had a gluten sensitivity before my surgeries but decided to try eliminating gluten completely from my diet. And the results have been astounding.
No more clustering, no more bad days and am having a bowel movement 1 to 2 times a day. It has been a few months and it is still working.
I looked at the medical literature and could find nothing about gluten sensitivity after colon surgery or reversals so decided to share my story here. I realize my case may be unique but even if one person benefits, that would be a good outcome.
- August 2017 Perforated Bowel, Colostomy, nephrostomy tube
- January 2018 Bowel resection, hysterectomy, ureter re-attachment, ileostomy
- June 2018 ileostomy reversal
- September 2018 ueteroscopy for scar tissue
I had a colostomy for 6 months and then an ileostomy for 5 months as well as a sigmoid colon resection (12 inches) due to diverticulitis. Like most describe, my recovery to anything resembling "normal" bowel movements was very slow - 2 steps forward and then 1 step back.
Steps I took that helped included:
- Reducing insoluble fibre (especially anything raw) including whole wheat products
- Introducing soluble fibre in daily in the form of metamucil
- Limiting coffee to one a day
However, by last October, I still wasn't where I wanted to be. I was averaging around 3 bowel movements a day and still had clustering issues almost every day. And everyone once in a while I would have a really "bad" day where I was running to the washroom every hour or two.
I noticed a pattern (which I first ignored) - every bad day was preceded by me eating pasta. I ignored this because it didn't make sense - pasta was something that was supposed to be easy for my system handle.
After a really bad day (after eating pasta the night before) I wondered if gluten could be the issue. I hadn't had a gluten sensitivity before my surgeries but decided to try eliminating gluten completely from my diet. And the results have been astounding.
No more clustering, no more bad days and am having a bowel movement 1 to 2 times a day. It has been a few months and it is still working.
I looked at the medical literature and could find nothing about gluten sensitivity after colon surgery or reversals so decided to share my story here. I realize my case may be unique but even if one person benefits, that would be a good outcome.
- August 2017 Perforated Bowel, Colostomy, nephrostomy tube
- January 2018 Bowel resection, hysterectomy, ureter re-attachment, ileostomy
- June 2018 ileostomy reversal
- September 2018 ueteroscopy for scar tissue