Diet/Nutrition with Kock Pouch

cynnycal · Post by **cynnycal** » 2006-12-18 19:39:44

Man, i've been on the jpouch forums new kpouch board for so long i forgot to check in here.

so, things are moving along with my new kock pouch. i have minor complaints, but am still in that 'wait and see' phase.

however, i've lost a significant amount of weight, and am puzzled as to a good way to gain a little back. Mainly b/c i feel that i can only eat crap food these days.
it seems that overly processed food is just easier. I used to eat lots of veggies and fresh fruits. i was sorta a granola'y type.
Since i'm in the beginning months of my new life with a kpouch i've been existing on a diet of pasta's, soups, sandwiches, mac n cheese, yogurt, sweets (cookies and things), stuff like chips, or crackers, sometimes i'll go with pita's and feta, or hummous, cous cous. i eat alot of chicken. i'm trying to eat more red meat (on chemo, so i'm trying to keep my counts up and get my iron).

but i just have this helpless feeling that i won't ever be able to eat the traditional 'healthy' way. cooking always seems to involve something i shouldn't be eating. (veggies with skins, etc)

just curious what are some suggestions out there, and what have some of your experiences been with foods. salads? fresh fruit? If i wanna eat a mango...is there a potential problem with that?
what about rice?
i know nuts aren't a good idea, but what if they're finely ground? (i'm thinking the peanuts they put in thai dishes that are ground up).

just would like to get a good discussion going on diet and nutrition

Lynne · Post by **Lynne** » 2006-12-18 20:38:24

cynnycal,

I have had my Koch Pouch since 1990 and eat absolutely everything ! Nuts and fruits too - just chew really well. Your weight will come back - mine did PLUS some extra !

Lynne

susan f · Post by **susan f** » 2006-12-18 20:50:08

All the food you are eating is going into healing. Eventually it will start going back on your hips (or wherever...). I always found that I could eat practically anything and no weight stayed on until I was used to eating that ice cream whenever I wanted (damn it...). Then - WHAM. On the hips.

Do NOT do the following:

a) Eat an entire grapefruit membrane and all as if it were an orange (I did this twice with the j-pouch - don't know why I didn't learn the first time - it wouldn't come OUT).
b) Eat a sandwich baggy full of carrots in one sitting (carrots are woody, and they wouldn't come OUT of my stoma).
c) Eat an apple with skin on it fast (now I do this, and it is often OK - but not when I don't chew well).

I had a j-pouch - so its different than a K-pouch, no catheter. But I think a good rule of thumb is try small amounts, chew well. Just don't follow my example and go overboard!

Bea · Post by **Bea** » 2006-12-18 22:02:57

Cynnycal,

You'll probably get the best advice here, but this is another link to a really competent nutritionist that works with cancer patients. I looked at her website to see if your Q was addressed but I didn't see anything specific enough to your situation. There is a lot of great advice, though and I believe she may be available for email Q & A.

http://www.cancerrd.com/faqs.htm#colo

Best of luck with all you're dealing with.

Bea

cynnycal · Post by **cynnycal** » 2006-12-19 10:32:07

wow, great advice! (i never put it in context of the food going towards 'healing' though that makes perfect sense)

and i'll definitely look into that other site Bea.

lesson · Post by **lesson** » 2006-12-19 20:11:50

I eat almost everything..even popcorn..The trick, no news here, is to chew everything until it's mush.

I will say I tried a mango a few months out of surgery . It was just too fibrous an d really clogged the catheter. Even if you peel the apple, make sure it's chewed well. I've had chunks get stuck in the catheter..guess I was eating too fast and not paying attention.

This is a learning process..but it all becomes a routine after awhile.