UOAA Discussion Board

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

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

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!

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

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.

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.