I will always remember the first few days of having my stoma. The thought of eating anything but soup and ice cream scared me as I thought food would give me a blockage.
I had no clue how my stoma would react to food and after being so ill with my ulcerative colitis, the thought of eating food which once caused me to flare was equally as terrifying.
Slowly, I realised that my stoma actually did work and I could eat lots of different foods which I couldn’t before. It was just a case of trial and error which still scares me but I now do more and more regularly.
I felt nervous about trying high fibre foods with a stoma because I’d heard how easily a blockage could happen. However, I wanted to start eating salads again because they’re so easy to eat!
For well over a year, I daren’t try anything raw in case I got a blockage, especially after I did once eat raw carrot and get a blockage! However, over the years I’ve become more confident and will try most things.
Top tips for eating high fibre foods with a stoma
Firstly, if you’ve recently had bowel surgery (min last 3 months), hold off the high fibre foods for a bit. Your body is still getting used to this new way of working and your stoma is more prone to blockages as it is still swollen and healing from surgery.
Chew your food well
I am known for being a very slow eater, it’s painful just how slow I eat. It’s okay though, I’ve learnt to become comfortable with
I make sure I chew all of my food incredibly well so it’s easier to digest. Yes, it means you eat longer but it’s definitely better than having a blockage!
They say that you should chew your food about 30 times before you swallow; I’m not sure how accurate that is though. It’s best to make sure it’s well-chewed so it’s easier for your digestive system to break down.
Drink plenty whilst eating/once you’ve finished
I always make sure I drink water after I’ve eaten a meal as I read somewhere that it helps with digestion.
Plus, if you have an ileostomy, dehydration can be a real issue so it’s good to get into the practice of having a big glass of water whilst eating.
Don’t be scared to keep trying different foods
This is a big one. Just because something didn’t work, it doesn’t mean you can never have it again.
I was told mushrooms were a no go with stomas. Once I tried and ended up with a small blockage. It was gutting because mushrooms are my absolute fave but I didn’t want a blockage all the time so I avoided them like the plague!
At the beginning of this year (year 4 with a stoma!), I ordered a full
I follow all of the advice in this post and for some reason I can now digest them!
Obviously, don’t do this with everything or if you have a really bad blockage. But if you currently can’t eat your favourite food, there may still be a chance in the future!
If in doubt, drink a coke
My go to whenever I can feel a blockage coming on is coke. It eats away at anything and is a pretty tasty way of sorting it out!
Top tip: If you ever feel a (small) blockage coming on, a can of coke, peppermint tea, hot water bottle and a bit of time work wonders!
It’s important to remember that everyone’s stoma’s are different. What one person can eat can be totally different to another person. Sadly it’s a trial and error kind of thing but you get to know your stoma and what it likes.
Don’t forget to leave your high fibre food tips in the comments below!
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