Ileostomy Diet

by  in November 2nd, 2009   
Diet     

Ileostomy Diet Considerations

Individuals with an ileostomy should generally be able to maintain a regular balanced providing all the vitamins, minerals, and calories for a healthy diet after surgery.  In some cases, stool consistency may become an issue being more liquid than solid leading to higher stool output and faster dehydration.  In these cases, doctors may recommend or prescribe a vitamin-mineral supplement.

Special Circumstances

Because each patient is different, there are no set guidelines as to what type of dietary lifestyle is best.  Most individuals can resume a fairly normal diet.  Most often, a pattern of trial and error eating will be needed to determine which foods work best.

Some Guidlines

  1. Maintain a regular eating schedule.  Eating 4 to 6 small meals a day will promote a regular bowel pattern.
  2. Eating a larger, dinner-like, meal at lunch time and a smaller meal at dinner time will help decrease stool output throughout the night.  Many appliance leakages occur at night while ileostomy patients are sleeping.
  3. Try one food at a time to test what effects it will have on bowel function.  If the food produces an undesirable result the hold off on it for a while.  As the body heals and adjusts, re-introduce the food.  The body may be able to tolerate the food better after healing.
  4. Completely chew foods to allow for easier digestion.  Avoid swallowing large un-chewed pieces of leafy greens as they can block the stoma opening.
  5. Fresh fruits may cause loose stool.
  6. Drink 2 to 3 quarts of water per day.  This may help keep the stool fluid and will prevent dehydration.  Water is normally absorbed by the colon.  Because ileostomy patients do not have use of the colon, they will lose more water and electrolytes.  Do not restrict salt in the diet due to the lose of electrolytes.
  7. In the first weeks after surgery, avoid foods that were a problem prior to surgery as these foods will probably still cause problems.
  8. Medications such as Imodium, Lomotil, Levsin, and Bentyl may help to slow the bowel when diarrhea is a problem.

Foods that are poorly digested and May Block Stoma Opening
Cabbage Cucumbers Mushrooms Pickles
Celery Dried Fruits Nuts Pineapples
Coconut Green Peppers Olives
Corn Lettuce Peas
Things That May Cause Gas
  • Jittery or stressed personality and excessive saliva swallowing
  • Poorly fitting dentures, smoking pipes or cigarettes, chewing gum or tobacco can cause increased salivation and swallowing
  • Eating fast and swallowing large chunks of food or large amounts of beverages
  • Eating fast and swallowing large chunks of food or large amounts of beverages
  • Using straws or drinking from a bottle or can
  • Inactivity and lying down after eating
Foods That May Cause Gas
Legumes Most beans, especially dried beans and peas, baked beans, soy beans, lima beans
Vegetables Cabbage, radishes, onions, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cucumbers, sauerkraut, kohlrabi, rutabaga, turnips, asparagus, onions
Fruits Prunes, apples, raisins, bananas, excessive amounts of fruit
Cereals and Breads Excessive wheat products, including breads and cereals. Check labels for specific grains.
Milk and Milk products Excessive milk, ice cream, cheese
Fatty foods Excessive pan-fried or deep-fried foods, fatty meats; rich cream sauces and gravies; pastries
Liquids Carbonated beverages
Food and Medications that May Control Oder
Buttermilk Cranberry Juice Parsley Yogurt
Charcoal Tablets
Foods that May Cause Oder
Asparagus Eggs Fish Garlic
Onions
Foods that May Thicken Stool
Applesauce Breads Bananas Cheeses
Pasta Creamy Peanut Butter Starchy Foods such as Potatoes
Foods that May Cause Diarrhea
Apple Juice Grape Juice Prune Juice Cheeses
Highly Seasoned Foods

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