Stoma - what should I eat?

"What can I eat?" Or "Can I still tolerate everything?" Are questions that concern many ostomates. In addition, you may have concerns about possible unpleasant smells, bloating, and diarrhea, depending on the type of stoma,of the underlying disease and of the individual sensitivity food groups can cause problems.

What is a stoma?

A stoma is a temporary or permanent created intestinal exit through the abdominal wall. Affected people do not excrete their feces through the anus, but have a pouch stuck to the belly where the stool emerges uncontrollably. This bag is emptied and changed regularly. There are a thousand different products and types of bags that also bring us useful gadgets, such as odor neutralizers, ointments, creams, etc. You could spend hours just talking about the care products. But in this post, we are just focusing on nutrition. Depending on the indication, there are small differences in the location of the stoma and the related nutrition. Below is a brief overview.

Colostoma	... should eat a high fiber and make sure they have enough fluids. Caution is advised with: Bread with grains, corn, beans, celery, cabbage, sauerkraut, dried fruit (especially plums), as these foods can cause flatulence and diarrhea.
Transversostoma	... special attention should be paid to a sufficient amount of drinking. Eliminations can be more fluid and frequent, depending on the exact position of the ostomy system in the transverse (transverse part of the large intestine). This creates an additional loss of fluid that must be compensated.
Ileostoma	… Have an increased need for fluids due to the limited ability to absorb fluids back into the body. The easiest way to determine the sufficient amount of drinking is based on the daily amount of urine. This should not be less than 1-1.5 liters. In the case of carbonated drinks, it should be noted that the carbon dioxide contained leads to increased flatulence. Coarse-grained foods such as asparagus, tomatoes, oranges can cause a so-called ostomy blockage (constipation). Eating nuts can also cause ostomy blockage. Depending on which segments of the small intestine have been preserved, there may be a reduced intake of vitamins and trace elements. Make sure you get enough vitamins and consult your doctor.
Affected with short bowel symptoms ...	.. should exercise caution when drinking. Excessive hydration reduces the transit time of food in the intestine. There is a greatly increased amount of excretion and a further reduced nutrient and electrolyte absorption. But here too, drink so much that urinary excretion of 1-1.5 liters is guaranteed.

Diarrhea or constipation?

	Avoid	Prefer
diarrhea	Alcohol, beans, fatty foods, coffee, nicotine, plums, raw food, raw milk, spicy foods, sauerkraut, spinach	Diet low in fat, protein, fiber and spices: finely grated apple, crushed banana, dark chocolate, oatmeal, black tea, white bread
constipation	Eggs, cocoa, potatoes, pasta, dark chocolate	Whole grain products, muesli, fresh and dried fruit, raw food, salad, juice spritzers (e.g. plum or sauerkraut juice) and dairy products
Attention! Potential osteomy blockage!!	Lettuce, corn, mango, nuts, coconut, carrot, mushrooms, celery, asparagus, dried fruits, onions, tomatoes, citrus fruits

Flatulence ?

flatulent	Apricots, alcohol, unripe bananas, fresh bread, eggs, cucumbers, yeast pastries, legumes, carbonated drinks, garlic, leeks, corn, raw bell peppers, salsify, bulbs, pears, coffee, mushrooms, rhubarb
Anti-flatulence	Ceylon cinnamon, fennel anise and caraway tea, nutmeg, yogurt (not heat-treated), curd cheese, blueberries, blueberries, cranberries, caraway (must boil briefly)

Odor?

Odor-promoting	Beans, chilli, eggs, animal fats (lard, goose fat etc.), meat, fish, smoked, legumes, garlic, cabbages, mushrooms, asparagus, chives, black pepper, onions
Odor-inhibiting	Blueberry juice, blueberry juice, yogurt (not heat-treated), parsley, cranberries, curd cheese, green salad, spinach

General tips:

If you have an ileostomy, you should discuss your medication with your doctor again, as medication, such as the pill, is not absorbed and can be seen as white balls in the sachet. Effervescent tablets should also be avoided due to their flatulence
Eat slowly to avoid swallowing too much air and causing gas
Well chewed, half digested! - You can relieve the intestine and take it off work and provide blockages!
As mentioned in the blog for eating with ibd , I recommend keeping a diary and paying attention to what is good for you. Everyone reacts differently, for example me. I had an ostomy blockade of carrots and believe me, after that you won´t touch the food ever again ! Suprisingly, I have no problems with coffee, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, raw food, nuts or beans and I eat them every day. I would generally stay away from coconuts and fibrous foods!
Eat what you can take! If you had intolerances before, let these food groups out now!
Smoothies and soups can help with bottlenecks and prevent blockages!
It is recommended to eat several small meals, but I eat depending on hunger or adapt to my everyday life. That means: If I want to leave the house, I don't drink much 2 hours before, because otherwise the bag would fill up a lot on the way. Also, I don't try to eat as much in the evening when I have to get out early so that my night's sleep is not disturbed when I have to go to the toilet all the time.
If the stoma promotes fluidity, you should see a doctor, who will then prescribe remedies, such as opiates (strong painkillers), which cause constipation as a side effect, which is what you want in this case or you get another remedy, the same applies to constipation
Stool observation! I mean for real ! Always keep an eye on the quality of the stool and adjust your diet! Some foods color the stool, so don't worry, if you've eaten beetroot or cheetos, you are not bleeding . Dairy products color the stool light brown to beige, spinach green.