PART TWO
ESSENTIAL STRATEGIES FOR ACHIEVING SUCCESS WITH YOUR ILEOSTOMY POUCH
When I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which resulted in a hysterectomy, chemo-therapy and an temporary ileostomy pouch, I had to make some severe dietary changes. I quickly found that I had to add meat to survive the chemo and restrict my diet to only certain foods compatible with the “Ostypouch” as well as strict adherence to recommendations from my oncology team. The following blog contains all the tricks, information, pitfalls, and mistakes that I went through. Hopefully, this will help you, to make your journey a bit easier. To say the least, it is unnatural and intimidating, but with education, help from your oncology team and practice, it gets much easier, and after 6 month I was a pro!
Mastering these three fundamental skills is crucial to feeling comfortable with your "Ostypouch":
Food and Liquid ingested
Fit of Pouch around stoma
Health of skin around stoma and underneath pouch
Approved and Forbidden List of Foods
Food and Liquid Ingestion
In order to achieve a balance between liquids, including water content in food, and solid foods, it is important to ensure that the pouch contents are moderately viscous for optimal comfort. Contents that are too thick and heavy or too watery can lead to leakage or breakage of the pouch. This takes a bit of trial and error. Small amounts of food more frequently is in general, the best way to eat with an ileostomy pouch, and one way to know if the contents are too thick or too wattery. Avoid lots of greens, and veggies like cuccumbers, which contain a huge amount of liquid. You will notice very shortly after eating such foods, that the pouch is full of liquid. Heavy foods like meats, bread, potatoes, etc, can make the contents too thick and heavy as well. I found it is far better to strictly adhere to the list from your oncologist team and eat very small meals; more like snacks, more frequently. In addition, one of the forbidden foods is bubbly tonic-like drinks. Don't do it! These drinks will split your pouch immediatly. Just an FYI !
Fit of pouch around stoma
There are pre-cut pouches available now to address this problem. However, based on my experience, I prefer cutting my own pouches to match the shape of my stoma as accurately as possible. The presence of liquid under the pouch at the stoma location can cause skin irritation, leading to significant discomfort and pain. Ileostomy nurses demonstrate how to create a circular cut that fits snugly and closely around the stoma shape. Nevertheless, I have achieved better results at home, where I can work at my own pace and ensure precision.
It is crucial to keep the skin around the stoma and under the pouch clean, dry, and free from irritation. After every shower and pouch change, inspect the skin around the stoma for any redness or sensitivity. Redness indicates liquid accumulation on the skin, leading to irritation. Detecting this early is essential to prevent further complications.
Health of skin around stoma and under pouch
At first I had a difficult time, wanting to use only organic and non-toxic products, to an area near and including the stoma itself. I struggled to find organic and non-toxic products suitable for the area around and including the stoma, which is an internal organ. Eventually, I discovered an organic Aloe Vera gel at my favorite Natural/Organic store. This gel, predominantly made of organic Aloe Vera, proved to be healthy and had remarkable healing properties. It was soothing, cooling, and also offered a gentle adhesion for the pouch on the skin. Hallelujah!
Herbal Aloe Force Skin Gel. This product completely eliminated any irritation by the following day, even when I was a bit behind in using it! It significantly improved my comfort and peace of mind. When I underwent my reversal surgery, the operating room team was thrilled to see a perfectly clean, dry, and healthy stoma and surrounding skin! https://d163axztg8am2h.cloudfront.net/static/img/58/0c/852a5195fa6a236ca20fd95236ae.webp
Approved and Forbidden List of Foods
One of the most crucial aspects in getting comfortable with your pouch is understanding the dietary guidelines provided by your Ileostomy nurse. You will receive a list of approved foods and strictly prohibited foods for patients with an ileostomy pouch. It is highly recommended to memorize this list. Copy it and put it up in the kitchen where you can see it clearly! Based on my personal experience, I strongly advise against consuming forbidden foods. These items are forbidden due to the risk of causing intestinal blockages or other complications, making it not worth the risk. For instance, oranges are one of the items on the forbidden list. I made the mistake of eating an orange one day, which immediately led to a blockage in my pouch, causing a frightening experience. After consulting with the surgeon, we determined it was a temporary blockage that eventually cleared on its own, allowing the stoma to resume draining into the pouch. Consequently, I refrained from consuming oranges until after my reversal surgery. This list serves to prevent potentially severe situations that you certainly want to avoid dealing with.
No Fear Ladies! You are Amazing! You can learn anything when you have to!
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