Questions about the nutrition of patients with stoma

News 05/25/2020

What will the stoma look like? What feelings will I experience? What kind of diet will I need to follow?

You and your family have many questions, doubts, and concerns. First, we suggest you get acquainted with your stoma.

What is a stoma?

A bowel stoma is an opening that is surgically created on the surface of the skin of the abdomen. Through the stoma, the open end of the intestine is removed to remove feces, in cases where it is impossible to further advance and remove them through the anal opening.

Stoma is always performed for vital indications, which include:

• intestinal tumors;
• complicated inflammatory processes with abscesses, scars, abnormal narrowing of the intestinal lumen;
• birth defects of the colon;
• injuries;
• Crohn's disease;
• non-specific ulcerative colitis.

In the postoperative period, you should carefully monitor the integrity and color of the line of the surgical suture between the stoma and the skin.

Do I need to follow a diet?

After installing the stoma, doctors recommend following certain dietary rules. This will help to avoid constipation, gas formation or indigestion.

Basic principles of nutrition in stoma:

• balance between the energy consumed and the energy received when eating;
• getting the necessary nutrients;
• compliance with the food regime;
• fractional meals in small portions;
• consumption of a sufficient amount of liquid – up to 1.5 liters per day;
• moderate salt and sugar content.

There are no special diets for stoma. The doctor selects the diet individually, taking into account your food preferences. For the first time after the operation, we recommend keeping a food diary. It will help you determine which products and in what quantities are acceptable to you. When it is clear their impact on the activity of the stoma, you can refuse to keep a diary.

After a few months, eating will not cause discomfort. Properly selected nutrition is an important condition for leading a full life.

What can I eat?

The diet includes a varied and healthy diet. There are no special restrictions. But the main thing to remember is that certain products can cause increased gas formation or violation of the stool. Therefore, you need to eat them in strictly defined quantities.

The table below shows the effect of certain foods and beverages on intestinal peristalsis:  

	Action	Product/Drink
	They have a laxative effect	fatty dishes, rye bread, string beans, fresh and dried fruits, spinach, cucumbers, fresh fruits, prunes, figs, nuts, beans, lentils, salads with mayonnaise, spicy dishes with seasonings, cereal cereals, coffee, fruit juice, milk
	Increase gas formation	eggs, cabbage, onions, legumes, nuts, grapes, raisins, mushrooms, root vegetables, asparagus chocolate, beer and carbonated drinks (kvass, beer, koumiss, carbonated water), root vegetables, mushrooms and fresh yeast pastries
	They have a fixing effect.	broth of rice, quince, blueberry jelly, mashed potatoes, hard cheeses, bananas, an abundance of animal proteins in the diet, mashed potatoes, noodles, pasta and any dough products (pancakes, pancakes, dumplings, dumplings), cottage cheese, flour pastries and muffins, strong tea
	Enhance the smell of separated feces	eggs, fish, onion, pepper, garlic, spices, some types of cheese
	Reduce the smell of separated feces	spinach, green salad, parsley, lingonberry juice, yogurt

 

How to cope with a digestive disorder?

Stool disorders (constipation or diarrhea) are possible in any person. But, you should be especially attentive to yourself, as these conditions can cause additional discomfort.  

CONSTIPATION

It can occur in the case of a sedentary lifestyle, stress, smoking, irregular diet, limited drinking regime, taking certain medications. You should add vegetables, salads, and dried fruits to your diet. Laxatives can only be taken with a doctor's appointment.

DIARRHEA

The cause can be both a violation of the diet, and infectious diseases.  In case of an error in the diet, you can try to solve the problem yourself: a decoction of rice, oven-dried white bread, jelly. It is important to remember that with diarrhea, a large amount of fluid is lost. To replenish the level of fluid and salts in the body, a restoring saline solution will help. You can buy it at a pharmacy or prepare it yourself. If you can not cope on your own during the day, then you need to consult a doctor so as not to miss the time in case of an infectious disease. After the diarrhea (diarrhea) stops, you need to start eating gradually, after 24 hours in small portions of 5-6 times a day.

     Undoubtedly, the setting of an intestinal stoma changes a person's life. But, a healthy lifestyle, enough water and compliance with the diet will allow you to avoid digestive problems, and lead an active lifestyle.

#Переведено YandexTranslate