A colostomy is a surgical operation, performed under general anesthesia, that gets one end of the large intestine, or colon, out through the abdominal wall so that stools moves through the intestines and into a bag that is attached to the abdomen. The procedure is usually done after a bowel obstruction or injuries preventing normal evacuation. The colostomy can be short-term or permanent. It may be done by a large cut on the abdominal area or laparoscopically, depending on which one is best for you. If your colostomy is short-term, you will probably have a second surgery once you have recovered to reattach the ends of the intestines. When you first have a colostomy, you will only be able to have clear liquids, but most people are able to eat solids within 6 weeks of the surgery. Knowing what to eat during this period is a very important part of your recovery.
Why a Colostomy is Performed
A colostomy is done as a result of a number of causes. If your abdomen becomes infected, resulting from a perforated diverticulitis or an abscess, you might need a colostomy. Other reasons include an injury to the large intestine or rectum, partial or complete intestinal blockage, rectal or colon cancer, fistulas in the perineum (both in women and men) and others. Most commonly, colostomies are temporary and reversible but it depends on the specific condition or injury.
Tips to Help You Recover
There are certain things that you can do to help in your recovery. As you move from clear liquids into solid foods, try to chew very thoroughly and take small bites. Also, try to keep a schedule of meals so that your body can get used to it, but instead of having two or three large meals per day, try eating smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day. If you eat more heavily during the morning, you can prevent having a larger stool output during the night, which might disrupt your sleeping. Avoid any food that may result in diarrhea such as high-fat foods, very hot and spicy foods, or foods that are too high in sugar. These may cause diarrhea because they drag more water into the intestines making your stool more watery. Also, try to avoid things that may cause you gas like smoking, chewing gum or drinking from a straw. Finally, it is very important that you keep yourself well-hydrated throughout the day so that your stools don't become hard and difficult to pass.
Recommended Foods
Everyone reacts differently to different foods after a colostomy operation. It is recommended, thus, that you keep a food record or journal to monitor which foods you tolerate well and which foods cause you to get gas, diarrhea or any other gastrointestinal discomfort. In general, you should avoid foods that are too high in fiber because fiber will be a bit hard for your body to process during your recovery. As you start eating solid foods, stick to low fiber, nutritious choices and as you start to heal, you can begin to add fiber slowly and gradually so as to let your body get used to it. Once you can tolerate solids, the American Dietetic Association recommends that you may be able to eat any milk and milk product that is low in fat, any meat or poultry, eggs or tofu prepared without added fat, breads, bagels and rolls made from white flour and that are low in fiber, white rice, most vegetables as long as they are well cooked and most fruit as long as it has no skin.
Sample One-Day Menu
For breakfast, you can try having an egg-white omelet with low-fat grated cheese, and 8 ounces of apple juice. For lunch, try a turkey sandwich made with low fat Swiss cheese and white slices of bread, a fruit salad and a glass of skim milk -- or soy milk if you are lactose sensitive. An example for dinner or an evening meal is having a small white pasta salad, a small bread roll, and a glass of fruit juice. As for snacks that you may eat throughout the day, try yogurt, bananas or a slice of white bread with some peanut or almond butter.
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