Coffee and tea are fine, but as with anything else be aware of any reactions in your digestive system. Carbonated drinks in general can cause gas. Beer can cause the output from the ostomy to become more liquid. You can drink alcohol.
Drinks. After a colostomy surgery, the type of fluids a person drinks will also affect their colon. It is important to avoid carbonated and caffeinated beverages, which tend to cause irritation, gas, and bloating, leading to discomfort. Decaffeinated tea and coffee are both safe to drink.
Smaller meals with frequent snacks and nourishing drinks between meals. Regular intake of food and fluids to help achieve optimal colostomy function. Minimise high intakes of caffeine from tea, coffee, and fizzy drinks, and alcohol.
Keeping hydrated is an important aspect of living with a stoma. For many people it is just making sure you are drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day. You should try to drink 6-8 glasses of water each day along with any other drinks such as tea or coffee.
One major issue to watch out for with a stoma is the laxative effect of some chocolates. The caffeine and fibre within the chocolate can increase the rate of motility (which is the contraction of the muscles in the digestive tract that encourage bowel movements).
You can drink alcohol. However alcohol can cause dehydration, so make sure to drink enough water.
* For the first 3 to 4 weeks after your surgery, don't eat more than 1 small ripe banana per day. Eating too much banana may cause an ileostomy blockage.
Foods to include in your diet
Low-fiber foods, such as: White bread, pasta, and rice. Bagels, rolls, and crackers made from white or refined flour. Cereals made from white or refined flour (such as Cream of Wheat®, Rice Chex™, and Rice Krispies®)
Foods that are reported to help thicken the stoma output include apple sauce, bananas, buttermilk, cheese, marshmallows, jelly babies, (boiled) milk, noodles, smooth creamy peanut butter, rice, tapioca pudding, toast, potatoes and yoghurt.
Goal ostomy output is less than 1,500 milliliters, or 1.5 liters in a 24-hour period.
How long is it before intestinal contents flow through the stoma after eating? This varies with each individual. It may take anywhere from 20 minutes to several hours after eating. Some ileostomates find their movements occur regularly after eating; others find their movements are irregular.
You can drink alcohol. Alcohol can cause dehydration, so make sure to drink enough water. Remember to consult with your physician before using alcoholic beverages as alcohol may not mix well with your medication.
It's always a good idea to empty or change your stoma bag before you go to bed as it will help to prevent your bag from filling up too much overnight and disturbing your sleep. A full stoma bag is always at risk of leaking and that's not something you want to experience during the night.
Many people gain unwanted weight following stoma surgery due to changes made to their diet in an effort to control their output.
Make sure your clothes are not too tight around the bag.
You may need to be careful that waistbands do not rest below the stoma restricting ability to drain into your pouch. Depending on stoma placement, you may feel more comfortable with high- or low-rise waistband items, like underwear, jeans, or activewear.
You can bathe or shower with or without wearing your pouching system. Normal exposure to air or water will not harm or enter your stoma. If you're showering without your pouch, remove the skin barrier too. Try to create a routine that coincides with when you're due for a pouch change.
You can eat pizza with a stoma by testing a slice instead of a box of pizza, making sure to take small sips of water while eating, chewing thoroughly, avoiding artificial preservatives or extra spicy toppings, and limiting the amount of pizza that you consume at one time.
Skin irritation around your stoma is usually caused by leakage from your ostomy pouch and the output from your stoma getting underneath the adhesive and onto your skin. It is uncomfortable and can stop your pouch from working well. The skin around your stoma should look similar to the skin on the rest of your body.
Dietary tips when you have stoma:
Protein rich foods such as meat, fish, beans, lentils, eggs, cheese, milk, or yogurt. Carbohydrates (starchy foods) such as bread, potato, pasta, rice, and breakfast cereals.
Eat starch carbohydrates such as white bread, low fibre cereals like rice crispies or cornflakes, potatoes (no skins) and white rice/pasta for energy and to help thicken your colostomy output.
After the first few days after surgery, you can take liquids such as clear soup or juice, followed by easily digestible foods like oatmeal. Gradually thereafter, other foods that will likely be suitable are well-cooked rice, pureed fresh fruit, as well as cooked and pureed vegetables.
Raw vegetables, including salad e.g. lettuce, celery, raw bell-peppers and spring onions. Hard to digest vegetables, including beans like butter beans or green/runner beans, sweetcorn, peas, mushrooms, cabbage, brussel sprouts, spinach, kale and spring greens.
A guide to foods not to eat when you have a colostomy bag
Stay away from these foods when you've recently had colostomy surgery: Dairy products, with the exception of small amount of yogurt. Fried food or any fatty meats, including potato chips.
Adjusting to a colostomy can be difficult at first, but it does not mean you cannot enjoy a full and active life. Colostomy equipment is discreet and secure, and you should be able to do most of the activities you enjoyed before.