Sorry you went thru that.  I spent years on a low residue diet after my crohns diagnosis and first surgery.  It does sound harsh for the obstruction.  What if you tried out fiber little by little?  You might find you can tolerate small amounts of some things.   

Hi Fred,

First sorry about the NG tube.. those things suck ( attempt at humor). 24 hours with one made me nuts.

No, I have never had advise to eat no fibre. I always though it was the shape of the fibre that made a difference. Like something stringy , food not chewed enough , too much of it without enough water. Not so much what you eat but HOW you eat it. Also, small meals spread out. That was the advise I got. 

I have never had food not start to pass through in 6 hours or so, unless I was fasting. Its hard to cope with all this and not become afraid of food, but keep asking questions. Also, how long have you had your stoma? 

I am sure others of us will have more to add that will be useful.

Fred, I'm really sorry that you went through that - NG tubes are not fun.

I'm sure that the GI doctor who suggested a NO fiber diet is correct in that it may help to prevent blockages in the future - however, this really doesn't seem like a long-term strategy that would be healthful. 

My suggestion is to speak with a registered dietitian about low-fiber meal plans and other options to help get you the right amount of nutrition without putting yourself at risk. 

Unfortunately, blockages aren't always food related, although food can increase the risk factor for some. If, for example, you have a motility issue, then you may have difficulties regardless of what you eat. 

Posted by: @fred

Does anyone with a colostomy experience a very long time like 4 days for food to pass through to a bowel movement?

Believe it or not, "normal" for someone who isn't constipated could be a few days for food to pass-through. If you've had a blockage, and assuming you've got most of your colon intact, it wouldn't seem unusual to go four days without passing - especially after being cleaned out the way you were. 

I've had my colostomy for around 11yrs.  on occasion, when the stoma is working, I  get a cramp like feeling, little painful but it passes in a few short moments. I eat everything I always have, I usually chew well but not always.  I see peanut chunks,apple, orange , grapefruit seeds, that hair like stuff from corn on the cob.  I found a long piece of grass once, I thought it was a dog type worm since I have dogs and they get worms sometimes.  I took it to the vet and had them look at it under a macro scope, just grass they said.

there is a guy on the UOAA forum that regularly uses milk of magnesia to flush out his system.  he goes then without output for 4-5 days I believe.   if you've been in the hospital and not eating normally, I could see something like happening.    if I eat a pasta dinner tonight, little will come out tomorrow.   things are somewhat consistent, but sometimes I'll get very little output in a couple of days and wonder.  of course sometimes the bag is nearly full in morning and I wonder about that as well? probably something I ate.

sounds more like you have a sluggish large intestine.   

Another line of research might be the difference between soluble and insoluble fiber.

Also keeping an eating diary might be a good option, something to consider anyway.

@veganostomy

Thank you all for sharing your experiences, advice and support. I have had the colostomy for 3 1/2 years and there is always something new or different to understand. It's helpful to get insights from those who have gone through the same thing. As many of you mentioned, it doesn't sound like a healthful diet over the long term which is one of my biggest concerns.  Seeing a dietitian sounds like good advice.Your input regarding motility is very helpful, too. Thanks again!

Hello Fred,

Sorry to hear about your troubles. I must admit, that so far, I haven't experienced any blockages. I try to eat a balanced diet of whole grains, veggies (especially salads), fruit, dairy, and a small amount of meat. I also try to drink plenty of fluids, especially water. This seems to keep things moving. Also, it is important to keep active. Exercise, done in moderation, helps the colon to move things along.

Good luck and God bless,

Stella