Too scared to try: Eating popcorn, canoeing, swimming.

Posted by: @gardengypsy

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@dlkfiretruck Linda ~ You eat popcorn? You are, indeed, brave. It’s my absolute favorite treat in the world and after five years, I haven’t tried it yet.

I eat popcorn on a regular basis, both air popped and stove popped (a bit of oil in a closed pot with kernels). If you can find "hulless" kernels, it may be easier for you to digest. But even the regular stuff, in smaller quantities, and chewed well, should be fine for just about anyone.

@gardengypsy I get that some of the things we used to enjoy seem daunting after ostomy surgery, but is there a way you could enjoy these things in moderation? It seems really sad to give up something entirely. I love popcorn too, but I find that I have to limit how much I can eat. It’s just so high in fibre that it makes it hard to manage my ostomy if I eat too much. But, I can eat small portions. I also find that if I eat something that I know will give me trouble later, I take a couple of Imodium and that usually helps slow things down. I don’t know if that would be helpful for you. I do swim a lot in the summer; I have to cover the filter on my pouch with a sticker, and that helps. My appliance needs to be replaced about a day sooner than usual when I swim a lot, but that seems to be the only downside. I don’t canoe anymore, but I used to kayak a lot. I haven’t at all since my surgery. For me, the problem is sitting on my perineal incision, which is still painful. It is getting better, but very slowly. So no kayaking for me. I still have my kayak; I’m still hopeful that one day, I will be able to enjoy it again. I hope you can find a way to enjoy these things again too.

 Laurie 

@davidinthailand  ... Hello David in Thailand... nice to have you here again.  That had to be a rather horrid & testy experience for you, but, please know I admire your sincere grit!  That was a rather daring move to wash clothing in a toilet but at the same time you have to deal with what you are faced with and rather then going further into public with badly soiled clothing,  I think that was a rather amazing move on your part.  Thank you for sharing your experience.

Go bags are a great thing to have.  I just recently bought my very first backpack 🎒 ever and I'm 67! We never had them as children and certainly never in high-school.  We carried our books the 2 miles one way there and back to school. I still credit my arm and hand strength to carrying books and waterskiing & reflexology. I have an appt. later today so now I also get to use my new backpack for the first time too...lol! 

@gardengypsy  ... lol, I sure understand the avoidance and the fear of popcorn.  I had gone thru a steady stream of Blockages eating the way & the foods I was told to eat off that wonderful, (haha!,) list I was given leaving the hospital after ending up in hospital for 13 1/2 months and 7 surgeries & short gut syndrome & my ileostomy , I  decided one day that if I was doing everything right and still getting those nasty Blockages, then I was going to toss the list and darn well eat the way I wanted and knew how to. I MISSED popcorn, fresh raw veggies and so many other foods including Greek salads & Ceasar salads. 

I figured out a way to eat carefully and still enjoy the foods I loved and desperately needed back in my fridge and tummy! I peel all veggies including red peppers, and even dill pickles. I cut sliced Greek olives into 1/2 or 1/4  pieces.  I love Asparagus and I add it often to my salads raw.  But I peel the top tought layer, I snap the harder bottom pieces and I cut them in less then 1/4" circles not ovals. (Save & freeze the snapped pieces for a veggie broth.) Anything to reduce the long fibres. A fair bit of restaurants serve a leafy lettuce with a Greek salad, I have mine on top of a bed of couscous, quinoa, rice or barley, I need the extra vitamins in them.  Then I cut most of the veggies in 1/4" piece slices and top them on my plate of couscous, my most common choice. Then I should confess, I could drink a bottle of Greek Dressing with my Greek salad, but I do enjoy all the crunch I now eat again. I have it with a protein, usually fish. 

As far as popcorn goes, I pop less then a 1/4 cup of seeds in hot oil in a pot on my stove & I find that the hot oil causes the outer kernel to become very crispy allowing it to break down a lot more then microwave popcorn.  I started by eating about a 1/2 cup of popped corn & carefully moved forward from there.  Since,I started eating the way I enjoy and prepping many veggies & foods differently, I have not had a blockage. Meats are something to beware of. Cut against the grain & in very thin slices, even chicken!  I eat a fair bit of salmon & sole because my guts just like them better and they are easier for me to digest.  

That said, this is not what Eric of VO  recommends, but a choice I carefully thought over.  I was desperately anemic & though I still struggle with it due to SGS & absorption issues, my food choices now bounce around foods high in iron, Potassium and the Vit. B's... I just found so many foods in high amounts and kept an ongoing list. It became fun trying so many new veggies & grains that I hadn't eaten before or in years, and, at the same time, I now get to introduce them to the hero in my life, my 5 year young Grand-D. My 7th Grandchild. 

Brave or stupid , I don't really know, but it was a change I was so glad I made and continue to add to every week or so. Have you eaten a good bowl of chilli lately?  I eat it a fair bit and serve it up in a pattipan squash for dinner.  Its so tasty that way.  Squash & seasoning are important. I credit butternut squash. to my hair growing back in after loosing so much but I ate about 1 cup cooked a day. Not to mush. 

If you miss popcorn and other foods, just try adding them in small amounts and do what Eric advises. Put your fork down between bites and chew, chew, chew!  lt takes longer to eat, but It's been worth it.  Remember, Everything in moderation and eat something new to satisfied not full. I also drink about 3 glasses of fluid with every meal even before, but I do notice when I forget to do that. 

I hope you'll start trying foods you miss again and if you need ideas on how to cook them, I'll try and help. 

Tip... while Tomatoes are in season, I love to buy a bunch of Roma tomatoes , slice in 1/4 " slices, place on a parchment paper lined pan & dehydrate in my oven at the lowest temp., mine goes to 170°f and thoroughly dehydrated them all, turning about even 4 to 6 hours. Once light as air & snap when broken, cool, toss in your blender and whiz to s light chunky dust then store in an old spice jar.  Sprinkle on sandwiches, over a bowl of soup or... and enjoy! I love it topped on a quiche & then bake it.  My diabetic friend on a very strict diet told me this added a whole new taste to his meals. Myself, I just love it on eggs and on mushroom soup. Let me know if you try it, but be sure to fully dehydrate to crispy.  You can do this, all with skin on to red peppers as well. Get brave & add some dried garlic & onion too..  

@veganostomy ...  I ate popcorn bcuz you, Eric ate popcorn too, lol! But its important for those starting out to use caution. Pop maybe a tablespoon of seeds.  Spit out the shellin a napkin if you feel the need. That's how I started. My kids called me the queen of Blockages so trying so many foods against the list, I used so much ⚠️ caution. 

Thank you again,  Eric for ALL YOU Do HERE! 

@dlkfiretruck Linda~ Thank you so much for taking the time write out all of you suggestions. I don’t know if I will ever eat eat popcorn, but I will try your other recipes. The tomatoes sound delicious!

Meredith

Posted by: @tigerlily

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For me, the problem is sitting on my perineal incision, which is still painful. It is getting better, but very slowly.

This took so many years for me. In fact, even though I ride bikes now, "that area" is still sore and prone to pain I wouldn't otherwise have. Even the healed exit wounds of my fistula are painful at time, and this going on... checks calendar... 12 year tomorrow! 😮 

Posted by: @dlkfiretruck

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I find that the hot oil causes the outer kernel to become very crispy allowing it to break down a lot more then microwave popcorn.

Yes, I also find that both methods give you vastly different end results. And I should also say that fresh kernels will give you fluffier, easier-to-digest popcorn. Stale kernels give you dense popcorn that don't pass through very well, if they even pop at all! 😯 

@veganostomy I am amazed that you can even ride a bike now, Eric. You are definitely a role model for never giving up hope.👍

Laurie

This took so many years for me. In fact, even though I ride bikes now, "that area" is still sore and prone to pain I wouldn't otherwise have. Even the healed exit wounds of my fistula are painful at time, and this going on... checks calendar... 12 year tomorrow! 😮 

Posted by: @dlkfiretruck

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I'm over a year now post proctectomy and im still wary of getting on a bike , still get some discomfort if I sit at some angles but in general its pain free , its funny as i always had a fairly well padded rear end , now as im in my 60's when i need the padding there its after disappearing .