How do I regain strength and weight after ileostomy?

I was down to 90 pounds
I am 5 foot three
I am now up to 115
What I did is I grazed all day. I had my husband be on alert for months to help me out and it worked, but it goes very slowly and you have to make sure if you’re pooping out more than of course you have to eat a little more pay attention to your output that’s the clue to everything.

Like you, I am also struggling with gaining weight after surgery and thorough chemo. I eat a lot of nuts, I love them and they are high in calories. I also do strengthening exercises and lots of walks to build muscles on my legs and arms as this is the desired way to put on Lbs. Hope it helps, I know exactly how you feel and how frustrating it is. Small gains !

I was down to 83 pounds following ostomy surgery. It took a year to get above 100 pounds, and another year to get to 110 (a normal healthy weight for me).

It takes time. Eat things that are nutritious and that work with your ostomy. Liquid output will not help you recover. I ate a lot of foods with soluble fiber, which helps thicken things up.

How long after iliostomy before regaining say 5 lbs?

@susanbfoster What foods are high soluble fiber?

@dona46

Foods like pasta, oatmeal, rice, dense breads, like bagels. Potatoes, yams, squash and sweet potatoes. Applesauce and bananas. Peanutbutter

It's not that you shouldn't eat protein or fats, you need those too.

I find if I eat protein drinks and a high protein diet, I wind up with more output. I also find that artificial sweeteners, like sorbitol, will increase my output. I'm also lactose intolerant, so most protein drinks just go right through me.

"Thickening" foods will help slow down the transit of food through your gut, and you'll absorb more nutrients.

Talk with your GI doctor or Colorectal surgeon about a referral to a nutritionist who is familiar with ileostomy and bowel surgery. Or share with your current one about the side effects of their current suggestions.

Thank you so much for your reply.
All of the foods you listed are on my favorites list, except the peanut butter. That makes my belly feel yucky. I have found sun seed butter to look and taste about the same. As long as I don't eat a lot of it I don't feel yucky.
I worked with a dietitian ( I got through my health insurance company) and we tried many protein and liquid calorie boosters, My results were the same as yours, they just went through and made me feel poorly. Thinking all the drinks we tried were dairy based, I asked about non dairy products. She recommended one and I tried it. Unfortunately it acted just like the others. I eat lots of ice cream, cottage cheese, and other cheeses. In fact those are often my afternoon snacks, as I try to eat at least 4 times a day. So, it's not lactose intolerance. It must be something else in those protein and high calorie drinks.

Unfortunately, I have been unable to find a dietitian or nutritionist that is knowledgeable about ostomy issues.
I would appreciate any referrals to an individual or place to find such a person.