Seeking dietary advice for ileostomy as bowels and leakage worsen

Posted by soohart @soohart, 2 days ago

Here here. I feel a strong sense of Deja vu having been dismissed as a nervous young woman 70 years ago by the expert specialists.
Today I do have a good gastroenterologist, a lady, but I have yet to find comprehensive dietary advice or good clinical hands on info for ileostomy appliances, now that my bowel movements and leakage issues have worsened. I have type 2 diabetes, early fatty liver (non alcohol kind), mild kidney disease and am prone to gout.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Ostomy & J-Pouch Support Group.

@soohart Welcome to Connect! It is concerning when you say you haven't had "good clinical hands on info for ileostomy appliances". Have you seen a WOCN lately?

I know when I first had my ileostomy in the 1980s, there was very little thought given to dietary guidelines. I was given a list and sent on my way. It is better now, and I think you can probably find dietitians who knows something about both ileostomys and diabetes. I would encourage you to start a thread in the Ostomy group, I'm sure you are not the only one with both an ileostomy and diabetes.

We have a monthly support video meeting with one of the Mayo Clinic WOCNs. It is this Tuesday, September 1st, as a matter of fact.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/1655304/

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Profile picture for Susan F, Volunteer Mentor @susanf8

@soohart Welcome to Connect! It is concerning when you say you haven't had "good clinical hands on info for ileostomy appliances". Have you seen a WOCN lately?

I know when I first had my ileostomy in the 1980s, there was very little thought given to dietary guidelines. I was given a list and sent on my way. It is better now, and I think you can probably find dietitians who knows something about both ileostomys and diabetes. I would encourage you to start a thread in the Ostomy group, I'm sure you are not the only one with both an ileostomy and diabetes.

We have a monthly support video meeting with one of the Mayo Clinic WOCNs. It is this Tuesday, September 1st, as a matter of fact.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/1655304/

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@susanf8 my experience with a wound care nurse was that she was not an ostomy care person except possibly in the hospital setting after surgery. I am less concerned about the diabetes as you say because so many people have it. I am more concerned with gout triggers snd the liver issues. I am in search of a dietician and may have found one so here is hoping. Glad to have the feedback.

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Profile picture for soohart @soohart

@susanf8 my experience with a wound care nurse was that she was not an ostomy care person except possibly in the hospital setting after surgery. I am less concerned about the diabetes as you say because so many people have it. I am more concerned with gout triggers snd the liver issues. I am in search of a dietician and may have found one so here is hoping. Glad to have the feedback.

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@soohart I've worked with a number of different WOCNs when I lived in Arizona. It took me about 2 years to find an appliance that worked well for me. I probably worked with five(?) different people.

How long ago was your experience with a WOCN? Did you work with more than one?

What sorts of problems are you having with your current appliance, and have you tried anything new since you started having problems?

REPLY
Profile picture for Susan F, Volunteer Mentor @susanf8

@soohart I've worked with a number of different WOCNs when I lived in Arizona. It took me about 2 years to find an appliance that worked well for me. I probably worked with five(?) different people.

How long ago was your experience with a WOCN? Did you work with more than one?

What sorts of problems are you having with your current appliance, and have you tried anything new since you started having problems?

Jump to this post

@susanf8 this is useful to know. I’ve only worked with one nurse so far as that was the name given by my doctor. I have worked over the phone with a few people tied to the vendors to see whether their products would work. Basically I’ve been trying various appliances for nearly three years, think I have found something only to find after a few weeks that it is not so secure. I’ll just keep trying.

REPLY
Profile picture for Susan F, Volunteer Mentor @susanf8

@soohart Welcome to Connect! It is concerning when you say you haven't had "good clinical hands on info for ileostomy appliances". Have you seen a WOCN lately?

I know when I first had my ileostomy in the 1980s, there was very little thought given to dietary guidelines. I was given a list and sent on my way. It is better now, and I think you can probably find dietitians who knows something about both ileostomys and diabetes. I would encourage you to start a thread in the Ostomy group, I'm sure you are not the only one with both an ileostomy and diabetes.

We have a monthly support video meeting with one of the Mayo Clinic WOCNs. It is this Tuesday, September 1st, as a matter of fact.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/1655304/

Jump to this post

@susanf8 thank you. I have not found the path to ostomy wound nurses yet, so will keep asking. Unfortunately I have medical appointments on the first so will miss that online resource but will be using the Mayo Clinic groups now that I have found them.

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Profile picture for soohart @soohart

@susanf8 thank you. I have not found the path to ostomy wound nurses yet, so will keep asking. Unfortunately I have medical appointments on the first so will miss that online resource but will be using the Mayo Clinic groups now that I have found them.

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@soohart there is a search option on the WOCN site ( I've had the best success by including my whole state). You can try calling GI offices or Colorectal surgeon offices.
https://findanurse.wocn.org/
The UOAA has a telemed nurse option as well as other options (including other telemed services) listed.
https://www.ostomy.org/find-an-ostomy-nurse/

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Profile picture for soohart @soohart

@susanf8 this is useful to know. I’ve only worked with one nurse so far as that was the name given by my doctor. I have worked over the phone with a few people tied to the vendors to see whether their products would work. Basically I’ve been trying various appliances for nearly three years, think I have found something only to find after a few weeks that it is not so secure. I’ll just keep trying.

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@soohart that's a very familiar story to mine. Some of the things suggested worked, a lot didn't. It's very trial and error. Have you tried Eakins Seal?

REPLY
Profile picture for Susan F, Volunteer Mentor @susanf8

@soohart that's a very familiar story to mine. Some of the things suggested worked, a lot didn't. It's very trial and error. Have you tried Eakins Seal?

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@susanf8 Eakins seal has been a tremendous help to me. I dread to think how much worse off I would’ve without it.

REPLY
Profile picture for Susan F, Volunteer Mentor @susanf8

@soohart there is a search option on the WOCN site ( I've had the best success by including my whole state). You can try calling GI offices or Colorectal surgeon offices.
https://findanurse.wocn.org/
The UOAA has a telemed nurse option as well as other options (including other telemed services) listed.
https://www.ostomy.org/find-an-ostomy-nurse/

Jump to this post

@susanf8 thank you for the links!

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@soohart and @susanf8, I moved your discussion about ileostomy and dietary questions to its own discussion in the Ostomy support group here:
- Ostomy & J-Pouch https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/ostomy/

Thanks for suggesting the move @susanf8 so @soohart can get additional feedback from others as well.

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