Here Are The Basics

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basics

The Basics

My colon was removed in 2006/2007 and I have had (and continue) to adjust as you are doing now. The best recommended items for you to incorporate immediately into your diet are Glutamine powder, fiber, lots of water and Colestipol tablets (1 gm) by prescription. Since fiber creates gas, you'll be incorporating something unwanted into your set up - more gas. Gas is a very real issue. It adds to the problems related to painful bile remedied (in my case) when I was prescribed Colestipol.

Colestipol is taken by prescription. I took two tabs before eating or drinking anything for nearly a year which helped to reduce the acid in the bile. The acid was quite painful and hard to manage before I found out about this prescription remedy. Yes, Colestipol is primarily prescribed to regulate and lower cholesterol, but happily a side effect is the removal of acid from bile which for me was a true life saver. Also, you should not take this prescription drug with any other medications as it will lessen their effectiveness. I rarely take it now, but during my transition from ileostomy to reversal, it was a critical component for me. Be sure to ask your doctor or pharmacist questions about implementing this or any of the other potential solutions mentioned here into your daily routine.

Glutamine can be purchased in most health food stores or on amazon.com. It is the best product to get the remaining organs (small intestine, rectum or whatever is left) really healthy. It doesn't seem that you can take too much. The body will dictate how much is needed, but you will find it most essential for a faster and more complete recovery. I added two heaping scoops to smoothies daily for nearly a year until my body indicated that it didn't need as much anymore. It has a gritty consistency to it - so you will want to mix it with something else.

If you can, eat dinners early. If you eat late meals - you may be up all night going to the bathroom. So, if you can eat a bit earlier and cut off food intake by late afternoon, you will have an easier time of it.

Remember fiber is key. You'll want to find a fiber that works for you. Benefiber was great, but is difficult to find right now. You might try instead a Canadian fiber product called PGX Daily. I take it now, using less while enjoying increased benefits - with the objective of having a more solid stool. You can order PGX online via Amazon.com. You'll want to try taking fiber 10 - 20 minutes before eating along with one or two Imodium® tablets and lots of water. That should help with the diarrhea. Whether you take the original or generic form of Imodium®, just know that one version may work better for you than the other. You'll find that your body changes, so be sure to revisit and try again what didn't seem to work before.

You'll find your body continually improving - all is possible.

fiber

Fiber

Fiber is a key ingredient to add to your diet now as this will help to bulk the newly converted liquid coming out of the small intestine. Without your colon/large intestine, you will need to add this key substance into your daily diet to bulk things up.

I have taken Benefiber for years and when it was unavailable for a time, I took PGX Daily (750 mg) in soft gel form. It initially was only available online, but I have since found it at my local grocery store. I really like it and take 2 capsules about 10 - 20 minutes before eating along with one or two Imodium® capsules. The generic brand of Imodium® now works well for me, where it didn't initially. Know that what does not work today, may work for you in the future, so keep trying. I have taken Glucomannan. Although you cannot add it to hot liquids like coffee, it may work when you add it in other ways. I saw what it did in hot coffee and couldn't get myself to try it again.

One of my doctors recommended that I try Metamucil. It never worked for me. It may not work for you either if you don't have your colon since the active ingredient is psyllium husk. Psyllium is not absorbed by the small intestine which explains why I didn't get the results I had hoped for. This was my "aha" moment.

I also take Certified Organic Hemp Pro Fiber. It offers 14g fiber, 11 g protein and 600 mg omega 3 per serving. The USDA recommends getting 14 g fiber for every 1000 calories consumed. You'll find that the more fiber you implement into your diet, the better it will serve you. I make a morning smoothie that tastes great and gives my body what it needs to start my day off right. I'll be posting the recipe soon.

Chia is high in fiber and definitely worth considering as another way to implement fiber into your diet. The dietary fiber content is approximately 56.5 g per 100 g of seeds -- 14.1 g being soluble. Unlike dietary fiber from cereal grains, the soluble fiber content of chia seeds take more time to travel through the intestinal tract, which helps add bulk and provides a slower rate of glucose absorption, Dr. Perricone notes. MayoClinic.com recommends men 50 and younger to consume 38 g of fiber a day; women, 25 g. Read more from HealthFully.com.

Remember to introduce new components into your diet one at a time. You want to introduce new items individually so that you know what does and does not work for you. I made the mistake of trying everything at once and got into physical trouble because of my need to know now attitude. Take your time and trust your inner self to know what's best for you. What feels right to you? Of course, I strongly recommend always checking with your physician first on any and all recommendations. Your neighborhood pharmacist should know how different supplements, medications and foods interact too. Utilize all resources and introduce change prudently.

Although fiber is not considered an essential nutrient, it is key to your digestion. See below for foods or food additives that are also high in fiber:

  • Black Rice - high in antioxidants
  • Kale - Vitamin C (90% allowance) & Fiber (10% daily allowance)
    • steam: fiber-related component bind together more effectively with bile acids in the digestive tract
    • high in: Vitamins K, A & C; Manganese; Fiber; Copper; Tryptophan; Calcium; B6; Vitamins E, B1 & B2 & B3; Omega 3
  • Red Beans & Lentils
  • Pistachio Nuts - low fat & high fiber
  • Glucomannan - (natural thickening agent) like fiber, take with lots of water
  • Chia - high in fiber & Omega 3; 500x more calcium than milk; protein
  • Adzuki Beans ($4) 17 grams = 1 cup
  • Psyllium fiber - 7 grams daily
  • Resistant Starch Powder (1 Tbsp) - might add to Greek Yogurt
  • Cranberry Beans - high in fiber and helps with fatigue
gas1

Gas

Everyone has gas. Why does it seem so significant now?

No one had ever explained to me what to expect regarding gas in my current situation. When I would ask about it, the standard recommendation was to try Bean-O or Gax-X. Neither worked very well for me. I thought maybe the gas would pass. No pun intended here, but I hoped that over time the gas issue would subside and would be a non-issue. I had time, I could wait it out.

But it doesn't seem to subside. See if this situation resonates with you: You try to make the liquid bile more solid by taking things like fiber, probiotics, Imodiom®. When you do, a lot of gas is created. The gas then pushes the mostly liquid bile down and out, eventually to your rectum and skin. When even a drop of bile gets there it is quite painful. Also, when this liquid passes - it is extremely painful. Thus the need for Colestipol. Here's what you can do to help your body deal with the increased gas and passing the bile painlessly. Please read on.

I tape record Dr. Oz shows and keep quite detailed notes of various recommendations provided on that television series. Here are some solutions that you might consider, although PhyZyme® has been the best solution for me.

Solutions:

  • PhaZyme® - 180 mg of simethicone
  • Mylanta Gas - maximum strength (fast-acting). It works on all foods that cause gas and acts quickly; breaks the gas bubbles up so that they can move thru very easily; Simethicone is a key ingredient
  • Caraway Seeds - eliminates bloating; powerful digestive aid and gas eliminator; inhibits bad bacteria
  • Yoga Posture - mountain pose, up to tiptoes, then up and down - to expel gas
  • Fennel Seeds - chew up a handful of them after eating your meal
  • Coriander Seeds
  • Jamaican Allspice - good for digestion and helps with gas
  • Beano®
  • Gas-X®
smoothie

Diet

My Version of a Smoothie

All amounts are approximate and can be adjusted according to your individual needs.

Here are some frozen fruits selections or choose your own fruit preference, organic fruits (optional):

  • Strawberries
  • Blueberries
  • Mangos (optional)
  • Banana (½ - optional)

Liquids:

  • Bilberry Juice
  • Aloe Vera juice
  • Coconut Water
  • Flax Oil
  • Mineral Drops

Powders:

  • PB2 Peanut Butter (or any peanut butter spread)
  • Protein
  • Glutamine
  • Green Super Food
  • Hemp Pro Fiber
  • Oatmeal & Chia Seeds

Add into blender:

  • 2 cups - Frozen Strawberries
  • 1 cup - Frozen Blueberries
  • Few slices of frozen Mangos to taste
  • bionaturae organic Bilberry juice (made in Italy) ½ bottle (25.4 fl. oz.)
  • Scoop of Oatmeal
  • 1 - 2 scoops of PB2 powdered Peanut Butter (to taste)
  • 1 scoop Garden of Life Raw Protein (organic protein formula)
  • 1 scoop L-Glutamine Powder
  • 2 tsp. Certified Organic Chia seeds
  • Aloe Farms - Aloe Vera juice
  • Zico pure premium Coconut Water
  • Barlean’s Highest Lignan Flax Oil - 1 long squirt
  • Concern Trace Mineral Drops - 1 quick squirt
  • 1 - 2 Tbsp Garden of Life Perfect Food - RAW Organic Green Super Food
  • 2 tsp. Manitoba Harvest - Certified Organic Hemp Pro Fiber

Place together in blender. Make sure that the liquid is ¾ of the solid/powder ingredients so your blender can mix ingredients without burning up the motor.

water

Lots of Water - No Fizz

Water. It is so important now to remember to drink water. Lots of water - no fizz. If you think about having a soft drink, have a glass of water with some lime instead. If you think about having an iced tea, have a glass of water with lemon instead. If you think you're getting enough water in either of those drinks or getting all the benefits you need from plain water, think again. Neither is helpful to your body right now. Plus, know that you don't want carbonated water in your system. You'll find it may not agree with you.

Water is your best friend. Jazz it up by adding lemon or lime juice. Both will provide added benefits to a plain glass of water. When you have your first glass of water in the morning, make it lukewarm and add some lime juice. It will rehydrate you in a good way. Add ice later in the day to get your metabolism going.

Here's something to try if you drink a lot of water already, but don't feel like you are absorbing it. Try taking a sip and holding it for a few seconds in your mouth. Let the water sit under your tongue. You can also try something like adding chia seeds to your diet. They will help with water absorption as they can rapidly absorb 9 - 12 times their weight in water while also being an excellent source of protein. Chia seeds will absorb and hold water prolonging hydration and retaining electrolytes in body fluids. Without the colon we need more water to stay hydrated, implementing these options we may find a greater ability to retain water and with that better digestion.

According to studies, glutamine helps cells to absorb water across the small intestines and into the bloodstream. This helps prevent dehydration, diarrhea, and a loss of vitamins, minerals and necessary nutrients from the foods consumed. It also appears that it may affect digestion and be helpful for those who have gastrointestinal problems.

So if water seems to come in and go out too quickly, try one of these options. But above all, be sure to drink lots of water. That's the bottom line.