How to manage eating like this long term?

[user87382294757]

I have this problem so can't eat much fibre. It is important, it is small bowel obstruction and can't have more surgery as had so much already.

Basically can't eat much fibre due to this and have been given this low fibre diet. If I do eat it it is really painful and tummy swells up, it can result in vomiting bile and the NG tube also - which is horrible- and if it doesn't settle, surgery to free the bowel up.

Sorry for horrible description but to emphasise how serious it is as some people don't get it really.

So I'm allowed things like white bread, jelly, cheese, chocolate, some cooked and softened fruits and veggies. Not great. Here is the kind of stuff recommended to me.

www.scan.scot.nhs.uk/Documents/Low%20fibre%2009%20A4%20060611.pdf

AIBU in that this is rubbish and seems pretty unhealthy? I am trying to do things like say eat eegs or yoghurt during the day or else tunny hurts on the school run and then a bit larger portion in the evening and not feel too guilty about it seeming too unhealthy? It is hard when I keep hearing about eating 5 a day (or more) etc etc.

Bump? I am finding it hard as basically eating cake etc just makes you more hungry. Wondering if can fast through the day and maybe do 16:8 with it as it is quite high calorie also. that might work

I don't think you should be asking, OP, you're a special case.

Life is often making the best of your options. Your options don't include a "perfect" diet. Lots of people get options they don't like.

There's quite a long section in that guide about how to make veg+fruit tolerated, so I'd experiment with those suggestions.

That is a bit grim. It's pretty much the opposite of a healthy diet but they're obv thinking bowel obstruction now is the immediate issue, whilst avoiding too much weight loss.

I think I'd use protein powder a fair bit? Not checked the fibre content tho.

So you can eat meat, that is quite filling. I agree with fasting-if you can eat fattier foods eg fatty meat you will be full very quickly.
I’m the same as you-starchy carbs make me hungry. It must be difficult-I really love veg and would struggle without it.
I did a meat only diet. It was boring but extremely filling as I chose fattier cuts eg duck breast skin on. I barely ate tbh!

And yes, you're not general population anymore, so need specialist advice.

It seems to.me that the low fibre site has plenty of cooked type fruit and veg options and the compromise there is preferable to getting a blockage. I'd get my gut rested and used to the diet before I tinkered with it. Protein is more satisfying than white carbs though. I'm sorry you're having to struggle with this.

We can’t possibly answer this, fr me personally I would see the issue, it’s quite a varied diet

Looks pretty much like what I (and most people I know) eat anyway

You can have roasts, cheesy pasta, cooked breakfast, fish in sauce with mash, chicken and chips, sandwiches, cereal, sponge cake and custard etc. Pretty standard fare.

Thans for the ideas, thing is there seems to be no more specialist advice, saw the dieticians who said follow this. Yes with some people it may be temporary until they have further surgery but they can't in my case. Guess it is just a case of making the best of it.

fr me personally I would see the issue, it’s quite a varied diet

The main issue I have is that fibre fills you up, and is good for your health

You can have roasts, cheesy pasta, cooked breakfast, fish in sauce with mash, chicken and chips, sandwiches, cereal, sponge cake and custard etc. Pretty standard fare.

Yes and if it is bad I can blend this stuff too, or have these Ensure drinks. It is just that keep hearing all this stuff these days about 'processed food' and how unhealthy it all is. I guess it is all in moderation, I suppose.

But Fibre isn't good for your health. So what is the issue?

I have to have a lot of salt because of low blood pressure. I asked my Doctor if the usual problems apply to me and they don't.

" It is just that keep hearing all this stuff these days about 'processed food' and how unhealthy it all is"

But the stuff on your list isn't processed food

I know what you mean. I have IBS, and it is triggered off by high fibre foods. Some people (my auntie being one) are quite sniffy about me avoiding wholemeal bread, and say in a sarcastic tone "oh you don't eat wholemeal bread do you".

The irony is that she has bowel issues caused by eating too much fibre, but she has it ingrained in her that to eat white bread is bad for her.

Fibre isn't good for your health

But I thought it was protective against bowel cancer? Although maybe doesn't matter as much in my case as they took most of it out (sigmoid) already.

That's interesting Tapas I have been getting some similar comments, and also people not realising and thinking I am being fussy or whatever.
People saying I'll get IBS.

Have tried Sourdough bread, that seems quite good and went down OK.
I'm a veggie also so struggling a bit with no pulses etc as good source of protein

My dad has to have a low fibre diet due to bowel issues, he missed the variety of fruit and veg the most.

You need to get out of the mindset of fibre=good. In your case it’s not true. You’ve been medically advised to follow a low fibre diet which you can still do healthily judging from the info sheet you linked to. Nothing wrong with tinned fruit

Sorry hit post too soon

Nothing wrong with tinned fruit or cooked veg!

And plenty of protein is fine and will fill you up.

But the stuff on your list isn't processed food

Cut and paste some of the list-

Bowl of cereal (choose low fibre varieties e.g. “Cornflakes”, “Rice Krispies”, “Ready Brek”). Add milk, fortified milk, cream, honey, syrup or sugar.

☺ Cheese and plain white crackers.
☺ Sandwiches (use white bread) of tuna, egg mayonnaise, cheese or ham.
☺ Bowl of smooth creamy or consommé soup (eg cream of chicken, cream of tomato) and a white roll. (Avoid pulses.)
• White varieties of breads such as pitta, naan, plain bagels, croissants. Toasted crumpets, pancakes, muffins or scones – made from white flour (avoid those with fruit or nuts) with butter, seedless jam, honey or cheese.
• Savoury snacks such as crisps e.g. “Skips”, “Wotsits”, “Quavers”.
• Milk puddings, jelly/milk jelly, ice cream, smooth yogurt/fromage frais/mousse/
blancmange or any other individual pot dessert (avoid those with fruit or nuts).
• Sponge cakes made with white flour, without fruit or nuts, such as Madeira, iced sponge, chocolate cake.
• Milkshake. Try adding ice-cream for a “thick shake”.
• Boiled sweets, chocolate (avoid those with fruit or nuts).
• Malted drink made with milk and 2-3 plain biscuits (avoid those with fruit or nuts). e.g. Rich Tea, Morning coffee, Marie, ginger, shortbread, custard creams.

Yanbu. So many people have to eat specialized diets that I really don't get why there aren't more ready made foods available. Limited diets are ok for a few weeks, after that they are grim.

Op why don't you look into juicing.

Fibre is important to the general population but not for you. So look into ways round it?

A nice breakfast could be ready break, tinned peaches and yogurt.

Lunch, eggs on toast

Dinner roast potatoes, tinned veg you can tolerate (carrots?) and something veggie you can handle.

Chuck in a couple of fresh juices and things aren't so bad 🙂

I have an ileostomy, three resections and no colon involvement - fibre is a fucking disaster for me. I cannot eat any fruit and only small amounts of over cooked root veg. No salad, no beans or pulses. No nuts. Only white bread or pasta.

The only thing I don't miss is salad, for that is the work of the devil.

I have been eating like this for 15 years and it is a source of much wonder and delight that my bloods etc always come back with no vitamin deficiencies.

You need to let go of the idea that you must follow general public guidelines. They are not for folks like you and me.

Follow the diet you have been given. I too miss wholemeal nutty seed breads, but I buy a wide variety of white to break the monotony - oven bottom muffins, ciabatta, naan, tortillas, pitta.

Also, if you see a short woman in the bakery section of Morrison's deeply inhaling near the wholegrain unsliced loaves, it's not me, honest. Also my friend does not let me put my face in her bread bin every time I visit. At all. Because that would be weird.

Weezol so glad to hear you have been managing OK with it. Yes the main is not worth the angst of trying something fibrous. I need to get past the thought that my diet is not 'healthy' and this is helpful.

I read also that often processing some fruits and veggies can even make them higher in nutrients or as good as fresh- for example freezing and cooking...It is hard when people go on about health and eating lots of fresh fruit and veg and you can't...but we are all different after all.

it is a source of much wonder and delight that my bloods etc always come back with no vitamin deficiencies That is good. My doctors also tested cholesterol, blood sugar etc at the health check and they were good also.