Success: Took my pouch on a 75km hike!

Hi Pixie,

First time poster here, but not first time visitint. I was a big hiker before and during the first two surgeries with the ostomy. I'm wondering if you have any recommendations on what I should be eating on the trail come May? It's very hard when you can't have nuts, chocolate bars, fresh fruit, etc.

I am 3 months post takedown now, and recently had a CT scan for some tailbone pain. Pouchitis was ruled out because of the low output. Structurally they said the pouch looks good. They think it is nerve pain due to my low weight. On a ibuprofen regimen. I weigh 145 lb now, but my normal weight is 165 lb.

When I had the bag, I was eating anything and everything including Cliff bars. I ate one around the 2 month mark and it was the worst night of my jpouch. I just had peanut butter for the first time yesterday and that was ok. FYI, I struggle with hard stools sometimes and go about 6-8 times a day now, usually once a night.

Thank you!

They thought my perianal pain was nerve pain at first too but a CT scan with oral and IV contrast showed I actually had a small anal fistula (or leakage) that was causing it. Pain meds also slowed my bowels down and made me strain more when going to the bathroom actually making my perianal pain worse. I've found that ibuprofen every so often really helps and my surgeon said it's ok once in a while but not routinely Bc it can cause pouchitis. 

Hi Jeff: My lunch, snacks, and dinner included Stoned Wheat Thins, hard cheese, cured sausage, small tins of tuna, canned oranges/peaches, and electrolyte chews. For breakfast we used a stove to make oatmeal. My diet was quite restricted compared to what I usually eat but I did that on purpose to avoid bathroom problems, gas, discomfort, etc. And they definitely weren't the "light & packable" foods recommended for hiking but most of those things do not agree with me (those freeze dried dinners are not pouch friendly!). For me having small portions helps a lot too.

You mentioned that you had a Cliff bar and it caused problems--I still have that issue too sometimes with those bars and protein bars. If you want to try and introduce things like that it works best for me to eat 1/3 or 1/2 bar. Hopefully that helps a little bit, let me know if you have any other questions. Happy hiking! 

Congratulations!  It's always scary to reach out and do something beyond the "normal" everyday.  I went on my first week long back packing trip this past fall.  The pouch does pose a few extra challenges but it's manageable!