I suppose I wouldn't rant if I could live off of things like crackers and pudding and the odd multi-vitamin. But of course, I can't. If I gain too much weight (say 15lbs or so) I could compromise my pouch by putting too much pressure on the valve. I can't afford to lose it so obviously the incentive to stay trim is pretty high. But since I can't eat salad, or really any raw veggies for that matter.... its a big challenge.
Oh and don't say cooked veggies because thats not much better. I'll tell you its the fiber. Example: Pumpkin.
Yes, I am a fiend for pumpkin. Love it. I stop just short of eating it right out of the can. I like fresh too but lets be honest here, I save myself a lot of work by buying it canned. So pumpkin in a can but cooked already. Lets say mix it with a little cheesecake pudding and pumpkin pie spice (yum!) and eat 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup. Three hours later and I go to empty my pouch guess what? You ever try and suck pumpkin through a straw? No? Well just try and imagine it and you have a decent idea of what I'm going through. And drinking juice or coffee doesn't help thin in up. So its irrigate, irrigate, irrigate.
Add another veggie that day, cooked carrots or green beans, something you think wouldn't be that bad... ha. Pureed or not, they can only be broken down so far and what ever is left, thats what I have to try and get through my cath.
I warned you its a rant.
Do I like my K-pouch? YES, unequivocally preferable to any alternative plumbing method that can exist for me.
Am I tired of pulling my cath out to find two minute pieces of apple plugging up the hole of my cath. YES.
Trying to eat healthy when you poop through a catheter totally stinks.
