Atkins With A Colectomy

[Pinkee]

Is there anyone out there on Atkins that also had a colectomy? I was wondering if the diet had any effects that I should be aware of. In the summer of 2004 I had a colectomy. The surgeon said there would be no diet restrictions. I just don't want any surprise reactions to the diet. Today is day 9, so far so good.

[Analog6]

Re: Atkins With A Colectomy

I have no experience with this but logically it would depend on how much was removed and from which portion of the intestinal tract. I read that the large intestine absorbs 90% of the water from your food but it does not say how much role it plays in actual digestion. I think the small intestine, which comes after the large, does most of the actual digestion of food and extracting value from it. The only reference I could find was that if much is removed you can have loose stools afterwards, because a larger propertion of water is not being removed. If this happens, maybe for you it would be appropriate to drink a bit less water.

Can you go back to the doctor who did the operation and ask him?

[Pinkee]

Re: Atkins With A Colectomy

In a nutshell the doctors office said I would just have to wait and see how my body responds. Which to me means "They don't know" I was hoping someone out there might have already been through Atkins with no large intestine I'm not worried and so far so good I just don't want any problems. Thanks for your reply, it's nice to know someone is lookin' out for you.

[Momtofour]

Re: Atkins With A Colectomy

Well hello my friend. I finally got on here to see your post. Hopefully you will find someone on here that has had experience with that. See ya!

[2big4mysize]

Re: Atkins With A Colectomy

since you have been living with your colectomy already you know already somefoods that may have negative effects on you. Since you didn't say why you needed it we are going to have to assume the remaining parts of your large intestine is healthy and fuctional.
You are going to really need to avoid like the plague any low carb food sweetened with a sugar alcohol known as Frankenfoods around here as they cause diarehha in normal length Large intestine folk when the body's threshold for them is exceeded from all food sources be it farnkenfoods or natureal foods like fruits veggies and even some protein sources. I'm sure you are well aware of one of them sorbitol as that is ususally the stuff used to clean out patients for medical proceddures the night before the proceeedure.

The theory behind them being low carb is they take longer to digest and so they pass from the small to large intestine not absorped and they are digested in the large intestine making kless of them absorbed from mouth to butt then other carb foods that can be digested in the timeit takes to traverse the small intestine so again in theory they will not effect blood sugar as much. but that large intestine absorbtion usually takes place after gut bacteria have broken them down and they cause large amount s of fluid to be pulled into the intestine and act as laxatives in those forms. Many low carber has posted about hearing racetrack sounds in their gut and/or thinking they had gas soon after eating those only to mess their pants.

the regular foods that you can eat now that aren't high carb should have the same effect low carbing as they did high carbing.

Newbie low carbers either get constipated frm the lack of fiber in their veggie choicese or they get the runs because of the higher fat content of the foods and their gall bladder not being able to keep up with the newly increased demand for bile to break down the fats. hopefully you will not be one of these fool but soluble fiber likepysllium is the corrective measure for both as the body adjusts. You might want to discuss this now with your doc just in case you get hit with it.

If you don't think of your condition as any more of an obsticle to your Atkins then an arthritic does theirs you should be fine and be a big loser.



Happy low carbing

[Pinkee]

Re: Atkins With A Colectomy

True. I want to be a big loser!!! The support here is awesome!

[Analog6]

Re: Atkins With A Colectomy

Keep us updated as to how you get on, I'd be interested to know. If I may ask, have you no large intestine left at all or was only part removed?

[Pinkee]

Re: Atkins With A Colectomy

Good morning Analog6,

To answer your question, the whole thing except for the corner piece. Without the corner, you generally will go (potty) up to 15 times/day sometimes more. I was very fortunate that my diagnosis was caught early in my 20's and monitored for many years before I had to have the surgery. Had the surgery on a Thursday in 2004 and was home the next Monday night. My surgeon was one of only two people in the state that were able to do the procedure lapriscopically (sp? So all in all I am very lucky. Special Note: For some reason the doctor was not even going to do the procedure lapriscopically, it was only because I researched and found out it could be done that way, and questioned him. Seems kind of strange that it wasn't offered, I mean what women would choose a 10 incision on their abdomen vs. four 1inch incisions? Beats me too~!
PS..I'm not shy about this topic if you have any more questions. Later P