POPCORN after surgery

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CatzinDJ
Posts: 45
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2016 12:06 pm

POPCORN after surgery

Postby CatzinDJ » Fri Jun 09, 2017 2:50 am

Can you eat it? Does it mess with you?

I am slowly coming to a conclusion that I don't want-but I think should leave popcorn alone. However, I'd love to be wrong.
Popcorn is my comfort food.

Can you eat popcorn or does it cause you potty problems?
53 & Female
DX: Rectal Cancer (RC) diagnosed in Thailand
Tumor Location: Rectum
Tumor type: invasive adenocarcinoma
Tumor size: 4 mm
Tumor grade: low grade
Baseline CEA value (4.46) 5/2016
CEA 6/2/2016 4.8
Lynch- Negative.
LAR 7/13/2016 in Seatle, Wa
Home 7/18/2016.
CEA 12/9/2016 2.8
CEA 6/8/2017 5.6
Colonoscopy and Cat scan June 2017 NED
CEA 3/2018 2.9
TB latent recently diagnosed.

Tdubz
Posts: 152
Joined: Sun May 07, 2017 11:01 am

Re: POPCORN after surgery

Postby Tdubz » Fri Jun 09, 2017 7:47 am

It was one of the foods I was told to avoid eating right after surgery. I'm sure I'd be fine eating it now, but I haven't tried it yet.

MissMolly
Posts: 645
Joined: Wed Jun 03, 2015 4:33 pm
Location: Portland, Ore

Re: POPCORN after surgery

Postby MissMolly » Fri Jun 09, 2017 8:19 am

Cat:
What makes popcorn problematic is the fact that popcorn is high in insoluble fiber and has pesky husks and unpopped kernels.

For an intestinal tract that is healing from surgery or that has a stoma, the passage of popcorn can be irritating and painful - akin to a kitchen scrub brush passing through the intestine. For someone with a stoma, UNpopped kernels can be difficult to pass through a small lumen opening.

The potential grievances of popcorn:
1. Internal intestinal irritation due to rough, prickly husks;
2. High proportion of insoluble fiber that can cause formation of a large food bolts that is difficult to pass;
3. limited aperature of a stoma, stoma opening not wide enough to pass kernels with ease. Painful is an understatement.

As with most food items and the intestine, giving the intestine sufficient time to heal after a resection or stoma placement before nibbling on popcorn is key. I would suggest 2-3 months of healing for a colon resection without a stoma and 3-4 months of healing with a stoma before reintroducing popcorn.

When you do decide to reintroduce popcorn, a few caveats:
1. Pick out the unopposed kernels and the larger husks. You want to reduce internal irritation of the intestinal tract and the possibility of a formed popcorn bolus that would be difficult to pass.
2. Eat a small serving, very small, to see how your body reacts to popcorn. 1/3 cup or less to start. The husks and unopposed kernels are the most troubling along with the insoluble fiber. Popcorn can be internally irritating to a healing intestinal tract.

For true popcorn affectionadoes, there are store brands of "huskless popcorn." Look at your local store or Amazon.

Soft corn "puffs" are another alternative to genuine popcorn. "Booty's Bounty" is one brand of soft corn puffs (similar to soft
Cheetoes).

It is probably best to always avoid going back to consuming a large tub of popcorn, as one may have enjoyed pre diagnosis. Rough husks and kernels are never going to be best favorite friends with your GI tract.
- K -
Dear friend to Bella Piazza, former Colon Club member (NWGirl).
I have a permanent ileostomy and offer advice on living with an ostomy - in loving remembrance of Bella
I am on Palliative Care for broad endocrine failure + Addison's disease + osteonecrosis of both hips/jaw + immunosuppression. I live a simple life due to frail health.

User avatar
horizon
Posts: 1668
Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 10:10 pm

Re: POPCORN after surgery

Postby horizon » Fri Jun 09, 2017 8:48 am

I eat it occasionally with no issue but my surgery was years ago.
I'm just a dude who still can't believe he had a resection and went through chemo (currently 12 years NED). Is this real life?

User avatar
SEWHAPPY
Posts: 86
Joined: Tue Nov 15, 2016 4:25 pm

Re: POPCORN after surgery

Postby SEWHAPPY » Wed Jun 14, 2017 6:38 pm

Popcorn husks are like rectal shrapnel for me still. Pirate's Booty is a good substitute.
Female age 51.
CC diagnosed 10/13/16 at first colonoscopy.
Lap colon resection 11/21/16, removed ovary & fallopian tube.
T4N0M0, stage IIC.
Lynch negative.
Power port installed 12/19/16.
12 rounds FOLFOX done 6/16/17.

DarknessEmbraced
Posts: 3816
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:54 pm
Facebook Username: Riann Fletcher
Location: New Brunswick, Canada

Re: POPCORN after surgery

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Thu Jun 15, 2017 2:18 pm

I haven't been able to eat popcorn since my surgery in 2014. Popcorn gives me horrible cramping, bloating and diarrhea. I can eat popcorn chips though.
Diagnosed 10/28/14, age 36
Colon Resection 11/20/14, LAR (no illeo)
Stage 2a colon cancer, T3NOMO
Lymph-vascular invasion undetermined
0/22 lymph nodes
No chemo, no radiation
Clear Colonoscopy 04/29/15
NED 10/20/15
Ischemic Colitis 01/21/16
NED 11/10/16
CT Scan moved up due to high CEA 08/21/17
NED 09/25/17
NED 12/21/18
Clear colonoscopy 09/23/19
Clear 5 year scans 11/21/19- Considered cured! :)

tarheelmom
Posts: 168
Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2016 5:55 pm

Re: POPCORN after surgery

Postby tarheelmom » Thu Jun 15, 2017 2:59 pm

I can eat a tiny amount of popcorn, but I absolutely cannot eat peanuts. They are my rectal shrapnel!!!!
52 y at dx, mom to 4
DX: RC on 2/22/2016
Stage I, T2N0M0, 0/32 LN
23 mm x 7 mm moderately differentiated invasive adenocarcinoma
3 cm from anal verge
4/12/16: ULAR, TME, & temp ileostomy
6/14/16: ileo reversal


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