1. Community
  2. Gut, bowel and stomach
  3. Oesophageal Achalasia and Spasm

Pureed foods and constipation . . .

Posted , 7 users are following.

michaela46213
michaela46213

I have a question.  I have recently been diagnosed with achalasia after about 18 months of symptoms.  I thought it was GERD!  Anyway, I have been put on pureed foods now for almost a month, and I expect it will be another month before I can have surgery - and then I expect another week or more of the same diet.  

So - here is my embarrassing question - how does one avoid constipation?  I am making smoothies that include prunes and have resorted to laxitives, but does anyone have any suggestions? 

1 like, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • AlanJM
    AlanJM michaela46213

    Posted

    Make sure that you drink enough water.

    I think that fibre is important for avoiding constipation, and also fruit.   Some of the texture / skins of these might make them off limits for you.

    I'll ask some others if they have problems

    • michaela46213
      michaela46213 AlanJM

      Posted

      Thank you so much for your quick response!  I will remember to include all edible parts of fruit.

      Michaela

  • grahamski63
    grahamski63 michaela46213

    Posted

    Stay hydrated with water, and you may need a stool softener such as Colace one in a while.
    • michaela46213
      michaela46213 grahamski63

      Posted

      Thanks!  I normally drink lots of coffee, but was advised to limit this, so maybe I have not been taking in as much liquid as before (seems like everything I eat is semi-liquid!)   So I will try to remember to increase the amount of water I drink.

       

    • anna97
      anna97 michaela46213

      Posted

      Although coffee does not directly dehydrate, it is a diuretic (makes you pass more water) so you need to increase the amount of water intake to maintain a water balance when drinking coffee.
  • anna97
    anna97 michaela46213

    Posted

    As already suggested in other replies, it is important to drink plenty of water. To ensure a high fibre diet besides fruit smoothies, you can include brown (not white) rice, quinoa, pulses and lentils, peanut butter, potato and sweet potato with skin on etc. They can all be pureed. If you can manage porridge consistency, sprinkle on some ground almonds or other ground nuts, other good fibre sources. Ready Brek is a good, smoother alternative to porridge. Good luck.
  • AlanJM
    AlanJM michaela46213

    Posted

    The person I contacted speaks to many people with achalasia and had not been aware of this being a specific problem with achalasia.   So the approach should probably be to look at the content of your smoothies.   Keep up drinking water, and think about exercise, as being static does not help.

     

    • michaela46213
      michaela46213 AlanJM

      Posted

      I will increase the amount of water I drink.  I do put prunes in the smoothies,  anna97 suggested I might also add ground nuts which may help.  

      do you know if achalasia patients are normally put on pureed foods?  You see, I think it is my diet, not achalasia that is triggering the constipation.

    • AlanJM
      AlanJM michaela46213

      Posted

      I suspect you are right in that it is diet, not achalasia, that is causing your constipation (but theoretically the nerves that do not trigger the muscles for the right motility in the oesophagus are also linked to the nerves lower down the system that affect the progress of digested food through the intestines, but it would be unusual to be directly linked I think).    Some people with achalasia are limited to pureed food, but others not.   All have to chew food really well, and would probably have trouble with food that has a texture of skins, stringiniess or anything else that might 'stick'.   There was a discussion about this that is written up under the Oesophageal Patients Assocation website, under The Oesophagus, and Achalasia for the meeting in July 2015.

      You might also think about any medication that you are taking that might promote constipation?

  • cathie
    cathie michaela46213

    Posted

    Try flax seeds, perfect sprinkled on cereal or in soups etc. I buy mine from sainsburys or Waitrose or health food shop. Works wonders!
Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.