START Newsletter Autumn 2017 - Press

MY GUT HEALTH ROUTINE
I am 67 years old and had my
operations, Tracheostomy and
Laryngectomy in September 2013, so
I am just coming up to four years with
this condition. The trachy was done at
the beginning of the month and larry
at the end, the next 18 days was nil
by mouth so was fed by a tube. I was
a little concerned how my body would
deal with this regime and was mildly
surprised that my plumbing got through
it OK. Prior to my operations I had
started eating porridge each morning
to build myself up prior to this and
have continued ever since except for
holidays when I have the full English
breakfast at the Hotels or B&B’s.
After starting to eat proper food
I did experience a lot of wind and
constipation. To get round this problem
I turned to old remedies not the modern
pills and potions being offered, as I am
a firm believer in what my parents and
grandparents used to use. I also have
a glass of water with my meals which
helps to make food travel down my
throat better. If I have a glass of wine I
will have water too as this helps to keep
my valve in good shape.
First thing each morning I have a
Yakault drink, this was suggested
mainly for the control of Candida but
this has other benefits too. I then have
my big bowl of porridge (one cup of
oats, one cup of milk one cup of water,
cooked in a saucepan) this always goes
down easily. Finally before leaving for
work I have a small tumbler of water
with a teaspoon of Sainsbury’s health
salts in it. This fizzy drink settles my
stomach, works as a very mild laxative
and helps control Candida too I believe.
At night time I usually take one
Gaviscon Advance tablet to help
prevent reflux and to protect my valve
from same. Sometimes during the day
after physical work I may need one
then, also after eating spicy food too. I
buy these in bulk from Amazon or Ebay,
whichever has the better deal.
If constipation does occur another
good remedy is figs. Tesco soft figs that
come in a ziplock bag. A couple of these
now and again gets everything going
again. Wind of course is an ever present
problem and I am still looking for a
remedy for this if one exists, other than
a quick walk round the block.
Please note I am not a doctor so accept
what I am writing here works for me
and I am now much more settled in my
digestive system and regular with bowel
movements.
Daniel Finnimore, a Laryngectomee
from Birmingham.
Would you like
to share your
personal
experience of
living with a
laryngectomy?
Please email or
post your story
to the freepost
address on the
back page and
we will publish
it in our next
issue.
ENQUIRIES@IPL.UK.COM | 0115 975 4074 | WWW.SPIROTECT.COM
6