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How do I eat after digestive tract surgery?
Perhaps you have had surgery for chronic diverticulitis, cancer of the digestive tract, a Whipple procedure, bariatric surgery, or maybe even gallbladder surgery. Surgeries of the digestive tract typically alter the way our bodies process food as they change our digestive landscape. I discovered this after my second surgery on the upper digestive tract. After this surgery (and nearly a week in the hospital), well-meaning friends brought me food, which I certainly appreciated. However, the food they brought me were salads, fresh fruit and vegetables, cream-based soups, and casseroles. All of which made me feel terrible. It turned out my problems stemmed from what I was eating. So, what should I have been eating instead of these foods? It was a time of trial and error for me. I spent a lot of time finding which foods were “safe” and which foods were “triggers” and would cause digestive difficulties.
After major surgeries of the digestive tract, many hospital systems have a registered hospital dietitian meet with you before discharge and provide instructions on the best way to eat. This was not my experience. I did, however, request a referral to a dietitian several months after surgery.
Let's sit around the table and share our tips on the eating plan that worked best for you after your surgery and talk about the kinds of foods that were (and still are) the easiest to digest. We are all different in our responses to surgery, but we will undoubtedly find common ground.
I look forward to learning together. Share your ideas, recipes or cooking methods that have helped you.
Here are a few questions to get us started:
- If you have had a consultation with a dietitian, what did you learn?
- What foods did and didn't work for you?
- What about the quantity of food at each meal, as well as the timing of meals?
- Have your cooking methods changed?
- Do you still use spices the same way?
- Have you kept a food diary to track any foods that might be triggers for digestive difficulties?
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@hopeful33250
In short bowel syndrome (SBS), the body has difficulty absorbing water because a significant portion of the small intestine, where most water absorption occurs, is missing or not functioning properly. This malabsorption leads to dehydration and can cause complications like fluid and electrolyte imbalances, especially with high stool output. Management typically involves staying hydrated with specialized solutions like oral rehydration solutions (ORS) and following a tailored diet plan.
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3 Reactions@tjanet
I appreciate the explanation. Do you use ORS daily? Is it something you get over the counter or does it require a prescription?
@hopeful33250
I drink fluids with sodium and glucose in them everyday. I drink Powerade as my main hydration when I don't have my IV of fluids. I do IV of fluids 5 days a week to help with hydration and to help me not get dehydrated. I can get dehydrated easily. There are ORS online to make at home basically water,salt and sugar. But I add some crystal light to add some flavor to it. Or apple juice mixed with water and salt.
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2 Reactions@tjanet
I'm wondering how this was diagnosed. Were there specific symptoms that led you to know that you were dehydrated?
5 small meals a day. No fats, sugars. When your stomach hurts, stop eating. Or if you start burping. Also no fresh veggies.
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4 ReactionsLimit what you eat SEVERAL hours before bedtime! Lying down horizontally increases the chance of reflux, which is never pleasant when you're trying to sleep.
If I eat anything, I try to keep it small and absorbent; e.g., something like a single slice of bread or a small King's Hawaiian roll, to soak up any liquids (or bile) that might want to slosh around or upward.
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5 Reactions@markymarkfl good idea.
I never eat after 6pm. Maybe drink a little of a protein shake.
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3 ReactionsHow long do i have gas after the whipple? It has been 6 weeks since surgery.
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1 ReactionI have CD. Suffered horrible CRAMPING episodes for years. “Cramp” is too kind a word. After intestinal resection it is common for scarring to result. That narrows the intestine as does the CD itself. If narrowing becomes significant the place of the worst narrowing (maybe even stricture) eventually will not be able to handle food trying to push through it via peristalsis. It may even close down thus causing horrendous cramping.
I would just curl up in a corner and cry. Cramp might last 5-10 seconds, then relax somewhat until next cramp. Thus went on about 4-5 hours until calming down. For next 2 days would eat nothing but sip water. I finally figured out it was the FOOD in my diet. And specifically FIBROUS foods. So, had to completely STOP eating fruits, vegetables. Nuts. No more jumbo burgers. No more popcorn at the movies. Not even canned fruits and veggies. What that left was mostly crap. But have no problem with meat, poultry, fish, eggs, jello, pudding, sounds funny, but the alternative is hell. You may become somewhat prone to malabsorption of important nutrients. Those can be tested for. Gotta ask a good GI Doc.
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1 ReactionI had my right colon removed and small intestine removed 6 weeks ago due to chrons disease, 5 days after the operation I ended up getting ileus for two days and then 4 weeks later ended up back in hospital due to vomiting (mostly bile, couldn’t keep food down) ct scans bloods done ect came back reactive ileus again. It’s been one week since I got discharged again I haven’t been too bad a bit of pain but nothing major, eating a low residue diet, appetite has been very small, Basically had anyone experienced ileus twice after this type of surgery and when would be the best time to start bringing new foods into the diet?
Doctor told me to go back to my normal diet last week when I was in hospital but when I eat regular things I get awful cramps so sticking to stuff I can easily digest.
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