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Mentor

How do I eat after digestive tract surgery?

Posted by Teresa, Volunteer Mentor @hopeful33250, Jul 9, 2025

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?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

Profile picture for janetgraham
janetgraham | @janetgraham | Sep 12 12:06pm

January 2025 so it’s been an on going journey.
I feel like I’m just starting to get back to sort of normal after a year and a half and that’s with continuing adjustments.
Overall doing well, though!

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nocancer | @nocancer | Sep 21 9:15am

I am now four months post whipple. How do you all rebound after eating something wrong? Runs right thru me . Seems to take a week to start recovering. Im losing weight,down to 95 pds. Thanks for your support.
God Bless

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2 replies
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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Sep 21 10:29am
In reply to @nocancer "I am now four months post whipple. How do you all rebound after eating something wrong?..." + (show)
Profile picture for nocancer @nocancer

I am now four months post whipple. How do you all rebound after eating something wrong? Runs right thru me . Seems to take a week to start recovering. Im losing weight,down to 95 pds. Thanks for your support.
God Bless

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Hello @nocancer,

You are asking a good question. As you identify foods that trigger your symptoms, keep a journal to track them. This will help you avoid problems in the future. We have several members in this discussion group who have discussed eating after a Whipple procedure.

While we wait for them to respond to your question, I'm wondering if you have talked with your doctor or surgeon about what you can take to slow the symptoms caused by eating a food that triggers problems?

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lgell | @lgell | Sep 22 5:48am
In reply to @nocancer "I am now four months post whipple. How do you all rebound after eating something wrong?..." + (show)
Profile picture for nocancer @nocancer

I am now four months post whipple. How do you all rebound after eating something wrong? Runs right thru me . Seems to take a week to start recovering. Im losing weight,down to 95 pds. Thanks for your support.
God Bless

Jump to this post

@nocancer Find a good dietician who specializes in digestive and whipple patients. It doesn’t have to be someone local. You can zoom your appointments.

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nocancer | @nocancer | Sep 22 10:34am

Thank you !
I will try and find one
God Bless to you

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nancyclare | @nancyclare | Oct 21 8:31am
In reply to @linda82 "This is such an awesome subject that is helpful for post diet and foods for digestion..." + (show)
Profile picture for linda82 @linda82

This is such an awesome subject that is helpful for post diet and foods for digestion after abdominal surgery.
I had robotic sigmoid colectomy and opened belly button down for diverticulitis.
No dietitian. Was told to go back to "regular diet" LOL Sounds scary.
I think you must focus first on what your body needs first to heal and maintain proper nutrition.

It is difficult to take that chance of what you can eat and not eat that you may or may not have "issues' with during the digestion process. You have to experiment and learn what your body reacts to.

I started with very small meals. I focused on getting all the nutrition your body needs and boy that is a lot to eat! Thus, vitamins and supplements are a must, and you have to think about the absorption.

exp. A banana, yogurt for breakfast. I would open capsules of zinc, probiotic or any other capsule to add nutrition and saving space in digestion process with a spoonful of fig jam. Coffee or tea with local honey and then other vitamins to help absorb. I also take multi vitamins.
I also would make scrambled eggs with olive oil, spinach bacon and whole grain bread. I would save my yogurt for later if I had eggs due to space! You must make choices of what you eat and when.

My cooking has not changed much. Since they cut out the damaged colon, I do not have that issue anymore.
Spices do not bother me. But, anything hot is a no!

I did try ice cream again. I learned that if it was just a small bowl it did not cause lactose issue. But, I had to learn that amount by eating too much! I do not drink milk but can have cheese. I wish I could get more calcium but, my body cannot absorb supplements (kidney stones) and have to get in foods.

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@linda82 I had my sigmoidectomy on July 7 and was told that I could eat anything I wanted as well. I took that to heart because it was coming from my surgeon, but it was such bad advice.
Because of that advice, I had a very bad first month after surgery with a lot of bleeding motility issues and intestinal pain.
I also have issues with kidney stones and I’ve had three UTIs since my surgery. One is in question.
I did a 24 hour urine and have not seen the urologist yet, but I do know I have a physiological condition called hypercalcemia that causes them.
There are a lot of foods that I can only have with milk because of the high oxalate, including blueberries, spinach and beets that I include in a smoothie that I make for myself in the morning with lactose free milk. The urologist gave me a list of foods concerning oxalates with information about milk, nullifying the effects of high oxalate foods.
I have had my gallbladder removed and have a sensitivity to eggs so I eat them sparingly.
I’ve been trying to add things back into my diet one thing at a time when I have good days.
I do have good days more than bad now and I’m starting to try to reintegrate myself into my previous activities. It’s hard because I can’t be too far from a bathroom in the morning, and if I have a 9 o’clock exercise class, I won’t eat anything beforehand. That does not always resolve the problem.
I’ve been adding back some fiber to try to regulate daily and I try to give my body and colon credit for how hard it’s working to adjust to its new normal.
I’m 76

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3 replies
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nycmusic | @nycmusic | Oct 22 7:42am
In reply to @nancyclare "@linda82 I had my sigmoidectomy on July 7 and was told that I could eat anything..." + (show)
Profile picture for nancyclare @nancyclare

@linda82 I had my sigmoidectomy on July 7 and was told that I could eat anything I wanted as well. I took that to heart because it was coming from my surgeon, but it was such bad advice.
Because of that advice, I had a very bad first month after surgery with a lot of bleeding motility issues and intestinal pain.
I also have issues with kidney stones and I’ve had three UTIs since my surgery. One is in question.
I did a 24 hour urine and have not seen the urologist yet, but I do know I have a physiological condition called hypercalcemia that causes them.
There are a lot of foods that I can only have with milk because of the high oxalate, including blueberries, spinach and beets that I include in a smoothie that I make for myself in the morning with lactose free milk. The urologist gave me a list of foods concerning oxalates with information about milk, nullifying the effects of high oxalate foods.
I have had my gallbladder removed and have a sensitivity to eggs so I eat them sparingly.
I’ve been trying to add things back into my diet one thing at a time when I have good days.
I do have good days more than bad now and I’m starting to try to reintegrate myself into my previous activities. It’s hard because I can’t be too far from a bathroom in the morning, and if I have a 9 o’clock exercise class, I won’t eat anything beforehand. That does not always resolve the problem.
I’ve been adding back some fiber to try to regulate daily and I try to give my body and colon credit for how hard it’s working to adjust to its new normal.
I’m 76

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@nancyclare sorry for all you’ve been through—docs and even nutritionists do not necessarily give good nutrition advice to post-surgery patients…after 1 mistake early on, i took things slowly, allowing my reconstructed gut to heal…recommend people to be very patient and gentle to their recovering GI system…listen to your body, add things to diet carefully and slowly …it can take time, hang in there !

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linda82 | @linda82 | Oct 22 10:30am
In reply to @nancyclare "@linda82 I had my sigmoidectomy on July 7 and was told that I could eat anything..." + (show)
Profile picture for nancyclare @nancyclare

@linda82 I had my sigmoidectomy on July 7 and was told that I could eat anything I wanted as well. I took that to heart because it was coming from my surgeon, but it was such bad advice.
Because of that advice, I had a very bad first month after surgery with a lot of bleeding motility issues and intestinal pain.
I also have issues with kidney stones and I’ve had three UTIs since my surgery. One is in question.
I did a 24 hour urine and have not seen the urologist yet, but I do know I have a physiological condition called hypercalcemia that causes them.
There are a lot of foods that I can only have with milk because of the high oxalate, including blueberries, spinach and beets that I include in a smoothie that I make for myself in the morning with lactose free milk. The urologist gave me a list of foods concerning oxalates with information about milk, nullifying the effects of high oxalate foods.
I have had my gallbladder removed and have a sensitivity to eggs so I eat them sparingly.
I’ve been trying to add things back into my diet one thing at a time when I have good days.
I do have good days more than bad now and I’m starting to try to reintegrate myself into my previous activities. It’s hard because I can’t be too far from a bathroom in the morning, and if I have a 9 o’clock exercise class, I won’t eat anything beforehand. That does not always resolve the problem.
I’ve been adding back some fiber to try to regulate daily and I try to give my body and colon credit for how hard it’s working to adjust to its new normal.
I’m 76

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@nancyclare
It is "funny" how they say "you can eat anything"
We all have "other" conditions.
I still can't have too much dairy and try to get my calcium from foods. My bone density not good and my Dr. said to try taking calcium. I said oh no, remember I told you I would get kidney stones in my 20's and was told I could not take supplements. I still try to get from food. But, it is obviously not enough.
I am trying a new supplement as an experiment. Only trying 2 a day.
https://newchapter.com/products/bone-strength-take-care-slim-tablets
Also, 2 yrs after surgery I find out I had a huge gallstone and had to have my gallbladder removed. I also, learned that that is normal (because I lost weight so quick). The Dr. told me when they do weight loss surgery the go ahead and remove it. Wish I would have known that!

But, I can say that the sigmoidoscopy surgery was the best thing for me. Yes, recovery was longer and rough. But, I can eat so many things now that I was not eating and getting more nutrition.
I feel for you on the morning BM's. I have been fortunate to be good on those now. Just have to adjust for the no gallbladder now. Which has gotten better and hoping it just takes time.

REPLY
Profile picture for nancyclare
nancyclare | @nancyclare | Oct 22 1:10pm
In reply to @nancyclare "@linda82 I had my sigmoidectomy on July 7 and was told that I could eat anything..." + (show)
Profile picture for nancyclare @nancyclare

@linda82 I had my sigmoidectomy on July 7 and was told that I could eat anything I wanted as well. I took that to heart because it was coming from my surgeon, but it was such bad advice.
Because of that advice, I had a very bad first month after surgery with a lot of bleeding motility issues and intestinal pain.
I also have issues with kidney stones and I’ve had three UTIs since my surgery. One is in question.
I did a 24 hour urine and have not seen the urologist yet, but I do know I have a physiological condition called hypercalcemia that causes them.
There are a lot of foods that I can only have with milk because of the high oxalate, including blueberries, spinach and beets that I include in a smoothie that I make for myself in the morning with lactose free milk. The urologist gave me a list of foods concerning oxalates with information about milk, nullifying the effects of high oxalate foods.
I have had my gallbladder removed and have a sensitivity to eggs so I eat them sparingly.
I’ve been trying to add things back into my diet one thing at a time when I have good days.
I do have good days more than bad now and I’m starting to try to reintegrate myself into my previous activities. It’s hard because I can’t be too far from a bathroom in the morning, and if I have a 9 o’clock exercise class, I won’t eat anything beforehand. That does not always resolve the problem.
I’ve been adding back some fiber to try to regulate daily and I try to give my body and colon credit for how hard it’s working to adjust to its new normal.
I’m 76

Jump to this post

@nancyclare this group is so helpful! I’m so glad that I found it. Always so grateful for all of your feedback❣️ and information on what’s working and has worked for others.

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