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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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Hi: Yes, I can post updates. I had to cancel a Med cruise which leaves next week because I was afraid this might happen while away. Hope to hear from the surgeon group soon.
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1 Reaction@marshae
I look forward to hearing from you again.As you work through this process of being referred to a surgeon, will you continue to post and provide updates as to how you are feeling?
Constipation used to be my problem until obstruction started. Used to be impacted. I take restoralax every day and have a movement several times a day. Seems that this narrow portion of my small bowel must be the problem. Found that corn made me have a partial obstruction last month. The 2 prescriptions I am on are supposed to help but it still flares up once in a while. I am keeping a food diary every day. The GI specialist told me this past January there is really nothing else they can do for me. Seeing a surgeon was my suggestion when I was hospitalized in August and the doctor there is referring me to a surgeon.
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1 Reaction@marshae
Hi, please find G.I. doctor and a colorectal surgeon specialize in these conditions and will be a great help to you. Some appeared to be more knowledgeable from a nutrition standpoint rather than a surgical or medical standpoint, so when you get a firm diagnosis and treatment plan you should know if your medical team choices are right for you. I have found the two general surgeons who provided care for me here in Cincinnati had a much broader view and knowledge of the nutrition aspect than did my current colorectal surgeon in Pittsburgh. As after my sigmoid resection in May, I was told I could go back to eating anything I wanted after two weeks of a soft diet, but as I have found out, I think I have identified triggers which result in these bowel blockages. So I am going to continue with my holistic practitioner also. If you are able to find someone who’s specializes in complementary/alternative and holistic medicine they can be a great addition to your medical team as well. It seems that fiber is the key to controlling our bowel issues. Good luck and keep researching and asking questions.
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2 Reactions@marshae
Most of us who have had digestive tract surgery find that the advice, "...eat anything you want..." is not always helpful. A visual image that works well for me is to consider your digestive tract as a landscape, and any changes to that landscape (through surgery) alter the way everything flows. As a result, what we eat and how much we eat need to change to accommodate this new landscape.
We have all developed different methods to accommodate this physical change. I usually recommend using a food diary to identify any "trigger foods" that may exacerbate pain, constipation, or other symptoms.
As you mention, small bowel narrowing, is constipation your main problem?
@marshae sorry I meant 2 prescriptions.
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1 ReactionHi. I have had 4 hospitalizations for small bowel blockages plus partial blockages. Hope to see a surgeon soon to discuss possible removal of a small portion of small bowel that is narrow. Appreciate any information you can share. Do you think diet changes will help. At one time my GI Doctor said eat anything you want but that doesnt seem to be working. I am on 22 prescriptions.
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2 ReactionsHello @jillyg
I'm glad that you found this discussion group. I am sorry to hear of all of the hospitalizations you have had as a result of small bowel blockage.
I look forward to learning more about what you have learned from the registered dietitian and how you are dealing with this complex digestive disorder.
Will you share about what type of surgeries you have had and what type of eating plan has been the most helpful to you?
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1 ReactionI’m very interested in joining this group and sharing/learning to control symptoms of small bowel blockage. Currently I’m in hospital with third episode (and out of town from my established surgeon and GI doc). I did request an RD consultation after my second bout and hospitalization in July, however, it took me three tries to find someone who would accept me as a patient for this condition, but she was very helpful and knowledgeable so I will be happy to share more on that when I get home and recover from this. Thank you for posting this important message.
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2 ReactionsSorry,I didn’t see this earlier. Still eating half of what I ate before but variety of food is so much better. Still eating smaller portions a few times a day with very little red meat and no fatty foods . Blessed that I can digest most foods and feel most days better. Best of luck with ur journey.
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