How do I eat after digestive tract surgery?

@hopeseeker22 hi, I had PARTS of the large and the small gut removed ! …And several months after surgery I was very gradually eating a more varied, although conservative diet…it takes a lot of patience and even discipline and now, almost 1 year later I can eat most foods. But keeping it simple, avoiding highly processed foods, soda, fried food, raw onions, etc…. keeping an eye on sugar and cholesterol as well…rarely had problems, just ‘’listened’’ to my gut…the nutritionist meant well, but was big on getting me to gain weight pronto, advising terrible protein-high calorie drinks…i went with chicken soup instead ! A friend whose mother had been sick provided valuable dietary info which worked well for me. Wish you all renewed health !

My sympathies to you… vomiting bile f##king sucks. I had a Whipple procedure to remove a tumor in my duodenum 2 years ago and continue to struggled with many foods. While my situation is somewhat different from yours there are some similarities. Some of things that I have found that have helped me eat a more “normal” diet are eating leaner cuts of “softer” meats like fish, chicken, and some pork. My body struggles with things like steak and lamb, but I have found that ground beef and ground lamb are easier for me. Also, if you choose to reintroduce cuts of meat into your diet consider eating cuts with the least amount of fat and connective tissue and try cooking using sous vide for longer time periods (the sous vide cooking process seems to help tenderize the meat). I usually sear the meat in a hot cast iron skillet after the sous vide. I don’t do it often but sometimes I want steak. Fast food is no good and I always regret eating it whenever I slip up and order some. For me, meals of softer meats and vegetables are the way to go.

Something to be sure to pay close attention to is your body’s absorption of nutrients. I was dealing with extreme fatigue and it wasn’t until I started having neuropathy that we figured out I was not absorbing B12. So I now get weekly shots and take a heavy daily dose… we are still figuring things out. But I encourage you to talk to your doctor about getting blood work to check your vitamin, electrolytes, iron, etc. as you try to get back to some type of a normal diet.

Best of luck to you!

Forgive me. You say surgeons removed your small intestine? Twenty to twenty-two feet of the organ absorbing nutrients and fluid? And also you right colon? Did they attach a toe tag? Perhaps you meant they removed part of your small intestine; for without it life does extremely poorly. But it would have gotten rid of the cramping. I had CD-related resection in small intestine, and also removal of last 18” of Terminal Ileum - an important absorption site of Vitamins A,D,K,B12 and another. The resection site itself received typical surgical scarring, plus whatever the CD did to help narrow it. After discharge I starting eating as before. But occasionally I got terrific cramps - that was peristalsis trying to push fibrous food through a part of the intestine too narrow to let it pass. Two forces opposing each other is gonna, I think. So I tried giving up ALL fiber: fruit, veggies (even canned), nuts, sesame seeds, popcorn, mega-burgers, Mexican food, fast food places whose contents frequently are unknown. But that left meat, fish, poultry, cheese, some breads, eggs - all of which break down for me. How on earth can your doctor recommend a return to your former diet, when you still have the “ileus” you do; one trade mark of which is cramping. Please get you medical records and get in to see anyone else. Were you given CD as the sole diagnosis? Truly I am sorry for your pain and suffering. I really do know what it’s like. Be better.

@katie98 hope you feel better ! I had part of both large and small intestine removed, 18 inches. I asked the docs how to avoid ileus…they gave me a bit less opioids and told me to try and minimize those and to do lots of short walks and chair sitting while in the hospital—that helped. Began with liquid diet, then very soft diet…a brief departure from that something not to repeat ! Just had to be very conservative and patient about food for awhile, with good results.

I 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.

I 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.

How long do i have gas after the whipple? It has been 6 weeks since surgery.

@markymarkfl good idea.
I never eat after 6pm. Maybe drink a little of a protein shake.

Limit 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.

5 small meals a day. No fats, sugars. When your stomach hurts, stop eating. Or if you start burping. Also no fresh veggies.