How do I eat after digestive tract surgery?

Hello @kmbori,

I'm sorry to hear about all of the issues you have had since gallbladder surgery. We have other members in this discussion group who have had post surgery problems. Share a little about the types of foods you are eating and perhaps another member can offer suggestions.

How long ago was your surgery? Was it an open surgery or laparoscopic?

Oh how I miss my gallbladder. I was stupid - doc said lets remove it and I said ok without doing research. My bowls are all messed up now. Im either constipated or feeling like I will crap myself - sorry - TMI. Sucks. I pray once chemo is done and my husband has surgery he doesnt have to deal with GI issues.

Hello @sharonlynne

I am glad that you posted in this discussion group. As I've read some of your other posts, I see that you had gallbladder surgery and that you have had discomfort since then. Any type of digestive tract surgery affects the kinds of foods we eat, as well as how much we eat.

Is eating small, frequent meals helpful to you? I see that carbonated beverages cause discomfort. Have you found any other types of foods (or drinks) that are triggers for discomfort?

@linda82 That sounds like me. I get so hungry and start eating the foods I shouldn't.
I can't drink any carbonated sodas. I feel like I'm going to explode. I don't get any pain on my right side, but I do on my left side.

@linda82 let’s hope many others learn from your real life description of a hard night.

Oh, @linda82,

I'm so sorry to hear of your discomfort. I could almost feel the fullness myself! You are right, there are no good fixes to a bad day of eating. I'm glad you're feeling better now and back on track with the right food and exercise!
Those are hard lessons to learn, aren't they?

CONFESSION

With the Ice/snow weekend. I WAS BAD
I had too much processed junk food. I had too many portions of junk food. (Reminded me of childhood and my dad saying "don't make a meal of it")
I suffered all Sunday night.
Rules broken, too much processed food, serving size ridiculously high, no exercise and eating after 7pm
I knew I was in trouble around 8pm.
I made some chamomile and peppermint tea. I started walking the stairs. I was so full, had major gas then had ginger ale. I tried to go to bed around 10pm. Could not lay flat. I was so miserable and just upset with myself. (thinking all this stuff has to go through me and where is it now in my digestive tract)
Around midnight I felt like the fullness was squeezing my lungs. I was in so much pain and just uncomfortable. I had another ginger ale and started walking around. My husband was trying to calm me down. All I could think is the driveway is iced over, gate closed and no one on the roads if I had an emergency what would we do?
I started feeling less full around 2am I rested sitting up by the fireplace and finally went to sleep at 430am.
After my morning BM's. I started feeling better. It took a whole day and felt better and back to normal the next day. Had my normal diet and work out.

LESSON learned!
It's not worth it!😒

@nycmusic of course, special care with veggies- i got mine at first from chicken-vegetable soup, so they were soft, easier to digest…also, care with fruits—I started with a little banana, and canned/cooked pears or peaches (rinsed off the liquid)….mashed potatoes, very soft cooked carrots, a little plain chicken, scrambled eggs….and creamy peanut or almond butter. Good luck- i hope you find a path to good healing through care with food.

Mild foods, carefully avoid too much fat, probably best to hold off on dairy as well…post-surgery is the time to comfort your gut with special care and patience—healing can take time, but goes better/ faster if we are careful…introduce ‘’new’’ foods extremely carefully…. Smaller more frequent meals….listen to your body ! It can seem boring, but is a lot better than upsets ! Some of these foods might not be your usual ‘’healthy’’ diet, but this is temporary….

Hello @linsu,

I see that you recently joined Mayo Connect. You are asking good questions about the best way to eat after surgery! You are right, trial and error is one way to determine which foods will trigger your symptoms. You might also consider keeping a food journal where you list everything you eat and drink, along with the symptoms you have after each meal. While I have not had the particular surgery you had, I have had three surgeries of the upper digestive tract (duodenal bulb), and so I understand some of the problems you are experiencing. You do not mention what type of symptoms you have after eating. Are you experiencing nausea, diarrhea, or other digestive disturbances?

Until you see your doctor for more specific instructions, here are some thoughts that might help you. First of all, eat small, frequent meals. You might consider eliminating high-fat foods (like chicken salad and potato soup); instead, try a small piece of chicken without the bread. The potato soup is cream-based (therefore, you might avoid anything that is cream-based). Instead, you might try a broth-based soup, like chicken noodle. Instead of eating both of these at one sitting, try eating the protein first (like the chicken) and then a few hours later, a small bowl of soup.

I can understand your wanting to put on weight after post-surgery weight loss; however, eating too much (or the wrong types of foods) at once can trigger digestive problems that won't help you to gain weight. When you see your doctor, you might also consider asking for a referral to a registered hospital dietitian. I have seen a dietitian twice, and they have helped me to find the best eating plan after surgery.

Just a few more questions: how much weight have you lost since your surgery? Do you feel you are now underweight?