How do I eat after digestive tract surgery?

Thank you @linda82 and (@hopeful33250 for your feedback. I will definitely try your suggestions. I had thought about a food journal and will definitely start doing that. It’s funny you talk about soups because that’s one thing I still make. As it makes a lot for just one person, I usually have single servings in my freezer. I try to use a lot of vegetables. I seem to be able to tolerate smaller salads and some fresh vegetables, but if I eat too much of that I spend the next day in the bathroom. So that’s one area I’m trying to figure out because I know I’m probably not getting enough fiber. The only way I can describe the tightness is that it feels like my gut has been pulled tight. And maybe that’s exactly what it is. I had 12 inches of bowel removed and then hooked back together. I started having this feeling around the 4 month mark.
The stomach discomfort is right in the middle of my gut and typically comes on suddenly and usually midday. I’m guessing something I ate brings it on but I don’t really know. And if it is I haven’t figured out what foods trigger it.
I have a follow up appointment with my surgeon this week and will talk to her about this stuff but I’m wondering if it’s time to make an appointment with my GI for additional help.
I guess I had high expectations that when I had the bad part of my bowel cut out I’d be normal again. And while my quality of life is way better than a year ago I still haven’t figured out my new normal. It helps so much to read what others who have had similar experiences are dealing with.

Hello @foxj,

I'm so glad that you joined this discussion group. I see that @linda82 has offered you some good ideas to deal with the feeling of tightness. I hope you find her suggestions helpful.

Regarding eating problems. I might suggest that you keep a written record of what you eat. Be especially careful to note in that record the type of fluids you consumer as well as stress and/or exercises that you do. As you keep this written record, you can then look at it to see how it affects your symptoms.

One thing I have found helpful is having soup on hand. Soup allows you to get protein as well as easy to digest fiber (vegetables). I can understand that you don't want to cook a lot. I have found a couple of restaurants in the area that have some great homemade soups. If I'm not feeling well, I'll order a quart of their soup and use that for my meals for a couple of days. You might consider this. Generally, a chicken-based soup with rice and veggies works well for me.

Also, keeping yogurt in your refrigerator is helpful. Greek yogurt is great for the digestive tract. It can be a great snack food, or you can add some easy to digest cooked or canned fruit. I personally avoid fresh fruits and veggies. They are tough to digest after surgery.

Finally, you might ask your doctor for a referral to a pelvic floor therapist. This is a therapist specially trained in bowel/bladder problems. I learned a lot of abdominal massage which helps with bloating and that "congested" feeling that often occurs with constipation following surgery.

I would enjoy hearing from you again. Will you post an update and let me know if any of these suggestions are helpful to you?

Hi @midford,

If your surgery was just on 4/23, you have lots of time to figure out how to eat. My surgeries of the duodenum were in 2003, 2005 and then again in 2016. As you can see, I've been at this process of figuring what to eat and how much to eat for a while now. I still feel disappointed on Thanksgiving when everyone is woofing down everything on the table and I'm taking a spoonful of just a few things, but I've learned to appreciate life, even though eating is different.

You made a comment that "much else doesn't appeal a lot or at all." I still deal with the feeling that I'm really not all that hungry. So, I have to do a lot of pep talks with myself and eat whether I feel like it or not. It can be frustrating, but then not dealing the cancer would have been worse.

I did have the tightness for a while too. I swear I could feel my BM's in my belly closer to the skin. But, it did go away. I think everything was adjusting. I did a lot of belly rubs. It made it feel better, and I used a pillow for a while as a comfort. I did get a posture corrector and started wearing in the morning because I was slouching so much because of the tightness. It did help.
What does your stomach feel like when upset? My go to was Chamomile and peppermint tea.

Small meals are good and always walk after you eat to help with digestion.
Find out what kind of exercises you can do for the tightness. I started with a lot of stretching and swimming aerobics helped so much.
You really do not need to "cook" much. Making sure you get the proper amount of protein, fiber, veggies and fruit.
I feel better when I do.
I like to put fresh spinach in as much as possible. I use a lot of different olive oils for flavor.
Scrambled Eggs are great. You can make a batch and have portions for a couple days.
I like to put all kinds of thing in mine.
Spinach, artichoke hearts, bacon, eggplant (I peel and sauté in olive oil and add breadcrumbs) and of course CHEESE. LOL Sometimes I rotate and make pouched eggs with stone ground bread. I luv pasta but, it is way to filling. Hard to control the portion.
I enjoy eating salads too. Mainly romaine and spinach and you can add your vegies and just about anything else you like. I like to cut up chicken and fry up in olive oils and seasoning and put some in the salad or eat cold.
You need to learn to keep portions small.
Yogurt is a must. It can be a meal too. I add fruit, granola and I consider that a meal.
I choose my biggest meal either breakfast or lunch. I do not like to feel full at night.

I talked to all 3 of my Dr's (primary, GI and Colon) about my anxiety issues. Crazy over a year and I still have them. They all said it was normal and that in my own time I should be better.
Heck, I had so many years of this it is hard to think I am "normal" again.
Funny how we can isolate ourselves.
I have not had another diverticulitis episode. When I go out, I am not constantly looking for bathrooms.
Your BMs should get back to normal soon with you being at 6 mths. It took me 8 mths and you will be surprised and excited.

BUT, you must have proper diet and exercise to help with that. I was so worried I would have to take fiber supplements or laxatives. I have not had to take anything to help with that.

So happy to hear my comment helped. I think it's a great topic and I hope to get a bit of advice too. But I'm pretty early on. My surgery was April 23 this year and it sounds like yours was a while ago and you are still working on your diet. I really need help with some ideas as I'm happy to eat what I've figured out but much else doesn't appeal a lot or at all. So not balanced enough, I don't think. Looking forward to working with this dietician at the diabetic clinic to find new options. Restaurant eating is difficult as well. Just always end up with a salad with a protein on top. Not much else. All the best. Great topic!!!

It is so good to read your post, @cj16, and to hear how you managed foods after surgery. I was also told that protein was most important and to add in other foods groups as I could tolerate them. The small portions are also very helpful.

How long ago was your surgery? Have you been able to increase the portion size yet?

I am so glad to see this discussion. I had robotic bowel resection almost 6 months ago and still haven’t figured out what causes some of my post surgery digestive issues. My abdomen feels tight and my stomach is often upset but I can’t pinpoint what I am eating that isn’t agreeing with me. I had no dietitian post surgery and my surgeon said I can eat anything. But that doesn’t seem to be working for me.
My 6 month follow up is next week and I want guidance but not even sure where to start with questions.
The good thing is the diverticulitis issue is gone and I am forever grateful for that. I just need to figure out my new normal. Being a widow I don’t really cook much anymore so I need simple things.
I just want my gut and BM’s to be somewhat normal again so I can stop being anxious on trips or going out in general.

@projfan
Thanks for information on FODMAP . I had not heard of FODMAP and thought it meant you were mapping your food, silly me. So read up on it. For others not familar with, FODMAP stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols. FODMAPs are poorly absorbed, fermentable, short-chain carbohydrates that are commonly found in our diet. It as been proposed that a diet high in FODMAPs can produce gastrointestinal symptoms including diarrhea, constipation, bloating, gas and abdominal discomfort or pain.

For others interested, Mayo Health System published an article few years ago explaining it . The article also includes links to additional resources:
https://communityhealth.mayoclinic.org/featured-stories/fodmap-diet
Though article talks about FODMAP as solution to help IBS, I could see how it could help identify foods you can not tolerate for any digestive problem.

Also a search of Digestive Group has disscusions on subject:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/?search=fodmap
It reminds me when sister-in-law had a food allergy and provider could not figure out what she was allergic to. So she had very limited diet and then introduced one food at time to see what caused her allergies.

Great topic. Most foods were trial and error. I told my doctor I was rarely eating. He said just double up protein drinks. I started with small portions every 2 hours. Applesauce,yogurt, eggs,veggie soups like squash,carrot,minestrone,pastina with butter, sugar and dairy bothered me . Lactose intolerant. Good luck. It does get better. 🤸‍♂️💪👍💕

Hello @midford,

I so appreciate your contribution to this topic. The idea of one food at a time is a good one. I was told to always make protein a priority and I still do that. My surgeries were several years apart, but I never gained back my ability to eat everything that I used to eat and certainly not the ability to eat the same quantity.