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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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@casey1959 I've also used garlic-infused olive oil, which adds a lot of taste to foods. Be sure it says "garlic-infused," not just "garlic-flavored." Mrs. Dash products have garlic and onion flavor without salt.
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2 Reactions@hopeful33250 so even though.... say it's cooked into a sauce for hrs they still will bother the digestive tract? Even garlic paste? Ty for those tips 🙂
@nycmusic I'm thinking trial & error for when I'm cooking for my husband. Try then if still an issue I'll then adjust. He just loves his garlic & onions. Being honest...he will be giving up so much. Being married 51 years this April & watching him having to change so much in the last few years is hard. ( Also a diabetic. Just trying to be prepared . Whipple April 27th... Ty for your advice.
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1 Reaction@casey1959
Please ask for a registered dietician to visit with you both before your husband's discharge from the hospital. It will help you both be on the same page regarding meeting his dietary needs in a way that will not cause digestive discomfort.
This will help you both p!an for the necessary changes to food preparation.
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3 ReactionsHello @mrskra and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You are asking a good question about eating after sigmoid surgery. There are posts in the Digestive Health support group from members who have had sigmoid surgery. Many of them had this type of surgery for diverticulitis; however, the results regarding eating post-surgery will probably be the same. I would like to invite @linda82 to this discussion as she has had sigmoid surgery and will undoubtedly have information to share with you about the eating plan she developed post-surgery.
You mentioned that you will need a team of surgeons. Could you share a little about why this has been recommended?
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4 ReactionsTeresa, I have had three digestive track surgeries and really struggled with eating and diarrhea to the point of dehydration. I did see a dietitian and it was a big help. I am on vitamin supplements that have helped in a number of ways, especially with hair and nails.
Salads and most fresh fruits were out, milk products were hard to digest. I was put on a Tyramine reduced diet. I don't think I can upload screenshots of the diet but it is put out by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and I found it very effective.