After sigmoid surgery: Any diet suggestions for excessive gas?

Gas does subside with time and is part of the recovery. The first few weeks' gas is very uncomfortable. In the mornings I used heated prune juice with a teaspoon of butter, it helped me regulate the gas so I could sleep better at night. Tolerated foods was trial and error. I forced myself to walk and do small household jobs and the gas became less of an issue. Recovery is different for everyone, but I felt much better after about four months. You might ask your doctor if he can recommend a sleep aid until you can adjust.

I have the gas too, getting better. I’m 4 weeks out from surgery. My MD told me to use Metamucil for leakage issues and up my fiber too. I have now developed hemorrhoid problems. Anyone else have this problem?

@suziq52, I hope you saw the helpful suggestions and reassurance from @jobear and @jodiepage. I updated the title of this discussion to "After sigmoid surgery: Any diet suggestions for excessive gas?" I did this because I think this discussion will be helpful to others as they recovery after surgery. Most people experience gas and member tips will be helpful.

Suzi, has the excessive gas subsided in the meantime? How are you doing now that you're in your 6th week of recovery (if I calculated correctly)?

I too am trying to keep walking around the house and doing small chores. When I am able to do this, my evenings are much better. I am at my doctor’s suggestion taking Metamucil once a day and will work up to twice a day. This has firmed up my BM’s which are certainly not on a regular schedule. However I worry about constipation all the time. I wonder 💭 f prunes or prune juice would help this instead of resorting to Miralax. I am on my fifth week since surgery and now the gas seems more related to what I am eating. This is certainly trial and error. Thank you for your reassurance that this is a normal process.

I have internal hemorrhoids. These get worse when I have diarrhea which the Metamucil seems to have stopped. Now I am worried by how slowly things seem to be moving through my system!

I had my surgery Oct. 14, so it has just been a month. The gas has lessened but I feel a bit constipated since starting the Metamucil.

The gas was an issue for me, too. I felt prune juice was more helpful than over the counter [for me] but follow your doctor's suggestions and get his okay before adding foods and OTC meds. My doctor agreed to let me try Gas-X and it did help after the first few weeks. I also avoided gassy vegetables, drank protein drinks and consumed more high protein foods. It takes at least 4 months to start feeling like your prior self and secure enough to establish confidence. Everything does return to a normal routine, and it is hard to have patience. Good luck, it will get better.

I just stayed on a full liquid diet for some six months after surgery. This is generally not recommended after surgery but it sure made my life a lot easier.