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What to eat after small bowel obstruction operation?

Posted by janetwass @janetwass, Feb 7 11:28am

If anyone has experience after a small bowel obstruction operation on how to prevent another obstruction, and what foods one should avoid please let me know

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annamay | @annamay | Apr 10 11:36am
In reply to @skim3737 "I'm so sorry that you're going through this. I am in the exact same situation. Two..." + (show)
Profile picture for skim3737 @skim3737

I'm so sorry that you're going through this. I am in the exact same situation. Two previous surgeries for bowel resections and one for adhesions, last one in 2013 and am on low residue diet and severely underweight. I currently have multiple strictures and dilated loops in my intestines and struggle to keep weight. Down to 78 pounds now. I've been drinking Boost Plus chocolate for several years (it's really yummy!) and it contains 360 calories and 14g protein in a 8oz bottle. The key is to find low volume, high calorie and high protein sources. Recently I bought a case of Boost Very High Calorie chocolate and it contains 520 calories and 22g protein per 8oz bottle. I've just started this a few weeks ago and my weight has seemed to level off. I hope you can find some of these ideas helpful!

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Thank you, skim373, for your kind message. My heart goes out to you and your challenges. This is such a difficult situation to experience.
Thank you for the Boost Plus idea and I'll look into it. The suggestions are so encouraging.
Best wishes for your health.

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researchmaven | @researchmaven | Apr 10 6:45pm
In reply to @annamay "After a bowel resection to remove NETS, I lost the terminal ileum and part of the..." + (show)
Profile picture for annamay @annamay

After a bowel resection to remove NETS, I lost the terminal ileum and part of the large intestine. I before surgery, i had food sensitivities, but it is more complicated now. The problem now is I have a lot of adhesions causing bowel obstructions. I had surgery about a month ago to address the adhesions and the surgeon said they never saw so many adhesions. Four days after discharge from the hospital, I was back with a bowel obstruction and back a second time 1 weeks later.I am now on a low fiber diet, 8 g fiber or less, but am unable to get nearly enough calories to maintain my current weight and am not able to eat dairy. I was thin to start.I have seen dietitians but they have not been much help. Do you have any suggestions, please? This is such a wonderful opportunity to connect with so many people with a variety of experiences.Thank you.

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Annamay,

I have a limited diet for different reasons. Some ideas:

1. eat and snack all day with liquidy foods. That could be eating 4-7 times a day.

2. For the veggies you can eat, microwave or steam/boil them to get them really soft and use the blender and make a "cream" soup. Add egg white powder, WestLife Soy milk (or another alternative milk or make your own almond milk (it is easy to make, richer and delicious), pea protein isolate. Add some oil or even nut butter for fats if that is tolerated. You can make it as thin or a thick as works for you.

3. Hot cereal, with the above proteins (or the the whole egg if you can tolerate it). Walnut oil or coconut oil for richness and calories. Any sweetener that works. I use LiveKuna green plantain flour for my hot cereal. Very soothing. Again, you can make it as thick or as thin as you need to.

4. If there are any fruits you can eat, you can make smoothies galore, adding avocado or oil for calories.

5. You can get your basal metabolic rate (BMR) measured ($50-100) to learn how many calories your body uses just "to sit and live." Then you can target how many calories you need to take in to maintain your weight or gain weight, estimating how many calories you expend by walking/doing chores/exercising.

*I assume lactose-free cows milk is not something you can have.

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annamay | @annamay | Apr 10 7:45pm
In reply to @annamay "After a bowel resection to remove NETS, I lost the terminal ileum and part of the..." + (show)
Profile picture for annamay @annamay

After a bowel resection to remove NETS, I lost the terminal ileum and part of the large intestine. I before surgery, i had food sensitivities, but it is more complicated now. The problem now is I have a lot of adhesions causing bowel obstructions. I had surgery about a month ago to address the adhesions and the surgeon said they never saw so many adhesions. Four days after discharge from the hospital, I was back with a bowel obstruction and back a second time 1 weeks later.I am now on a low fiber diet, 8 g fiber or less, but am unable to get nearly enough calories to maintain my current weight and am not able to eat dairy. I was thin to start.I have seen dietitians but they have not been much help. Do you have any suggestions, please? This is such a wonderful opportunity to connect with so many people with a variety of experiences.Thank you.

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Thank you, research maven, for great suggestions. I like the concept of blending foods that I do tolerate together, like making a personalized nutritional drink. I have several food allergies and sensitivities.
I see how it takes us to advocate and act for our best interest.
I'm so thankful for you and this community to support each other through challenging times.

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