Colon surgery is a procedure to remove a part of the large intestine that is obstructed or diseased. After surgery, there are certain foods you should eat and avoid. Some foods can irritate your intestines or worsen the side effects of the surgery. Here is a guide to your diet for a period after surgery.
1. What is Colon Surgery?
Colon surgery is a surgical procedure to remove all or part of your intestine. The colon, a part of the large intestine, is a long tube-like organ at the end of your digestive tract. Resection may be necessary to treat or prevent diseases and conditions affecting your colon.
There are several types of resection surgeries:
- Total resection involves removing the entire colon.
- Partial resection involves removing part of the colon.
- Segmental resection involves removing the right or left part of the colon.
- Proctocolectomy involves removing both the colon and rectum.
Resection surgery often requires additional procedures to reattach the remaining parts of the digestive system and allow waste to exit the body.
Colon polyps are small growths on the inner lining of the large intestine (colon) or rectum. Colon polyps are very common, affecting about 1/4 of people aged 50 and older. They are more common in men.
2. Foods to Eat After Colon Surgery
2.1. Nutrition After Surgery
In the first 2 to 3 days after resection, you may only receive fluids intravenously to give the colon time to heal. Then, you will transition to a liquid diet for a while. This means you can only consume liquids such as porridge, clear fruit juices (e.g., apple juice), soft drinks, and gelatin.
When you are ready to start eating solid foods again, the first foods you eat should be easy to digest, such as toast and oatmeal or rice.
2.2. Some Foods to Eat After Colon Polyp Surgery
Common symptoms you may experience after resection surgery include diarrhea and dehydration. These symptoms can occur because your colon has not yet returned to normal function. One of the functions of the intestines is to absorb fluids. If it is not functioning properly, you may experience diarrhea and dehydration.
Easily digestible foods that can help minimize diarrhea include:
- Apples, bananas, pears, peaches, and melons.
- White rice.
- Cooked beets, spinach.
- White bread or toast.
- Rice or wheat cream.
- Low-sugar cereals (avoid high-fiber cereals like wheat bran).
- Pasta.
- Peanut butter.
- Potatoes.
- Yogurt.
Other easily digestible, low-residue foods include eggs, cooked fish or tender meat, mild cheese, soft cooked fruits or vegetables, pudding, and ice cream.
3. Foods to Avoid After Colon Surgery
3.1. Avoid Tough and Crunchy Foods
You will be able to drink water immediately after resection. A few days later, you can start eating solid foods. Your doctor may ask you to start with soft foods like cooked vegetables, bananas, avocados, mashed potatoes, and soft proteins. Your intestines may be swollen after surgery, and these foods will pass through them more easily. Therefore, tough and crunchy foods should be avoided.
3.2. Limit Fiber
Your stomach does not fully digest high-fiber foods like whole-grain bread and cereals. They reach the colon and are "processed" there. Your colon is in the process of healing, so do not overwork it. A low-fiber diet (your doctor may call it "low residue") for 4 to 6 weeks can be helpful.
Uncooked fruits and vegetables are high in fiber. They can be crunchy (like carrots) or tough (like celery) and difficult to chew into small pieces. They may have hard skins (like apples) or indigestible seeds. All of these can irritate your colon as it heals. Avoid these foods for a few weeks while you recover, then gradually reintroduce them into your diet.
3.3. Avoid Fats and Greasy Foods
You often experience diarrhea after resection. Because your colon is suddenly shorter, digested food does not have enough time to move (or much time to form solid stools) before leaving your body. Some foods can worsen diarrhea, such as fatty meats, butter and cream, fried foods, and greasy snacks like potato chips.
Diarrhea usually resolves after a few weeks. After that, you can enjoy these foods again in moderation.
To arrange an appointment, please call HOTLINE or make your reservation directly HERE. You may also download the MyVinmec app to schedule appointments faster and manage your reservations more conveniently.
