Nutrition plays an important role after liver surgery due to the liver's ability to regenerate. Patients are likely to be malnourished at the time of surgery if they do not maintain a healthy diet.
1. What is liver surgery?
A liver surgery is a surgery that affects both the patient's physical and mental health. The surgery involves removing a part of the liver from the body. It has been noted that half of the liver is enough to nourish the body if it is healthy. Patients who have just undergone liver surgery will have abdominal pain for a few days after surgery or may also experience nausea, diarrhea, constipation, or headaches. Therefore, nutrition and rest after liver surgery are very important.
2. Nutritional principles after liver surgery
Regarding nutritional principles after liver surgery, patients need to note the following:
- Avoid toxic substances related to food production methods (due to pesticides, agricultural chemicals, and herbicides).
- Avoid food additives (colors, preservatives, flavorings).
- Avoid certain cooking methods that develop toxic substances such as frying, roasting, and grilling.
3. Stages of post-liver surgery
3.1. Initial stage: 1-2 days after surgery
- Patients may have delayed bowel movements
- Side effects of many pain relievers
digestive function is reduced due to reduced liver function. - Risk of hypoglycemia
- In this initial stage, patients need to do the following methods to recover, such as eating many small meals. Meals must ensure regular nutrition. Patients should eat thin porridge with a sufficient amount of minced meat, fish, and pureed vegetables.
3.2. Next stage
- Taste disturbance, bitter sensation on the mouth.
- Poor digestion, bloating, bowel disorders.
- Reduced appetite and feeling of fullness soon after meals.
In this next stage, patients need to do the following methods to recover:
- Use herbs and spices (thyme, parsley, basil, turmeric, ginger, lemon juice, wine, and apple cider vinegar).
- Practice different cooking methods to change the taste and feel of the food.
4. Diet and rest after liver surgery
For the body to recover as quickly as possible and minimize side effects, people after liver surgery should pay attention to the following issues:
- Use green vegetables to provide enough vitamin K in the patient's diet. This is an important substance in blood clotting.
- Maintain intestinal flora balance by drinking probiotics such as liquid, yogurt.
- Eat more foods such as lean meat, fish, shrimp, and crab to increase protein supplements for the body.
- Limit harmful fructose in foods containing artificial sweeteners such as candy, soft drinks, and packaged foods.
- Limit the use of animal fat, use vegetable oils such as peanut oil, rice oil, and olive oil to avoid causing inflammatory reactions, and balance blood sugar.
5. Valuable advice for recovery after liver surgery
Diet: After surgery, it is important to maintain a balanced diet and stay well-hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Most patients can resume their normal diet within a few days after surgery. However, the diet should include protein, green leafy vegetables, fresh fruit, and dairy products such as yogurt and skim milk. Some patients may have irregular bowel movements, which is common after liver surgery, but if the patients have acute discomfort for a long time, they should consult a doctor.
Rest: Doctors recommend that you rest and recover completely after liver surgery. You should take at least 4 to 6 weeks off from work. Patients should avoid strenuous activities such as cycling, running, or weight lifting immediately after surgery, as these activities put significant stress on the liver. It is advisable to stay indoors and avoid crowded places to avoid the risk of infection. Getting enough sleep is very important, so patients should be required to sleep for 6 to 7 hours a day.
Wound care: Since the surgery involves cutting through the skin, the incision must be carefully cared for after surgery. After removing the bandage, wash it with warm soapy water and pat dry. You can cover the incision with a bandage if needed. Remember to wash it daily to avoid any infection or complications.
No alcohol: After liver surgery, patients must not drink alcohol. You should also stop drinking alcohol before surgery. Heavy drinkers should immediately stop drinking alcohol and try to quit smoking. It is important to be honest with your doctor and discuss your drinking habits.
Maintaining a healthy diet combined with adequate rest will bring the best recovery results for the patient. Besides, it also ensures health for future activities and work. In addition, patients after liver surgery should also note that they need to have regular check-ups according to the doctor's appointment schedule.
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