A laparoscopy can be nerve-wracking but knowing what diet plan after laparoscopic surgery needs to follow might help. An incision is made in the patient’s abdominal wall, and a laparoscope with a small camera on the top is inserted through it to view the internal organs and guide the surgeon.
Several operations, such as those involving the digestive tract and the genitourinary system, are performed in this way.
Following laparoscopy, most doctors advise patients to consume a liquid-only diet to allow the digestive tract to recover. In most cases, you’ll need to gradually return to your regular eating habits. If you want to avoid gastrointestinal distress, though, it’s important to follow your doctor’s advice on how to introduce new foods into your diet gradually.
Clear Liquid Diet After Laparoscopy
Foods that are simple to digest are ideal following a laparoscopy, though you may be given more detailed instructions before you go home. The first day of your diet will typically consist of only clear liquids. Apple, grape, and cranberry juices, in addition to ice pops and plain gelatin, are all appropriate beverages during this time.
Be cautious and take note of any stomach pain as you start. A good way to keep from getting overly full is to drink in intervals of 2 to 4 ounces. The clear liquid diet after laparoscopy is simple to follow and will help you stay hydrated, but it lacks the protein, vitamins, and minerals you need to feel your best.
Switching to Full Liquids
Advancing your diet is possible once your bowels begin to function normally again, but you should do so under your doctor’s supervision. You’ll have a wider range of possibilities once you’re able to consume liquids normally. Included in this phase are all items suitable for the clear liquid phase, plus yogurt, milk, pudding, custard, strained creamy soups, and so on.
According to Dr. Valeria Simone MD, an experienced general surgeon at Southlake General Surgery, Texas, to determine how well you can tolerate dairy products, start out cautiously. If you discover that you have a sensitivity to dairy products, you should choose lactose-free alternatives. Because the foods consumed during this phase need to have a smooth consistency, you should steer clear of items that contain nuts and seeds.
Moving on to Soft Diet
The transition to soft meals is probably going to come before you return to your regular diet. The foods allowed during this phase have a softer consistency, and if necessary, you can purée them as well. The finest selections include meat, fish, and poultry that has been finely ground or cooked until it is tender; soft cheeses with subtle flavors; potatoes that have been soft-boiled; smooth peanut butter; canned or cooked fruit that does not contain citrus; and cooked or canned vegetables.
Citrus fruits and foods that produce gas, such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, should be avoided to decrease stomach discomfort caused by consuming them.
Returning to a Normal Diet
It is possible that you will only go through one of the three nutritional phases following your laparoscopy, but this will depend on the type of procedure that you have. For the first day following an endometriosis laparoscopy procedure, for instance, you will typically be required to consume only liquids, but by the second day, you will be able to resume your regular diet. It’s possible that procedures that involve the digestive tract will require you to focus on foods that are easier to digest for a longer period.
Take only a few nibbles at a time and stay away from meals that are high in fat while you are adjusting to a normal diet. This will help limit the number of issues you experience. Constipation is a side effect that can occur when using some prescription pain drugs; if you are on any of these medications, it is important that you drink ample fluids to prevent this side effect. After a laparoscopic treatment, it is important to strictly adhere to your doctor’s dietary instructions and to contact your physician in case you have any questions or concerns.
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For more information on Diet Plan After Laparoscopic Surgery or to book a quick appointment with Dr. Valeria Simone MD, you can contact our healthcare expert today at +1(817) 748-0200.