Colon surgery can be painful and hard on the body until the healing process is complete. After any surgery, especially colon surgery, it is very important to eat a high calorie diet for the first three to four weeks, as your body will need essential nutrients as it heals.
Immediately After Colon Surgery
In the first three or four days immediately following surgery, remain on a liquid diet. Stick to broth, water, tea, jello and juices, all things that will digest easily. On the fifth day, if you're not having any troubles digesting the liquids, move up to foods that are a little thicker but still liquid form. Great options are ice cream and milkshakes, pudding, rice, pasta, popsicles and cottage cheese.
One Week After Surgery
If your body is digesting the liquid food items easily, gradually increase to solid foods again. Start with small meals, possibly five to six small meals instead of three large meals per day. Eat foods rich in fiber, such as fruits and vegetables, and stick to foods that are low-fat, as they digest faster than greasy, fatty foods. Drink a lot of water, preferably 8 to 10 eight-ounce glasses each day, to keep the body hydrated and help food digest more quickly.
Foods to Stay Away From
Stay away from foods that are hard to digest. This includes beans, cauliflower, broccoli and beef. Although broccoli is very high in fiber, it takes the body a long time to digest, therefore putting more stress on the colon. Also avoid fried foods, as they are greasy and high in fat, and limit dairy products and spicy foods, as they too take a long time to digest.
