Healthy Eating After Surgery — When Eating Isn't Easy

Monday, March 15, 2010

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Good nutrition, with adequate calories and protein, is important to healing and recovery after major surgery. But the stress of surgery and follow-up care can depress the appetite, alter the taste of food and make it difficult to eat and digest food, sometimes for weeks or months. In fact, most people lose 5 to 10 percent of their body weight after a major surgery because of poor appetite and increased nutrition needed for healing.

The March issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter offers tips to address common concerns about eating post-surgery:

• No appetite or feeling full quickly: Frequent small meals throughout the day may help, as could the easy availability of favorite foods. A walk before mealtime could help stimulate hunger. At mealtime, eating high-protein foods first is important, because protein is needed for healing.
• Milk, juice or nutrition supplements can boost calories as well as vitamins and minerals between meals. Nutrition supplement options include Boost, Carnation Instant Breakfast, Enlive, Ensure and Resource Breeze.
• Food doesn't taste right: Spices can perk up bland-tasting foods. A sprinkle of sugar may help when foods taste bitter or salty. Red meat may seem to have a metallic taste, which may be avoided by marinating the meat.
• Feeling nauseated: Nausea is often worse on an empty stomach. Eating a cracker or pretzel upon waking and every couple of hours can ease the feeling. Eating small amounts of food and eating slowly also can help overcome nausea.
• Too tired to prepare food: Friends, relatives or community resources, such as Meals on Wheels, could provide meals during recovery. Another option is healthier frozen dinners, which can be prepared quickly.
• Sore throat, mouth or tongue: Soft foods may be easier on the mouth and easier to swallow. Avoiding spicy, salty or hot foods helps prevent irritation. Alcohol can irritate mouth tissues, and acidic foods are best avoided.

Post-surgery is not the time to try to lose unwanted pounds. A lack of nutrition can cause dehydration and an inability to heal. When eating problems persist, patients should check with their surgery team for options. Occasionally, nourishment provided directly into the stomach or intestines through a tube may be needed.

Mayo Clinic Health Letter is an eight-page monthly newsletter of reliable, accurate and practical information on today's health and medical news. To subscribe, please call 800-333-9037 (toll-free), extension 9771, or visit the Mayo Clinic Health Letter online.

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