Have you recently undergone laparoscopic surgery? Then, first, congratulations on your successful surgery.
Be it a laparoscopy or any other surgery, your post-operative care is crucial in ensuring that your body recovers well and the wounds have healed completely.
You should know what foods you can and cannot eat after laparoscopic surgery to ensure you recover soon and don’t have any complications.
This article gives you a list of the foods you should avoid after a laparoscopy. Ensure you avoid these for a speedy recovery.
What Foods to Avoid After Laparoscopic Surgery
As you already know, hernias are notorious for reappearing even after surgery. So, you should be very careful and avoid certain foods that could complicate your post-surgery recovery.
Below are certain foods that you should avoid after a laparoscopic surgery.
Avoid Fried Foods
Fried foods are high in trans fats and oil, both of which you should avoid after your surgery. Fried foods after surgery can increase your cholesterol and blood pressure.
They also increase the risks of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Fried foods are also not easy to digest. They can cause nausea and vomiting, which can pull at your surgical stitches and delay healing.
Never fry your food after surgery. Instead, go for boiled foods which are easy on your stomach and also have various health benefits.
Limit Spicy Foods
Spicy foods are also a no-no after your laparoscopic surgery. Spicy foods are often acidic and can upset your stomach. They can cause diarrhea or heartburn.
Your abdomen will already be weak after your surgery. Eating spicy foods can also cause inflammation, nausea, and vomiting.
Spicy foods are also high in sodium, which can slow down your healing process. So, try to avoid spicy foods for at least a few days after surgery.
Avoid Acidic Foods
Have you ever had lemon juice poured on your wound by accident? It would have caused a burning sensation, right? This is because lemons have citric acid, which can irritate your wound.
Similarly, acidic foods are also not good for your stomach. They can irritate your surgical site and delay healing. Some acidic foods to be avoided are
- Citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, etc.)
- Tomatoes
- Pineapples
- salsa
Avoid Sugary Foods
Excess sugar is naturally not good for your health. They can increase your blood sugar levels and also cause constipation. Try avoiding sugary foods like cakes, candies, pastries, etc., for some days after your surgery. Especially try avoiding foods high in fructose, like corn syrup or cane sugar.
Avoid Processed Foods
You should also avoid processed foods after a laparoscopic surgery. Processed foods contain very few nutrients that you might need for your post-surgery recovery.
They are also low in fiber, which is an essential nutrient to ease digestion and prevent constipation. They are also high in sugar and saturated fat, which can cause various other complications for you.
Additional Considerations
Apart from the foods we saw above, there are other substances that you should definitely avoid after your surgery.
Avoid Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol is high in caffeine and other harmful substances. They react with your post-surgery medications and reduce their effect on your body. They can even cause adverse reactions sometimes.
Alcohol also reduces your blood’s ability to clot, which can become a serious complication if you accidentally tear your surgical stitches. So avoid alcohol for a few months before, during, and after your surgery.
Avoid Cigarettes
Cigarettes slow your blood flow, decreasing your body’s ability to carry nutrients to all parts of the body efficiently. This can potentially reduce your healing rate.
It can also infect your surgical site. It is best to quit smoking at least a few months before surgery to prevent it from affecting your surgery results.
Conclusion
The foods you consume after surgery are a major factor determining the speed of your recovery. Ensure you eat a healthy diet and avoid the foods we discussed above.
If you still have doubts about the foods you can and cannot eat after laparoscopic surgery, you can discuss it with your hernia surgeon or nutritionist and get a post-surgery diet chart.
FAQs
Below are some foods that can be beneficial for your post-surgery recovery.
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- High liquid intake (water and fresh juices)
- Foods high in fiber
- Dietary lean protein
- Low-fat dairy products
Your abdomen will be weak and tender after laparoscopic surgery. Ensure you avoid activities that can pull on the surgical site and aggravate it. Some activities to avoid include
- Strenuous exercise,
- Heavy lifting,
- Jogging or running,
- Bicycling, and
- Aerobic exercises.
Your abdomen will be weak after laparoscopy. So, you will be asked to have only a liquid diet immediately after the surgery. You can start eating solid foods that are easily digestible from the second day after surgery.
