The post-op diet, phase by phase, and why it is not negotiable
The staple line needs four weeks to heal. Rushing to solid food is the one mistake with a serious complication attached.
Phase 1, days 1-14: clear then full liquids
Water, broth, diluted protein drinks. Target 60-80 g protein and 1.5 litres of fluid daily, sipped constantly. This is the phase where dehydration sends people back to hospital, not hunger.
Phase 2, weeks 3-4: purée
Anything smooth: yoghurt, blended soups, puréed fish, scrambled eggs. Protein still comes first at every meal. Three to four small meals plus separate fluids between them.
Phase 3, weeks 5-8: soft food
Flaked fish, minced meat, soft vegetables. Chew far longer than feels necessary, twenty times per mouthful is the standard advice, and it is the habit that prevents pain and vomiting later.
Phase 4, from week 9: normal texture, small portions
Protein first, vegetables second, carbohydrate last. No drinking 30 minutes before or after eating. Avoid fizzy drinks, and treat alcohol with caution, absorption is faster and tolerance much lower after surgery.
The Ones People Actually Ask.
What if I vomit after eating?
Usually eating too fast, too much or not chewing enough. Persistent vomiting needs assessment for a stricture, contact us rather than adapting around it.
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What Stands Behind The Plan.
