Undergoing hernia surgery requires careful attention to post-operative care, with diet playing a crucial role in ensuring a smooth and speedy recovery. A well-planned diet provides essential nutrients for proper healing, minimizes complications, and helps you return to your daily routine more quickly. This article provides a detailed guide on what to eat after hernia surgery, helping you make informed food choices to support your body's healing process.
Understanding Hernias and the Importance of Post-Surgery Diet
A hernia occurs when an organ or tissue bulges through a weak area or tear in the muscle or connective tissue that should contain it. Hernias typically result from muscle weakness and strain, often due to activities like heavy lifting, chronic coughing, or sudden weight gain. Hernia surgery repairs this tear and repositions the organ back in place.
After hernia surgery, your body needs to heal. You can support this process naturally by following a healthy diet and your doctor’s protocol for a speedy recovery. Your physician or surgeon will provide a complete list of guidelines to follow after your surgery, which will likely include dietary restrictions.
The importance of knowing what to eat after hernia surgery stems from several factors. First, hernia surgery involves anesthesia, which typically requires an individual to fast before the operation. Sedation medication can often cause feelings of discomfort, which is one reason why there are dietary restrictions before as well as following the procedure. Second, during the surgery itself, part of the stomach gets loosely wrapped around the lower part of the esophagus. It should not constrict the esophagus, but it does cause some swelling. It’s natural for the swelling to last for several weeks after the surgery, possibly causing food to get stuck. Following the dietary guidelines is for both your safety and your comfort while healing.
Immediate Post-Operative Diet: Clear Liquids (12-24 Hours)
You may begin eating and drinking as soon as you get home from surgery. Start with a bland liquid diet such as Gatorade, tea, coffee, water, soup and crackers, or jell-o. For the first 12 to 24 hours after your surgery, your surgeon is likely to restrict your diet to nothing but clear liquids. This is often the case when the surgery involves your intestines. Being on a liquid diet supports the body as it recovers from anesthesia, as many patients experience vomiting and nausea. Solid foods tend to aggravate the nausea. Liquids also keep too much pressure from building up on the intestines and abdomen right after the repair.
Read also: Hysterectomy Diet Guide
Clear liquids include things like broth and non-acidic juices. Water, apple juice and tea are acceptable as clear liquids. While they don’t have much nutrition, they help prevent dehydration during this time. For optimal hydration, choose plain water. Choose juices with minimal pulp, like apple or white grape. Avoid citrus juices as they may irritate your stomach.
Week One: Transitioning to Soft Foods
Once the effects of the anesthesia wear off, you should be able to tolerate more than clear liquids. Your diet may start to include soft foods like squash. Your abdomen and intestines will still be sensitive to too much pressure in these first few days, though, so eat or drink foods in small amounts. Avoid gulps or bites that could cause indigestion or gas. Choose clear foods and liquids that don’t have a lot of colored dyes or contain a lot of pulp.
Some of the better choices to eat during this stage include:
- Pureed foods
- Creamed vegetables
- Plain or vanilla yogurt
- Sherbet, sorbet or vanilla ice cream
- Vanilla pudding
While your normal routine may involve three meals a day, remember to eat only small amounts for this first week. This means eating more frequently throughout the day. You should still avoid any heavy, hard-to-digest food during this week, even if it’s soft. You should also avoid caffeinated coffee and tea at this point. Decaffeinated coffee or herbal teas are a better option. A good source of protein and probiotics that can aid gut health is plain or vanilla yogurt.
Weeks Two and Three: Introducing Sloppy and Moist Foods
You can start to change what to eat after hernia surgery once you’ve made it past the first week of recovery. Move on to sloppy foods, or foods that are moist and easily broken down into small pieces with a fork. Typically, you can safely handle pureed foods, smooth soups and cereals softened in milk.
Read also: Fundoplication Diet Guidelines
As for what not to eat after hernia surgery in the second and third weeks, don’t consume any crackers, bread products, chunky meats, dry meals or biscuits. The use of painkillers and the lack of physical activity during your recovery can lead to constipation. In addition to staying hydrated, choose soft foods that are high in fiber, such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
Weeks Four and Five: Gradual Return to Solid Foods
If your recovery is progressing and able to tolerate more foods, you can move on to eating soft foods in week four. Start to add in cooked rice, well-cooked pasta, steamed vegetables, flaked fish and minced meat. You should still be careful about consuming foods that are acidic or spicy or have the potential to aggravate the intestines.
Select foods that have a high water content in addition to high fiber. Choose brown rice or whole wheat pasta. Zucchini, eggplant and green beans are good vegetable choices. Breakfast items can include oatmeal, bananas and eggs. Eggs are a complete protein source, crucial for muscle repair. Scrambled eggs are easy to digest and can be customized with chopped vegetables for added nutrients.
Week Six: Returning to a Normal Diet
By the sixth week, your body should be to healing to the point where you can return to a normal diet. However, only do so on the advice of your doctor and if your body has successfully handled the other transitions or additions to your diet. Bread and chicken shouldn’t be included until this point, since these have a higher tendency to get stuck in the esophagus and intestines.
At this stage, the focus remains on easily digestible and nutrient-rich choices that support your body’s healing process. Lean protein helps rebuild tissues and promotes muscle repair after surgery. Fiber helps prevent constipation, a common concern after surgery. Choose whole grains over refined options for added nutrients. Healthy fats are crucial for nutrient absorption and overall health. Include them in moderation. For example Avocado, olive oil, nuts (almonds, walnuts), seeds (chia seeds, flaxseeds).
Read also: The Role of Serum in Skincare
Foods to Avoid During Recovery
As well as helping the healing process by knowing what to eat after hernia surgery, you can avoid complications by knowing what not to eat after hernia surgery. Stay away from foods that are highly acidic or harsh on the digestive tract. Avoid red meats, chocolate, caffeine, fried foods, spicy foods and orange juice. Also skip carbonated beverages and tomato-based products, especially if your surgery addresses anti-reflux or GERD. While you can consume dairy, do so in moderation and only if your body can handle it. Some cheese and products can lead to constipation, and straining the bowels can hurt your recovery.
While focusing on healing foods, limit certain items that can trigger constipation, bloating, or straining:
- Spicy foods: Irritate your digestive system.
- Fried foods: High in fat and difficult to digest.
- Gas-producing vegetables: Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli can cause bloating. Consider temporary reduction.
- Acidic fruits: Citrus fruits may irritate your stomach. Limit intake or choose milder options.
- Carbonated drinks: Cause bloating and gas. Avoid them.
- Coffee (excessive): Dehydrates and worsens constipation. Moderate your intake.
- Red meat: Can be hard to digest, especially in large portions. Opt for smaller portions or leaner cuts.
The Role of Nutrients in Healing
The body’s repair process relies heavily on specific nutrients:
- Protein: Essential for muscle and tissue repair. Lean meats, eggs, beans, and fish are ideal protein sources that give your body the tools it needs to mend.
- Vitamin C: Supports wound healing and immunity. Add fruits such as oranges, berries, and kiwi, and vegetables like spinach, sweet potatoes, and bell peppers to your plate.
- Zinc: Speeds up cell regeneration.
- Omega-3 fatty acids: Reduce inflammation.
A nutrient-focused post-hernia surgery diet accelerates recovery while helping patients regain energy and strength.
Hydration: An Essential Component of Recovery
Hydration is crucial for recovery. Water is essential, delivering nutrients to muscles, flushing toxins, and regulating body temperature. While water is best, unsweetened herbal teas provide a flavorful, healthy alternative to sugary drinks that can slow recovery. Drinking adequate water prevents constipation and supports nutrient absorption. Aim to drink at least 8-10 glasses of water daily.
Sample Meal Plan for Post-Hernia Surgery Recovery
Here is a sample meal plan to guide your dietary choices after hernia surgery:
- Breakfast: Scrambled eggs with avocado and a slice of whole-grain toast. A bowl of oatmeal topped with berries and a side of scrambled eggs delivers fiber, protein, and healing nutrients.
- Mid-Morning Snack: A smoothie made with banana, protein powder, and almond milk.
- Lunch: Grilled chicken breast with mashed sweet potatoes and steamed carrots.
- Afternoon Snack: Cottage cheese with soft pear slices.
- Dinner: Baked salmon served with quinoa and a side of steamed spinach.
Lifestyle Adjustments to Aid Recovery
In addition to dietary changes, consider the following lifestyle adjustments:
- As soon as you reach home, you may resume normal ad lib activity. You are encouraged to begin walking and resuming household activity as tolerated immediately. Going up and down stairs is also ok.
- You should refrain from engaging in any strenuous activity such as running, riding a bike, heavy exercising in a gym, etc. for at least 4-6 weeks.
- You should also avoid any heavy lifting greater than 20lbs. for 4-6 weeks.
- Eat smaller meals often to avoid digestive strain.
- Chew food well for easier digestion.
- Listen to your body and adjust your diet as needed.
Managing Constipation After Surgery
It is not unusual for patients who have been through surgery, a general anesthesia, and who are taking narcotics to become constipated. It is important to avoid straining while recovering from hernia surgery. Constipation can often be remedied by increasing your activity and making sure you stay hydrated. If this does not work, you should first try to increase you fiber intake either through diet or through supplements (Metamucil, Benefiber, etc.). You may also try to take an over-the-counter stool softner such as Colace or Sennekot. You should have a bowel movement every day, but may go 2-3 days after surgery without one. If you have not had one by two days after surgery, you may need to try an over-the-counter laxative such as Milk of Magnesia, Magnesium Citrate, Dulcolax suppositories, or a Fleets enema.
Wound Care and Medication
You will have a gauze bandage on your incision. Leave this bandage on for 48 hours after the surgery. You may remove the bandage after 24 hours if needed, but try not to remove the bandage any earlier than 24 hours post-op. You may have steri-strips on your skin over the incision and underneath the bandage. If so, leave these on until they fall off on their own.
The incision will most likely be closed with dissolvable sutures that are underneath the skin. You do not need to do anything about these, and they will never need to be cut out or removed. They will dissolve on their own eventually. You may shower starting 48 hours after the surgery. Running soap and clean water over the incision is ok, but avoid submersing the incision in any dirty water such as baths, lakes, swimming pools, jacuzzis, etc. for at least 2-3 weeks.
You may apply ice to the wound for 15-30 minute intervals at a time for pain or swelling, for several days after the surgery. A small amount of bleeding, redness, and swelling may be normal. You may resume all your normal medications after surgery except for aspirin or other anticoagulants. You should wait at least 48 hours after surgery before beginning aspirin or other anticoagulants.
You will most likely be sent home with a prescription for narcotic pain medications. Use the narcotics as directed on the prescription. You may take less than what is indicated on the bottle, but not more. Be sure to take narcotic pain medication with food so as not to upset your stomach. You may begin to taper your narcotic medication as tolerated and discontinue them as soon as possible. As you are tapering off the narcotics, you may transition over to Ibuprofen. You should not drive or operate any mechanical equipment while on narcotic medications.
Addressing Common Concerns and Questions
Here are some common questions and concerns regarding diet after hernia surgery:
- What are the best foods to start eating immediately after surgery? Clear liquids such as broths and water are the best starting point. Soft foods like yogurt, applesauce, and mashed potatoes can then be added gradually. These options are easy to digest and help the body transition back to regular meals.
- How long should certain foods be avoided? Spicy foods, fatty meals, caffeine, and carbonated drinks should generally be avoided for the first few weeks after hernia surgery. These foods may cause irritation or slow healing. Reintroduce them slowly, based on comfort and your doctor’s advice.
- Are there supplements that aid recovery? Supplements such as vitamin C, zinc, and iron can support tissue repair and immune function during recovery. Always check with your surgeon or care team before starting any new supplements to ensure they fit your health needs.
- How can appetite changes be managed after surgery? It’s normal for appetite to fluctuate. Eating smaller, frequent meals throughout the day helps maintain energy levels. Staying hydrated and focusing on nutrient-dense foods ensures your body gets what it needs, even if portions are smaller.
- Is it necessary to consult a nutritionist for post-surgery diets? Consulting a nutritionist is not required but can be helpful. A tailored meal plan can ease recovery and address any specific health concerns, giving patients more confidence in their diet after hernia surgery.