Most patients are concerned about what they can eat after Nissen fundoplication. Immediately after the surgery, swelling around the esophagus prevents you from swallowing regular food. For this reason, for the first two weeks after surgery you will be permitted liquids only. As healing progresses and swelling goes down, you will advance to mechanically soft diet or blended food. For those two weeks, you will consume moist and soft diet before you introduce regular foods.
This nutritional guideline was put together by Dr. Darido to help you make the right dietary choices after surgery. Advancing your diet too fast may lead to complications. The most common complication is food impaction at the lower esophageal sphincter. Retching and dry heaving due to food impaction immediately after surgery may disrupt the wrap. Eat slowly, avoid carbonated beverages, and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Protein shakes are an important source of proteins for healing after surgery. Avoid protein shakes with high sugar content as these may cause dumping. Dumping occurs when too much sugar is emptied fast from stomach into intestines leading to nausea, diarrhea and abdominal discomfort.
DIET GUIDE After Surgery
Week 1 & 2: Liquid Diet
Anything you can pour out of a cup is considered liquid
Day 1: Clear liquid diet:
- Water, Crystal light
- Clear broth
- Jello-O
- Tea and coffee
- Diluted fruit or vegetable juice
- Gatorade
Day 2 and after: Full liquid diet
- Blended soups with no chunks (strained pureed soup): Cream of mushroom soup, potato soup
- Yogurt: no added fruit chunks
- Milk
- Pudding
- Ice cream
- Protein shakes: Premier, Boost, Ensure
- Cream of wheat
- Apple sauce
Week 3 & 4: Soft Diet
- Anything you can blend in a blender is considered mechanically soft diet.
- You can also buy a variety of packaged pureed meals.
- Scrambled eggs
- Pureed meats: chicken, pork, beef or fish
- Cottage cheese
- Pureed fruits or cooked vegetables
- Canned fruits
- Mashed potatoes with no skin
Foods to avoid:
- Raw vegetables, dried fruits like raisins, nuts and seeds, popcorn, chips, pretzels, and bread.
Week 5 & 6: Solid Diet
Start to gradually add solid foods to your diet. Advance diet as tolerated.
Week 7 & After
Add bread, tough/chewy meats, and stringy vegetables like asparagus