A hiatal hernia forms when part of your stomach protrudes into your chest cavity, making way for acid reflux -- the regurgitation of acidic stomach contents after eating. Surgery is one potential treatment form, done on roughly 600,000 Americans each year, according to the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons' Task Force on Patient Information. During the procedure, a surgeon makes small incisions in your abdominal wall, pulls down on your abdomen and tightens your diaphragm with sutures. Eating an appropriate diet after hiatal surgery can enhance your wellness and recovery.
Guidelines
Eating large quantities of food after hernia repair surgery can place strain on your stomach and interfere with healing. For this reason, the UCLA Center for Esophageal Disorders recommends consuming small meals and beverages, up to 1 cup at a time, during your first two weeks of recovery. Throughout your recovery, avoid alcohol and foods and beverages that may trigger or worsen acid reflux, including spicy, fatty and acidic foods, such as orange juice, coffee and vinegar.
Liquid Diet Foods
During the first two weeks following hiatal hernia surgery, your diet will be limited to clear liquids. Allowable foods and beverages include water; fruit juices without pulp, such as apple, cranberry or grape juice; strained lemonade; clear sports drinks; broth; plain gelatin; honey; and frozen fruit bars without fruit bits or pulp. Clear tea is also acceptable. Choosing caffeine-free tea may help prevent sleep disturbances associated with caffeine. Avoid all carbonated and alcoholic beverages, solid foods, thick liquids, hard candy and gum.
Full Liquids
If your healing is progressing, you can advance your diet every two weeks, notes UCLA. The second phase involves a full liquid diet, which allows all clear liquids from your initial phase plus creamy, strained soups, ice cream, pudding, milk, yogurt, watered-down hot cereals and milkshakes. Continue avoiding carbonated beverages, solid foods, hard candy and gum.
Soft Foods
Your final diet phase after hiatal surgery allows for all liquids plus soft foods, which have a mushy texture and require little chewing. Suitable foods include rice, pasta, mashed potatoes, applesauce, well-cooked vegetables, fish, ground beef or chicken, tamales, sushi and soft fruits, such as grapes, canned fruit and bananas. Avoid foods with coarse consistency, such as sandwiches, crisp vegetables, pork chops, chips and tacos, until your doctor recommends otherwise.
Member Comments