Brenda Khan
Following Nissen fundoplication surgery, patients must adhere to a specific diet to facilitate healing and prevent complications. This diet typically spans six weeks, during which patients progress through distinct phases, starting with a full liquid diet, then advancing to pureed or blenderized foods, and ultimately transitioning to soft, easy-to-swallow meals. Throughout this period, it's crucial to avoid certain foods that can hinder recovery, such as dry bread, raw meats, crunchy fruits or vegetables, and foods that cause gas. The overarching goal of the Nissen diet is to promote healing, manage portion sizes, and alleviate symptoms like nausea, excess gas, and diarrhea.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet after Nissen fundoplication surgery | Soft, easy-to-swallow and easy-to-chew foods for at least 4 to 6 weeks |
| Number of meals | 5 or 6 small meals each day |
| Liquid intake | 6 to 8 cups each day, but limited to 4oz or 1/2 cup with meals and 8oz or 1 cup with snacks |
| Foods to avoid | Gummy foods like bread, green bananas, and peanut butter; dry bread products; meat for the first 2 weeks; large or tough pieces of meat after the first 2 weeks; raw, crunchy fruits or vegetables |
| Foods to eat | Blenderized soups or stews with soft cooked meats and vegetables; soft, ripe bananas; smoothies made with blenderized fruit and milk or yogurt; ground, minced, or soft meats; tender, flaky fish; small bits of shrimp meat; soft tofu scrambles |
| Foods to ease constipation | Prune juice or apricot nectar |
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What You'll Learn
Eat small meals frequently
Eating small meals frequently is an important part of the Nissen fundoplication diet. This involves eating 5 to 6 small meals each day instead of 3 large ones. This approach helps to prevent problems with swallowing, nausea, extra gas, diarrhoea, and pain. It also reduces the risk of over-stretching the stomach, which can cause discomfort and nausea.
When following this diet, it is important to eat slowly and chew food thoroughly. Soft, easy-to-swallow, and well-chewed foods are recommended. Foods that are soft, moist, and have a regular texture are ideal. Blenderized soups or stews with soft-cooked meats and vegetables are a good option. You can also add cream or half-and-half to increase the calorie content of these meals. Well-cooked, soft, and moist scrambled eggs are another suitable choice. It is important to ensure that foods are pureed to a smooth consistency and that there are no lumps, as these can be difficult to swallow.
Small, frequent meals also help to control nausea and manage portion sizes. Eating in a calm and relaxing environment is recommended. It is also suggested to limit liquids during meals to 4oz (or 1/2 cup), and to consume the majority of liquids between meals. Aim to consume at least 6 to 8 cups of liquid throughout the day.
As you progress in your diet, you can introduce slippery noodles, white fish, minced chicken, and soft, well-chewed vegetables. It is important to take your time with this diet and only advance to the next level when the foods from the previous level are passing through well.
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Avoid meat and tough foods
For the first two weeks after Nissen fundoplication surgery, it is important to avoid meat and tough foods. This is because, after surgery, there will be swelling where the oesophagus connects to the stomach, and the opening will be narrow, about the size of a straw. This makes it crucial to avoid foods that could cause blockage or be hard to pass through the oesophagus into the stomach.
Meat should be avoided for at least the first two weeks, and after this period, no large or tough pieces of meat should be consumed. Tough meats can be challenging to swallow and may cause irritation or further swelling. It is recommended that foods are kept soft, well-cooked, and moist to ease swallowing and promote healing.
In addition to meat, there are several other types of foods that should be avoided or limited during the initial recovery period after Nissen fundoplication surgery. Dry bread products, cereals, pancakes, waffles, and baked goods should be avoided, as they can swell with saliva and liquids, forming a blockage in the oesophagus. Carbonated beverages should also be avoided for at least the first three weeks after surgery, as the carbonation can cause irritation.
Raw, crunchy fruits and vegetables should be eliminated from the diet, as they can have sharp edges that can cause further irritation and swelling. Instead, raw fruits and vegetables should be finely chopped, steamed, or cooked well to achieve a "mashable" texture. Salad dressings, mayonnaise, or cheese sauces can be added to soft-cooked vegetables to increase calorie intake.
It is important to remember that the above guidelines are general recommendations for the initial recovery period after Nissen fundoplication surgery. Individual experiences may vary, and it is always best to consult with a healthcare professional or follow the specific instructions provided by your doctor.
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Avoid dry foods
The Nissen diet is typically followed after Nissen fundoplication surgery for GERD or to repair a hernia. It's important to follow this diet to aid your recovery and avoid any complications. One of the key instructions is to avoid dry foods, and here's why:
Firstly, dry foods can be difficult to swallow, especially if you're not chewing them properly. Chewing your food slowly and thoroughly is essential to aid digestion and prevent any blockages or discomfort. Dry foods can also absorb fluids in your stomach, leading to a feeling of fullness and distension. This can be uncomfortable and slow down your recovery process.
Secondly, dry foods often require more chewing, which can lead to swallowing air and subsequent gas buildup in your stomach. This is something you want to avoid as it can cause pain and discomfort, as well as put pressure on your surgical site. Examples of dry foods to avoid include tough meats, dry breads, and crackers.
Additionally, some dry foods are sticky or gummy, such as bananas, and should be avoided. These foods can stick to your surgical site and cause irritation or even obstruction. It's important to remember that everyone's recovery is unique, and you should always consult with your doctor or dietitian for personalized advice. They can guide you on how long to maintain this diet and when it's safe to introduce different food textures.
During your recovery, it's recommended to eat small, frequent meals (around six to eight per day) to ensure you're getting enough nutrients without overloading your stomach. Eat slowly, take small bites, and remember to sit upright while eating and for at least 30 minutes afterward. This helps gravity do its job in moving food through your digestive tract smoothly.
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Avoid gas-causing vegetables
The Nissen diet is a post-surgery diet for people who have undergone Nissen fundoplication surgery to correct gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or to repair hernias such as hiatal hernia and intrathoracic stomach. The diet aims to protect the surgery area, prevent swelling, and promote healing. It involves consuming soft, easy-to-swallow foods for at least 4 to 6 weeks, with a focus on avoiding gas-causing vegetables and other gas-inducing foods.
To reduce stomach gas and distention, it is recommended to avoid gas-causing vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, onions, cabbage, beets, spinach, corn, Brussels sprouts, celery, asparagus, lettuce, and peas. These vegetables are known to cause gas and bloating, which can be uncomfortable and exacerbate digestive issues.
It is also important to avoid other gas-causing foods, including dried beans, peas, and other members of the cabbage family. Instead, opt for soft, well-cooked, and moist foods that are easy to swallow and digest.
Sample Meals on the Nissen Diet
The Nissen diet involves progressing through different stages, starting with clear liquids and eventually advancing to soft foods. Here are some guidelines for meals during the early stages of the Nissen diet:
- Milk or cream
- Fruit or vegetable juice without pulp, such as grape or tomato juice
- Nectars and cranberry juice for extra calories
- Decaf tea or coffee in small amounts
- Instant breakfast drinks
- Blenderized soups or stews with soft-cooked meats and vegetables
- Soft-cooked oatmeal, thinly prepared
- Wet scrambled eggs moistened with milk or other liquids
It is important to note that everyone's tolerance to food is unique, so it is always best to consult with a doctor or dietician for personalized advice after surgery.
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Eat soft, moist foods
For the first 14 days after Nissen fundoplication surgery, patients are placed on a full liquid diet to prevent irritation to the surgery site. After this, they can advance to a pureed or blenderized diet and then to a soft diet. It is recommended that patients follow a soft diet for at least 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. Eating and drinking are essential to getting enough calories and nutrients to aid healing. A soft diet will also help to control nausea, extra gas, diarrhoea, or swallowing problems.
To protect the surgery site and promote healing, it is important to eat soft, moist, and easily chewable foods. Patients should avoid dry, gummy foods such as bread, green bananas, and peanut butter, which can be hard to swallow and cause blockage in the oesophagus. Bread products, in particular, can swell with saliva and liquids, forming a ball that blocks the oesophagus. Raw, crunchy fruits and vegetables should also be avoided as they can irritate and cause more swelling due to their sharp edges. Meat should be avoided for at least the first two weeks, and even after this, only small, soft pieces should be consumed as they can be difficult to pass through the oesophagus into the stomach.
It is recommended that patients eat soft, well-cooked foods that are easy to swallow. Examples include soft-cooked oatmeal, thinly prepared; fluffy, soft rice; and soft-cooked potatoes with sauce or gravy. Vegetables should be peeled, with the skins, seeds, and peels removed, and then chopped or diced into small pieces before being steamed or cooked well to a "mashable" texture. Examples of suitable vegetables include carrots, squash, and zucchini. Salad dressing, mayonnaise, or cheese sauces can be added to soft-cooked vegetables to increase calorie intake.
Patients should avoid carbonated beverages until at least three weeks after surgery, after which carbonated drinks should be poured into a glass to allow the carbonation to escape. Regular tea and coffee can be consumed in small amounts to limit caffeine intake. It is also important to eat small meals frequently—five or six small meals each day instead of three large ones. Patients should also eat slowly and in a calm and relaxing place. In addition to food, it is recommended to drink at least 6 to 8 cups of liquid each day, but liquids should be limited to 4 ounces or 1/2 cup with meals and 8 ounces or 1 cup with snacks.
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Frequently asked questions
You will be on a Nissen diet for about 6 weeks after surgery.
The Nissen diet consists of soft, easy-to-swallow and easy-to-chew foods.
You can eat soft, ripe bananas, soft tofu scrambles, and tender, flaky fish.
Yes, you should avoid large or tough pieces of meat, raw or crunchy fruits and vegetables, and dry bread products.
It is recommended that you do not eat meat for at least the first 2 weeks. After that, you can introduce soft cooked meats.
