Post op food

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Sheree
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Oct 01, 2017 4:41 am

Post op food

Postby Sheree » Sun Oct 01, 2017 6:28 am

Hi all
I'm a newby here, Im going in for a high anterior resection and was wondering what the diet post op entails - I've read 3 different opinions and I would think each hospital or dr differs
1- liquid diet as for the resection to heal in time.
2- lite meals ASAP to get the bowel back in function
3- no food for 3 -5 days just intravenous drip

Or maybe your that sick sore and tired that you just don't care ?
Thanks in advance to anyone who responds 8)
Colon cancer
Lesion 4.5 cm
Booked in for high anterior resection nov 17

Aqx99
Posts: 403
Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2017 7:28 am
Facebook Username: aqx99
Location: Pfafftown, NC

Re: Post op food

Postby Aqx99 » Sun Oct 01, 2017 3:34 pm

After my LAR, they had me on a liquid diet for several days. Then they moved me up to soft foods the day before I left the hospital. After that, I was advised to follow a low fiber diet in order to prevent any issues with my temporary loop ileostomy. After a while, you can gradually try out new foods and add back in some that you avoided originally. You will need to talk with your doctor to find out how they prefer you proceed. The key thing is to follow their instructions.
Anne, 40
Stage IIIB Rectal Cancer
T3N1bM0
2/21/17 Dx, Age 39
2/21/17 CEA 0.9
3/23/17 - 5/2/17 Chemoradiation, 28 treatments
6/14/17 Robotic LAR w/temp loop ileostomy, ovaries & fallopian tubes removed, 2/21 lymph nodes positive
7/24/17 - 12/18/17 CapeOx, 6 Cycles
7/24/17 Dx w/ovarian cancer
9/6/17 CA 125 11.1
11/27/17 CEA 2.6
12/5/17 CT NED
12/13/17 CEA 2.9
1/11/18 CA 125 8.6
1/23/18 Reversal
3/21/18 CT enlarged thymus
4/6/18 PET NED
7/10/18 CT NED
7/11/18 CEA 2.6
9/18 Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: Post op food

Postby Lee » Sun Oct 01, 2017 3:44 pm

A lot has changed since my resection, over 13 yrs ago. I was cut open, no food or water until I passed gas. Once I passed gas, liquid diet for 1/2 day. If no problems, soft foods then normal foods (I went from Sunday morn (prep) to Thursday evening without food). And I came home from hospital 5 pounds heavier than when I entered it (lost within a few days, fluid retention).

Butt with Lapro been the standard today, healing is faster and I believe you can start eating soft foods soon after surgery.

I would recommend a Low Fiber Diet for a few weeks following your surgery.

Good luck, and welcome,

Lee

Okay, Aqx99 beat me by a few minutes. :wink:
Last edited by Lee on Sun Oct 01, 2017 3:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: Post op food

Postby Lee » Sun Oct 01, 2017 3:45 pm

Aqx99 wrote:After my LAR, they had me on a liquid diet for several days. Then they moved me up to soft foods the day before I left the hospital. After that, I was advised to follow a low fiber diet in order to prevent any issues with my temporary loop ileostomy. After a while, you can gradually try out new foods and add back in some that you avoided originally. You will need to talk with your doctor to find out how they prefer you proceed. The key thing is to follow their instructions.


Were you cut open or lapro type surgery?

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

Chickspeed
Posts: 43
Joined: Sat Jun 17, 2017 5:16 am

Re: Post op food

Postby Chickspeed » Sun Oct 01, 2017 4:07 pm

I had LAR and temp ileostomy

As soon as they could confirm with stethoscope that my stomach was moving again (12 hours)
I was placed on a low fiber diet. Stayed on low fiber diet for 4 weeks for healing. Then slowly onto normal
food
12/15/2016 Mod Diff tumour 5-6 cm 10-12 cm fr AV T3 tumour cea 1.4
12/29/2016 CT no spread ln normal
1/19/2017 MRI confirms mass and shows 3 enlarged LN (suspected to be infection draining)
3/6/2017 25 sessions chemoradiation
6/20/2017 LAR with temp loop ileo
7/10/2017 Path 20mm margins tumour 0.1 CM with microscopic invasion of submucosa
aug-dec 2017 6 rnds xeloda
1/9/2018 CT all clear
1/18/2018 Colonoscopy clear
3/27/2018 ileo reversal
CEA continues to be normal

Aqx99
Posts: 403
Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2017 7:28 am
Facebook Username: aqx99
Location: Pfafftown, NC

Re: Post op food

Postby Aqx99 » Sun Oct 01, 2017 6:19 pm

Lee wrote:
Aqx99 wrote:After my LAR, they had me on a liquid diet for several days. Then they moved me up to soft foods the day before I left the hospital. After that, I was advised to follow a low fiber diet in order to prevent any issues with my temporary loop ileostomy. After a while, you can gradually try out new foods and add back in some that you avoided originally. You will need to talk with your doctor to find out how they prefer you proceed. The key thing is to follow their instructions.


Were you cut open or lapro type surgery?

Lee


Mine was done laproscopically with the robot.
Anne, 40
Stage IIIB Rectal Cancer
T3N1bM0
2/21/17 Dx, Age 39
2/21/17 CEA 0.9
3/23/17 - 5/2/17 Chemoradiation, 28 treatments
6/14/17 Robotic LAR w/temp loop ileostomy, ovaries & fallopian tubes removed, 2/21 lymph nodes positive
7/24/17 - 12/18/17 CapeOx, 6 Cycles
7/24/17 Dx w/ovarian cancer
9/6/17 CA 125 11.1
11/27/17 CEA 2.6
12/5/17 CT NED
12/13/17 CEA 2.9
1/11/18 CA 125 8.6
1/23/18 Reversal
3/21/18 CT enlarged thymus
4/6/18 PET NED
7/10/18 CT NED
7/11/18 CEA 2.6
9/18 Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy

jep
Posts: 260
Joined: Sun Jun 11, 2017 7:45 pm
Location: New England, USA

Re: Post op food

Postby jep » Sun Oct 01, 2017 8:06 pm

My husband was supposed to have robotic surgery, but once they got in there and saw the size of the tumor and the extent of the growth into the wall, they switched to open surgery. I feel as though the docs allowed for solid food way too soon. I really believe that if we had stuck with liquids and smooth foods (yogurt, etc.) he probably wouldn't have had so many issues with recovery. His surgery was more than 4 months ago, and he still has a surgical drain, a bag on his incision, and is still on the GI diet. Everyone is different, but I wish we had stuck with high protein smoothies and other high calorie/high protein "foods" that might not have caused so many issues. It seems like a lap surgery or robotic one can lead to a better recovery (?).
Good luck and take care of yourself!
jep
Stage IV CC 5/16/17
Loc: recto-sig
Type: Adenocarcinoma
Size: 7.4 cm
Grade: G3
TNM: T3N2M1
LNs: 8/20
BL CEA: .9
LVI: present
Perineural invasion: present
LAR margins: clear (w/in microns)
Folfox (8/17-1/18)
Scope 6/18 - CLEAR! - 2 polyps
PET 10/17/18: 3 pos LNs
Irino + Vecti (11/18)
CEA: 1.7 (2/19)
Xel + rad (5/19)
Surgery: 8/21/19 (aborted)
P1 Trial 10/19 - 12/19
Bypass 12/6/19
Folfox + vecti 1/2/19 - 4/3/20
Kid Fail 5/1/20
Folfiri + Avastin 5/20 - 6/20
bypass 6/29/20
Stivarga 7/18/20 -
Home 9/10/20

Aqx99
Posts: 403
Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2017 7:28 am
Facebook Username: aqx99
Location: Pfafftown, NC

Re: Post op food

Postby Aqx99 » Sun Oct 01, 2017 8:35 pm

jep wrote:My husband was supposed to have robotic surgery, but once they got in there and saw the size of the tumor and the extent of the growth into the wall, they switched to open surgery. I feel as though the docs allowed for solid food way too soon. I really believe that if we had stuck with liquids and smooth foods (yogurt, etc.) he probably wouldn't have had so many issues with recovery. His surgery was more than 4 months ago, and he still has a surgical drain, a bag on his incision, and is still on the GI diet. Everyone is different, but I wish we had stuck with high protein smoothies and other high calorie/high protein "foods" that might not have caused so many issues. It seems like a lap surgery or robotic one can lead to a better recovery (?).
Good luck and take care of yourself!
jep


Not having to be cut wide open is the main factor in healing so quickly from laproscopic surgery. A lot of damage is done when they have to go through all of those layers of tissue in the abdomen, not to mention the exposure of the body cavity. I had 4 almost inch long incisions on my abdomen, plus a larger one under my belly where my surgeon decided to stick his hand in for a feel. I wouldn't have had that incision, had it not been for the precursor ovarian cancer cells that were growing on my peritoneum. He wanted to make sure he got them all. Even then, I didn't have a single stitch or staple externally. I was glued and taped shut.

I took it slow when I got home and started eating again. I was so scared of having an issue. I ate very small meals and chewed them into oblivion before swallowing. Now that it has been about 3 months, I've sort of worked back to almost normal eating habits, although I am still staying away from a lot of fiber. The oncology dietician at my local cancer charity suggested juicing for me as a way of getting my plant based nutrients without the fiber. She said cases like mine are the only time she suggests it because normally you need the fiber.
Anne, 40
Stage IIIB Rectal Cancer
T3N1bM0
2/21/17 Dx, Age 39
2/21/17 CEA 0.9
3/23/17 - 5/2/17 Chemoradiation, 28 treatments
6/14/17 Robotic LAR w/temp loop ileostomy, ovaries & fallopian tubes removed, 2/21 lymph nodes positive
7/24/17 - 12/18/17 CapeOx, 6 Cycles
7/24/17 Dx w/ovarian cancer
9/6/17 CA 125 11.1
11/27/17 CEA 2.6
12/5/17 CT NED
12/13/17 CEA 2.9
1/11/18 CA 125 8.6
1/23/18 Reversal
3/21/18 CT enlarged thymus
4/6/18 PET NED
7/10/18 CT NED
7/11/18 CEA 2.6
9/18 Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy

Sheree
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Oct 01, 2017 4:41 am

Re: Post op food

Postby Sheree » Sun Oct 01, 2017 11:32 pm

Thanks everyone for the well wishes
I guess the only thing I'm excited about is the weight loss :lol:
Colon cancer
Lesion 4.5 cm
Booked in for high anterior resection nov 17

Aqx99
Posts: 403
Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2017 7:28 am
Facebook Username: aqx99
Location: Pfafftown, NC

Re: Post op food

Postby Aqx99 » Mon Oct 02, 2017 12:15 am

Sheree wrote:Thanks everyone for the well wishes
I guess the only thing I'm excited about is the weight loss :lol:


Don't get too excited. I lost about 15 pounds after my surgery and have gained it all back since. The steroids they give to prevent nausea during chemotherapy tend to do that. Also, I asked my oncologist what the best things to do to keep my blood counts up were, and she told me to drink plenty of fluids and keep your weight stable.
Anne, 40
Stage IIIB Rectal Cancer
T3N1bM0
2/21/17 Dx, Age 39
2/21/17 CEA 0.9
3/23/17 - 5/2/17 Chemoradiation, 28 treatments
6/14/17 Robotic LAR w/temp loop ileostomy, ovaries & fallopian tubes removed, 2/21 lymph nodes positive
7/24/17 - 12/18/17 CapeOx, 6 Cycles
7/24/17 Dx w/ovarian cancer
9/6/17 CA 125 11.1
11/27/17 CEA 2.6
12/5/17 CT NED
12/13/17 CEA 2.9
1/11/18 CA 125 8.6
1/23/18 Reversal
3/21/18 CT enlarged thymus
4/6/18 PET NED
7/10/18 CT NED
7/11/18 CEA 2.6
9/18 Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy

DarknessEmbraced
Posts: 3816
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:54 pm
Facebook Username: Riann Fletcher
Location: New Brunswick, Canada

Re: Post op food

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Mon Oct 02, 2017 8:39 pm

After my open LAR surgery in 2014 I was very nauseous. I was on clear liquids at first, then moved up to liquids and eventually to soft foods. I hope your surgery goes well!*hugs*
Diagnosed 10/28/14, age 36
Colon Resection 11/20/14, LAR (no illeo)
Stage 2a colon cancer, T3NOMO
Lymph-vascular invasion undetermined
0/22 lymph nodes
No chemo, no radiation
Clear Colonoscopy 04/29/15
NED 10/20/15
Ischemic Colitis 01/21/16
NED 11/10/16
CT Scan moved up due to high CEA 08/21/17
NED 09/25/17
NED 12/21/18
Clear colonoscopy 09/23/19
Clear 5 year scans 11/21/19- Considered cured! :)

ChiMama
Posts: 34
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2016 8:41 pm
Location: PHX

Re: Post op food

Postby ChiMama » Tue Oct 03, 2017 1:54 am

Hi Sheree ~

I had open surgery, a nice 6" incision straight down the middle. I was on a "nothing by mouth until gas" plan. Basically I had ice chips and nothing else for 5 days, but I wasn't really hungry anyway. Then soft food for a day, a regular bland low-fiber meal the day I left the hospital, which was Day 7. I lost about 10-12 pounds.

I was on the low-fiber diet for 30 days.

The first week after I came home from the hospital, almost everything tasted awful - like everything was spoiled. Awful! One of the potential side effects of anesthetic is altered taste. The only things that tasted good were organic applesauce, the Pane Guttiau parchment crackers from Trader Joe's, and mashed potatoes. That lasted a couple weeks.

Hope everything goes great for you!
4/21/16 First Colonoscopy @59
DX high grade dysplasia
Fibroid uterus, liver cysts, lung nodules
6/17/16 Open surgery: hysterectomy, X 12.5cm sigmoid, 29 LN
T2N0M0 Stage 1 Mod diff adeno 5.2cm x 4.1. Gyne benign, Lynch neg
CT 7/27/16 Ground Glass & spiculated lung nodules, thyroid nods, watching.
2017/18/19 Scopes: polyps. Scans stable
2019 Endo: hiatal hernia. 2 breast biopsies, benign
5/20 GGN 1.1cm. Biopsy: adenocarcinoma/primary lung cancer. Robotic VATS upper left lobe. 1A
Mama to a rescue Chihuahua

Sheree
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Oct 01, 2017 4:41 am

Re: Post op food

Postby Sheree » Tue Oct 03, 2017 11:11 pm

Thank you everyone you're all very kind with your well wishes, hugs to you all :D
Colon cancer
Lesion 4.5 cm
Booked in for high anterior resection nov 17


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