What to Eat after a Hysterectomy

Preparing for a hysterectomy is as important as recovering from one. Included in this planning is diet, specifically what to eat after a hysterectomy and, additionally, how to prepare for one. Following some simple guidelines can help speed recovery and ensure no serious complications arise after the procedure.

Recovery from a hysterectomy begins before the procedure. Depending on the type of surgery and how the process goes, women can expect to be off their feet for a couple of days. A light meal is the universal recommendation from doctors on the night before surgery. Keep in mind that pain medications prescribed after the procedure may retard bowel activity, so eating fibrous foods the day before can help the colon responding as naturally as possible. Vegetables, whole grains and fruits like apples and grapes are high in fiber.

After completion of the hysterectomy, patients are usually sent home (for the most part, this is an inpatient procedure). Having lost some important organs will probably have the patient feeling rundown and low. To avoid worsening this feeling, it is vital to learn what to eat after a hysterectomy. Alcohol, aspirin and dairy foods should all be avoided during the recovery process. Your doctor will probably prescribe a liquid-only diet at the beginning, followed with a graduation to soft foods.

Immediately after the procedure, you can nosh on ice chips and chicken broth to keep proteins and energy up. If the tummy can handle juice, add that to give your body important vitamins. Avoid sugary drinks and caffeine, as these give a sense of being sated while not fully hydrating the body. Soft foods like pureed vegetables, mashed potatoes and applesauce, but contrary to the pre-surgery rules, avoid fiber at this point of the hysterectomy.

You should be able to return to a semi-normal diet within a day or two of the surgery, but it should be noted that some women experience abnormal weight gain following a hysterectomy. For this reason, healing, low-fat foods should be chosen when deciding what to eat after a hysterectomy. A diet based on whole grains and fresh fruit and vegetables are not just right for the menu, but are exactly what the doctor ordered.