The best diet plan for 15 days after intestinal obstruction

There is no one-size-fits-all fixed diet for 15 days after intestinal obstruction. The core of the real best plan is "low residue, gentle, gradual progress, with individual tolerance as the highest criterion, giving priority to avoiding gas-producing, high-crude fiber, highly irritating, and high-fat foods." There is no food that must be eaten, and no taboos are absolute. Everything is judged by whether you have abdominal distension, abdominal pain, and normal gas and bowel movements after eating.

Two patients discharged from the Department of Gastroenterology at the same time last month were in very different situations: One was a 26-year-old girl who had a blockage after eating persimmons on an empty stomach. After conservative treatment, no surgery was performed. On the 12th day, she was able to eat less than half a bowl of soft thin noodles with two chopsticks of boiled cabbage leaves. During the review, she was in particularly good condition.； The other is a 70-year-old man who underwent intestinal adhesion lysis + partial intestinal resection. On the 15th day after the operation, he could only drink enteral nutrition powder without residue, and even rice oil had to be drank warm in small amounts many times. If the same diet was followed rigidly, the old man might have relapsed and been hospitalized long ago.

The most common pitfall that everyone falls into is "requiring major supplements after illness." The most regrettable thing I have ever seen is a 30-year-old patient with adhesive intestinal obstruction. On the 11th day after the operation, he felt that he was alive and kicking. His family specially stewed a pot of old hen soup. He drank two large bowls of it with meat and oil. That night, he suffered from abdominal pain and sweating. He also had a gastric tube inserted to fast, and the previous week's conditioning was all in vain. Think about it, the intestinal tract that has just resumed peristalsis is as tender as a vegetable sprout that has just sprouted. If you fill it with rich and tonic soup, won’t it burn the roots directly?

Now regarding the diet at this stage, there are actually different opinions in different fields, so there is no need to insist on which one is right. It is generally recommended by the nutrition department of Western medicine to supplement high-quality protein as soon as possible as long as you tolerate it, such as lactose-free Shuhua milk, steamed smooth egg custard, and boiled soft tofu to avoid low protein causing intestinal edema and slowing down recovery. ； Traditional Chinese medicine’s approach to nursing care is usually to nourish the spleen and stomach first. Try to eat warm, soft foods in the first 15 days, such as millet oil, steamed yams, and steamed pumpkins with seeds removed. It is not recommended to add ingredients that are prone to moisture, such as eggs and milk, too early. There is nothing wrong with either of these statements. If you usually get gas and diarrhea after drinking milk, then follow the advice of Chinese medicine and don’t touch it first. ； If you usually tolerate eggs and milk, drinking some lactose-free milk to replenish nutrients will help you get better quickly. There is no need to compete.

I talked to senior nurses who have been working in the gastroenterology ward for more than ten years. They have family members who have suffered from intestinal obstruction. The diet for the first 15 days was very "cowardly": drink warm rice oil, a small amount of warm water or oral rehydration salts for the first 3 days. If there is no discomfort, then transition to porridge until the rice is fully bloomed. Then only add one new food at a time. Today I add a spoonful of steamed pumpkin, and there is no flatulence after eating it. Tomorrow, add two bites of steamed carrots. They must be peeled and seeded, and even the fiber must be cooked until soft. Only dare to choose the tenderest cabbage leaves, boil them for more than 10 minutes, chew them into small pieces before swallowing them. Do not touch high-fiber foods with gluten such as corn, celery, and leeks, and do not even think about carbonated drinks, ice drinks, spicy or fried ones.

Many people ask if they can eat fruit? The general advice is to try not to eat raw or cold food in the first 15 days. If you are really craving for it, peel and core apples or pears and steam them until soft. One or two bites will suffice to satisfy your craving. Foods with seeds and cool properties like watermelon and dragon fruit are best tolerated first. I once had a patient who ate half a piece of iced watermelon on the 13th day. After having diarrhea twice, his intestinal function immediately became disordered. It took him another half a month to return to normal.

Oh, yes, what is more important than what you eat is your eating habits. Don’t gorge yourself. Chew each mouthful at least 20 times. Eat small meals frequently. It’s okay to eat five or six meals a day. Don’t overeat at one meal. Intestinal peristalsis is already weak. If you stuff too much, it won’t move, but will it become clogged again?

You really don’t need to worry about what is “best”. Everyone’s cause of obstruction, basic intestinal conditions, and recovery speed are different. You may not be able to tolerate what others can eat, and you may not be able to tolerate what others can’t touch. The core is the word "slow". When adding new foods, only add one at a time. If you feel no discomfort after eating, try the next one. If you are really unsure, ask your doctor or nutritionist for an evaluation. It is much more reliable than searching for the same recipe online for half a day.