The best diet plan for 15 days after intestinal obstruction

There is no absolutely standardized best diet plan for 15 days after intestinal obstruction. The core principles are "low residue, high energy, small meals with frequent meals, and individualized tolerance first." All dietary adjustments must be based on the premise that it will not cause abdominal distension, abdominal pain, and vomiting, and that normal gas and bowel movements can be achieved.

I am not talking about Tai Chi. Last week, I met a 28-year-old girl in the outpatient clinic. On the 14th day after the conservative treatment for adhesive intestinal obstruction, she felt that she was completely better. So she and her friends went to have a meal of spicy maocai. She went to the emergency room early in the morning because of abdominal pain and distension. The X-ray showed signs of mild obstruction. She was hungry for three more days. It was not worth the loss. Many people think that "clearance means recovery", but in fact, the intestinal tract that has experienced obstruction is like a person who has just returned to work after a long vacation. The peristalsis function and mucosal tolerance are still in the recovery period. If you stuff it with a high load of food, it will easily stop.

First of all, you must clarify your actual situation, and don’t just follow the general recipes on the Internet: Have you completely eliminated the obstruction through conservative treatment, and have had normal exhaust and defecation for 15 days? Or is it the 15th day after intestinal resection and anastomosis? Are there any underlying problems such as diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, or habitual constipation? The situation is different, and the food available is far different. If you are still wearing a gastrointestinal decompression tube or have not passed gas after surgery, then don’t read further. Just follow the doctor’s instructions to fast or drink a small amount of warm water.

Let me first give a reference range for those who are in normal conditions - that is, those who have no serious underlying diseases and have recovered stable after the obstruction is relieved. The diet at this stage can basically follow this: in the morning, you can drink glutinous millet porridge or pumpkin porridge, just two mouthfuls of steamed soft yam or peeled steamed carrots. If you feel that the nutrition is not enough, you can also make half a cup of enteral nutrition powder without residue. Don't add too much sugar, as the blood sugar will rise too quickly and it will cause flatulence. For lunch, you can eat steamed eggs, skinless chicken legs that have been stewed to perfection, or pork ribs and radish soup that has been drained of oil, or just two bites of soft white steamed buns. Don't touch the whole wheat ones. The bran is too rough and it will be difficult to rub the intestines. For dinner, you can cook some thin noodles, add two drops of sesame oil, and add two soft boiled green cabbage leaves. Don't add celery or leeks that have a lot of gluten. After chewing, there will be a pile of dregs left, which can easily get stuck in narrow parts of the intestines.

As for many people asking whether they can eat fruits and take protein powder, there are indeed two different views in the industry. Most surgeons of the older generation require that raw, cold, and fruits and vegetables with seeds and skins be strictly prohibited for 3 weeks after the obstruction is relieved, for fear that the crude fiber may scrape the damaged intestinal mucosa, or become blocked in the intestinal segment that has not been completely swollen. ； However, the concept of rapid recovery in recent years holds that as long as there is no discomfort after eating, you can eat a small amount of steamed, peeled and seeded apples or warm kiwi puree on the 15th day. Supplementing some vitamins will help repair the mucous membrane. My own clinical experience for so many years is that if you were prone to diarrhea when eating cold food, or if you have obstruction caused by inflammatory bowel disease, then don’t take the risk and just endure it for another week. ； If your stomach is usually tight and you don't feel bloated after eating one or two spoonfuls of fruit puree, then it's okay to eat a little, just don't be greedy for too much. The same goes for protein powder. Don't drink it just because others say "nutritional supplements make you better quickly". Many people are lactose intolerant and will get gas, flatulence and stomachaches after drinking it. If you really want to supplement, try drinking a third of a spoonful first. If you feel fine, then slowly increase the amount.

Don't believe in evil. Two years ago, I met an old man in his 60s. Fifteen days after the operation for intestinal obstruction, his son Xiaoshun bought durian to replenish his body. He ate half of it, and he started rolling in pain that night. He was hospitalized for the second time for conservative treatment. It’s really not a crime to suffer twice just for one bite. If the elderly at home always say, “Eat more, you’ll get better faster”, then show them this case.

There are also small details to pay attention to when eating. It is best to chew a mouthful of rice at least 20 times. Don't gobble it up. Eating too much air can cause bloating. Don't touch things that produce a lot of gas, such as carbonated drinks, soy products, and sweet potatoes, if you can. If you're really craving for it and take a few sips of Coke, and your stomach feels bloated and uncomfortable, rub it clockwise. You'll be fine after a few farts, so don't be too nervous. Everyone's tolerance level is different. You can keep a small ledger by yourself. If you eat something that makes you uncomfortable, don't touch it next time. Any general recipe will be reliable.

By the way, if the pain gets worse and worse after you eat something, you don’t have a bowel movement for several hours, and you vomit acidic water, don’t hold on, go to the hospital and take an upright abdominal X-ray as soon as possible to avoid causing a more serious obstruction.

To be honest, there is no 100% "best plan". There is no need to rush when it comes to nourishing the intestines. Take your time. When it is fully nourished, you will have the opportunity to eat hot pot, skewers, fruits, and whatever you want. It will not take more than ten days and a half. If you are really unsure about what to eat, ask your bedside doctor or clinical nutritionist directly. They know your recovery situation best and their advice is definitely more reliable than the general guide online.