pre-op diet to prevent gas pains

Dear Sisters,

This diet was given to me by my doctor's office. I was hesitant to post it without personal experience but decided to do so anyway. I can always add post-op. I am finding the seven day countdown aspects to be helpful in preparing for my trip to the castle next Tuesday, January 11.

On day 5 I re-read and noticed "no refined sugar". I will be good from now on! Can't take back the oatmeal cookies and chocolate.

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Pre-op diet.....This diet works as given. Excessive application of the principles will not make it better. This diet is based on three notions:

1. Both the surgical wound site and peristaltic motion of the bowel make demands on the body's supply of potassium. If there is a limited supply of potassium, the surgical wound site has priority on the potassium for a few days. This diet tries to insure adequate potassium for all needs.

2. Certain foods are gas producing, especially in the dark, warm, moist environment of an inactive bowel. These foods must be avoided three days prior to surgery.

3. Complex carbohydrates facilitate rest and help reduce anxiety.

This diet begins seven days before surgery. (My doctor wanted a liquid diet on the day before surgery so I backed it up). Let's say surgery is on Tuesday:

Tues. Wed. Thurs... normal well balanced meals should be eaten with the addition of 25% more protien.

Fri. Sat. Sun... From now until following the surgery,
no refined sugar, milk, legumes (peanuts are a legume), or beans of any kind
no meat, fish or cheese
normal well balanced attractive meals focusing on complex carbohydrates (rice, pasta, with a tomato sauce are good)

Foods high in potassium should be included at every meal in normal portions. Consult a chart. Some foods particulary high in potassium are cantaloupe and dried fruits such as dates and apricots. Orange juice and bananas make good snacks. Acquire the potassium through reasonable amoungs of food. Potassium food supplements (pills) are known to cause gastro-intestional discomfort- something to be especially avoided at this time.

There is nothing about this food plan that will put you "further at risk." The author researched it for herself because of all the stories she had heard about "gas pains". She has not had one gas pain with her hysterectomy and, so far, everyone she has given this to has found it helpful...

She also found thi plan gave a gas pain free post surgery experience.

Thanks for posting. It's important for others though, to remember to follow the instructions given to them by their own DR's, and to check with them about changing their regular diet before surgery.

It's also important to remember that each person is different. I didn't have any dietary restrictions before surgery, and ate pretty normally in the days leading up to surgery. I even had pepperoni pizza and diet pepsi the evening before surgery. I had no problems with post op gas at all, and bm's were normal at first, then due to the narcotics, about 10 days post op I had some constipation.

Best wishes.

Hi there

I had no restrictions regarding my diet preop either, no bowel preparation at all and had very minimal gas problems post surgery. Perhaps it's a person's individual makeup that predisposes one to gas problems postop.....I don't know, but I don't think everyone should assume they're going to have horrendous gas problems. As I said, I had minimal gas problems and no constipation either.

All the very best.

This is my post surgical update.

I had no post-op gas pains. Doubt I would follow this diet to the letter again as the high carbs made me a bit light headed. I think I would have been been better off having some protein (chicken, not steak) and bulking on potassium.

My roommate had a gastric-bypass with no pre-op restrictions. She had terrible gas.

By no means a scientific study.

Sister's

To Relieve Gas Pains , Drink Peppermint Tea, I Took Tea Bags To The Castle , Work Like a Charm. Good Luck .
Iam 13 days POST OP And Doing Good .
Blessing
Cathie