How to support the body with food after surgery?

Hi Permies community..

I have missed being a part of this awesome group of people, but life has had other plans for me lately. I hope I’m able to participate more in the near future, I have so much to talk about… My homesteading progress and garden fails and successes this year.. I also have a list of threads that I want to reply to, but didn’t have the time or energy to do so yet.

But today I’m here to ask for help.

I need to take care of a loved one who had a surgery today.

I was hoping you would help me with listin foods that really support the body after a surgery.

The basics, recipes, individual healing ingredients and links to helpful threads.. All so helpful.

Thank you, in advance. I’m not sure how much I’m able to reply to you all right now when things are under way, but please do know that your help is greatly appreciated. ❤️

In my experience as both a nurse and a patient.  Plenty of fluids.  Quality protein and plenty of it unless there's a medical contraindication.  Meat and seafood provide zinc which is an important mineral for healing.  Fiber foods like whole grains, beans to avoid constipation.  Lots of fruits and veggies for vitamins, particularly vitamin C. Healthy oils like olive, avocado, grapeseed along with nuts and seeds for vitamin E.  

After several major surgeries including a breast reduction (now that was some healing) and a diagnosis of RA I've pretty much adopted this diet.  Avoiding junk food and processed food with long ingredient lists of things you can't pronounce is the key. Sunshine and fresh air are great healers after surgery.  This was common nursing knowledge at the turn of the 20th century but has kind of been lost.  Also, get the patient out of bed to walk as often as possible.  Getting up and down can hurt, but early ambulation greatly lessens complications like constipation, blood clots and muscle loss.  Your family member will likely come home with a prescription for narcotics, although after total hysterectomy I was prescribed ibuprofen.  Try to use these as little as possible.  Back in the '90's the trend was "no one should have pain."  This practice was basically what started the narcotics epidemic.  The pendulum has swung thankfully.  Some pain is inevitable and the patient needs to understand this.  Depending on the surgery an ice pack can be very useful. After a day or two on narcotics you can do things like instead of taking two tablets, take one along with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen or naproxen.  Follow the dosage directions on the package for these.  Frequent ambulation can actually help with pain.

Hope this helps.

One of my most reliable dishes is an incredibly common one.

Chicken noodle soup!

There are dozens of recipes that I won't get into but I will delve into an area to focus on when you make it.

The Broth

A lot of the 'goodness' that comes from eating the soup is from the broth itself. It does not have to just be chicken stock, additional vegetables and herbs that can be cooked into it only helps. Bone broths provide vitamins, fats, amino acids, and more that the body will appreciate. It is also easy to digest and does not require a whole lot of effort to consume. Some herbs that can be beneficial adding include black pepper (antioxidants), rosemary (polyphenols/antioxidants), oregano (multiple vitamins), and cayenne pepper (fights inflammation).

I like to make the stock out of whatever chicken/veggie scraps I have, cook it down overnight, and filter it. If the patient can tolerate chewing then add in cooked chicken and noodles for calories after. Sometimes I would just take a mug of the broth to sip on to keep hydrated and warm!

I wish for a fast recovery for your loved one.

In my house we call that "Momo's Sick Soup."

Fiber and protein are super important after surgery (especially abdominal surgery when the last thing you need is constipation) so I always make high-protein high-fiber muffins for my loved ones in recovery.

Appetite is generally hit and miss with the pain medication and it might be hard to keep regular mealtimes at first, so having healthy snack options by their bedside is super helpful. (Especially if they are going to be alone at some point)

My husband had several surgeries, and I baked dozens and dozens of muffins. They were also lifesavers after I gave birth to my girls.

For protein, think greek yogurt, wheat germ, chickpea flour, soy flour, nuts and nut butters...  For fiber, whole grains, flax seeds, plantain seeds, whole or dried fruits... You want something that is more like a dense bread, not a cake-muffin like the industrial ones. I use the base recipe from Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone and vary the flours and add ons..

Judy Bowman wrote:In my experience as both a nurse and a patient.  Plenty of fluids.  Quality protein and plenty of it unless there's a medical contraindication.  Meat and seafood provide zinc which is an important mineral for healing.  Fiber foods like whole grains, beans to avoid constipation.  Lots of fruits and veggies for vitamins, particularly vitamin C. Healthy oils like olive, avocado, grapeseed along with nuts and seeds for vitamin E.  

After several major surgeries including a breast reduction (now that was some healing) and a diagnosis of RA I've pretty much adopted this diet.  Avoiding junk food and processed food with long ingredient lists of things you can't pronounce is the key. Sunshine and fresh air are great healers after surgery.  This was common nursing knowledge at the turn of the 20th century but has kind of been lost.  Also, get the patient out of bed to walk as often as possible.  Getting up and down can hurt, but early ambulation greatly lessens complications like constipation, blood clots and muscle loss.  Your family member will likely come home with a prescription for narcotics, although after total hysterectomy I was prescribed ibuprofen.  Try to use these as little as possible.  Back in the '90's the trend was "no one should have pain."  This practice was basically what started the narcotics epidemic.  The pendulum has swung thankfully.  Some pain is inevitable and the patient needs to understand this.  Depending on the surgery an ice pack can be very useful. After a day or two on narcotics you can do things like instead of taking two tablets, take one along with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen or naproxen.  Follow the dosage directions on the package for these.  Frequent ambulation can actually help with pain.

Hope this helps.

I'm a nurse. All I have to say is this post is right on! Follow Judy's advice.

As previous pointed out, bone broth is the way to go! I keep hens until they are past their prime laying and then toss the whole chicken into a crock pot for at least 12, hopefully more than 24 hours. I usually get meat for one batch of soup, and broth for two. I also like beef broth made from things like oxtail, neckbones, or short ribs. those tends to be pretty fatty however so I often skim that off for other cooking since it can be a little much if you're recuperating.

Timothy listed some good herbs/spices for support, I would also include nettle if you can! Even if you're buying it dried from an apothecary it is SUPER nourishing!
With that bone broth you can stick to classics (veggie + noodles), or use it as a base for other goodies. My Postpartum doula made me soup with lentils and curry (also anti-inflammatory, especially the turmeric!) and a soup with a bit of a spicy kick to keep the circulation going.

I also like to make a very spicy chai with added rosehips or hibiscus for vit-C. But lots of sugar isn't super great for the immune system so keep it lightly sweetened. Obviously nice rich whole milk is the addition of choice for this, but if you can't do dairy you do you.

Best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery!
My go to food for recovery from trauma or serious illness is Chinese Congee - a dilute rice porridge to which other ingredients can be added according to the specific ailment. Using bone broth as the liquid would be good in this case.
You can find the basic recipe and myriad variations online.

I second the advice for bone broth! I’ve had over 20 major surgeries and I agree with all the previous advice. You do need to add in lots of good probiotics to restore the microbiome that was killed off with preventative antibiotics that all surgical procedures call for, at least all the ones this retired nurse and (seemingly) professional patient is aware of. Homemade yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir or my own favorite, kombucha, are all (if homemade) great sources of the beneficial bacteria that nourish us and regulate our immune systems and, apparently, mental health status as well. Best of luck on the healing journey!

My 2 cents
Not knowing if the person  a picky eater, nor what post surgery  diet supposed to include, I'm going out on a limb with suggestions that might work,  as those are easy on the stomach and...don't cause constipation :

broiled or poached fresh fish  filets (preferable NOT the farm raised!!!).
Soft boiled eggs (runny egg yolk, solid egg white).
Real porridge purposely little overcooked (it will look very mushy and sticky) cooked in water with added salt or  not (if not, poured with little honey, maple syrup or home made syrup of choice over the top when serving).
Beets (pickled or cooked/steamed).
Mashed potatoes with freshly, finely chopped green parsley or dill leaves).
Stuffed bell peppers ( stuffing can include rice and little ground meat of your choice, finely diced/chopped celery, squash, pumpkin, carrots, broccoli etc ). I say bell peppers specifically as those are "lighter" in taste than for example Shepherd  red peppers.
Pancakes, omelets, French toast (raisin bread or breads of your choice)
Steamed button mushrooms (wild ones can feel heavy on the stomach) and steamed vegetables in general (except beans as someone already mentioned)
I would be picky using oils, as those are mixed and contain inferior  ingredients (unless imported,  for example 100% validated olive oil from Italy)  or, preferably butter/clarified butter/animal derived fats for light frying, melted for adding in stuffing.
True Kefir/yogurt blended with fresh/frozen fruits.
Watermelon, pears and other low acid fruits

Well... There are more but that's it for now LOL
Wishing "The post-surgery body" to get well and to you too

I would like to add that a bean and vegetable soup would be great made with the bone broth.

To me the most important foods would be beans and prunes for that dreaded constipation.

And fruit juice would be an added pleasure in addition to lots of water.

Here are some threads about good soups:

https://permies.com/t/135866/Favorite-Soup

https://permies.com/t/132586/unexpected-joy-perfectly-blended-soups

https://permies.com/t/5898/Thirteen-Bean-Soup-Hot-water

https://permies.com/t/208006/Simplest-Soup

I'm supporting a friend of mine through surgery this week, and one surprising thing recommended by the nursing staff is to make sure to drink coffee after meals.

Small doses of caffeine help restart the digestive system (made sluggish by anesthesia and opioids) and ensure healthy bowel movements without having to rely on laxatives. This goes against much of the advice that was traditionally recommended post-surgery, but scientific evidence shows that post-surgery coffee improves outcomes (faster bowel  movements, less headaches for habitual coffee drinkers, faster return to home).

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34959946/
https://healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/health-library/all/2017/04/cup-of-coffee-after-surgery-may-get-you-home-faster

It might depend on the surgery in question - coffee is probably not appropriate for surgeries involving the digestive track, or for patients who don't tolerate coffee well generally. But for most patients, it seems to have more positives than negatives.

They also recommended going a high protein diet prior to surgery, going back to a normal diet with sufficient protein and lots of fluids as soon as one could tolerate it, and to start sitting up and moving around as soon as possible (starting with leg motion right after surgery, and supported standing on day 0).

I think that's part of a general trend away from keeping people fasting, hooked up on IVs and in bed for a long time.