Post-appendictis diet

Question
Hello Doctor Zilberter,

My father had an appendictis done last Tuesday. The surgery was a little complicated because the location of the appendix was different from the usual (therefore, he had a long cut rather than laparoscopy). Now it's Monday the next week and he is back home from the hospital.

I have a question concerning his diet. Is there a special one he should use? He has not been given any directions at the hospital, but while there he was fed according to what the orderlies called "the liver diet", and he was not allowed to eat fresh apples. I understand he should avoid flatulent and poorly digestible foods, but I'd really wish to know something more. How about meats (he was given poultry), fruit and vegetables? Should there be a diet, how long should he keep it?

I'm really very thankful for your interest and am looking forward to your answer.

Yours sincerelly,
Bartek S.

Answer
Dear Bartek,

It's a good idea to have several small meals and snacks during the day, rather than a few larger meals. To avoid intestinal over-stretching, it's best not to drink very much with your meal or to take drinks separately from meals. The diet should gradually move from liquid foods (your father is already advanced beyond this phase) to pureed cooked foods with decreased fiber content.

I know of a specifically after-surgery dish that seldom causes any discomfort: cream of wheat cooked in chicken broth. The consistency should be closer to cream soup than to regular hot cereal. Baked apples, skins removed can be tried as well as all kinds of fresh-squeezed, boiled, mild juices, e.g. fresh-squeezed cranberry juice diluted in water 1:4, and skim milk -- all thickened with little potato starch in the end of boiling.

Pureed chicken should be OK. Try omelets made of 1 egg whisked with 1" cup yogurt, a pinch of baking soda, and a pinch of salt. Microwave on high for 2 min. Alternatively, add a little bit of cooked lean ground beef or chicken, or a tablespoonfull of cream cheese.

Next phase is soft regular foods. Experiment with your father's favorites starting with very small portions.

I wish your dad get well soon,

Tanya Zilberter, PhD  

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