Advice after your nerve block for surgery
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Introduction
After fundoplication surgery it is possible that you may experience:
- a sore throat
- difficulty swallowing
- abdominal bloating and discomfort after eating
These symptoms tend to last between two to six weeks.
Immediately after the surgery your doctor will ask you to follow a fluid diet. As you start to feel better you can progress to a soft diet.
The information in this leaflet will help you to make the best food and drink choices. The diet will help to reduce swallowing problems, pain and gas production.
It can take several weeks before you are able to eat and drink as you did prior to the surgery. Everybody will vary in their speed of recovery.
It is essential that you contact your doctor if you experience any of the following:
- a fever
- an unusual degree of pain
- inability to eat a few days after surgery
- losing weight very quickly
Important Points
- Try to eat and drink slowly
- Eat soft and moist foods
- Chew your food well
- Sip fluids when eating solid food
- Avoid very hot or cold drinks
- Sit upright when eating and for 30 minutes after eating
- Eat six to eight small meals a day to avoid feeling too full
To limit gas production:
- avoid fizzy drinks for four weeks
- avoid chewing gum
- do not use a drinking straw
- avoid vegetables that give you gas
Fluids (first 24 hours after surgery)
After the operation you will be able to have fluids only. You will initially be given clear fluids and progress on to full fluids.
At this time, it is advisable to choose nutritious drinks. Examples of nourishing drinks include fortified milk, milkshakes, smoothies, strained soups, yoghurt and fruit juices.
Soft Diet
Once you are able to eat you will need to follow a soft diet (for approximately four to six weeks). For the first two weeks this diet should be very sloppy and moist, progressing to soft foods that can be easily mashed with a fork. A blender or food processor can be used to ensure foods are of a soft consistency.
A table of foods to include and avoid is provided on the following page. Try and include a variety of foods from the four main food groups:
- Cereals
- Meat, fish and eggs
- Dairy
- Vegetables and fruit
| Foods to include on a soft diet |
|
Meat Well-cooked tender meat minced or ground and served with gravy |
|
Fish Poached fish (remove all bones), or flaked fish in sauce e.g. parsley sauce, cheese sauce, soft fish pie with mashed potato topping |
|
Dairy Grated cheese, cream cheese, cottage cheese and cheese spread Milky drinks and milk-based sauces (preferably full fat milk) |
|
Eggs Scrambled, poached or boiled egg. Omelette (if well chewed), egg mayonnaise (if well mashed and smooth) |
|
Pulses Well-cooked soft lentils, beans or peas especially those in soups and casseroles |
|
Soups Creamed soups, fortified soups |
|
Pasta and rice Small pasta shapes, well cooked in lots of sauce Well cooked rice, risotto and rice pudding |
|
Cereals Milky porridge, ready brek, soggy cereal e.g. weetabix soaked in milk |
|
Bread None |
|
Vegetables Well-cooked or canned e.g. carrots, swede Vegetables in soups, sauces and stews |
|
Fruit Stewed fruit e.g. apple, pear Soft fresh fruit e.g. bananas or peaches Non-citrus fruit juices e.g. apple, grape or cranberry |
|
Miscellaneous Cooking oil, margarine, sugar, jelly, smooth condiments |
| Foods to avoid on a soft diet |
|
X Meat Dry meat, tough meat and gristle, crackling |
|
X Fish Fish with bones Fish in crispy batter or breadcrumbs |
|
X Dairy Lumps of hard cheese, grilled cheese toppings Dairy products containing hard pieces e.g. nuts, dried fruit |
|
X Eggs Fried egg |
|
X Pulses Undercooked beans or peas such as those in salads |
|
X Soups Soups containing large/hard lumps |
|
X Pasta and rice Wild rice |
|
X Cereals Hard fibrous cereals e.g. Al bran, shredded wheat, museli |
|
X Bread Any type of bread, toast and dough-based foods e.g. chapatti, pizza, tea cakes, crumpets etc |
|
X Vegetables Green salad, raw vegetables, vegetables with tough shells e.g. peas and sweetcorn, stringy vegetables e.g. celery, cabbage, gas producing vegetables e.g. cabbage, onion, brussel sprouts |
|
X Fruit Hard fruits, skins of fruit, dried fruit, seeds and pips, acidic fruit e.g. citrus fruit |
|
X Miscellaneous Hard sweets, toffees, popcorn, crisps |
Suitable Meal and Snack Ideas
Breakfast
- Ready Brek or Oats So Simple
- Porridge made with milk (and honey)
- Weetabix with plenty of milk
- Soft scrambled egg or mashed up baked beans with plenty of tomato sauce
- Apple juice
- Smoothie
Mid-morning and afternoon snacks
- Yoghurt
- Mousse
- Fruit puree or soft fruit (ripe banana, stewed apple or pear)
Meals
- Minced meat or chicken with gravy/ sauce on mashed potato
- Shepherd’s pie
- Braised meat, chopped up into small pieces and well cooked with gravy
- Fish in sauces (ensuring bone free)
- Soft scrambled eggs
- Omelettes with cheese
- Soufflés
- Pasta dishes with lots of sauce
- Pureed homemade soup with meat/pulses
Puddings
- Milk jelly
- Mousses
- Soft fruits (ripe banana)
- Full fat yoghurts
- Milk puddings
- Egg custard
- Crème caramel
- Instant whip
- Milk shakes
- Fromage frais
- Stewed fruit with custard or cream
Normal Diet
After four to six weeks, you should feel able to progress on to a more normal diet.
If you have any concerns, please contact your doctor or dietitian.
What to do if You Lose Weight
It is usual to lose approximately 3kg (½ a stone) following this procedure.
If weight loss continues after six weeks, please contact your doctor or dietitian.
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Dietetics service.
About this information
Service:
Dietetics
Reference:
DT/066
Approval date:
31 October 2023
Review date:
30 October 2026
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.