What fruits can a child eat after appendicitis? Diet after removal of appendicitis in adults: several rules for creating a therapeutic diet

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Table of contents

General provisions

After removal appendicitis As with other surgeries, the patient must make some changes to his lifestyle. The purpose of such actions is to prevent postoperative complications. The nature of the changes is determined by the type of operation performed, the age of the patient and his general health indicators before the operation.

The actions that the patient should take after appendicitis are:

physical activity in the first week;
dietary food;
special way of life.

Physical activity in the first week after appendicitis

After removal of the appendix, it is recommended to perform special exercises to prevent possible complications after surgery. Physical therapy (physical therapy) helps prevent the development of pneumonia, thrombophlebitis, constipation, and increased gas formation. Also, the goals of exercise therapy include improving the general condition of the patient and stimulating regenerative processes. Special physical activity is especially necessary for elderly patients, as they are more likely to experience complications. You should start doing some exercises soon after the anesthesia wears off.

Exercises on the first day after surgery

After the anesthesia is completed, the patient is taught to painlessly turn onto his healthy (left) side. To minimize pain, you need to rest your feet on the bed, bending your legs for comfort. Then, focusing on your feet and elbows, lift your pelvis and turn it to the left side. After this, you should alternately move your legs to this side. Then, placing emphasis on your elbow, you need to lift your right shoulder off the bed. By performing all movements one at a time and slowly, the patient will reduce pain to a minimum when turning over to one side.
Classes on the first day are performed by the patient in a supine position. They should be started 2–3 hours after completion of anesthesia. The complex consists of 5 exercises, the duration of which should be from 3 to 5 minutes. The complex should be repeated 3-4 times daily.

Exercises for the first day after surgery are:

rotation of the feet and their flexion, first alternately, then together;
bringing and spreading the fingers together - first, in turn on the right and left hands, then together on both;
while inhaling, the patient should bend his arms at the elbows and bring them to the shoulders, while exhaling, lower them along the body;
with an inhalation, you need to raise your hands and reach towards your knees, and lower them with an exhalation;
As you inhale, the pelvis should be raised, and as you exhale, lowered; your legs should be bent at the knees and spread to shoulder width.

Exercises on days 2–3 after surgery

Gymnastics at this stage is carried out from a sitting position. In most cases, if the appendicitis was removed using laparoscopy, you can get up the next day. If abdominal surgery has been performed, it is possible to take a sitting position and stand on your feet after 1–2 days. To sit down, the patient must turn to his side, place his hands on the bed, and bring his knees over the edge of the bed. Then you need to lower your legs to the floor and push off with your elbow to sit down.

Exercises for days 2 and 3 after surgery (done while sitting) are:

As you inhale, bring your hands to your shoulders, as you exhale, lower them;
while inhaling, bring your arms forward, while exhaling, bring them through the sides to your knees;
as you inhale, your arms are moved to the sides, as you exhale, your hands are placed on your knees, and your body leans forward;
rotation of the head clockwise, tilting the head left and right;
while inhaling, the patient needs to raise his arms up and reach for them with his body, protruding the chest forward; while exhaling, he should relax and take a comfortable position.

There are also a number of exercises that are performed from a standing position. The first attempts to stand on your feet should be made under the supervision of medical personnel or relatives who will help you maintain your balance. After 5–10 times, the patient can begin to stand up without assistance, using a chair or bedside table for support.

Exercises for days 2 and 3 after surgery (done standing) are:

bring your hands to your shoulders and make rotational movements forward, then back;
make circular movements with your pelvis, keeping your hands on your belt and without straining your abdominal muscles;
you should sit on a chair and, while inhaling, spread your arms and legs to the sides, while exhaling, bring your legs together, and place your hands on your knees.

When performing any of the exercises, the patient is recommended to wear a special bandage or support belt. The bandage will help prevent deformation of the postoperative suture. In addition to exercises on days 2 and 3, the patient is recommended to walk around the ward. You need to start walking gradually, first using the headboard or other furniture as support.

Exercises from 4 to 7 days after surgery

All exercises of this period are performed standing with feet shoulder-width apart. During exercise, you should control your breathing, inhaling during physical effort and exhaling when relaxing.

Exercises from days 4 to 7 are:

circular movements with the arms (arms bent at the elbows are brought to the shoulders);
movements of the torso left and right (hands on the belt);
rotation of the pelvis in a circle (hands on the belt);
alternate bending and extension of the legs at the knees (palms behind the head);
you need to sit on a chair and get up from it (hands on your belt).

Diet after appendectomy

The diet in this case has 2 goals. The first is to ensure the most gentle effect on parts of the digestive tract. The second is the restoration of lost energy and physical resources after surgery. The entire period of patient recovery in medical practice is divided into three stages (first, second, third). Each stage has separate recommendations for the diet and a list of products that need to be included or excluded from the menu.

What to eat after appendectomy?

The first stage lasts from 1 to 7 days after the operation. For the first 12 hours, the patient must refrain from eating and drinking plenty of fluids. During this period, lips are moistened with a damp cloth, and in case of severe thirst, you are allowed to drink 30 - 50 milliliters of clean water without gases. Over the next 12 hours (unless prohibited by the doctor), the patient is given weak chicken broth or unsweetened fruit jelly. In the next week, feeding a person whose appendix has been removed is carried out according to strict rules and in accordance with the list of permitted and unauthorized products.

Products that can be included in the menu at the first stage include:

cereals – rice, buckwheat, oatmeal;
fruits – apples;
vegetables - pumpkin, zucchini, broccoli, carrots;
meat – chicken, turkey;
fish - hake, pollock, cod.

Despite significant restrictions in choice, the patient's diet should be varied. So, the daily menu must include all types of permitted products. They must be prepared and eaten in accordance with a number of rules.

The nutritional rules for the first rehabilitation period are:

The first meal in the postoperative period is allowed after the first bowel movement. As a rule, this happens on the second day after surgery. For the first meal, the best option would be chicken fillet crushed to a puree in an amount of no more than 50 grams.
For 2 and 3 days, rice cooked in water, oatmeal jelly, and broths made from lean chicken are also allowed.
Starting from day 4, permitted fruits and vegetables are gradually introduced into the menu to provide the body with dietary fiber (fiber). They should be consumed after being boiled or processed in the oven.
To compensate for the carbohydrate deficiency, the diet from days 4 to 7 is supplemented with porridges from permitted cereals, which are boiled in water. Porridges should be well boiled.
Boiled meat and fish should be consumed in small quantities (no more than 50 grams per day). These products will make up for the lack of protein in the body.
All food consumed by the patient during the first period of rehabilitation should be in the form of a paste. To do this, ready-made products are crushed using a blender or meat grinder.
The food temperature should be medium, as too hot or cold food can cause irritation of the gastrointestinal tract.
All dishes are prepared without salt, pepper and other spices.
The patient should eat every 2 to 3 hours. The volume of food for one meal should fit in the palm of your hand folded into a ladle (approximately 100 grams).
A prerequisite for a postoperative diet is to drink enough fluids. The total daily volume of fluid should be at least 1.5 liters. It is necessary to replenish the recommended norm with broths and clean still water. Pure water is drunk half an hour before meals or an hour and a half after a meal.

Prohibited Products
To prevent inflammatory processes and to ensure a gentle effect on the gastrointestinal tract in the first seven days after surgery, you should refrain from any sour, salty, sweet foods. For the same purpose, strong rich broths, smoked, dried, fried or baked products are excluded. You should not consume products that can lead to increased gas formation (any legumes, milk and any products made from it, white cabbage). You should also exclude flour products of any type, as they lead to constipation. Sauces such as mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard are excluded. Alcohol and any carbonated drinks are strictly prohibited. Prohibited products also include any food products that are not on the list of permitted ones.

Nutrition after appendicitis removal at the second stage of rehabilitation

The second stage lasts from 7 to 14 days and is characterized by an increase in the activity of all body systems. Therefore, the list of permitted products is supplemented with some items and, accordingly, the list of prohibited dishes changes.

Permitted products and rules of the second stage
Starting from day 7, it is necessary to gradually increase the daily volume of liquid so that by the end of the second stage it reaches two liters. At the same time, you can replenish the norm not only with clean water, but also with some drinks. Gradually, observing the body's reaction, weak black or green tea, chamomile and rose hip decoctions are introduced into the diet. Also, no more than 150 milliliters per day of juices from vegetables and fruits is allowed. By juice we mean drinks prepared independently using a juicer. Industrial juices contain large amounts of sugar and preservatives, which are not allowed during this period. Fresh juice (freshly squeezed juice) can be prepared from pumpkin, carrots, apples, celery.
The basic diet of the second rehabilitation period is based on the rules of the first stage with some additions.

Additions to the second stage diet are:

The volume of a single serving is gradually increased to 150 grams.
The emphasis in the daily menu is on vegetables, of which there should be at least 300 grams. Advantage should be given to carrots, zucchini and pumpkin, as they prevent constipation.
The list of permitted vegetables and fruits is supplemented by potatoes and peaches. They should be consumed no more than 100 grams per day in boiled form. Towards the end of the second period, beets are introduced into the diet. Any vegetables are not consumed on an empty stomach, but after porridge or a meat dish.
The list of meat products includes lean veal. In addition to meat broths, steamed cutlets or souffles are prepared. The same dishes are prepared from lean fish.
Gradually, in the second stage, some dairy products should be introduced. This can be low-fat cottage cheese, natural yogurt, unsweetened cheese masses.
If there is no constipation, you are allowed to eat one boiled egg per day. You can also eat steamed omelettes.
Soups made from vegetables, cereals, meat or fish are added to broths and porridge-like dishes.

When introducing a new product or increasing the portion, it is necessary to monitor the patient's condition. If he develops vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation, all dietary changes should be discontinued.

Products that are excluded from the menu at the second stage include:

bread (white, rye, bran);
crackers, crackers;
peas, lentils, beans;
hard cheeses, feta cheese, tofu (soy cheese);
milk, kefir, fermented baked milk, cream;
sauces and salad dressings;
meat with a high fat content;
any sausages, even dietary ones;
fish of medium and high fat content;
dumplings and other semi-finished products;
pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers;
pickles and marinades;
coffee, cocoa, chocolate;
baked goods and other confectionery products;
industrial juices, carbonated drinks;
any alcohol.

Some experts recommend including dried bread or crackers in the menu at this stage. These products can be included in the diet if the patient does not have constipation, which is a common occurrence after removal of the appendix of the cecum.

What can you eat after appendicitis at the final stage?

The third, final stage begins on the 15th day after surgery and lasts 3 to 4 weeks. The diet of the second stage is taken as a basis, which is gradually expanded by adding new products and dishes. The portion size is also increased to 200 - 300 grams.

The changes that are made to the menu at the third stage are:

Leafy greens and leafy salads (parsley, dill, iceberg, lettuce, arugula, spinach) are added to the vegetables. Mushrooms (champignons, honey mushrooms, saffron milk caps), any cabbage, and cucumbers are also allowed. Vegetables that can be eaten raw, closer to the end of the third stage, do not need to be subjected to heat treatment (except for cabbage).
The list of fruits is supplemented by citrus fruits (limitedly), strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, which can be eaten fresh. Dried fruits (prunes, dried apricots, figs) are allowed.
Meat products include lean beef, rabbit, and turkey. By-products are consumed in small quantities - liver, heart, tongue. It is better to use beef or chicken by-products. Steamed or boiled meatballs and cutlets are prepared from meat and offal. You can also bake whole pieces of meat without allowing a crust to form. In addition to natural meat, the menu may include low-fat boiled sausages (doctor's sausage, chicken sausages, boiled ham).
Gradually, medium-fat fish (mackerel, tuna, pink salmon, herring, herring) are being introduced into the menu. The fish is used to prepare steaks (baked on the grill or in the oven), cutlets or soufflé. You can also prepare fish broth for fish soup or other first courses.
Kefir, butter, skim milk, processed cheese, low-fat sour cream, and sweet cheeses are added to the permitted dairy and fermented milk products.
Wheat, millet and pearl barley are added to the cereals. In addition to boiled porridges made with water, crumbly porridges made with milk and seasoned with butter are allowed.
Sweets that can be consumed at the final stage include honey, marmalade, and marshmallows. Fruit jellies are also allowed as dessert.
Among flour products, pasta, unsweetened dry biscuits, and dried bran bread are allowed.
Salads from vegetables, fish and meat are added to soups, cereals and pureed dishes. To dress salads, use vegetable oil, low-fat sour cream or yogurt. Various casseroles are prepared from cottage cheese, eggs, and pasta.

Products that should be limited at the last stage
Most products that were included in the category of prohibited products in the early stages, in the final period of rehabilitation, move into the group of those that must be consumed in limited quantities. They can be included in the diet in small volumes (no more than 30–50 grams) starting from 3 weeks.

Foods that should be consumed sparingly include:

hard cheeses, feta cheese;
fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, halibut, sprat);
white bread and other products made from wheat flour;
beans, peas and other legumes;
fruits and vegetables that were not allowed until now;
medium and high fat milk, cream;
coffee, chocolate, cocoa.

Meats with a high fat content, sweets and alcohol continue to be prohibited throughout the third stage.

Lifestyle after appendectomy

To minimize the negative consequences of surgery for appendicitis, the patient must adhere to a number of recommendations.

The rules for quick recovery after appendicitis are:

seam care;
temperature control;
wearing a bandage;
restrictions in sports;
refusal to lift heavy objects;
refusal of sex;
normalization of stool;
complete rest.

Suture care after appendicitis

Suture care is aimed at preventing possible complications and accelerating the process of regeneration of damaged tissue.

Seam care measures are:

dressings;
treatment with antiseptics;
control of possible complications.

Dressings
If a standard operation was performed, then the dressing is done every two days. After operations for appendicitis with peritonitis, drainage remains in the patient’s abdominal cavity. Therefore, in such cases, dressings are carried out daily. When removing appendicitis using the open method, there are 2 types of sutures - internal and external. External ones are removed 10–12 days after surgery. Internal sutures are made of special surgical material, which dissolves after 2 months. Until the postoperative sutures are removed, the patient is not allowed to take a shower or other water procedures.

Treatment with antiseptics
After the sutures are removed, the body is often left with an incompletely healed scar that is not completely covered with epithelium. The wound is an “open door” for various infectious agents to enter the body. Therefore, even after removal of postoperative sutures, it is necessary to treat the skin damaged during surgery with antiseptic solutions.

Treatment of an unhealed scar is carried out until all the crusts disappear from its surface. The procedure is carried out after taking a shower (bathing is strictly prohibited for 2 - 3 weeks after removal of stitches). Hydrogen peroxide (3 percent) and Castellani liquid can be used as an antiseptic. It is recommended to refrain from using iodine, brilliant green and other solutions that stain tissue, because the patient may not pay attention to the onset of inflammation. To speed up regeneration, you can also use ointments or emulsions that contain panthenol or levomekol. Ethnomedicine suggests treating the wound after surgery with sea buckthorn or milk thistle oil.

Monitoring possible complications
A common complication after appendix removal is suture dehiscence. This may occur due to increased physical activity, improper care, or the patient’s weak immunity. In addition to suture separation, an inflammatory process may begin in the suture area due to an infiltrated infection. The sooner treatment is carried out, the less negative impact the developed complications will have on the body. Therefore, the patient needs to inspect the wound daily and if any symptoms of inflammation or suture dehiscence are detected, consult a doctor.

Symptoms of complications after appendicitis are:

bloody and/or purulent discharge appears from the wound;
a swelling has formed in the suture area;
the skin on the wound turned red;
pain in the suture area persists 10–12 days after surgery.

Temperature control after appendicitis

Fever after appendix removal is common. In some cases, an increase in body temperature is a natural reaction of the body to surgery. The duration of this phenomenon and its features largely depend on the type of operation performed. Various pathological processes that are complications after surgery can also provoke a high temperature. Therefore, the patient needs to systematically monitor body temperature and, if necessary, consult a doctor.

Temperature after laparoscopy
Removal of the appendix by laparoscopy occurs with minimal negative consequences for the patient. After such operations, the temperature rarely rises. If this happens, it fluctuates at 37 degrees and goes away in 2 to 3 days.

Temperature after abdominal surgery
Removing the appendix using the open method, like any other abdominal surgery, is stressful for the body. Often after such operations, patients are worried about increased temperature, which can reach 37 - 38 degrees. This physiological reaction can last from 3 to 5 days. Then the temperature begins to gradually decrease and returns to normal within a few days.

Temperature after purulent appendicitis
With this type of appendicitis, patients experience high body temperature even before surgery. Removal of the appendix and purulent contents is accompanied by a high degree of tissue damage and blood loss. Therefore, most often after operations for purulent appendicitis, the patient remains at a high body temperature, which can reach 38 - 39 degrees. It is often accompanied by increased sweating and chills. If the patient’s recovery occurs without complications, his condition returns to normal within 3 to 5 days. In some cases, after phlegmonous appendicitis, the patient remains at low-grade fever (37 degrees) for up to 10 days.

If a patient is given drainage after surgery, in most cases the immune system reacts to this with an increase in temperature. In such cases, normalization of body temperature occurs after removal of the drainage.

When should you see a doctor?
You should consult a doctor because of an elevated temperature if it lasts more than 10 days (regardless of the type of surgery you underwent). You should not try to eliminate this problem on your own using antipyretic drugs. A fever that persists for such a long time, even in the absence of other symptoms, is in most cases a sign of infection. Therefore, it is necessary to eliminate the root cause, and not its consequence, which only a doctor can do.

Another case in which you should consult a doctor is a sudden increase in temperature a few days after surgery. So, the temperature rises to 37 - 38 degrees on the 5th - 7th day after surgery in case of purulent inflammation. At the same time, seals are formed in the seam area.
When the temperature rises on the 8th - 10th day and reaches 38 - 40 degrees, there is a high probability of an abdominal abscess. In this case, the patient experiences severe abdominal pain and chills.

Wearing a bandage after appendicitis

After surgery, patients are advised to wear a bandage (tight bandage). This advice is especially relevant for people who are overweight. The bandage ensures the integrity of postoperative sutures and helps prevent adhesions, hernia and other complications. In addition, wearing a bandage can reduce pain, irritation and stretch marks on the skin.

Types of bandages
The most common type of bandage is a wide belt made of thick material that wraps around the waist. This type of bandage is the best option, since it covers the largest part of the abdomen, while relieving the load from the back and abdominal cavity. In addition to waist models, there are also bandages in the form of high-waisted panties. There are also bandages in the form of elastic shorts with a high waistband. Models in the form of panties or shorts are more comfortable to wear in the cold season.

In addition to the shape, the bandage can also differ in the material from which it is made. The best choice is cotton headbands with the addition of synthetic fibers. Such bandages fit tightly to the body, but at the same time allow the skin to breathe and do not pinch or squeeze internal organs. There are also bandages made of rubberized fabric, which are rigid and recommended for obese patients.

The bandage is secured with Velcro, lacing or ties. When purchasing, it is recommended to try on the product to make sure that it fits well on your figure, and that the fixing elements do not irritate the skin and the seam area.

Rules for wearing a bandage
The bandage, regardless of the model and material from which it is made, is not intended for constant wear. The period during which it must be worn depends on the nature of the operation performed and the general condition of the patient. On average, after removal of appendicitis, the bandage is worn for 2–3 weeks. Immediately after the operation, the product is worn during the day and removed only before bed. During the rehabilitation period, the patient needs to wear a bandage only when he is busy with housework or other types of physical activity.

Avoiding heavy lifting after appendicitis

Immediately after removal of appendicitis and over the next 2 to 3 months, the patient should not lift objects that weigh more than 3 kilograms. If a standard (without complications) operation was performed and there are no complications, then after the specified period the restriction is canceled. After complicated operations (appendicitis with peritonitis), the restriction on lifting weights is extended for several more months, during which the patient should not lift weights that weigh more than 5 kilograms. It is necessary to adhere to the same recommendations for those patients whose postoperative sutures were difficult to heal or had any complications.

In the future, for six months, all patients should refrain from lifting anything weighing more than 10 kilograms.
It should be noted that not all patients are able to consistently follow recommendations for avoiding heavy lifting. Often a person cannot visually determine how much his luggage weighs and therefore violates the necessary restrictions. To minimize possible risks, if you plan to lift bags, suitcases or other heavy objects, the patient should first put on a bandage.

Restrictions in sports after appendicitis

Limiting physical activity during the recovery period is necessary in order to prevent suture dehiscence and hernia formation. Limiting does not mean completely giving up any physical activity. To return all the resources expended during the operation, the patient must engage in work or sports activities, choosing the type of load appropriate to his condition.

7 to 10 days after surgery, it is recommended to start daily walks in the fresh air. The duration of walks should be at least 30 minutes. Staying in the fresh air strengthens the immune system, and physical efforts contribute to the rapid healing of the postoperative suture.
A walk can be combined with simple exercises that do not involve the abdominal muscles. This can be lateral bending of the torso, flexion-extension of the arms and legs.
After a month, if you feel well, you can start some sports. Patients are allowed to swim in the pool, perform aerobics in water, and practice walking.
You should start taking up more active sports (football, volleyball) after 3 months.
Strength training (using dumbbells, weights, barbells) is allowed six months after surgery.
Before returning to any sports activities, you must obtain permission from your doctor.
If your health worsens, sports activities should be stopped.

Refusal of sex after appendicitis

For 2 weeks after surgery for appendicitis, a person should abstain from sexual activity. During sex, blood pressure jumps, and the heart begins to work at an accelerated rate. This can cause overstrain of the abdominal muscles and the development of various complications. The most likely consequences if this recommendation is not followed is a hernia or suture dehiscence. In addition to tension in the abdominal muscles during sex, pressure is placed on the suture area, which inhibits its healing.

Normalization of stool after appendicitis

Many patients experience bowel problems after surgery. This problem is contributed to by limited physical activity, impaired intestinal motility due to surgery, and other factors. Most often, disorders manifest themselves as constipation, the duration of which can reach 7–10 days. The main methods of combating this phenomenon are diet, self-massage of the abdomen and feasible physical activity.

Laxatives
If stool does not come for a long time, the doctor may prescribe a laxative. Such drugs are prescribed in exceptional cases, as they reduce intestinal tone. Some laxatives work by absorbing water from the body, which is not desirable after surgery. The best option is glycerin suppositories, which have a local laxative effect and have minimal side effects.
In addition to pharmacological drugs, there are folk remedies for normalizing stool. If constipation is short-lived, decoctions of chamomile, prunes, and wheat bran can help.

Complete rest

After any surgical intervention, even minimally invasive (low-traumatic) laparoscopy, the human immune system becomes more vulnerable. Weak immunity impedes recovery and can cause postoperative complications. Also, after removal of appendicitis, the functionality of the nervous system is often disrupted due to concerns about health and work. Restrictions (in sports, sex, food) that must be observed after surgery also have a negative impact on a person’s emotional state.

One of the effective ways to support the nervous and immune systems is a healthy night's sleep. The absence of sleep problems allows the body to recover at night, which has a positive effect on the mental and physical state of the patient. Following some recommendations will help you organize healthy sleep.

Among the rules for healthy sleep are the following:

The recommended daily walks are best done before bed;
two hours before going to bed, you should refuse to eat, and the last meal should include light foods (vegetables, fruits, dairy products);
You should go to bed between 22 and 23 hours, as this corresponds to human biological rhythms;
the optimal time for waking up in the morning is from 5 to 6 o'clock;
the absence of a mechanical ticking clock or a clock with an electronic display in the bedroom will allow you not to control the time and fall asleep faster;
the air in the room should be fresh; for this, the room must be ventilated before going to bed, and in the warm season the window must be left open.

Before use, you should consult a specialist.

Acute appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix located in the large intestine. The disease occurs in several stages and can result in rupture of the appendix, which is fraught with the development of peritonitis - inflammation of the peritoneum. The chronic process is characterized by periods of exacerbation that repeat from time to time.

An inflammatory process in the appendix can occur in the following situations: when pyogenic bacteria enter the hematogenous or lymphatic route, ingestion of fruit seeds or small parts of toys, as well as inflammation caused by undigested food that blocks the intestinal lumen. In addition, if you consume seeds with the shell, this can lead to blockage of the lumen of the appendage.

The main symptom of appendicitis is severe pain, which first spreads throughout the abdomen and then descends to the right iliac region. The pain intensifies when coughing, sneezing, or raising the leg. Along with this, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea appear, and body temperature rises.

If appendicitis is suspected, the patient is taken to the hospital for examination. The only treatment method is surgery. There are two ways to remove the appendix: the traditional open method or using a laparoscope.

Currently, laparoscopic appendectomy is becoming increasingly popular for the treatment of both adults and children. During the procedure, the inflamed appendage is removed through three small punctures. In this case, the recovery time is significantly shorter compared to traditional surgery.

But the treatment process does not end there; the duration of the rehabilitation period depends on how you eat after an appendectomy. What will happen if, immediately after surgery to remove the appendix, you start eating your usual food? This threatens the divergence of the intestinal sutures, which, in turn, will lead to the penetration of intestinal contents into the abdominal cavity and the development of the inflammatory process.

Important! For a child, laparoscopic endoscopy is a good alternative to traditional surgery.

The most difficult and, perhaps, important thing is the first day after surgery. During this period, the patient is prohibited from eating or even drinking. This is due to the fact that the body must spend all its resources on recovery. If you are very thirsty, you can wet your lips with water. So, what can you eat after an appendectomy and what can you not? How long should the diet last? These and many other questions will be answered in this article.

After an appendectomy, it is important to follow the diet prescribed by your doctor.

What is the essence of the diet for appendicitis?

Diet after appendectomy includes the following tasks:

gentle treatment of the digestive tract;
normalization of metabolism;
providing the body with necessary nutrients;
increased immune strength;
acceleration of recovery processes.

The daily diet of a person after surgery should have less energy value. This mainly happens by reducing the amount of carbohydrates, and also partly fats and proteins.

Let's consider the basic principles of nutrition for appendicitis:

fractional meals. Meals should include small portions 5-6 times a day. This is extremely important during the recovery period, since the patient is in bed rest and therefore peristalsis is weakened. Moreover, small meals will prevent the seams from coming apart;
food should be steamed or boiled. On the first day after surgery, all food should be consumed in liquid or semi-liquid form. Later, you can eat solid foods in the form of slimy porridges, soufflés and purees;
expansion of the diet should occur gradually;
The temperature of the food should be comfortably warm. Hot and cold food negatively affects the condition of intestinal sutures;
sufficient consumption of natural water. The liquid will help remove toxins from the body and speed up the healing process;
limiting table salt. It retains fluid, impairs microcirculation in the wound and, as a result, prolongs the rehabilitation period.

The menu in the first days after surgery should include liquid and semi-liquid dishes. What restrictions are imposed in the first three days after surgery? What can you eat during the first week after an appendectomy, as well as during the month?

First three days

The first day is the period of recovery of the body after general anesthesia. Usually at this time patients have no appetite. After 24 hours and subject to normal health, it is allowed to give a small amount of low-fat chicken broth, rice water or fruit jelly.

In the future, the patient can be given potato, pumpkin or zucchini puree, boiled rice, homemade yogurt and boiled chicken breast, only it should be wiped before use.

On the second day, low-fat chicken broth is allowed

First week

After three days, the diet consists of liquid porridges and soups. Meat is also allowed, but preference is given to chicken breast. Chicken is a dietary product and is well absorbed by the body. Also, do not forget about fermented milk products, which populate the intestines with beneficial bacteria and help you recover faster after surgery.

Important! The ideal fruit after appendectomy is bananas.

First month

You should continue to eat liquid and pureed food for a month. Vegetables for making soups must be passed through a blender. To prepare main courses, vegetables can be boiled and stewed. To prepare porridge, you need to mix water and milk in equal portions.

For those with a sweet tooth, marshmallows, honey and dried fruits are allowed. You will have to give up confectionery and chocolate for a while. You can gradually introduce berries and fruits into your diet, but it is better to avoid grapes, pears and nectarines. After a month of dietary nutrition, you can return to your usual diet.

A week after the operation, you are allowed to eat porridge, soups, and fermented milk products.

Nutrition for appendiceal infiltrate

This complication can develop on the third or fourth day after the onset of the disease. The infiltrate is a fixed compaction that causes severe pain upon palpation. The patient's condition worsens, body temperature rises greatly, and paroxysmal pain appears in the navel area. There are two possible directions for the development of events: the infiltrate resolves without complications or a purulent process occurs.

With a calm appendiceal infiltrate, surgery may not be performed. The patient is prescribed strict bed rest. One of the main conditions for treatment is adherence to a diet that ensures the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT).

The following foods are allowed as part of the diet:

low-fat cottage cheese;
bananas;
mashed potatoes;
vegetarian soups with pureed vegetables;
fish souffle.

All food should be steamed. Canned foods, fatty foods, fried foods, semi-finished products, etc. should be excluded from the diet.

What can you eat with phlegmonous form?

Phlegmonous appendicitis is one of the stages of the inflammatory process. Purulent melting of the walls of the vermiform appendix of the colon occurs, but the integrity of the organ is not compromised. The phlegmonous stage is characterized by increased pain, nausea, weakness, and dry mouth.

On the first day after phlegmonous appendicitis, it is forbidden to eat and drink

Products should be consumed in soft, liquid and mushy form. What you can eat and what you cannot eat is decided by your doctor, and it is important to follow his recommendations. You should absolutely not eat solid food in the first days. If you don't know what's best to take to a hospital patient after an appendectomy, prepare mashed potatoes and low-fat broth. You can also buy low-fat kefir.

Diet after peritonitis

Peritonitis is a dangerous complication of appendicitis that can be fatal. Inflammation of the peritoneum causes unbearable pain in the abdomen. Sometimes patients may experience less pain, but this is an imaginary well-being, indicating that the receptors have become insensitive. The abdominal muscles tense, the stomach becomes hard as a board. A person develops cold sweat, reflex vomiting, and rapid pulse.

Important! For some time after peritonitis, patients are fed through a tube.

After the body has recovered, the person can eat food in the usual way. Two boiled soft-boiled eggs or a steam omelet are allowed per day. Preference is given to vegetables that do not contain coarse fiber. Dairy products should be low in fat. Dried bread is allowed. You can drink rosehip infusion.

To summarize, we can say that dietary nutrition after appendectomy is a prerequisite for a speedy recovery. On the first day, patients are not allowed to eat or drink. Over the next few days, a strict diet must be followed, the basis of which is liquid and semi-liquid food. You should follow the diet for a whole month, after which you can return to your usual diet.

The term “appendicitis” is used to mean inflammation of the appendix, which extends from the large intestine. If it is inflamed, then you begin to feel acute pain in this area. At the same time, the temperature rises significantly, accompanied by intestinal upset. After surgery, you need a post-appendectomy diet that will help tone your body. The main principle after eliminating appendicitis is to restore peristalsis and gradually and stepwise introduce foods into your usual diet.

What can you eat at the first stage?

Immediately after surgery you will hardly want to eat anything. However, it will be necessary to consume nutritious broth, which will help restore strength. It can be chicken or beef, which must be filtered during cooking so that it is not concentrated. If you don’t know what you can eat after appendicitis, then in this case, natural jelly prepared with a decoction of healing berries and fruits, as well as rice water and herbal sweet tea are suitable for you. Don't discount jelly either.

If the body satisfactorily accepts the liquid, then the doctor will notice a slight noise coming from the intestines. Now you can gradually introduce gentle nutrition.

In the first days, it is best to give preference to nutritious chicken broth, which makes it possible to quickly restore strength after surgery, and also affect tissue healing. In addition, stock up on yogurt, which somewhat relieves nausea - this is a diet after appendicitis that must be strictly adhered to.

In this case, we take into account natural yogurt, in which you will not find flavorings or dyes. Cottage cheese used in baby food is also suitable. Doctors around the world recommend eating pumpkin and zucchini, which are rich in unique vitamin A, which promotes healing. You can make fresh zucchini puree. Boiled carrots are also suitable for these purposes.

Gentle food for the stomach

It is very important that what you eat does not cause additional damage, but promotes healing. Therefore, you can give preference to boiled or baked potatoes. But take note that such food is prepared without adding vegetable fats, so as not to irritate the intestines. It is also recommended to give preference to boiled rice and chicken, processed in a slow cooker or steamed. Avoid eating foods that can cause gas.

The diet after appendicitis should be as effective as possible for wound healing and gentle. It is strictly forbidden to consume legumes such as peas and beans.

What should you not eat if you have appendicitis?

The list of prohibitions also includes legumes such as beans and peas, as well as milk, Chinese cabbage, white cabbage and broccoli. If your doctor allows it, you can add foods that are high in fiber to your diet.

For a while, give up smoked meats, even if you are very attracted to them, excessively salty foods, as well as fatty meats (lamb and pork). The top prohibitions include spicy and spicy foods, as well as soda, beloved by many.

Avoid fast foods, cakes and any other confectionery products.
This also includes cheeses.
Solid foods
Grapes, nectarine and pears
Baked milk
Spices

Such restrictions last for 2 weeks, after which you can switch to your usual diet

Nutrition for stool resumption and healing

After surgery, there are cases where the patient experienced constipation. In this case, a special diet after appendicitis removal, which is rich in plant fibers, will help you. This includes potatoes, dried fruits, as well as raspberries, strawberries, various vegetables (but not tomatoes) and rose hips, or its infusion. You should not overdo it with fiber, because it provokes the formation of gases. Please note that portions should be small, but you should eat as often as possible. Doctors recommend that the consistency of food resemble the texture of sour cream or porridge. Over time, it will be possible to grind the food less forcefully, but in all cases the food should be soft.

You can also include stewed porridges in your diet, as well as those that are steamed. It is highly recommended to drink some water half an hour before meals to help digest the meal. In addition, the diet after appendicitis also involves drinking water 1.5 hours after eating.

Sample menu for those who have recently experienced appendectomy

Load up on steamed vegetables and fruits, low-fat milk and cream
Lightly salted and low-fat broths, as well as puree soups
Some fermented milk products (low-fat natural yogurt, cottage cheese)
Low-fat fish and meat, which are mainly steamed.

Products that are very useful for these purposes also include zucchini, leeks and beets. As a first course, you can use vegetable decoctions. To prepare vegetables, you can first grind them in a blender or mash them properly. Now you can add a little water, salt in small quantities, and then add herbs. All dishes must be prepared without adding mayonnaise or any other sauces.

Therapeutic diet

Cereals such as oatmeal, buckwheat seasoned with vegetables, and rice are considered incredibly healthy. If your goal is to saturate the dish with essential microelements and vitamins, then you can eat cereal in combination with various non-prohibited vegetables. This approach to business helps the intestines restore the necessary balance. Immediately after the operation, you can drink restorative goat’s milk, but you should not let very cold or, conversely, hot foods get on your stomach and irritate it.

After a week of following the diet, you can eat various mushroom dishes, omelettes prepared with the addition of fish and vegetables, as well as pasta casseroles.

Alcohol consumption during rehabilitation

Under no circumstances should you drink alcohol until the external as well as internal stitches have healed properly.

After appendicitis, you must strictly follow a diet that will help you recover quickly.

Treatment of such an inflammatory disease as can only be surgical. A small appendix, adjacent to the large intestine and small intestine, is removed during surgery.

In the postoperative period, an important point is the restoration of intestinal motility, or the resumption of its usual natural movements. This can be achieved without compromising health only by following a diet, the main principle of which is the gradual addition of foods to the diet.

After removal of appendicitis, you should not eat large portions of food. Eat little by little, but often - every 2 - 3 hours.

Can I eat immediately after surgery?

It is not recommended to eat on the first day. But you can relieve nausea and discomfort by drinking clear liquids. Fruit and berry jelly, apple juice, warm tea, and low-fat broth are suitable for this purpose.

If after the first intake of liquid food no problems arise, and the doctor can hear a characteristic noise in the intestines, the mechanism for restoring intestinal function has started successfully. Now you can switch to soft dishes.

Mashed potatoes, boiled chicken, rice, bananas - these products should be gradually introduced into the diet of the operated patient after a couple of days. If such food has taken root in the body safely, the permitted products are expanded to include wheat bran, buckwheat, oatmeal with dried fruits, and sea fish.

The food consumed should not be too hot or cold. And you can wash it down with goat’s milk, kefir and yoghurt, the fat content of which does not exceed 2%.

Zucchini and pumpkin, rich in vitamin A, will help speed up the healing process after surgery. They are consumed in the form of a puree made from boiled vegetables.

Eating foods rich in fiber not only fills the body with useful substances, but also serves to prevent constipation, which can occur due to the patient’s lack of physical activity. But, despite the benefits of dietary fiber, you should not immediately introduce them into the diet in large quantities, since they can provoke increased gas formation.

Products prohibited for consumption after appendicitis removal

In the first 2–3 days after surgery, you should not eat food, even pureed foods, or drink milk. Next, for 2 - 3 weeks, restrictions are set on the consumption of fatty broths, carbonated drinks, dishes seasoned with spices, pickles and smoked meats.

All types of cabbage, meat dishes, fatty confectionery and varieties of cottage cheese, cheeses and fast foods should also be excluded from the diet. If there were no abnormalities in the digestive system in the postoperative period, the doctor removes dietary restrictions and recommends drinking about 10 glasses of water to prevent constipation. A month after the operation, you can begin light physical activity.

A medical diet after appendicitis removal solves two problems. First of all, it provides sparing of the digestive tract, which is necessary after surgery. In addition, the correct diet allows the postoperative wound to heal faster, and the patient to avoid sutures coming apart from mechanical pressure. The diet must be prescribed to patients in the postoperative period and must be followed exactly according to the doctor’s recommendations. The speed of rehabilitation after surgery is an individual indicator. In some people, the intestines resume peristaltic movements already on the first day, in others - a little later. One way or another, while there is no peristalsis, food cannot be consumed in the usual way. It is possible to prescribe nutritional mixtures in the form of a dropper, but not food or drink. But usually nutritional drips are avoided, since the patient does not have time to expend a large amount of energy, and the ability to eat is restored quickly enough. There is no normal appetite on the first day after surgery.

The first week of the diet after appendectomy

The first day after surgery is considered very important. As soon as natural peristalsis has resumed, the patient can be prescribed fluids. This is simple water in small quantities, as well as clear liquids - rice water, low-fat chicken broth and fruit compote with a low concentration of extractive substances. But the general rule is to refuse food in the first 12 hours after the intervention.

The second day is the beginning of the first stage of the postoperative diet. You can eat only when peristalsis has completely resumed and the natural discharge of intestinal gases has been restored. The main rule for the first three days after surgery is not to eat solid food. All products must be crushed to a puree or resemble the consistency of broth or jelly. This provides mechanical sparing of the digestive tract.

The following products are consumed from the second to the sixth day:

low-fat chicken soufflé. Boiled chicken is ground through a meat grinder with a small amount of broth;
mashed potatoes without adding large amounts of butter, cheese and eggs. Usually, patients are simply served mashed potatoes with a drop of milk;
rice water and viscous mashed rice porridge;
puree from boiled or steamed non-acidic vegetables - zucchini or pumpkin.

It is recommended to eat meals in small portions, eat every 2-3 hours, and drink separately, at least 30 minutes before starting a meal. The patient's condition is carefully monitored; if any dishes cause gas formation or pain in the intestines, they are removed, and the state of the gastrointestinal tract is examined.

At the very beginning of the rehabilitation period, the use of all substances that can irritate the gastrointestinal tract is prohibited. This list includes onions, garlic, all types of herbs and seasonings. Naturally, drinking tea or coffee is not recommended. Some sources indicate that as rehabilitation progresses, the doctor may allow the patient to drink very weak tea or rosehip decoction. But at the very beginning, the main drink is water.

Opinions also differed regarding kefir and yogurt. Foreign sources on rehabilitation after removal of appendicitis indicate that these drinks should be returned to the patient’s diet only from the second week after surgery. Previously, a rejection reaction and various digestive disorders are possible. Domestic sources are not so categorical and indicate that low-fat kefir and yogurt without adding dyes and starch are possible from the very first days.

Diet after appendectomy from 7 to 14 days

During this period, regenerative processes are active. Patients should not forget about the drinking regime. Usually, 1.5 liters of clean water per day is recommended while physical activity is limited. But in some sources you can also find a recommendation to increase free fluid to 2 liters per day. Unlike a regular diet, here it is recommended to drink water strictly separately, warmed to room temperature and very slowly, so as not to increase the mechanical load on the digestive organs.

Drinks are gradually returning to the diet. Usually, patients are recommended to use very weak tea, decoctions of rosehip and chamomile, also in low concentration. The question of taking chicory decoction should be decided strictly individually. Some doctors consider this drink a bad choice because it contains quite a lot of dietary fiber and therefore can interfere with digestion. Others believe that the same dietary fiber helps the gastrointestinal tract recover faster. So if you like chicory, consult your doctor.

Fruit and vegetable juices are allowed, but in small quantities, no more than 150 ml, and strictly without added sugar. Naturally sweet juices and mixtures are preferred - pumpkin, pumpkin-pear juice, and carrot juice.

Various fruits are returning to the diet. To prevent constipation, it is recommended to consume boiled carrots in an amount of at least 300 g per day, as well as stewed, baked and poached pumpkin. In addition, the diet may include baked or stewed zucchini. The main thing is not to season vegetables with traditional fatty sauces. If possible, any vegetable dishes should be pureed or puréed. In the second week, you still need to eat soft foods. You can eat potatoes, but not fried, and without cheese and creamy sauces. Usually mashed potatoes are made from new potatoes with a little water and milk. Towards the end of the week, beets may return to the diet, but in small quantities, and strictly in boiled form. It is not recommended to eat vegetables on an empty stomach; it is best to eat them after some protein or cereal dish.

Protein sources are not as varied. Chicken broths and souffles remain in the diet, and soufflés from lean beef and fish and steamed cutlets from these products are also added. Protein portions should be small, no more than 120 g of product yield. Opinions differed regarding sausages and sausages. Older sources from the Soviet period indicate that by the end of the second week after surgery, milk sausages and doctor's sausage can be eaten in small quantities as snacks. New ones do not recommend consuming these products throughout the recovery period.

There is no consensus regarding bread either. Some sources allow up to 60 g of white bread per day, others recommend getting carbohydrates from other sources. In any case, in the second week it is recommended to eat buckwheat, boiled into a soft porridge, the same white rice and oatmeal.

Fruits are gradually included by the end of the second week; these should be soft fruit sweet purees like children’s ones made from peach, pear, and apple. The quantity is small, perhaps up to 100 g.

Eggs and dairy products are also introduced gradually. Cheeses are still prohibited; it is recommended to eat low- and medium-fat cottage cheese, pureed through a hard sieve into a curd soufflé. Eggs are added literally 1 piece at a time, boiled. If the patient suffers from constipation, they are temporarily excluded.

If the patient has vomiting or diarrhea, the diet must be adjusted by a doctor; independent “experiments” are not allowed.

Especially for – fitness trainer Elena Selivanova