Semi-liquid diet post nissen

Hello all,

I am now 16 days post nissen and doing a little better each day! I am slowly (very slowly) starting to add in a few "solid" foods, such as macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, bits of toast or cracker, etc. I do notice an increase in gas and bloating every time I do this though so I am taking it very slowly. Mostly I am still on liquid or semi-liquid (blended soup) foods.

I wanted to share my "typical" days food and see if this is about normal for this time in my recovery.

2 bottles of ensure plus
1 can of chicken noodle soup blended (I split this up between several meals or snacks throughout the day)
1/4 - 1/2 cup cream of wheat
very small amount of mac and cheese or noodles - 1/4 of a cup max
a few crackers
and maybe small amount of baby food fruits or veggies

I am still not up to 1000 calories a day and continue to lose weight but I am getting more energy back day by day.

The advice I have been given from several members here to try and relax into the recovery is invaluable. It really does help to surrender to it, though I still have to remind myself to relax and not worry about everything so much. What can I say though, I am a bit of a worry wart.

The ensure plus has 350 calories in each bottle. The two I drink now brings me up to 700 plus 180 in the soup and another 150 or so odds and ends throughout the day puts me just around 1000. Is that enough for recovery? I try to drink more ensure but that stuff is really kind of gross and too many liquids seems to make me nauseas. I find I have to nibble on a cracker every now and then to settle my stomach down. It seems to be telling me eat more, but when I do I get the gas, bloating, and pain so I am not listening to my stomach right now.

Hi amanster,

Honestly, I never counted my caloric intake, and I'm sure I was always well below 1000.  It's very normal, and much to hard to cram very much food in a recovering Nissen stomach.  It sounds as if you're doing fine.

Just try to avoid eating empty calories, and cram as much nutrition as possible in the things you do eat.  Still, some crackers and a bit of toast do taste delicious after a totally liquid diet.

I wouldn't worry a moment. 

Have you seen this resource?  If not, it might be helpful for you:

http://surgery.med.umich.edu/thoracic/clinical/procedures/MushyDiet-Nissen.pdf

Happy Healing!

Denise