Modified Diet: Diet After Nissen Fundoplication
Why do I need to follow a special diet after my surgery?
A Nissen Fundoplication is used to treat those who suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. People with GERD have severe and chronic heartburn. These symptoms occur when the muscle at the base of the esophagus is too loose to keep food from coming out of the stomach. Fundoplication tightens this muscle in order to reduce the symptoms. To ensure proper healing, and prevent the muscle from stretching, you will be put on a pureed diet for about two weeks after your surgery. You will then slowly transition to a soft diet, and finally resume a normal diet. Your doctor will help you to know when it is time to advance from one diet to the next.
What is a pureed diet?
A pureed diet includes any food that is the thickness of applesauce. Fruits and vegetables can be cooked and mashed or put into a blender to make them the right texture. Meats can be pureed in a blender and moistened with sauces and gravies. The chart below shows you some of the foods that are allowed on a pureed diet. This list is a sample of foods for you to choose from and does not include every food you may have.
Food Group |
Allowed |
Avoid |
|---|---|---|
Cereals, breads, grains |
|
|
Fruits |
|
|
Vegetables |
|
|
Meat/Meat substitute/Nuts/Legumes |
|
|
Food Group |
Allowed |
Avoid |
Dairy** |
|
|
Condiments |
|
|
Soups |
|
|
Desserts |
|
|
**Be aware that dairy products may cause stomach problems, including diarrhea, right after surgery. You may want to avoid dairy products at first and then try adding them in to your diet a little at a time.
Additional Tips:
- Swallowing air can cause gas. To prevent this, avoid drinking through a straw, chewing with your mouth open, or chewing gum or tobacco.
- Pay attention to which food give you gas and avoid them. Some foods that tend to cause gas include corn, dried beans, peas, lentils, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, and any food from the cabbage family.
- Avoid caffeine, carbonated drinks, alcohol, citrus and tomato products.
What is a soft diet?
Your doctor will tell you when you can advance to a soft diet. A soft diet will include all of the foods listed above from the pureed diet along with more solid foods that are soft and easy to chew. You will want to avoid any foods that are crunchy (fresh fruits and vegetables or crackers) or that are tough (whole cuts of meat or hard breads). Try using canned fruits and steaming your vegetables to make them soft. You can also use more tender protein sources such as fish, poultry, ground meats, and eggs. Do not forget, the key is to prevent any stretching at the site of your surgery.
If you are a UW patient and have more questions please contact UW Health at one of the phone numbers listed below.
Nutrition Clinic University Station 2880 University Avenue Madison, WI 53705 (608) 263-5012 |
Nutrition Clinic UW Health West Clinic 451 Junction Road Madison, WI 53717 (608) 265-7526 |
Nutrition Clinic UW Health East Clinic 5249 East Terrace Drive Madison, WI 53718 (608) 265-0963 |
The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 08/31/2012
Copyright © 08/31/2012 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#397
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