3 Food Tips to Help You Recover After Appendix Surgery

Eating may be the furthest thing from your mind after having your appendix removed. But once your appetite starts to return, you may be wondering what to eat after appendix surgery.

First things first, appendix surgery — also known as an appendectomy — is usually performed because your appendix has become infected or burst open, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM).

Per Kaiser Permanente, you may experience side effects like a swollen stomach after your appendectomy. Other after-effects may include:

• Pain in your belly
• Weakness
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Gas

Fortunately, though, these symptoms are temporary, and most people can return to their normal routine within one to four weeks, according to Kaiser Permanente.

Still, your appendicitis recovery diet is important to promote healing and prevent infection. To help, here are guidelines for what you can eat after appendix surgery.

After surgery, you will first be offered small amounts of liquids. If those seem to be going down well, you may start to incorporate solid foods into your diet after appendectomy.

"The best thing you can do is to be gentle on your digestive system," says Jen Lyman, RD, founder of New Leaf Nutrition in the Greater St. Louis area. "Your intestine was cut into and needs to heal, so opt for soft foods like soups, well-cooked vegetables and tender meat."

This is especially true if you have an upset stomach, according to Kaiser Permanente. If you're feeling nauseous during your recovery, opt for bland foods like:

• Plain rice
• Broiled chicken
• Toast
• Yogurt

If you're not experiencing any side effects that mess with your appetite or ability to eat, you should be able to resume your usual diet, per Kaiser Permanente. Accordingly, there's no straightforward list of foods to eat after an appendectomy or appendicitis — it's all about getting back to eating a variety of nutritious foods that support your recovery and overall wellbeing.

According to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, this includes eating foods like:

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Legumes like lentils, peas and beans
• Whole grains like spelt, buckwheat and oatmeal
• Beneficial sources of fat like seeds, nut butter and olive oil
• Proteins like fish, nuts and lean meats like chicken
• Dairy products like low-fat milk, yogurt and cottage cheese

Each of these foods contain nutrients that play a role in healing after surgery. For instance, protein supports your immune system, which can contribute to healing and recovery, per the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Similarly, essential vitamins and minerals (like vitamins A, C and E, along with zinc) further support your immune system to encourage healing and stave off infections, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Sometimes taking pain medication post-op leads to constipation, which can make pooping after an appendectomy difficult. And so, when your doctor tells you what to eat after appendix surgery, they may recommend eating lots of fiber or even taking a fiber supplement, per Kaiser Permanente.

Indeed, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) also suggests sticking to a high-fiber diet after surgery to avoid any straining during bowel movements. Here's what to eat after appendix surgery to prevent constipation:

• Fruit
• Vegetables
• Legumes like lentils, peas and beans
• Whole grains like spelt, buckwheat and oatmeal
• Flaxseed

According to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, adults should aim to eat the following amount of fiber every day:

• ‌People assigned female at birth‌‌:‌ 22 to 28 g
• ‌People assigned male at birth:‌ 28 to 34 g

Drinking plenty of fluids can also help easy post-surgery constipation.