Reflux Post-Op Instructions

Cheryl Tindall, RN, a nurse at Lincoln Surgical Associates, provides an overview of what happens after reflux surgery.

After surgery, patients will stay in the hospital overnight. For the first 24 hours after surgery, patients can have a clear liquid diet. When the clear liquid diet is tolerated, they can move on to a full liquid diet for 72 hours.

While on the full liquid diet, it's important to get plenty of protein (through protein-rich shakes) and to take a multivitamin.

The soft mechanical (foods are blended, chopped, ground, or pureed) diet follows the full liquid diet.

Some common questions patients have after reflux surgery are generally related to bowel movements and gas.