Immediately After Surgery

• You may spend up to a week in the hospital after surgery, depending on the procedure that was performed. The doctor may prescribe a nasogastric tube to drain your stomach for a few days and give your colon some time to heal and rest. During this time, you will not be able to consume food or liquids orally. While you are on the nasogastric tube you will receive intravenous fluids to stay hydrated.
  
  

Clear Liquid Diet

• As your condition improves, your doctor will have the nasogastric tube removed. You will then be able to have ice chips and sips of water. If you tolerate these liquids without any problem, the doctor will upgrade you to a clear liquid diet for a few days to make sure that your colon can tolerate liquids before adding more substantial liquids and food to your diet. Initially, expect to be served water, gelatin, sports drinks, weak tea, juice, clear broth or bouillon and popsicles.
  
  

Easily Digested Soft Foods

• If you have tolerated liquids well for a few days, easily digestible soft foods will be added to the clear liquids. These types of foods will not damage your colon or hinder the healing process, but will get your colon ready for the texture of more solid foods. Start with pudding, plain milkshakes, rice, custard, oatmeal, frozen yogurt and cream-based soups. If your digestive system is adjusting well to soft foods, you should be ready to resume eating normal foods by the time you are discharged from the hospital.
  
  

Returning to "Normal"

• After a few days of eating soft solids, slowly ease yourself back into regular eating. Resist the temptation to stuff yourself. At first you will need to be cautious about foods that produce excess gas as well as green, leafy vegetables. Your colon is still healing, and these foods can cause a great deal of pain. If your colon does not seem to agree with the food you have been eating, return to eating light, soft foods or even a liquid diet for a few days to give your colon some more time to rest and heal.
  
  

High-Fiber, Low-Fat Diet

• Expect to continue to experience some abdominal discomfort and gas pains while your digestive tract heals. Your doctor will most likely instruct you to begin eating a high-fiber, low-fat diet. If that is the case, you will want to work towards consuming more fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals, brown rice, poultry, fish and lunch meat that is labeled at least 95 per cent fat free. Stay away from grains with the word "enriched" listed in the ingredients, fatty and salted foods, simple sugars, processed foods and refined carbohydrates. Replace cakes and ice cream with healthier goodies like sherbet and non-fat yogurt. The American Cancer Society points out that foods will pass through your system more quickly, so your ability to absorb nutrients from food will decrease. If this is a concern, discuss the potential benefits of nutritional supplements with your doctor.