The 5 Best Foods to Eat After Hemorrhoid Surgery — and 3 to Avoid

Hemorrhoid surgery can provide much-needed relief from painful, itchy hemorrhoids. But it’s important to eat the right foods after hemorrhoid surgery to help you recover and heal. The right foods can also lower your chances of getting hemorrhoids again in the future. Here are the best foods to eat after hemorrhoid surgery. 

When can you eat after hemorrhoid surgery? 

Not all hemorrhoid surgeries are the same. Some hemorrhoid surgeries are more straightforward and can be done in your surgeon’s office using local anesthesia for pain relief. These include:

• Rubber band ligation

• Sclerotherapy

• Infrared photocoagulation

Your surgeon may ask you to follow a liquid diet until you have a bowel movement. But you may be able to go back to your regular diet immediately after these office-based surgeries. 

Other types of hemorrhoid surgeries are more involved. They’re usually done in an operating room with the help of general anesthesia. These surgeries include:

• Hemorrhoidectomy

• Hemorrhoid stapling

You’ll likely need to follow a liquid diet for 1 to 2 days after these types of hemorrhoid surgery. This will give your gut time to recover from anesthesia and give you time to have a bowel movement. After that, you should be able to eat normally. 

What should you eat after hemorrhoid surgery?

The right nutrition can help you recover and heal after surgery. They can also lessen your chances of getting hemorrhoids again in the future.

1. Water

It’s important to drink enough water each day after hemorrhoid surgery. Drinking enough water can keep you from getting dehydrated, especially if you’re experiencing any vomiting or nausea from anesthesia. Hydration also keeps your stool soft so it’s easier to pass. Stooling may be uncomfortable as you heal after surgery. But soft stools trigger less pain. 

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You may need to drink more water than normal to stay hydrated after surgery. Your healthcare team can help you figure out your specific needs.

2. Clear liquids

Clear liquids include foods like tea, diluted fruit juices, broth, and soups. Clear liquids also keep you hydrated and keep stools soft. But they also contain nutrients that can help keep you nourished while you recover. Bone broth, for example, contains more protein than other liquids. And the body needs more protein after surgery to help with healing. 

3. High-fiber fruits and vegetables

Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that the body can’t digest. Along with its many health benefits, fiber also keeps stools bulky and easier to pass. Eating enough fiber after hemorrhoid surgery will make it easier for you to have soft and less painful stools. But eating enough fiber also lowers your risk of developing new hemorrhoids in the future. Some fruits and vegetables are naturally rich in fiber, including:

• Passion fruit

• Avocado

• Guava

• Raspberries

• Blackberries

• Artichokes

• Navy beans

• Green peas

• Pumpkin

• Sweet potatoes

Experts recommend trying to eat at least 30 g of fiber a day. These fruits and vegetables can help you hit your fiber goals. 

4. Whole grains

Whole grains are also high in fiber. Some high-fiber foods that can help you have softer stools after hemorrhoid surgery (and prevent future hemorrhoids) include:

• Shredded wheat

• Bran cereals

• Quinoa

• Rolled oats

• Barley

• Teff

Whole grains also contain other important vitamins and minerals that can support recovery after surgery. 

5. Lean protein

Lean proteins can help support your recovery after hemorrhoid surgery by providing your body with a healthy protein source. Protein is important for wound healing and recovering from inflammation. Some examples of lean proteins to add to your diet after hemorrhoid surgery include:

• Low-fat yogurt

• Eggs

• Skinless roasted or grilled chicken breast

• Skinless roasted or grilled turkey breast

• Baked fish

• Low-fat ground beef

• Grilled, steamed, or poached shellfish

What foods should you avoid after hemorrhoid surgery? 

There are some foods you should avoid after hemorrhoid surgery. 

1. Spicy foods

Spicy foods contain a chemical called capsaicin. Capsaicin activates your tongue’s nerve endings, letting you experience that characteristic burn from eating spicy foods. But capsaicin has a similar effect on the nerve endings in your anus. When you eat spicy foods, some capsaicin will make its way into your stool and then pass through your anus when you go to the bathroom. This will cause burning and irritation, which can worsen pain and discomfort after hemorrhoid surgery. Try to avoid spicy food until you’ve fully healed after hemorrhoid surgery. 

2. Processed foods

Processed foods like chips, pizza, and prepackaged foods are low in fiber. You want to avoid filling up on low-fiber foods and opt for high-fiber foods instead. Fiber will help keep your stool soft and easier to pass, so you have less pain while you heal. Processed foods have also been linked to inflammation. You want to avoid triggering additional inflammation in your gut while your body is trying to heal.

3. Alcohol

 Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours after your hemorrhoid surgery if you received general anesthesia. Anesthesia medication can linger in your system for a day following surgery. Alcohol can add to the sedating effects of these medications and make it difficult for you to think and react. These sedating effects also increase your risk of injury, especially while driving. Alcohol makes you pee more often, which can put you at risk for dehydration. It’s important to try and avoid dehydration after surgery. 

Alcohol can also trigger inflammation, especially in your gut. So it’s a good idea to avoid alcohol while your body is recovering from surgery. 

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Written by:

Ronald W. Dworkin, MD, PhD

Ronald W. Dworkin, MD, is a board-certified anesthesiologist who has been practicing anesthesiology in a community hospital for 30 years. He has taught in the honors program at George Washington University for over 10 years and works as a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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