Endometriosis surgery, even if it is laparoscopy, is invasive. It affects many systems, creates sites of trauma (where incisions are made or where tissue is removed) and various chemicals are used on and in your body that need to find their way out again.  It really is like running a marathon and the fitter and healthier you are at the time of surgery, the faster and better you recover.

The anaesthetics used so you are either fully ‘under’ or won’t feel pain in the area of the surgery (local) end up in your body. Your body needs to get rid of it. In a healthy person, this could take at least a week. Longer in a not so healthy person. Your liver needs to work very hard to ‘detoxify’.

Even if with Endometriosis surgery like a laparoscopy, where the incision is very small, the act of it causes major trauma on the body and the body responds with a crisis response.  The immune system (already not your strongest system) kicks into overdrive, trying to protect you from invaders. Inflammation being its no. 1 strategy means that although your endometriosis may have been successfully removed, your body is in an ‘endometriosis growing’ state.

Your digestive system will be ‘shut down’ especially during general anaesthetic and will take time to wake up again – not good if your constipation is a common problem for you, or nausea.

For a laparoscopy gas will often be added into your abdominal cavity to create ‘space’. This gas needs to be absorbed and processed by the liver to be able to be removed from your body.

I see Endometriosis surgery as similar to running a marathon: to come through it as well as possible, you need to go in training. And of course, as a nutritionist, I look at using nutrition to get in the best possible shape. Because then you’ll recover faster as well!

So what does this ‘training’ look like?

Well, I split the training into preparation and recovery.

Preparing for your Endometriosis surgery

The preparation should start at least 2 weeks before your scheduled surgery. The aim is to get fighting fit: to get your body in the best possible state, so it can handle the procedure better.

A bit part of this is to reduce the effects of your current diet. If you haven’t made any diet changes at all, it is very likely that you are eating things that are creating chronic inflammation. And the surgery experience will further increase that inflammation, so it will help to reduce it as much as possible beforehand.

So no later than 2 weeks before your surgery, remove gluten and dairy, sugar, processed food, alcohol and caffeine from your diet. They are all inflammatory.

Switch to a mostly plant-based diet. You can still eat meat, but keep it to only a couple of times a week and to small amounts. Eating more fish will also be beneficial.

Do light exercise daily, for example going for a brisk 30 minute walk or swim, or do a yoga session.

At one week before your surgery you really want to get serious about what you eat and drink. Go all in and don’t eat any gluten, dairy, sugar, processed foods or takeaway foods (you just don’t know what’s in it). Avoid caffeine and alcohol.

You’ll need to increase the amount of protein you eat somewhat, and preferably by eating more plant-based protein, such as lentils and legumes, quinoa, and nuts and seeds. A mostly plant-based diet will be high in fibre and that will help if you’re constipated.

Recovering from your Endometriosis surgery

Once you’ve had your surgery, you’ll be recovering, first in hospital, and then at home. Whilst you’re still in hospital, let the hospital staff look after you: eat what they feed you; take the medication. Wait to start your recovery nutrition plan until you get home, where you will have control over what you eat and drink.

The next 2 weeks are about giving your body time, rest and the necessary nutrients to heal and recover. Your liver will be working overtime and it will need extra support.

There are some nutrients that will help you with your recovery so look for adding foods that contain: vitamin C, omega 3 fatty acids and good quality protein (in small doses).

Eat a high fibre diet to help your liver remove the anaesthesia and any medication you may be taking.

You may also like to consider taking a turmeric supplement: it helps your liver, supports a healthy gut and is a natural anti-inflammatory.

These are just some general strategies to prepare for your surgery and recover faster afterwards. If you have surgery coming up and are interested in a more detailed support, you might like to take a look at my course “Endometriosis Surgery: Get Fighting Fit and Recover Faster”.