Fistula Diet And Treatment

I am suffering from fistula in ano (high) since last two years. Recently I underwent surgery. What followup diet should I take for proper healing?
(October 5, 2010)

A fistula, or an anal fissure, is a cut that may occur around the anal cavity causing pain while passing stools. Fistulas usually occur when you repeatedly strain yourself while passing stools. This is usually a common condition in those who experience constipation frequently.
Since constipation and bowel movements are both closely related to your diet, it is important to follow a healthy and well balanced diet so that such fissures can be avoided. A meal typically high in fibers is an ideal diet for fistula for prevention of the condition.


Fistulas are usually a product of faulty diets and lifestyles. Consuming low quantities of liquid and very little fiber in the food are usually both causes of experiencing fistula.
 
When you exert unnecessary pressure to pass stool, the pressure on the delicate anal cavity may cause the skin to break and form cuts. In people who have a very serious condition, the fistulas may bleed or turn into sores as well.
To treat this condition with a fistula diet it is recommended that you consume a diet with high proteins and drink lots of fluids. Though plain water is good enough, you can also continue to drink juices, soups and broths throughout the day so that adequate water is absorbed by your body and so that the stools remain soft.
Also cut down on chocolates, tea and coffee because these are diuretics and can cause your body to lose water. When you have fistulas, you can add a little extra fat to your food to make for an ideal fistula diet. A glass of buttermilk, with salt, or a glass of milk with a spoon of clarified butter can usually help soften the stools and allow them to pass without much pain. During this period, also stay away from refined foods and eat lots of fresh vegetables.

If you do not follow a proper diet for fistula and treatment and continue to strain to pass stools, the fistulas may become ulcerated and pass a smelly discharge. They can also turn extremely painful and may be difficult to treat without surgery. A diet for fistula is one of the best ways to deal with the symptoms of fistula. A major part of fistula treatment is dependent on the diet for fistula. If the diet does not work, the doctors usually resort to medicines and other therapies. For severe cases of ulcerated and bleeding fistulas, surgery remains the only treatment for fistula.

Doctors may choose to recommend an enteral diet to the patient. For such a diet, the doctor inserts a tube through the nose or the small intestine of the patient and an entirely liquid diet is passed through this tube. This liquid nutrition, passing through the feeding tube, is usually instrumental in softening the stools. Since absolutely no solid food is given to a patient, the amount of stools that the patient passes becomes very less. The liquid diet is rich in nutrients and is therefore nutritionally adequate for the patient. Upon keeping a patient on this diet for a few days, the fistulas have the time to heal and eventually close.