Question: What should I eat and drink if I have short bowel syndrome?
Answer: If you have short bowel syndrome, talk with your doctor about what you should eat and drink. Your doctor may refer you to a registered dietitian to help you plan a healthy diet. Check on the cost of a dietitian’s services and whether your health insurance may pay for some or all of these services.

Your doctor or dietitian will recommend foods and drinks to

help you get enough nutrients,fluids, and electrolytes
help your intestines adapt, or change to work better
improve yoursymptomsand preventcomplications

Different people with short bowel syndrome may need different diets. Health care professionals can recommend a diet that’s right for you based on many factors, including

which parts of yourintestinesare missing, and which parts are present and work well
your stage of short bowel syndrome and how muchnutrition supportyou receive
your symptoms