ModerateGBS: 50 (Low-Moderate Risk)nutrition

Post-Surgery Healing Protocol

Developer: Various surgeons, integrative medicine

Chemotherapy Support Protocol

Protocol Overview

Comprehensive post-operative protocol to accelerate healing, reduce complications, and optimize recovery using nutrition, supplements, and lifestyle interventions.

Conditions Treated

Post-operative recovery

wound healing

complication prevention

Protocol Steps

Pain management: Adequate pain control essential for healing (untreated pain increases cortisol, impairs healing). Use multimodal analgesia: acetaminophen scheduled (1g 4x/day if liver OK), NSAIDs short-term (ibuprofen 600mg q6h for 3-5 days if not bleeding risk), opioids only if needed (lowest dose, shortest duration - constipation and dependence risks), gabapentin for neuropathic pain, ice/heat, positioning

Early mobilization: Critical - get up and move ASAP (same day or next day unless contraindicated). Prevents: DVT, pneumonia, ileus, muscle loss, speeds recovery. Walk multiple times daily, gradually increase distance

Nutrition - High protein: 1.5-2.0 g/kg daily (need 100-200g protein for wound healing, immune function, prevent muscle loss) - protein shakes if needed, eggs, chicken, fish, Greek yogurt, collagen. Adequate calories: Healing is anabolic (need calorie surplus, not deficit - no dieting for 4-6 weeks post-op)

Hydration: 2-3 liters fluid daily (unless fluid-restricted) - dehydration impairs healing

Vitamin C: 1-2g daily (collagen synthesis) - can increase to 3g for first 2 weeks post-op

Zinc: 30-50mg daily for 2-4 weeks (wound healing) - don't exceed 4 weeks high-dose (copper depletion)

Vitamin A: 10,000-25,000 IU daily for 2 weeks (epithelialization, speeds wound healing) - especially important if on steroids (steroids impair healing, vitamin A counteracts)

Vitamin D: Continue 4000-5000 IU (immune function, healing)

Bromelain: 500mg 3x/day between meals for 1-2 weeks (reduces swelling, inflammation)

Arnica: 30C homeopathic 2-3 pellets 3x/day for 1-2 weeks post-op (bruising, swelling - especially popular in plastic surgery)

Omega-3: Resume 2-3g EPA/DHA after 3-5 days (anti-inflammatory, don't start immediately due to bleeding risk)

Probiotics: 25-50 billion CFU daily (especially if antibiotics given, reduces C. diff risk, supports immune function)

Collagen peptides: 20g daily (provides amino acids for wound healing, collagen synthesis)

Glutamine: 10-20g daily for 1-2 weeks (GI healing if abdominal surgery, immune function, prevents muscle loss)

Arginine: 9-15g daily (nitric oxide production, wound healing - studied in wound healing formulas)

Vitamin E: Can apply topically to incision after 2 weeks (once closed and no scabs) to reduce scarring (400 IU, break capsule and apply to scar 2x/day) - oral vitamin E not recommended (doesn't help scarring, may increase bleeding)

Silicone sheets/gel: Apply to incision once fully healed (2-3 weeks) to reduce scarring - wear 12+ hours daily for 2-3 months (most effective scar prevention)

Wound care: Follow surgeon's instructions, keep clean and dry initially, remove dressings per instructions, monitor for infection (redness spreading beyond 1cm from incision, warmth, pus, fever >101°F, increasing pain), antibiotic ointment if instructed

Avoid: Smoking (impairs healing dramatically - don't smoke for 4+ weeks post-op), alcohol (impairs healing, interacts with pain meds), NSAIDs >5-7 days (may impair bone healing if spinal fusion or fracture), strenuous activity until cleared (risk of wound dehiscence)

Lymphatic drainage: Gentle massage or MLD (manual lymphatic drainage) sessions reduce swelling after 1-2 weeks

Compression: If extremity surgery, compression garments reduce swelling

Elevation: Elevate surgical site above heart when resting (reduces swelling)

Ice: First 48-72 hours (reduces swelling, pain) - 20 min on, 20 min off

HBOT: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for complex wounds, non-healing surgical sites, radiation tissue damage (typically 20-40 sessions at 2.0-2.4 ATA) - improves healing in select cases

Stool softeners: If on opioids, take docusate 100mg 2x/day + senna if needed (prevent constipation - common complication)

Incentive spirometry: If chest/abdominal surgery, use every 1-2 hours while awake (prevents pneumoniaSR-003

Key Resources

Surgery/Recovery

Contraindications & Risks

Chemotherapy side effects, nausea, neuropathy, fatigue, immune support

Important Notes

1. Coordinate with oncologist: All interventions should be discussed with treating oncologist - timing matters (some antioxidants during chemo controversial, generally safe between cycles) | 2. Nausea management: Ginger 1-2g daily (multiple RCTs show reduces chemo nausea), vitamin B6 75-150mg, acupuncture or acupressure (P6 point - wrist bands), ondansetron or other antiemetics as prescribed, eat small frequent meals, avoid strong smells | 3. Glutamine: 10-30g daily in divided doses (prevents/treats chemo-induced mucositis and neuropathy, improves gut healing) - take away from chemo by 12+ hours per some oncologists | 4. Vitamin D: Optimize 50-80 ng/ml (immune support, emerging evidence for cancer outcomes) | 5. Omega-3: 2-3g EPA/DHA (anti-inflammatory, reduces cachexia, improves outcomes in some cancers) | 6. Probiotics: High-dose 50-100 billion CFU (gut support, reduces diarrhea from chemo, immune function) | 7. Mushroom extracts: Turkey tail (PSK/PSP) 3g daily, reishi, maitake, cordyceps (immune support - PSK studied extensively in Asia as chemo adjunct, improves survival in gastric/colorectal cancer) | 8. Curcumin: 1-2g daily between chemo cycles (anti-inflammatory, may enhance chemo effects - controversial during chemo, safer between cycles) | 9. Green tea extract: EGCG 400-800mg (antioxidant, may enhance chemo - coordinate timing with oncologist) | 10. CoQ10: 200-400mg ubiquinol (cardioprotection especially with anthracyclines like doxorubicin, mitochondrial support) | 11. Alpha-lipoic acid: 600mg daily (neuropathy prevention, antioxidant) - especially with platinum agents (cisplatin, oxaliplatin) | 12. Vitamin E: 400 IU (neuropathy prevention) - take away from chemo | 13. Milk thistle: 300mg 3x/day (liver protection, safe with most chemos - check drug interactions) | 14. NAC: 600-1200mg 2x/day (glutathione support, liver protection) - take 24+ hours away from chemo | 15. Vitamin C IV: 25-75g IV infusions 2-3x/week (controversial - high-dose IV vitamin C may enhance chemo, protects healthy cells. Growing evidence but not mainstream. Oral vitamin C different - low dose 500-1000mg safe) - coordinate with integrative oncologist | 16. Melatonin: 20-40mg nightly (immune support, may enhance chemo effects and reduce toxicity - multiple studies by Lissoni, improves outcomes) | 17. Vitamin B12, folate: Methylated forms (energy, prevent anemia, nerve health) - but folic acid contraindicated during methotrexate or 5-FU chemo | 18. Hydration: 3+ liters fluid daily (flushes chemo, prevents kidney damage, reduces nausea) | 19. Exercise: Moderate exercise during chemo (walking 30 min 5x/week, yoga, tai chi) - improves fatigue, quality of life, possibly outcomes (don't overtrain - exhaustion is real) | 20. Cold cap: For hair preservation (scalp cooling during infusion - reduces hair loss 50-80% depending on regimen) - expensive, uncomfortable, doesn't work for all chemos | 21. Neuropathy prevention: Icing hands/feet during chemo infusion (especially taxanes, platinum agents) - reduces neuropathy risk 30-50%. Compression gloves/socks | 22. Mouthwash: For mucositis - glutamine swish and swallow, "magic mouthwash" (lidocaine/diphenhydramine/Maalox), avoid alcohol-based mouthwash | 23. Avoid: Alcohol (stresses liver, interacts with chemo), smoking (impairs healing, increases complications), grapefruit juice (affects drug metabolism), St. John's wort (drug interactions), high-dose antioxidants during chemo (controversial - may protect cancer cells, timing and dose matter - discuss with oncologist) | 24. Diet: High protein 1.5-2g/kg (prevent muscle wasting), adequate calories (cancer cachexia is real - maintain weight), emphasize vegetables, avoid processed foods, sugar in moderation (sugar doesn't "feed cancer" but metabolic health matters) | 25. Monitor: CBC weekly (watch for neutropenia <1000 - infection risk, may need Neulasta), liver/kidney function, electrolytes, weight (prevent cachexia) | 26. Acupuncture: Reduces chemo-induced nausea, pain, neuropathy, fatigue (multiple RCTs, now offered at many cancer centers) | 27. Mind-body: Meditation, guided imagery, support groups (reduce anxiety, improve quality of life, may improve outcomes)

Key Supplements & Herbs in This Protocol

Supplements

Copper

Herbs

Arnica

Arnica montana

Critical Safety Warning

This protocol is documented for educational purposes only. The Gabriel Bullshit Score (GBS) of 50 reflects significant institutional response and controversy. Some alternative health protocols have resulted in serious harm or death.

Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before beginning any treatment. Do not delay or forego proven medical care.

Quick Overview

Evidence LevelModerate

GBS Score50 / 100

Categorynutrition

DeveloperVarious surgeons, integrative medicine

DurationChemotherapy Support Protocol

About GBS Score

The Gabriel Bullshit Score reflects the magnitude of institutional response, controversy, and documented concerns. Higher scores indicate greater institutional pushback, not necessarily inefficacy. This is a research tool, not medical advice.