Nutrition by Dawn - Blog

I never thought I’d be talking about poop this much—but here we are! As a mom, I assumed my days of discussing bowel movements would be over once my kiddo was out of diapers. But working in the nutrition world has proven me wrong. The truth is, everybody poops, and it’s an important conversation—especially when it comes to recovery.

The Connection Between Recovery & Digestion

This month, I’m focusing on recovery—mostly because I’m in the middle of post-foot surgery recovery. And one thing that often gets overlooked (or isn’t even mentioned) is how injury, surgery, and medications can impact digestion.

If you’ve ever taken pain medication, you might already know where this is going. Many pain relievers, particularly opioids, can slow down your digestive system and lead to constipation. And let’s be honest—when you’re already dealing with recovery discomfort, the last thing you want is to feel bloated, backed up, and uncomfortable in more ways than one.

My Experience: A Gut Check

Before surgery, I had to stop taking all supplements for a week. Since my surgery got postponed, I ended up going ten days without my usual go-to digestive support. Let me tell you—my gut noticed.

Between the effects of anesthesia, pain meds, and breaking my supplement routine, my digestive system was struggling. I felt bloated, sluggish, and generally uncomfortable. It wasn’t until I got off my pain meds and reintroduced my supplements that things started moving (literally) in the right direction again.

Recovery Isn’t Just About the Injury

It's easy to focus only on the obvious—healing the surgical site, getting mobility back, and regaining strength. But true recovery means taking care of your entire body, including your digestive system.

Healing isn’t like flipping a switch. Even after you’re off pain meds and moving better, your whole body takes time to recalibrate. Digestion, energy levels, and overall function don’t bounce back overnight. And for someone like me—who struggles with patience—this can be frustrating! (Fun fact: I have a coaster on my desk that says, I had my patience tested—it was negative. It makes me laugh every time.)

If You’re Supporting Someone in a Recovery Phase…

If you work with clients who are recovering from an injury or surgery, keep digestion in mind. Whether you’re a coach, physical therapist, or trainer, reminding your clients to support their gut health can make a big difference in how they feel.

If you’re going through recovery yourself, don’t just focus on the injury—think about all of your body systems. Digestion plays a bigger role in overall healing than most people realize. So does sleep, but I’ll save that for another blog.

And remember, patience is key (even when it’s not your strong suit). Healing takes time, but supporting your body in every way possible will get you back to feeling like yourself sooner.