Answer to Question 1
It would need to be determined if Mrs. C was following the caloric prescription. If she was not and was overeating, the correct action would be to encourage her to reduce her intake to the recommended amount. If she was following her diet exactly and was still gaining weight, the next step would be to determine if the weight gain was due to an increase in tissue weight or to water weight. If it was water weight, the physician would need to take the necessary steps to stop edema and to reduce it. If was not water weight, Mrs. C's caloric requirement has probably been overestimated and would need to be reduced but not to the degree that it becomes a weight reduction diet. It should be reduced to prevent excessive weight gain.
Answer to Question 2
Clear liquids to stimulate the GI tract to function. Full liquids to allow proper functioning to return. Very soft diet until totally healed, then high fiber, eliminating the very hard fibers as corn, peas (things with shells), seeds, and nuts.