Post Op Shopping List... On a BUDGET???

Hi June 2004 Post Ops! I am trying to put together a "must have" shopping list for my return home from the hospital. I go in on AUG 10th and want to be prepared! We are on a military budget, so any suggestions regarding Protien Supplements and Stage II items would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks in advance! Jenn

I use Carbsolution protein powder from Walmart, it isn't as expensive as some and has a taste that is better than most. I would have jello, cottage cheese, broth, creamed soups, peanutbutter if you are allowed, crystal light, tea, powdered milk, skim milk.

Jenn, A suggestive shopping list would be jello (SF) box style, Campbells cream soups, Musselman's SF applesauce 4 oz containers (pick a flavor they are all good... I prefer Strawberry), Lit n Lively Smoothies, Lit n Lively Smooth Yogurts (no fruit in it to swallow), instant mashed potatoes, NECTAR Roadside Lemonade Protein Shake, Isopure Orange, Banana Pineapple Protein Shake, low fat cheese (shredded), cottage cheese, water, Fruit 2 O, Crystal Lite, Decaf Teas (herbal is good), Silk Vanilla Soy Milk, Hood Carb Milk (if you can do Milk), SF Pudding, Hummus, El Paso FF Refried Beans, cream of wheat, oatmeal and sour cream. I have done all of the items with exception of hummus and Hood Carb Milk. I am buying hummus today. I heard its really good. Never ever had it. I am trying to work my way to the soft food phase. Hopefully in another week or so. Just buy a few items each week. Enough for variety. The following week buy a few other items. That is how I did it. You might want to make your own broth....taste is better than the can. Its good in the beginning too! Then take your chicken and make dish for the family! Whatever you buy try and keep it within the family meal plan. Its hard to do in the beginning but I have noticed that each week it gets a little easier. Good Luck on the 10th. Keep us posted on your progress. Debbie

Thanks so much for your suggestions, a BIG help!!!!

Don't forget the B12 and chewable vitamins, Paper tape and 4x4 gauze pads.. Laxitives and thats all I can think of.. I waited to buy the soft foods for a few weeks because you will probably be on liquids only a few days before and a couple weeks after.. Good luck ... You will do fine Korianne 305 /255 /150

For me my post op shopping list was jello, Fruit 2 O, Green Tea, Itailian Ices, for the first week then the second week, I had More jello, Italian Ices, Fruit 2 O, then I got the campbell's creamy chicken soup and regular chicken broth. Be sure to get your chewable vitamins and calcium. I also got the sub-lingual B-12 from Trader Joes. I learned that my taste seemed to change every week. A lot of things that I used to like, I dont anymore. Now that I am able to eat food, I just started eating a lot of veggies and I can eat rice but not pasta. I found that the protein drinks that work best for me are the EAS one (Fruit Punch). These have about 43 grams of protien in them. They have them at the Vitamin Shoppe. I liked the other ones for a few days and did not like them anymore. As much as I used to eat seafood, I dont even like it anymore. Everything is trial and error. I dont recommend you go and get a lot of stuff. Just be sure your first two weeks you get all the liquids you can in. I brought like 6 oz bottles of water from Walmart to measure water and keep track of how many bottles I was drinking a day. I am two months post op and still dont go and buy a lot of different things yet, because of fear that I will get sick. So everything is really trial and error......