Suggestions Please

I am scheduled to have surgery on March 11th. I'm trying to get everything ready now so there won't be any confusion when I get home and right now I feel like a total scatterbrain I'm not sure what I should eat (soft menu) when I first get home, I seem to be stuck on eggs and mashed potatoes. Please help me by telling me what you ate during this period after surgery and how many grams of protein should I be eating a day? Is there anything else I might need (non-food) for when I come home that I should pick up now? Thanks, Just Me (Jude)

Jude, Have you gone to a nutrionist? The reason I ask is that they usually give you the guidelines to follow as far as proteins and grams and what to eat. I go to Dr. Irgau here in Wilmington. He sends us to the support classes and Nutritionist at PMRI. It is an all inclusive support setup with information and classes. Different possibly from your Dr.'s. It is really best to find out from your DR. what he wants you to follow. Everyone is so different. PMRI suggests at least 70gm of protein a day. I was on a pureed diet for the first month. Your Dr. may be different. It is confusing if we interject what we do. Listen to your Doctor. We are advised to take b-12, vitamins and calcium, chewable of course. This may also be different. There is no clear cut food regime that we all follow. Just know that somethings you liked before surgery you may not like or tolerate after. This is a whole new jpurney for us all. I will give you a word or 2 of advice. Don't forget chapstick. It'll be your best friend post WLS. Also Walk, Sip & Breathe. Then do it again and again. God Bless and good luck. ((HUGS)) Elissa

here's some things that i lived on for about the first 2 months. 1.herb-ox brand chicken broth(in the little green packets) with 3 crushed saltines in it. tastes like mock chicken soup. 2. sugar free dole ice pops. this really helped with the thirst because you would be able to drink normally for a long while. 3. refried beans with alittle cheese and salsa. this was great. 4. crystal lite tea. 5. cup of soup 6.chilli 7. egg salad(without the bread and made with fat free mayo). remember the first couple of weeks there is really nooooooooooo way to get in all your protien. try and follow your doctors orders as much as you can and keep drinking water.

Hi Jude, I am scheduled for March 8th and I know how you feel. I have gotten alot of great ideas from here for the menu for the first month. Also some of the classes I went to gave great ideas too! Puree boneless skinless chicken breats with a can of chicken broth and fill ice cube trays with it. Pop out 2 cubes and heat up! Alot of protein too! Also I heard tuna fish, creamed soups (puress to clear any chunks) and applesauce. I bought alot of chicken broth and some frozen fruits mixture from BJ's to make smoothies. But I also stocked up on sugarfree jello and pudding as well. I found chewable centrum vitamins too! SO I didnt get flintstones. I want big girl vitamins *grin... Good luck...it is next week!!! Same as me!! Vanessa

You can pretty much throw anything in the blender and puree it... Your body will tell you what you like and don't like. Your taste is going to change drastically after surgery. In time some of your old likes will come back. I remember when I finally got to the pureed stage I was so tired of broths that I took a slice of pizza and scrapped off the cheese & sauce and threw it in the blender and purreed it. I thought I died and went to heaven. It was a long time before I was able to eat because I had a really rough start with my surgery. My story of my surgery is supposed to be in the News Journal this Sunday, March 7th... Front Page! Email me if you have any other questions. Just wait for the night before surgery... your emotions are going to kick in and you will be so nervous. This is normal. Just wanted you to be prepared. Good Luck with surgery! Ginger Barkley Post op 9/11/02 -126 lbs

Thanks for the suggestions. I really like the ice cube tray idea The dietary sample menu I got from the doctor just lists 1/8 to 1/4 cup of the food groups to eat with another list of healthy food choices but that doesn't really help when your looking for the tricks of the trade so to speak. I started my vitamins last month so I would be in the habit of taking them. Good luck to you on the 8th Vanessa, a woman I work with is also scheduled for surgery that day so I will put you both in my prayers. Jude