Full liquids/Pureed foods and pain level
Hello sweet things!!
My surgery is just 31 hours away and I have some questions. I can't believe it's here - finally!
My surgeon's orders have me on liquids for 1 day. On day two I can proceed to full liquids/pureed foods according to my comfort with them.
What kind of pureed foods did you have during this phase? I don't really want to be surviving on cottage cheese this whole time. I already have some apple sauce, cream of wheat, instant mashed potatoes, plain low-fat yogurt, and oatmeal but I'm looking for some other suggestions people might have.
How do you get protein in post-op during this phase as well? I really do not want to have to order something off line. Are there any places (Cub Foods, Walmart, Target, GNC, Vitamin World, etc) that sell good quality protein powders and supplements that don't taste wretched?
If you had to rate the amount of pain you had after surgery (right after surgery to about 2 days after)? Let's use a Likert-type scale.
1 - None or Minimal.
3 - A little but nothing that was worse than like sore muscles.
5 - Some - but nothing I couldn't handle with pain meds.
7 - More than I expected - I hurt each time I moved and took my meds religiously.
9 - Horrible - it's all I could focus on and meds didn't always take the edge off.
10 - I can't even describe it to you; it was like dying.
I'm not sure what my experience will be. When I had my gall bladder removed 4 years ago I was sore but nothing that impeded me from moving around much.
SO... let me know
I'm excited! 
Oh! And I've lost my required 10 pounds!
My surgery is just 31 hours away and I have some questions. I can't believe it's here - finally!
My surgeon's orders have me on liquids for 1 day. On day two I can proceed to full liquids/pureed foods according to my comfort with them.
What kind of pureed foods did you have during this phase? I don't really want to be surviving on cottage cheese this whole time. I already have some apple sauce, cream of wheat, instant mashed potatoes, plain low-fat yogurt, and oatmeal but I'm looking for some other suggestions people might have.
How do you get protein in post-op during this phase as well? I really do not want to have to order something off line. Are there any places (Cub Foods, Walmart, Target, GNC, Vitamin World, etc) that sell good quality protein powders and supplements that don't taste wretched?
If you had to rate the amount of pain you had after surgery (right after surgery to about 2 days after)? Let's use a Likert-type scale.
1 - None or Minimal.
3 - A little but nothing that was worse than like sore muscles.
5 - Some - but nothing I couldn't handle with pain meds.
7 - More than I expected - I hurt each time I moved and took my meds religiously.
9 - Horrible - it's all I could focus on and meds didn't always take the edge off.
10 - I can't even describe it to you; it was like dying.
I'm not sure what my experience will be. When I had my gall bladder removed 4 years ago I was sore but nothing that impeded me from moving around much.
SO... let me know
I'm excited! Oh! And I've lost my required 10 pounds! 
Started research @ 280 pounds
Surgery Date 05/27/09 @ 258 pounds
I know you have to be just soooooooo excited. The wait is the worst part. My pain level after surgery was less than the 1 on the scale above. When they wheeled me in to the room from Recovery, I asked if I could just get up and walk to the bathroom right then. Folks will tell you that if you get up and move around, it really helps and I think it does. It gets rid of any of the gas leftover in your abdomen and gets "things" working again. I had scheduled to take 2 weeks off of work, but could have easily gone back in like 5 days. Even though you don't feel bad, you'll take lots of naps and it takes a lot of energy to focus on your fluids and intake for the first few days -- you won't be on auto pilot any longer. I was on a different type of pre-op -- had nothing but clear liquids 24 hours before. The first week, nothing but soup, CIB and cream of wheat. The 2nd week, I got to add in Refried Beans (THE BEST! ! ! You won't believe how good they'll taste) and applesauce. Various doctors have different approaches so just listen to yours. Good luck on your journey! I hope your wait goes fast. Keep us posted on your progress.
Hi there! Congrats that your surgery is just a few hours away.
I had a lot of SF/FF Pudding, Cream of Wheat with a little cinnamon and brown splenda sugar, and yogurt.
In the beginning I had a protein drink from GNC called Wheybolic 60. It has 60 grams of protien and I thought it tasted pretty good. Also I liked the no sugar added Carnation Instant Breakfast with milk I used to heat this like hot chocolate.
As far as surgery and pain I would say my level was 7 but I did not take the meds as often as I should. I'm not much for being too druged up!!
Again congrats and wishing you all the best!!
I had a lot of SF/FF Pudding, Cream of Wheat with a little cinnamon and brown splenda sugar, and yogurt.
In the beginning I had a protein drink from GNC called Wheybolic 60. It has 60 grams of protien and I thought it tasted pretty good. Also I liked the no sugar added Carnation Instant Breakfast with milk I used to heat this like hot chocolate.
As far as surgery and pain I would say my level was 7 but I did not take the meds as often as I should. I'm not much for being too druged up!!
Again congrats and wishing you all the best!!
God Bless, Angela 
"You can't love if you don't love yourself"
"You can't love if you don't love yourself"
Hey girlfriend I'm so excited for you and so happy that this journey is at this stage for you. Don't have a whole lot of other ideas for you on the pureed but you can put pretty much anything in your blender and blend it up. I did Atkin's Shakes and Slim Fast Low Carb - they are/were the most convenient for me - sam's club is the cheapest for both and it's hard to find the low carb slim fast.
My pain level throughout the whole time stayed at about a 3 - I also suggest you get of the oral pain med as soon as you can - as I tried to get off of them I couldn't sleep unless I took 1/2 of a pill - then I went to 1/4 of a pill to try and ween myself off of the darn things and I only took the full dose for 2 days at home.
Good luck you are in great hands and Abbott is awesome!
Sal
My pain level throughout the whole time stayed at about a 3 - I also suggest you get of the oral pain med as soon as you can - as I tried to get off of them I couldn't sleep unless I took 1/2 of a pill - then I went to 1/4 of a pill to try and ween myself off of the darn things and I only took the full dose for 2 days at home.
Good luck you are in great hands and Abbott is awesome!
Sal
First of all, good luck on wednesday! I am sure everything will turn out fine. You sound like someone who doesn't like surprises and likes to PLAN. LOL. Me too - I want to know what will happen! I am a PITA research queen.
I didn't really use protein powders much post op but do have some Unjury left over that I use when my protein count for the day is low. I won't buy more - SF CIB is good enough. I have had to travel 4 of the 6 weeks I have been back to work, so I have not done so well on sticking to the regimen. I typically ate/eat yogurt, refried beans, scrambled eggs with cheese, chili, chicken (has to be juicy!) and just chewed the crap out of it to "puree" it in my mouth. You won't have much capacity, so don't stock up with too much - I have enough Cream of Wheat and CoCo Wheats to last me 10 years!
Pain - I'd say it was a 7 the first day in the hospital, but once I got my hands on a heating pad I was much better. I really had to bug the nurses for that - apparently they need the attending dr's OK on it and it is a hassle for them - oh well, again I am a PITA sometimes! My back was KILLING me for the first few days. Once the drain came out I felt a lot better. After the first day I would say it was a 5, progressing to a 3 very quickly, but I did take full advantage of the liquid Percocet they sent home - why not? I also had my GB out at the same time so that may be why I had a little more pain on the right side by my ribs.
You will do just fine and before you know it, it will be 6 months from now and you will be an old pro at this!
Good luck!
Amelia
I didn't really use protein powders much post op but do have some Unjury left over that I use when my protein count for the day is low. I won't buy more - SF CIB is good enough. I have had to travel 4 of the 6 weeks I have been back to work, so I have not done so well on sticking to the regimen. I typically ate/eat yogurt, refried beans, scrambled eggs with cheese, chili, chicken (has to be juicy!) and just chewed the crap out of it to "puree" it in my mouth. You won't have much capacity, so don't stock up with too much - I have enough Cream of Wheat and CoCo Wheats to last me 10 years!
Pain - I'd say it was a 7 the first day in the hospital, but once I got my hands on a heating pad I was much better. I really had to bug the nurses for that - apparently they need the attending dr's OK on it and it is a hassle for them - oh well, again I am a PITA sometimes! My back was KILLING me for the first few days. Once the drain came out I felt a lot better. After the first day I would say it was a 5, progressing to a 3 very quickly, but I did take full advantage of the liquid Percocet they sent home - why not? I also had my GB out at the same time so that may be why I had a little more pain on the right side by my ribs.
You will do just fine and before you know it, it will be 6 months from now and you will be an old pro at this!
Good luck!
Amelia
Keep in mind you can use sugar free flavored syrups (they sell them at Cub in the coffee isle or at Caribou, etc) to flavor your protein shakes if you get bored with them
You can blenderize lean meats like tuna fish, chicken, or pork too on the pureed phase. And keep in mind that you can flavor them any way you'd like to...
If you like western/french dressing with your cottage cheese, find a fat or sugar free version..
You can blenderize lean meats like tuna fish, chicken, or pork too on the pureed phase. And keep in mind that you can flavor them any way you'd like to...
If you like western/french dressing with your cottage cheese, find a fat or sugar free version..
OMG, I totally forgot about french dressing and cottage cheese. That's exciting!
I have been looking for those SF flavored syrups but I don't know if it's that I have an impatient husband that doesn't like to "browse" at the grocery store or what but I haven't spotted them yet. I'll keep looking.
I have been looking for those SF flavored syrups but I don't know if it's that I have an impatient husband that doesn't like to "browse" at the grocery store or what but I haven't spotted them yet. I'll keep looking.
Started research @ 280 pounds
Surgery Date 05/27/09 @ 258 pounds
At Cub they are on the top shelf where they have the self serve bulk coffee in the coffee/tea isle.... they are clear bottles and say Torani on the front of them. They have several regular flavors and SF ones.
Also Hershey's makes a SF chocolate syrup and a strawberry syrup. Check out SF jams to mix in too if you want to get some SF sweetness or fruit in them while you whirl. There are SF ice cream toppings too but check labels to watch for the sugar alcohols..
Hope that helps! See you tomorrow!
Also Hershey's makes a SF chocolate syrup and a strawberry syrup. Check out SF jams to mix in too if you want to get some SF sweetness or fruit in them while you whirl. There are SF ice cream toppings too but check labels to watch for the sugar alcohols..
Hope that helps! See you tomorrow!
How exciting for you!!! You'll soon be on your way - WOO HOO!!!
Pain for me? About a 3 to a 5 for a few days - but I did use the Roxicet to sleep, and I had more work done than the average bear. After that, the GAS/BLOATING was the most uncomfortable! Nothing walking and farting can't help with, tho.
For purees, I loved FF refried beans with a bit of melted cheddar and salsa! I froze up cubes of cooked ground turkey, and would heat that with some cheddar or gravy as well. Really, anything high in protein that you can "blenderize" (I LOVE THAT!!) works! I also smooshed hard boiled eggs with a bit of mayo - LOVED that!
Pain for me? About a 3 to a 5 for a few days - but I did use the Roxicet to sleep, and I had more work done than the average bear. After that, the GAS/BLOATING was the most uncomfortable! Nothing walking and farting can't help with, tho.
For purees, I loved FF refried beans with a bit of melted cheddar and salsa! I froze up cubes of cooked ground turkey, and would heat that with some cheddar or gravy as well. Really, anything high in protein that you can "blenderize" (I LOVE THAT!!) works! I also smooshed hard boiled eggs with a bit of mayo - LOVED that!
Imperfect does not = unsuccessful
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