shopping list

Hi all I was wondering if some of you good folks that have had surgery could post a "grocery list" of what I will need for food, vitamins, etc? I expect to have bypass in July or August also what to pack for the hospital things that you know now that could benefit me? Thank you, Mim

Hi there Mim... hope you get your date soon... as for a grocery list... well soup, soup, and more soup is all you will really feel like having because you get full so fast. I had to force myself (or my man had to force me) to eat anything at all because I just didn't feel like eating AT ALL... Kinda scary at first... I liked jello and some puddings.... I stocked up on soups but found that I didn't really need as much as I bought... so make sure if you buy bulk you buy stuff that will keep and not go bad... Vitamins you don't take right away, but you are going to need Centrum Forte, B12, Iron and Calcium... when you have your follow up appointment with Lise she will tell you exactly how much you have to take of each, and what order to take them in... hmmmm the hospital stay, all I really used out of everything I brought were my pajamas and slippers on the second and third day... (well I had my toothbrush and stuff too LOL) but you will be tired and resting for day one and most of day two... if you are lucky you will get to stay in the ICU and get a free TV LOL.. I hope I was a little help! Can't wait till you join the losing team!!! Angela

Sure thing What I brought with me: pair of pants a sweatshirt lingerie nightie slippers toothbrush toothpaste deodorant shampoo with conditioner blow dryer mp3 player crossword puzzle book I was told at firs to just take the centrum forte tablet once a day and to crush the sucker cuz it's big and you won't be able to swallow it whole and that when you go back for your first followup visit with Lise then she'll tell you what other vitamins you need. While in the hospital expect to have an IV in both arms at some point, 3 heparin shots daily in your arm (they hurt), and blood taken every morning at around 6 AM or so..and they will wake you up if you are sleeping. The first three days after the surgery including being in the hospital I lived on jello, pudding, apple juice and broth. After it's mostly cream soups, low fat milk, freezies, jello, pudding, lite carnation breakfast, oatmeal, etc. I prepard a lot of this stuff beforehand..I made my own broth and froze it in little serving sizes. I made my own cream soups and froze them in little serving sizes. I pureed some squash, carrots, and beans beforehand and froze them, along with mashed potatoes and froze that. I preferred to make my own cream soups because they are tastier, and don't have as much sodium as the canned ones in the store. If you're interested..I can get some of the recipes I used if you want to try them?

Thank you for your sound advice and I would really appreciate your recipes. I am not such of a cook but I hopefully can make some soup/broth and you are correct about the sodium in canned soups I have high blood pressure and try to avoid anything in a can after you get away from eating a lot of salt you find some things really salty, I used to love cheese whiz and now can't eat it at all. Again thank you Pam and also Angela you guys are great to share your experiences...have you found anything you cannot tolerate eating yet? Thanks, Mim

Actually I haven't had any problems at all. I'm on the pureeds now and having pureed chicken, beef, and pork with no problems as well as pureed veggies. I haven't had any pain other then the first couple of days of surgery where I had a bit of back pain. I actually threw my pain prescription out without getting it filled, I didn't need it. I usually now have a scrambled egg and a slice of weigh****chers ww bread with a tsp. of becel lite marg foor breakfast. The recipes below make large batches I just did 1/4 of the recipe and froze them cuz if you don't you'll get sick of them by the time they are gone. Some of the creamed soup recipes I used were: Cream of Celery Soup 2cups 2% milk 1.5 cups finely diced celery 1/4cup chopped onion 3tbsps. all-purpose flour 1tsp. salt (optional) 1/4tsp. pepper 3 cups 2% milk In saucepan, put first amount of milk, celery, and onion. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer until onion is tender. Mix flour, salt and pepper with about 1/4 of the second amount of mil****il no lumps remain. Stir into simmering soup until it boils and thickens. Stir in remaining milk. Makes about 5 cups. Cream of Carrot Soup 4cups peeled and cut up carrot 2 cups chicken stock 1 cup chopped onion 3tbsps. all-purpose flour 1 tsp. salt 1/8tsp. pepper 4 cups 2% milk Combine carrot, stock and onion in saucepan. Coo****il vegetables are tender. Do not drain. Cool a bit. Run through blender. Set aside. Add milk in a saucepan. Stir in flour, salt and pepper. Heat and stir until it boils and thickens. Add carrot mixture. Reheat and serve. Makes 7 cups. Puree of Vegetable Soup 1/2 cup onion 1tbsp. all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 1/8 tsp. celery salt 2 cups chicken stock 2 1/2 cups cooked vegetables, pureed 1 cup 2% milk Saute onion in saucepan with either low fat cooking spray or becel lite marg spray. Saute until clear and soft. Mix in flour, salt, pepper, and celery salt. Add chicken stock and vegetables. Puree in blender. Return to saucepan. Stir until it boils and thickens a bit. Add milk. Heat through. Makes about 5 1/2 cups.