must haves..

Hey all..I have surgery a week today..A WEEK!!!! and I am going to be doing a grocery shopping this friday..get everything Ill need for when I get home...I already have my vitamins, and I know Ill be getting RTD protein drinks, and watermelon water protein mix from GNC, and unflavored protein...BUT..what other staples should I have on hand...OH and I was told that most people go into puree about 3 days out of hospital..what is other's experience?

Try not to over-buy any one product - you never know how your tastes may change after surgery and what it palatable to you now, may not be in a week once you're a post-op.

I don't know of any of the Ontario centres having pureed food on their food plan after 3 days - or even 7-10 days. Most people are on clears for a day or two (in hospital) and come home on "full fluids" - that means milk, protein shakes, strained cream soups Greek yogurt, etc. Pureed starts after that. So some things to have on hand are full fluid items - yogurt, cream soup, protein shakes, etc.

my friend had hers last year..she said they started her on full fluids when she was in hospital, when she came home..she was home 3 days and then started puree..cause the book says you can be on full fluids up to 2 weeks but if you can progress early you can

I agree do not over buy any one product your taste buds will change and what 1 thing might be okay 1 week might change the following.  

Unsweetened apple sauce, plain greek yogurt (flavour with mio or crystal light/sugar free syrups like what you do with opti) cottage cheese, low sodium / fat strained cream soups, oatmeal , cream of wheat, skim milk.

I have yet to see any center in Ontario that allows puree after 3 days, most centers have you on clear fluids first 48 hours and once you have tolerated you move on to full fluids for 2 weeks and on to puree after that. 

I was on clear fluids for surgery day only!! 2nd day they started me on Full Fluids at the hospital... but the HRRH procedures have your on Full Fluids for TWO WEEKS... near the end of my two weeks (maybe 1 or 2 days short of the full two weeks), we would take foods (like meat sauce for pasta) and mix with beef broth and make into a soup, but we did not start pureed foods until after the two weeks....

and believe me I was sooooooo sick of Full Fluids at that time.. was soo happy to move to pureed....

Heather

TWH is full liquids for two weeks (starting Day 3).

my surgery is not at TWH

My apologies, I thought you had asked for other people's experiences regarding the pureed stage..

yes I did..Im sorry..it didnt mean to sound like I wasnt wanting your opinion..

Congrats! what an exciting time for you! My 'must have' was and still is Premier Protein shakes ~ so much protein bang for your buck. These are available at Costco. I've tried many alternative shakes as I felt these were too expensive, but eventually I always come back to them. Once you buy other powders, add the liquids, fruit, whatever, it costs about the same in my experience. Just another idea to add to the bunch. All the best for your surgery :)