maybe a stupid question...

I am making my list of everything to get together for post surgery and on when I am on full liquids is says lowfat cream soups then lists cream of chicken and mushroom.  I just want to make sure but does this mean any low fat cream of soups.  Like if I stick to a brand  like healthy choice are they all most likely okay.  Or is there things that I have to stay away from.  I am more of a cream of broccoli, potato or even split pea kind of girl. 

Also when I was looking at one thing which was carnation instant breakfast with no added sugar and it has like 12g of sugar where I am supposed to stay below 5g but she said some are still okay.  So all that confused me and do you know if this is an okay product?

I apologize for such silly questions but I want to get it all ready now a week early and not have to worry about  getting something that could make me feel bad.

Okay that just made me think of one more thing.  Will all of this really end up being a bit of a learning curve.  Are there some things that may seem harmless and I won't be able to tolerate?

Hiya!  Every program is different.  BUT---we were allowed creamed soups of any kind.  However, if they have chunks of anything they have to be strained.  Believe me when I say you don't want to try to eat some broccoli 3 days out.  I mean it could go really wrong.   (Could be no big deal, but let's not try it.)

Our program allows SF Carnation.  I have to say that you can get a LOT more protein out of a protein powder or protein shake.  But some people like them. I personally want as much protein in one drink as I can get b/c I have trouble getting it all in. 

I have to tell you that all of this is trial and error.  Some things that are perfectly acceptable may not go down but then others like the  CARNATION may work GREAT for you.  I wouldn't stock up too much on food items.  You will be really surprised at what you will want or can tolerate. It's good to have somethings to start with but don't be upset if you just can't use them.  Or if you have to wait to use them for a while.
Good luck and God speed!

P.S.  There are no silly questions.  You seem to know what the gig is...reassurance is a good thing at this point!

thank you both very much for the advice.  I thikn I might nix the carnation from my shopping list because I agree with you that if there isn't that much protein it may be hard to get it all down. 

I think I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that I won't be able to eat things.  It seems so odd really to even think about it. 

No stupid questions.

First carnation - sugars include lactose. No sugar added just means no sweeteners were added. Most people don't dump from lactose, although you may become lactose intolerant after surgery and find that it gives you a lot of gas or other digestive problems.

Second soups - look for ones specifically labeled low fat or better yet fat free. Some surgeons feel like any cream soup besides nonfat is off limits, but your program obviously doesn't. I've found (much later) that I don't really tolerate any full fat cream soups - I dump on fats possibly worse than on sugars. You also may not, early out, tolerate broccoli (I think the flavor/smell could potentially be a problem) but I think potato and split pea would be fine (once you are approved for that kind of thing). I had split pea once on full liquids and it was good. Early out from surgery on full liquids I preferred chicken noodle, minestrone, or vegetable soup STRAINED. It was much better than broth!

I'd buy a can of each and if you don't like it you aren't out much money, and if you do you can always send someone to get more. Very little was appealing to me after surgery so I'm glad I didn't buy much in advance. Carnation was ok, sugar free jello and popsicles were handy, strained soups were good, and a little later I pretty much subsided on avocado, cheese, and peanut butter. Most things made me nauseas. I think its a mistake to stock up on much of anything because you really have no idea what will or won't be edible for you after surgery. Your little tummy might be very finicky.

I was on clear liquids until my 5 day follow up when I had my drain pulled then I was advanced to puree diet.  I tried lf potato soup and I added some Unjury protien to it to boost the protein and I did not like it.  Any cream soup I tried did not sit well with me.  Yogurt, ricotta cheese (lf), lf cotttage cheese, etc sat better with me than cream soups.

Good luck.  You are going to be fine.  I am 16 days out and I am constantly second guessing myself.  I feel like I am going to break my new pouch if I screw up!!!

I liked tomato soup.  It went down the best and my nut said that the added sugar in it wouldn't be a problem in the small quantities I was eating.  (1/3 cup serving) I made it with skim milk.

I have read that some people use chocolate protein powder mixed with their sf carnation instant breakfast for added protein in one serving.