help me with my to-do list

Hi everyone, First of all...thanks so much to everyone for your condolences and your congrats. It really brightened my day. Now, I need your help. My best friend is 5 years out from her surgery and she's been helping me make sure I have what I need after next Weds. I didn't anticipate getting a date so soon, so I haven't really thought about this before. But I thought some of you might have some good advice, too. I'm supposed to find out all the specifics during my Monday appt., but so far, my best friend recommends getting some kind of hand blender to keep the protein shakes from being too gritty. She also suggested small dixie cups for the 2oz. meals. She said they helped her remember to sip instead of gulp. Do you guys have any other suggestions? Any advice you can offer would be much appreciated. Take care! Lisa

Hey Lisa, I recommend that you get some sugarfree popcicles, they will be your best friend. Also find a good frui****er, I like propel, for some reason water made me sick. I also ate a lot of sugarfree pudding and cottage cheese. Good luck and God bless. Sandi

Hi Sandi, I'm adding sugarfree popsicles to my list. Thanks for the suggestion! Lisa

I bought a "personal blender" from wal mart... its a cup that screws onto a blender base... you mix and drink out of the same cup (woo hoo less dishes!) After you are done mixing you screw off the blender top and screw on the cup top - it has measurements on the size so you can measure out the amount of liquid. It is super small and was perfect for me to bring to work and keep in my desk. I didnt need the small dixie cups... after 2 weeks of a liquid diet my meals are 3oz of 1/4 cup... I measure everything out at home on Sunday and put into those little ziploc container thingies so I can grab-n-go in the morning. Prior to surgery I bought everything I needed for the 2 week liquid post-op so it would all be at home... I didnt touch the jello or pudding but the SF pops were my bestest friend!!! I found at walmart a box of SF free that has diet rootbeer, diet slice and diet drpepper... there is also a SF box that has regular pops (cherry, grape, orange) fudgescicles and creamscicles - yum yum goodness!! I found it was easy to get in liquids with the ice pops In the hospital my NUT visited me and said I needed to get some no-salt salt for the postassium - she said to mix with crystal light and make my own "sports drink"... I found at walmart a SF sports drink mix (has potassium!) and use that instead.. it comes in those bottle size servings like crystal light does

Hi Jennifer, Thanks for the advice! The sports drink with potassium, do you remember the brand name? Or is it just the WalMart brand?

Its called replenish

Hi Lisa, One thing I would recommend is don't go buy a bunch of supplements or food before surgery...Your tastes will probably change...for instance before surgery I liked the protein supplements....after surgery the sweetness of them gagged me...I wasted a lot of money trying to be prepared...I think you'll find that you'll feel better than you think you will and will be ready to shop sooner than you think...before that you won't need to eat...For the hospital I recommend chapstick and magazines and flip flops or bedshoes to walk the halls in (and a robe for sure!) Jamey

Hi Jamey, Thanks for that reminder. I'm having trouble reconciling how different things are going to be after the surgery, even though I read everyone's posts all the time. I really like water now...and I even have protein drinks for meals now when I'm really pressed for time and need something quick. It's hard for me to remember that what I like now might be yucky after next week. Take care! Lisa