Met with Dietician

Meeting with the dietician today relieved some of my fears before surgery.  I gave up pop last week- cold turkey and haven't missed it!  I will definitley need to get better at reading labels, but most everything else seems controllable.  Don't get me wrong...I know I'll get stressed out the first time I can't or shouldn't have something that looks or smells good, but for the most part my perception that I would never eat many foods again was incorrect.  Thank goodness for sugar free products!!! 

Also, I was surprised that I will only be on the liquid diet during my stay in the hospital and then onto creamy foods after that.  Some people on the blog have commented being on a liquid diet for up to two weeks?  It's interesting how each Dr.s program has a different twist for what works right. 

So what has been your most difficult food or drink to give up after surgery?

The only difficulty I really had was in the first few weeks post op.  I didn't crave specific foods or feel hungry.   I just wanted to CHEW something.  

I haven't even thought about most things I loved pre op and I've tried the few things that I craved.  But, I take one bite and find that it tastes bad or, at least, nothing at all like I remembered it.  I was really craving mozzarella sticks for a while.  My DD ordered them one night while we were out.  I took one bite and it tasted horrible - dry and stale.  I haven't thought about them again since and if someone else orders them, I have no interest.

Lisa,
That's inspiring that your craved foods no longer taste good to you.  How did you handle the need to chew?  Just popsicles?
 

The time you have to be on soft or pureed food goes so fast, you won't realize it.  The only thing I had trouble with early out was pork chops.  They were pretty dry and maybe I didn't chew well.  I still haven't had them very often. 

I have missed pasta and breads.  I find I do ok if it is whole wheat pasta but others just clump in my pouch.  And I love breads but it is definitely worth giving them up, I'll tell you that.

I thought I missed my Diet Coke, but I have tasted it a couple times and it tastes yukky, as does regular Coke, so no big deal.  I haven't had candy in a year and a half and no cake, etc since my surgery a year ago.  Life is good and I don't feel deprived at all.

It's comforting to know that you have all been through this and have survived.  I'm getting excited about my surgery, a bit scared-it's surgery, but hope I am being realistic about what lies ahead.  I feel like I am.  Until I experience it, however, I won't know what I miss and what I could care less about with food.  It's good to have a heads up though.  Thanks for taking the time to respond.