Need Some Help...

[traceylynn 33]

Hello everyone!my name is Tracey my surgery date is the 25th of this month....I am way to excited but nervous as well!i was wondering If anyone could give me some advice as to what I should have stocked up in my cabinets for when I come home...i read everything doctors gave me and I should be ok but I'm just nervous..this might seem like a stupid question but I feel like im forgetting things or that I'm not as prepared as I could be!maybe just some tips or something?!thanks a bunch!

[AngieG0410 52]

Wylers chicken Bouillion cubes

sugar free Jello / pudding

Protein Shakes

Crystal lite

[traceylynn 33]

Wylers chicken Bouillion cubes

sugar free Jello / pudding

Protein shakes

Crystal lite

Thank you Angie,much appreciated

[AliveAgain 283]

I was much like you, wanting to be prepared for coming home from the surgery. Unfortunately, I stocked up with a full stomach and still have SF Jello, broths, and other things in my cabinet from 4-5 months ago. It's good to have a few things on hand (Angie's list is good), but you'll be able to get up and out in the first week. So if you need anything, you can go to the store. Or have a friend or family member go for you.

It's common that taste buds can change a little after surgery, especially in the first week. So whatever you buy, buy in small quantities.

• chicken, beef, and/or veggie broth. I like the Trader Joes stuff in the "box" so you can pour what you need and refrigerate the rest. Don't worry too much about low-sodium since you won't be getting much from the liquid diet, the regular version can actually help with low electrolytes.
  
• Ready-made Protein shakes and/or powders. Now is a good time to see what you like, but again - go in small qty's as some people find they like one shake pre-op and then don't like it post-op. Some brands like unjury and Syntrax nectar make sample packs to try different flavors. I highly recommend the Unjury chicken Soup, you can make with broth. I have some now from Healthwise that are Tomato and beef, got them from my doctor's office e-store.
  
• SF popsicles
  
• Chewable or liquid Vitamins and Calcium, perhaps a sublingual B12 - careful of gummies and the "sweeter" chewables for hidden carbohydrates!
  
• Measuring cup for liquids
  

[angelakay2 117]

Popsicles!!! Sugare free but they have some tropical flavors that are pretty good! chicken broth and I found that I liked the special K pink lemonade and it has Protein in it!

Good luck!!!!

[NoExcuses 24]

Isopure clear drinks. You can find them at Vitamin Shoppe and GNC. They have 40 grams of Protein per bottle. I would also suggest protein bullets. You can find these at the same places as Isopure. In the beginning it is so important to get protein in, and the bullets and Isopure can be a good place to start. The little bullets are about 2 or 3 ounces and have between 30-40 grams of protein.

[Jack Fabulous 35]

Congratulations on your surgery date! This is a very exciting time for you and we are all here to support you in your success! I agree with the list of foods above and would also add sugar free popcicles and werthers caramel candy. As for Protein Shakes, I really like Premier Protein chocolate - it sort of tastes like chocolate milk. During your soft/pureed foods stage, I recommend getting some food from www.blossomfoods.com. They make 5 oz containers of frozen pureed foods that have a good amount of Protein and only 150 - 180 calories. They are the perfect size for your smaller stomach. Even though I can eat anything I want, I still eat the shakes and blossom foods because they are easy and convenient. Later as you graduate to solid foods, Zone Perfect makes a pretty good Protein Bar in strawberry. I write a lot about my journey and emotions in my blog so please feel free to stop by and read it. You will realize that the feelings you are having are normal and we all go through them. In a nutshell here is what happens:

1. You are excited about the surgery
   
2. You are scared and worried
   
3. You think you shouldn't have the surgery because you know you can lose all this weight all by yourself even though you haven't done it yet
   
4. A day or two before surgery you are anxious and worried about complications and things going wrong
   
5. After surgery you are in pain and can't eat much at all and you wonder if you made the wrong decision
   
6. You discover that the pain from the surgery is nothing compared to the gas pain (who knew?)
   
7. The pain gets better each day and you feel better than the day before each day.
   
8. A month after surgery you have lost some weight and are excited about your new life
   
9. Then the stall hits and lasts a while and you wonder if you will ever lose another pound
   
10. Once you get over your stall you are relieved
    

Sorry to ramble on but I know that the one thing that got me through the surgery was knowing what to expect and knowing how I was going to feel before I felt it

[traceylynn 33]

Thank you so much everyone!thanks for the tips and help:)I'm so excited!