How did you prepare yourself for surgery?

[2NewBeginningsxoxo 24]

Hi all. So if all goes well I should be ready for surgery in Jan / Feb of this coming year. Time is getting closer and I'm worried that I won't be prepared. I would love some opinions on what I can do to prepare myself. I'm most worried about having food prepared ahead of time so all I have to do is grab and go, or heat and eat. I'll ask a few questions below. Any help would be welcome.

1. What are some quick easy meals that I can prepare on the weekends so I'm set for the week?

2. What is a typical meal like post surgery?

3. What should I add to my list of things to buy right before surgery since I will be home and not able to be out and about right after (medicines, drinks, Snacks, etc)?

4. What did you drink during your liquid diet pre and post op?

5. What is the best thing I can do now to prepare myself for surgery?

Thanks for the help!

[Aribay1 198]

I'm starting my liquid diet tomorrow and I bought Jello Protein protein protein flavor packs for Water and simple liquid diet requirements.and what you can do now before surgery? I asked myself the same thing back in august. Right now enjoy eating out eating whatever you want but at the same time don't over do it or gain weight. Just enjoy your time with food. Lol. By the time you know it it'll be one week before surgery. Like me!

[Tanya Gif 23]

Thank you for the post. I should be getting my surgery sometime at the of January/early February. Really nervous and trying to prepare myself as well. Where are you getting yours done?

[gabbykittyvsg 184]

I had my final visit with the dietitian today and got my pre-op diet menu and the menu for the full liquid stage when I get home. Because I want to be ready to start the pre-op diet the moment my coordinator calls me with the approval (I'm taking first available slot!!) I have everything I need.

Since you are a few months out I'd be trying Protein powders. Find a few you like and don't buy a ton of one thing. But most of all work on the head game. Make peace with the issues that caused you to turn to food for comfort.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Read these boards and take lots of notes. This forum has a wealth of information from people at all stages of the process.

[joatsaint 2,814]

Hi all. So if all goes well I should be ready for surgery in Jan / Feb of this coming year. Time is getting closer and I'm worried that I won't be prepared. I would love some opinions on what I can do to prepare myself. I'm most worried about having food prepared ahead of time so all I have to do is grab and go, or heat and eat. I'll ask a few questions below. Any help would be welcome.

1. What are some quick easy meals that I can prepare on the weekends so I'm set for the week?

2. What is a typical meal like post surgery?

3. What should I add to my list of things to buy right before surgery since I will be home and not able to be out and about right after (medicines, drinks, Snacks, etc)?

4. What did you drink during your liquid diet pre and post op?

5. What is the best thing I can do now to prepare myself for surgery?

Thanks for the help!

1. You will be eating about 800 calories per day for weeks, you won't really need to prepare much food ahead of time. And my 1st 10 days post-op, I ate practically nothing - as in 1/2 popsicle per day. And starting the 2nd week and for weeks after, I was only eating about 3/4 can of cream of mushroom Soup per day.

2.

3. sugar free popsicles, any pain meds your doc may prescribe(ask ahead of time), broth (clear chicken broth). That's all I needed my 1st week.

4. I drank EAS carb control chocolate shakes, but I've since found I like Premier Protein chocolate better.

5. Start learning to eat with a teaspoon (that's about the size bites you'll need to take post-op) and learn not to drink 30 minutes before/with/ 30 minutes after a meal. And take teaspoon size sips when drinking. It will make it easier to eat without getting too full post-op.

Bonus: take your favorite pillow with you to the hospital. And put a colorful pillow case on it - to make it easy to find when packing to leave.

Edited October 23, 2014 by joatsaint