I will be having the surgery in December and was curious on what I will need right after surgery. I got the obvious like protein shakes, water and clear liquids but I know there realisticially there is more? Any help would be appreciated, thanks guys and gals...

I was worried about that too! Here are some of the things I found helpful. I dont know what kind of diet your surgeon recomends post op, but i was on full liquids and pureed stuff for the first two weeks.

For the first two or three days I loved ice from Sonic if you have one, or crushed ice chips.

SF pudding cups, just the right size

SF popcicles

Ricotta cheese and spag. sauce. (I even made meatballs prior to surgery and froze them) you can puree these and layer with the ricota helps to feel like your eating food.

canned fruit (I pureed canned pears, they were excellent chilled I cant stand applesauce)

Black Beans (i also pureed them with green chilli enchalada sauce and added shredded cheese)

chicken tortilla Soup ( I blended and then froze, my fav was one that the deli at the groc store makes and is very low cal)

Cream of wheat

crystal light

decaf tea-warm stuff to drnk will be your friend

splenda

i also purchased beneprotien from walgreens.com, unflavored protien that can be added to hot stuff. i added it to my protien shakes just to up it a little bit when i first came home. i also added it to my pudding cups. Those were the best and easiest to get down the first few days. As for the cream of wheat, i added SF syrup to it to make it sweet, kroger has the best tasting one.

When i was able to go to soft foods...I ate the above as well as...

Turkey sausage crumbles..amazing by jimmy dean so easy

I used these with a scambled egg, sf syrup, in cream of wheat, on top of ricotta cheese and other stuff too.

Veggie Soups

Chilli with ground turkey-my fav by far..remember your beano!

Egg bakes- like quiche but so much easier

ground turkey-much easier on your tummy than burger

Just some of the things I ate, well what i ate mostly lol cuz u can only eat a little at a time. I wuld make stuff and then freeze it in 1/2 cup containers...jusr defrost heat n eat! that way you wont have to eat the same thing for several days straight.

The small containers are the best investment ever...measure t before you freeze it and then you wont have to when yuo are recovering! I tried to avoid cream soups but they are good if you have a hard time getting your calories in while you recover.

If you have any more questions feel free to ask us here! Everyone here has been great to me!

This was really helpful, thanks.

I would check out the food and nutrition forum/posts on this site as well; lots of info in there!

Just some additional thoughts

Liquid Tylenol (I did not take perscription pain killers once I got home but the port site is the most painful because it's bigger. It is easier to get the liquid version down the first couple days after surgery)

Benefiber Unflavored (added it to everything clear and full liquid stage to keep everything moving.

I found the sugar free pudding cups from the refrigerated section were better than the once in the pudding isle.

Crystal Light Sugar free popsicles were my favorite.

Pacific Brand Tomato and Sweet Red Pepper (Organic) Soup sometimes kept in the "organic" grocery section. Costco has it at a really good price.

Mrs Dash Salt Free flavoring to add to stock

I tried to buy stock felt it had more depth of flavor than broth.

I found the low salt versions of both/stock to be gross. You are only eating colored water for a week. I think the salt is worth it.

My last day of clear liquids I strained soup and drank the liquids it was so much better than just stock.

Once you feel well enough to take trips out after surgery carry ready to drink protein with you. I was drinking small amounts and would be hungry every 2-3 hours. It was a pain to have to find RTD Protein while I was out.