I am currently pre op - we are working on a December surgery! One thing I wanted to do during my waiting period is figure out the food an Protein shakes so I can be prepared. I found a pre made shake that I love an meets the requirements of Protein and sugar - is this all I will need - Can I drink all pre made shakes or do I have to have the powder too ? And from what I read being barely able to eat or drink how on earth did you get enough protein in right after surgery ? These shakes are 11oz and 30grams of protein - is it possible to get two of those in a day ?

Ok and food - lots of questions I know! Sorry I'm a planner!! I am in major need of ideas for food - what food did you purée and when you went back to solids what meals work for you?

Any suggestions on things to have in the house after surgery are greatly appreciated!

You may not be able to get in all your Protein and liquids at first, but you'll work up to it. You'll concentrate on liquids first and foremost. As far as shakes go, your tastes may change after surgery. I would not count on your favorite type staying your favorite. Personally, I keep chocolate, vanilla, and plain protein powders in the house to add to things like yogurt, smoothies, milk, etc... Also, don't buy oodles of food ahead of time. I wasted a ton on money on things I never used. I have baby food meat, dried milk, lots of broths, ready made protein shakes, and lots more than I'll never use. I had a relatively easy time with food and once I got to the puréed stage, I didn't really need anything too specialized. Good luck to you from a fellow planner!!

I agree with mgteacher. everything you plan before surgery will go out the window after surgery. I bought a lot of jello, flavor drink packs to add to bottled water, broth, protein powder, baby food, and other crap. after surgery my taste buds changed so much I couldn't tolerate most of what I bought. a lot tasted nasty to me. when I came home I drank water, beef broth with pepper and a looooot of sugar free popsicles. I loved popsicles because they were ice cold and my mouth would get so dry I couldn't talk. even now I keep a bottle of water with me at all times because if I talk a lot my my gets so dry. never happened before surgery. for me all protein shakes are nasty, even now I am 18 months out and cant drink protein shakes without gagging on them. I didn't puree any foods. I just stuck with soft food like yogurt, mashed potatoes with a little bit of gravy. a few times I had sugar free vanilla ice cream. I used to crave anything ice cold. and anything soft I could mush up in my mouth like cheese. you can get as many ideas as you want from people but really you need to find what works for you. they will tell you repeatedly not to drink anything with calories. water only. and sip water alllll day long. for me the problem with that is if I drink all day like youre supposed to I never get hungry and cant eat. so I modified what they told me to do. I will drink things with calories because you need calories for energy. not saying I drink soda and shit. I drink juice by a company called bottlehouse. they are just like naked juices but much cheaper. you can get them at walmart right next to naked. they are only $3.00 or so for a bottle when naked is $5.00. if I drink something with a lot of calories I consider it a meal. sometimes I blend the juice with yogurt. that makes a glass about 300 calories or so. so I consider it breakfast. everybodys story is slightly different. everybody tolerates different foods in different ways. like I had never had dumping. sugar has no effect on me. I was terrified of dumping from everything I have heard people say. then one day about year out, dumping happened I think. what did it for me was cereal and milk. I had eaten dry cereal, I had drank milk, but something about the combo of milk and cereal together made me dump. you should follow doctors orders, but sometimes you have to tweak things. what works for one person may not work for another.