Shopping to prepare and filling meds.

I met a lady through LBT…don’t know if I mentioned it previously or not…but she lives in my area. We have been exchanging emails and she’s been giving me tips/tricks and telling me the various things I can expect. We shall call her Mentor. She told me to be sure and make copies of the post op mushy stage food list. She warned that I would be looking at it over and over…trying to find something I could eat on the list that I missed the previous 10 times I read it!

I went shopping with that list. I got more SF pudding. I also got more SF popsicles (at least Tadpole is not eating sugar laden popsicles anymore!). They suggested things like refried beans with taco sauce, ravioli with tomato sauce, and mashed potatoes with stuff mixed in, etc. I got the items needed to make them all…plus a few others.

Then I went to my local Wal-Mart. (I live in a small town…and we do NOT have a Super Wal-Mart. Therefore groceries have to be gotten at the grocery store.) I filled the prescriptions they gave me (Mentor suggested I do it a week early, in case they didn’t stock either item) and started looking at containers. I figured I would need a bunch to make the small meals I would be eating.

I now have everything I should need for the first month.

I’m ready.

-Frog

Education class and prescriptions.

In the previous post, I mentioned my education class. They told me that the class is required and you must bring list of possible surgery dates that you are good with. We already know that I had my date. Turns out so did another gal…she was the day before me…but I didn’t find this out until later.

Otherwise, the rest was with the nutritionist telling us about the pre- and post- op diets. She was telling us about making good choices, etc.

The big thing from the class was the prescriptions. They gave me an anti-nausea patch and liquid pain medication. They told me to put the patch on 2 hours before surgery.

I feel like I’m finally on the way and can’t believe this is actually happening!!!

-Frog

1 week.

1 week. 1 week you ask? What does this crazy Frog mean by 1 week? Well, yesterday marked 1 week on the pre-op diet and 1 week before surgery.

I have family that made a spur of the moment decision to come for a visit. Normally this would be no big deal. I have a great family and we all like to hang out together. Now this is not such good timing as I have not told my brother or sister. I’m not sure why I haven’t told them…

At any rate, the spur of the moment visit begat some very creative dieting for my first 2 days on the pre-op diet. I had previously purchased some BSN Lean Dessert Protein (Whipped Vanilla and Chocolate Fudge) and was going to be using it for my diet. Well, I felt the need to hide those bright red tubs. I hid them in my garage. Since I was not going to be able to explain the blender 2x a day…I went to the store and bought some tuna and veggies for my snacks…as well as some pre-made shakes to bring to work. They didn’t necessarily tell me I could have tuna…but I figure why not as it is no fat, low calorie and high protein! I would then eat dinner with the family. This worked great for the 3 days I needed it to…the only exception is the odd after taste I got with the pre-made shakes. I put them in the freezer for about 1.5 hours before I was going to drink them. I then chugged them. Then I only got the taste at the end!

I had my education class with the surgeon while they family was here. Got away and drove the 1.5 hours to the office. Most of what they told me I already knew. The most “new” information came in the form of what we are allowed during the mushy stages! More stuff that I thought…who knew Tuna counted???

I took the list of allowed foods and went shopping. I got everything I should need for the first week. I bought a couple of juices, some crystal light flavors, SF popsicles and skim milk to make my protein shakes. Now, I am normally averse to “blue water”. However, I figure if I am only allowed 1200 calories I might as well make everyone count!! And you know what I found…in a protein shake, you really don’t know the difference!! I also got some SF pudding. They said Jell-O was ok…but I HATE HATE HATE Jell-O. Figured I could also suck pudding through my teeth (their criteria for liquid) so, pudding should work!

-Frog

MIA

I know that I have been Missing in Action! I promise I will try to get all caught up!

In order to do that...we will be going back in time. No worries...I won't have to make up anything crazy. I make notes to myself on things I want to blog. I'm finishing up the first one and should have it posted shortly!

-Frog