Liquid diet prep

Surgery is less than 2 weeks away! I've started to prepare for the realities of the post-op liquid diet by beginning a stockpile of liquid ingredients and trying out new recipes. I bought a great liquid diet book from an RN living in Georgia who's son broke his jaw playing soccer. It's called The Healing Kitchen: A Guide to Liquid Diet and is available at http://www.liquiddiet.net/ for $10 if you live in the States and $12 USD (to cover extra shipping costs) for those of us living in Canada. It's full of some great tips about liquid diet, and lots of soup and smoothie recipes that are made with extra calories and protein to facilitate healing. I've already tried several including the Indian Zucchini Soup, Borsch, Corn and Clam Chowder, and Peanut Butter Shake. Delicious!

The book suggests that women increase their protein intake from the normal 45 grams per day to 80 grams per day after surgery, and men should increase their intake from the normal 56 grams per day to 90 grams per day. I decided to buy some hemp protein powder to help with this. I also bought some basics such as juices, chicken stock, canned soup, and pureed fruit (in baby food jars, but I'll try anything!). I'm going to stay away from foods like berries and celery that have seeds or strings that don't liquify in the blender. I'm afraid of getting these caught in the stitches. I also bought some Metamucil powder that dissolves in liquid in order to increase my fibre intake. I've heard that the pain meds prescribed after surgery can really get things plugged-up, so to speak, and I want to avoid as much unnecessary discomfort as possible!

I've also been preparing for surgery by taking an iron supplement, vitamin B, and vitamin E capsule almost daily for the last few months. I read that taking extra iron before surgery can help with healing and keeping energy levels up, and that vitamin B and E can help with nerve repair. I'm not going to continue taking the iron supplement after surgery because I find that it makes me a bit nauseated if I don't eat enough food with it, and the liquid version stains my teeth, but I'll continue with the vitamin B and E. I was able to find a liquid vitamin B supplement from a local health food store so this will replace the tablet that I take now. Maybe these supplements will help and maybe they won't, but they definitely won't hurt so I might as well try!

I really love food! And I'm really going to miss being able to eat anything I want. I remember not being able to eat properly for a few days after having my wisdom teeth removed and I was so cranky! However, I was less mentally prepared for that surgery than I am for this one and I have to keep reminding myself that the liquid and soft food phases of recovery are only temporary. Once I'm fully healed I'll be able to chew better than ever before! No pain, no gain!