3 Weeks!!

Surgery day is three weeks from today. I can't believe that it is so close after waiting so long. And it also doesn't quite seem real yet.

I have been reading in my manual about eating after surgery. I will have different stages. The stages while I'm in the hospital are as follows:

Stage 1 Diet (Ice Chips Only): You may have one ounce of ice chips per hour, if tolerated. Ice chips help provide mouth and throat comfort. You may also ask for a mouth swab for symptoms of dry mouth. This diet is used until UGI is negative or the diet advanced by your surgeon (usually three to four hours after surgery).

Stage 2 Diet (Clear Liquid Menu): This diet begins once UGI is negative or your surgeon advances your diet. You may have one ounce of clear fluids every 30 minutes (total of two ounces per hour) but no protein drinks yet. You will receive a tray of water, broth, sugar free Jell-O, decaf tea, sugar free Popsicles and protein drinks. These liquids are the tools to help meet your hydration needs.

Options may include:
• Broths:
    - Chicken
    - Beef
    - Vegetable
    - Low Sodium Chicken
    - Low Sodium Beef
    - Diet Lemonade
• Beverages:
    - Decaf Iced Tea
    - Decaf Coffee
    - Decaf Espresso
    - Decaf Hot Tea
    - Decaf Mint or Chamomile Tea
    - Bottled Water
• Dessert:
    - Diet Gelatin
    - Sugar Free Popsicle

If you are tolerating this diet well after one to three hours, you may progress to Stage 3 diet.

Stage 3 Diet (Full Liquid Menu): You may have one ounce of clear fluids every 15 minutes (four ounces per hour). Sip slowly, a minimum of 48 ounces per day. Protein drinks are added at one ounce per hour. Stage 3 is your target diet before you leave to ensure you will stay hydrated at home. You can drink more than four ounces per hour, but this is the minimum to indicate you will be safe at home.

You may have all clear liquid menu items AND add provided protein drinks (1 oz per hour). You may have protein supplements such as Isopure, Zero Carb Optisource. IV fluids commonly continued the second day; when taking oral fluids well, IV may be “capped” or stopped. You will continue FLUIDS ONLY the first week with protein drinks. You need a minimum of four to eight ounces of water per hour. Protein drinks do not need to be clear.

People have been asking me how they can support me and the traditional bringing of meals won't work. I have been thinking about it and I would say Wal-Mart or other store gift cards that I can use to purchase protein drinks, food or clothes, or if possible, gift cards to Full Beauty, the website where I buy most of my clothes.

Just to be clear, I am not asking for any gifts or money, but if you want to send something, those would be the most useful things at this time. Also, I love to get mail, so a card or letter would be awesome.