11 days 'til surgery...

May 31, 2012

So the countdown continues and I am 11 days 'til surgery today. I have been nesting like crazy. I have acquired the following in preparation:
baby spoons
toddler sippy cups
2 extra nalgene bottles
4 blender bottles
protein sample packs in lots and lots of flavors
protein jello shot from my RD that has 15g of protein in this tiny little jello shot
tiny glass bowls that hold 1 cup of food with lids
little ramekins that hold 1 cup of food with lids
heating pad
gas-x strips
tylenol (used to be an advil junkie)
various water flavorings
various extracts as recommended by RD
torani SF syrups
SF pudding
SF jello
SF popsicles
digital food scale
home ice cream maker to make protein ice cream recipes from the world according to eggface
several tubes of lip balm for the hospital stay
biotene mouthwash to help with drymouth
smooth move tea
digestive enzyme pills
various herbal teas
broths
juices
greek yogurt
Brita water pitcher
blender
fresh tube of neosporin
peppermint essential oil to help with possible nausea
alcohol swabs to help with possible nausea (sniffing them is supposed to help)
extra measuring cups, spoons, shot glasses
flushable wipes
loofa on a stick
and finally...a coffee maker for my dad who will be coming in to town to take care of me and cannot go a morning without several cups of his joe (I like the smell, but hate the taste).

I had my last visit with my RD before surgery yesterday and she pleasantly informed me that I do not have to be on the pre-op liquid diet at all. She said the surgeons decided that only people with a BMI over 45 need to be on that diet and since mine is only 42, I am exempt. Rebecca also told me that the research on fatty liver syndrome and shrinking your liver before surgery has been inconclusive so the docs decided only 45 and higher needed to do the diet. I know she was expecting me to be super excited about this but I was actually kind of disappointed. It has been extremely difficult to eat the foods I feel like I need to say goodbye to but still not gain ANY weight. I am proud of myself for being able to balance that and now that I think about it, I should be looking at this as practice for the rest of my life instead of being disappointed. I really just need to keep my mindful eating in check...keeping the unhealthy foods in check, listening to my own body and not overdoing it.

The last food on my funeral list is macaroni and cheese. I like the boxed kind but what I am really talking about is the gourmet kind that I consider myself an expert on. The best mac and cheese on earth comes from this handmade cheese shop in Seattle called Beechers. The second best mac and cheese on earth is from right here in Wisconsin at Kate's Pizza Amore and that's where I plan to make my final pilgrimage next week.

I've been thinking that maybe the last weekend before surgery I should go liquid just to help clear out my system. I know there will be a lot of cleaning going on as well! Stay tuned for more as it happens...

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