She also stressed was that when I get home she wants me drink all day long to avoid dehydration. She says that if I�m awake I should have a drink with me and sip ALL day long. I need to learn to sip and not drink to get ready for after surgery. She said to watch my urine and if it is clear all is well but if its dark and strong then I�m dehydrating and I need to drink more. So I�ll have to keep close track of that. She also told me to buy the small Juicy Juice boxes because they are 100 % juice with no added sugar.
She also told us that she wants me to get 75-80 grams of protein daily after surgery and that I need to drink half of that. She recommended I try Anywhey Protein from GNC or a ready made called Isopure that is also from GNC. I asked her about Boost being on her sheet and she says she doesn�t recommend because it only has 13 grams of protein but if I want I can use it and add a scoop of protein powder and bump it up to around 40 grams. She said that after the liquid part of the diet I could add the protein powder to the sugar free pudding.
When I get to full liquids I should buy light yogurt and to look at the label and stay under 20 grams of carbs, and to only get the custard or smooth�no chunks of fruit. As far as creamed soups go she suggested split pea and ham and bean as they are the highest in protein. She said to run them thru the blender till smooth. Yuck�. I guess I have to get use to bean soup.
All of this information helped me to understand what I can have and what I can�t and some tips on the types to buy. My hubby wants to go shopping before I go in for surgery (notice I didn�t say if I go in for surgery) so that it�ll all be there ready when I get to come home. So I guess as soon as I get a surgery date we will be off to the store for food and protein drinks and doll dishes.
Ok today is January 30, 2004, and I have been calling my primary care doctor all week tiring to find out where my letter of medical necessity is. I�m starting to get a little aggravated with them. I�m not asking for much just for them to return my calls. It may be that I need to find another primary care provider since they are dragging their feet on something that I have told them from the first call was my primary objective�things that make you go hum!
I think this week will be the longest�I have to get this out of the way to file with the insurance company and it seems to be dragging along. Up to this point I have been excited but now the light at the end of the tunnel is so close and it is killing me to wait. I just hope that I get my clearance from both the cardiologist and the pulmonary doctor when I go next Tuesday.