I moved to full liquids about a week and a half after surgery, but I was allowed to have milk based protein drinks at day 3 to help with nausea. When I went to full liquids, I was able to add yogurt, soups and puddings. I like the Chobani 100 because it doesn't have any artificial sweeteners or flavors. But, it does have little pieces of fruit so I have to be careful not to eat those. I have also had cream of chicken soup (Pacific Organic) that I made with Mootopia milk for extra protein. I used the hand blender. I've also had La Madeline's Reduced Fat Tomato Basil mixed with some Pacific Creamy Tomato to thin it. That's been my favorite. I also blended some homestyle potato soup but didn't really like that. I have not felt any restriction with fluids, though you may since you are only 4 days out. So, I can easily eat a cup of soup. I am trying to get at least 700 calories a day but that is with effort. I am trying for at least 70 grams of protein, but am finding that harder as I move from protein shakes to soups. I think I was at 65 today.

As for cheese flavor, tomorrow I am planning on mixing tortilla soup broth with fiesta cheese soup and putting in through the hand blender, along with some unflavored protein powder. Hopefully that will be good. I also bought a broccoli cheese soup that I will run through the blender.

I was home from the hospital the day after surgery and for the first few days, I just walked around the house, and not very much because I had really bad nausea. Starting at day 5, I started walking at least 30 minutes a day. Did they give you anti-clotting meds in the hospital - mine was a shot in the stomach.

My incisions aren't leaking at all. Do you have one in your belly button? I had previous laproscopic surgery and that one leaked for a while. When is your post-op? I would have the surgeon look at it.

Skim ricotta blended with Kroger carbmaster vanilla milk has a good whack of protein . Pure protein 30 g shakes work well too, available at SAMs club. You can whiz up lentil soup with chicken broth, just pass it thru a sieve. I made a lot of decaf lattes with Kroger carbmaster because it has 11 g per cup, make sure you shake it cause the whey will settle. You can put egg beaters in your protein shakes because they are pasteurized. Some people make Greek yogurt smoothies with egg beaters because you get about 8g in a half cup of smoothie (3/4 cup vanilla Greek yogurt 1/4 cup egg beaters). I never ate it but I have seen it.

Some great ideas, Mango!

I didn't know that about Egg Beaters being usable 'raw'.

On the Carbmaster, it has whey in it that will settle?

Yes, carbmaster is protein fortified with additional milk protein which I assume is whey protein. Sometimes, depending on how it was handled it can settle. I keep a half gallon at the office and since I drink less there and it sits unmoved for a day or two the whey can begin to settle. I noticed this when I was emptying a container but it was still rather heavy. The excess whey had simply settled. I fix this by giving it a shake and a whack on the bottom of the box. Problem solved. I do like that it has a very decent shelf life.

Thanks, Mango!

I lived on protein infused chicken and beef broth during the full liquids. I never did popsciles or pudding even the sugar free stuff, it wasn't part of the plan. An unflavored protein powder mixed into a 1/2 cup of fat free beef or chicken broth will give you some protein and count as water too. I'm more of a savory person, so the sweet, thick shakes were not my favorite thing during this phase. Also, Isopure Zero is a flavored water with about 40 grams of protein in it. I got mine at GNC.

And I will bet what you are experiencing is head hunger, not real hunger. Since you just had surgery, you probably aren't really hungry, that usually goes away for most of us for up to a year. It's the idea that you are used to eating and right are not that's got you thinking you are hungry. Unfortunately that head hunger is very real and doesn't go away. So right now, since you really can't eat during this healing phase, is a good time to figure out how to recognize head hunger and figure out how you want to deal with it.

I did think that maybe I wasn't really hungry, but my stomach is growling and I guess I'd say hurting a little. I'm just not much on liquids in general. I do like the Healthwise cream of chicken and tomato soups that I got from my Dr office. I really like popsicles. I need to get to the store for some yogurt and think that will help. I'm not a fan of the Isopure yet. I'm just trying to figure out what may be best for me at this stage with going through all this. Thanks all!

When my stomach growls and "eats itself" I am dehydrated or I forgot my reflux pill, or both. Not a pleasant feeling. For me 3 cups of water in a day pre op was a lot. Very difficult post surgery to get in 64oz. Though one time it was really bad, I had gotten completely distracted and missed breakfast and just kept going until 1 pm when I thought the "Alien" was going to burst from my chest. I couldn't believe I completely forgot to eat or drink. Now I watch my urine output and make sure my urine is pale as well as keep liquid on my desk always.