Soft Foods:
- Eggs - hardboiled, scrambled with cheese (yummy), omelette, egg salad, poached, fried or any way you like.
- Chicken/Turkey salad - I had it without the bread and just cut up the chicken into tiny pieces
- Ground Beef, Ground turkey or Ground chicken.
- Tuna - I like to add "Miracle Whip' or mayonnaise and a bit of dill pickle chopped up or dill pickle relish for some extra flavor.
- Hummus
- Protein Powder for shakes & smoothies; Here is my favorite recipe: fresh or frozen fruit (i.e. strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, mango), 1 tbsp chia or flax seeds, "Bolthouse brand" Juice Acai-berry (1/3 cup) or any juice that comes from the cooler/fridge section of your grocery.
- "Vega One" is a great protein powder. It has 6 servings of greens, anti-oxidants, 50% daily intake of food-based vitamins and minerals, 25% CV fiber, Probiotics (1 billion CFU) plus 20 grams of plant based protein. It is available at most health food stores, Walmart, Shoppers Drug Mart etc. http://myvega.com/product/vega-one-nutritional-shake/
- Cottage Cheese - I used to add jam or fruit compote to it and make it into more of a dessert.
- Yogurt - add some cut up fresh fruit
- Rice
- Pasta. This is a great way to add veggies. Cut peppers, onions, zucchini, tomatoes etc. into very small pieces and fry until softened and then add to your tomato sauce.
- Any kind of pasta product like macaroni and cheese (I added hot dogs and cut them up into tiny pieces), cannelloni, lasagna, etc.
- Cabbage rolls
- Soups & Stews
- Chilli - I made homemade chilli and let it cook in the slow cooker for 2 days. The beans become so soft.
- Hot Baked Apple
- Fruit Compote - take any fruits and put them in a blender or chopper until smaller. You can also heat it up over a stove or in a microwave to soften it up a bit more if you like to keep it chunkier.
- To get your veggies, steam them. It makes them softer. The biggest thing I missed was a salad, so I used to cut up my lettuce with scissors until it resembled small coleslaw. The point was to make it small enough that I didn't have to chew it.
- BEWARE: my biggest caution is not to eat too many bad carbs like pasta and white bread. You'll gain weight like I did. Or perhaps I gained weight because I could eat again! When you can't eat for so long and then all of a sudden you can eat again, be careful not to get excited, go overboard and eat your way through the grocery store! haha!
What to pack and include for your Hospital stay for TMJ Replacement Surgery:
- Baby spoons / fork
- Lip gloss, lip balm and/or petroleum jelly
- Eye mask to make it dark so you can sleep and in case your eyelid won't close.
- Mouthwash or rinse (in case you can't brush your teeth).
- Floss sticks (plastic holders with floss built in because you won't be able to open your mouth wide enough for dental floss)
- Soft tissues with moisturizer (hospital tissues are too hard)
- Sippy cup (Child's drinking cup)
- Straws that bend
- Salt (to create a salt rinse) - grab a couple of the little tiny packages you get at fast food restaurants. Use this if they don't give you a prescription mouthwash. I was given "Peridex".
- Paper/Clip board & pen or dry erase board (in case you can't talk, or to make notes and write instructions)
- A friend suggested perfume or some kind of scent to put on your pillow (in case you have a smelly neighbor or your neighbors are using bed pans)
- Deoderant
- Child toothbrush.
- Toothpaste for sensitive teeth. Get the fast-acting kind if possible like Fast Acting Sensidyne or Colgate.
- I included a list of my medications and what time I take them at. (Makes it easier for nurses looking after you)
- Your favorite comfy pillow.
- Slip on shoes or slippers that you can put on without bending over. Doctors want you to walk around to help get the anesthesia out of your system.
- Pajamas or tops that button down (to get over your head without touching it)
- Facial Moisturizer
- Soft cloths to wipe the drool in case you are numb. I bought some really soft wash cloths from Walmart. The softer the better.
- Wax for arch bars if your surgeon may be planning to install them. I was given some at the hospital but it wasn`t until a day or two later and by then the arch bars had badly cut up my gums. Your surgeon should be able to supply you some a head of time.
Home Preparation for after TMJ Replacement Surgery:
Prior to surgery, you may want to prepare your house and bedroom so that when you come home from the hospital, it is ready for you:
- Get the Blender and or juicer out
- Buy some juice boxes. (They are portable, don't need to be refrigerated and have a straw built in.)
- Stock up on juices, soups and soft foods like yogurt, cottage cheese, apple sauce, pudding, small size pasta, eggs, vegetables you can puree or cook till very soft.
- Order new Medic Alert bracelet with TMJ Replacement on it.
- Some people even sleep in the spare bedroom so their significant other won't accidentally hit them at night.
- Get your bed area ready. You will need 2 pillows to keep your head elevated.
- Tablet or Laptop by your bed or favorite reclining chair or sofa.
- Lap desk so you have a flat surface when resting for writing or doing stuff.
- Tissues by bed and wherever you will be resting.
- Soft cloths to wipe the drool in case you are numb wherever you are resting. I am using really soft wash cloths and hand towels.
- You may want to change your bedding to something old or dark in case you are still bleeding and drooling so that you don't ruin and stain your pillow cover or bedding.
- Water and juice by your bed and wherever you will be resting.
- Pain meds by your bed in case you need to take them in the middle of the night plus water to take them with. I stocked several bottles of water on my nightstand.
- If you don't have a Waterpik, get one. This helps to clean your teeth even when you can't open your mouth very much. If you have Arch Bars, it will clean the food away from the wires. Make sure to ask your surgeon when you can start using it.
- MEPIFORM for your scars. It can be purchased over-the-counter in Canada and you don`t need a prescription and I believe it is available internationally. See my 6 month after surgery point in my blog for more information.
- Purchase some WOBENZYM N (http://www.wobenzym.ca/enzyme-effect.cfm). It is a natural enzyme that reduces inflammation and helps with immune system support and post-surgical recovery. You will start taking this right after your surgery when you get home to aid in recovery.