(If anyone has issues with the link below, please contact me!)
Also, as a disclaimer: This list is 100% personalized for me from my own experiences. The items on this list were approved by my own physician for my surgeries. However, everyone is different. If your doctor nixes an item on this list, then please follow your doctor's orders and do not use it until he/she says so.
Some notes regarding the check list:
Food
Chicken Broth - If you are on a liquid diet, having the extra chicken stock/broth is very helpful. I used it to thin out my meals if they were too thick to go into a syringe.
Ice cream - Only get flavors that are plain. Flavors with nuts or candy were a no-no for me.
Protein Powder - I personally used a peanut protein powder and used them in milk shakes. If milk shakes aren't your thing, then get a protein powder that doesn't taste like anything.
Yogurt - It doesn't have to be greek, that was just my preference. Do whatever you feel like. Greek yogurt has a lot of protein so that's why I chose that. Chobani has tons of flavors and most of them are very easy to eat.
Carnation Breakfast/Ensure - Of all the things I thought I'd hate the most, Ensure was one of them. I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't that bad. In fact, I continued to drink ensure for awhile after I switched to a soft food diet. Chocolate was my favorite. Carnation Breakfast tasted very similar but I liked the portability of ensure (versus mixing in a glass). I bought both CB and Ensure but I think I could have gone without the CB. If you want both, get both. But don't feel like you have to.
Progresso Soups - These soups are great if you are on a blender/liquid diet. My favorites were chicken dumping, beef stew, and chicken pot pie. Just throw them into a blender until there are no lumps left and enjoy. All the flavor but none of the work.
Non-Food
Chapstick - My lips were so dry after surgery. A definite must, especially if having oral surgery. I bought a 3 pack and left them all over the house.
A&D Ointment - My lips got so chapped that regular chapstick wasn't doing it for me anymore. Apparently, A&D ointment is also indicated for chapped lips which I never knew! I also got a rash after surgery (which apparently is quite common after surgery for most people) and this helped with clearing the rash up.
Facial Cleansing towelettes - All I wanted to do was take a shower after my surgery and I couldn't! These will help you feel like a somewhat normal person without having to climb into the shower. I washed my face, arms, chest and armpits with them! They were wonderful! My skin can be a little sensitive so I bought the Bert's Bee's Facial Cleansing Towelettes.
A heat/ice pack - Ice and heat played a very important role after surgery. I iced my face for 3 days after surgery and then used heat after. It really does help so buy one that does double duty. I got one that is flexible after being frozen and can also go into the microwave.
Dry Erase Board - Get one if you are unsure of how communication will be after your jaw surgery. For my Le Fort/Saggital Split operation, I used mine constantly the first week of recovery. It was very helpful when I needed something. If you don't end up using it, you can always return it or use some magnets and place it on the side of your fridge as a message board.
Chapstick - My lips were so dry after surgery. A definite must, especially if having oral surgery. I bought a 3 pack and left them all over the house.
A&D Ointment - My lips got so chapped that regular chapstick wasn't doing it for me anymore. Apparently, A&D ointment is also indicated for chapped lips which I never knew! I also got a rash after surgery (which apparently is quite common after surgery for most people) and this helped with clearing the rash up.
Facial Cleansing towelettes - All I wanted to do was take a shower after my surgery and I couldn't! These will help you feel like a somewhat normal person without having to climb into the shower. I washed my face, arms, chest and armpits with them! They were wonderful! My skin can be a little sensitive so I bought the Bert's Bee's Facial Cleansing Towelettes.
A heat/ice pack - Ice and heat played a very important role after surgery. I iced my face for 3 days after surgery and then used heat after. It really does help so buy one that does double duty. I got one that is flexible after being frozen and can also go into the microwave.
Dry Erase Board - Get one if you are unsure of how communication will be after your jaw surgery. For my Le Fort/Saggital Split operation, I used mine constantly the first week of recovery. It was very helpful when I needed something. If you don't end up using it, you can always return it or use some magnets and place it on the side of your fridge as a message board.
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