hospital food - eeeeoooo?

I head off to the castle a week from today - eeeks! This is probably a silly worry, but I'm an equal opportunity worrier at this point! My surgery is at 1:30, and then I'm scheduled to be in the hospital one night. What do you think they would typically try to get me to eat while I'm there. I'm a *really* picky eater, and wonder if I should bring a few things, (crackers, etc..?) that I might actually want to eat. If they try to give me something yucky, I probably just wouldn't eat. Do I have to eat to get sprung?

I'm also really sensitive to drugs, and easily get motion sick, so hope by speaking to my Dr. and anesthesiologist ahead of time, I can skip the whole post-op nausea thing!

Thanks from a LIW wound-up like a top!

The food at my castle was GROSS!! I suggest taking items you can and would be inclined to eat. My DD was the "food flier"...she brought back some lovely mandarin oranges, won ton soup (one sister brought packets of dry soup and used the hot water they bring you for tea), and chicken sandwiches. I tried to eat any steamed veggie or whole wheat role, juice, etc. that was edible on the tray. If you are picky, I would recommend bringing something for sure...good luck.

Lonicera,

You pretty much just have to fart to get sprung!

I'd bring your own food. The food at my castle was pretty gross, too. Also, they will likely only let you have liquids at first. Then "soft foods," then regular food. So, we're talking mashed potatoes out of a box, pudding, cottage cheese with canned fruit, etc.

And, if you are a caffeine addict, you'd better tell your husband to make a Starbucks or Peets run ASAP. The coffee *****, there's no real cream and there's no caffeine is anything!

These are good things to worry about, in my humble opinion!



Margot

I am also extremely pickey--but I found that when I woke up I was really not too hungry ( my surgery was at 8am) I am not sure I was even allowed to bring my own food--so I did not--I was given a liquid lunch and dinner which was chicken broth and beef broth which I have never had before but was quite good and then regular jello--for breakfast was regular food which was not the greatest but still I was not too hungry--

If you are still concerned then I would check with your dr to see what you can do and if you can bring your own then I would that way it will be 1 less stress to worry about.

Good Luck

I guess I am one of the lucky ones. The Castle I am going to has WONDERFUL food! They even let you pick exactly what you want and the portion size. They also bring dinners to whomever is staying with you during your stay, and don't charge a dime.
I am looking forward to yummy food I don't have to cook!! LOL
(Always look for the silver lining!)
Diana

My castle food was also truly wonderful - the menu read like your favourite restaurant with appetisers and starters and deserts - a choice of about 10 main courses with various vegetables and accompaniments... it was great you could just tick as many boxes as you fancied... my first meal was ham and melon salad followed by prawn omlette with broccoli and cauliflower cheese... I had picked that little lot within 2 hours of surgery, and when it arrived the next day i was a bit surprised, but delighted with my choices! The catering staff dressed in black uniforms with white pinnies and hats on, the guys had white ruffled shirts and bow ties... it was some of the best food i have had anywhere, ever - and when the menus arrived each morning it really gave me something to look forward to! You could even request the wine list! otion:

I was lucky, too. My castle's food service runs just like room service -- no having to eat breakfast when everyone else was served. And the food was really good. When I finally could eat, I ordered half the menu because I was so hungry! (Including a malt, cake and cookies -- you just never know when you're going to get the munchies, after all )

Docs differ on whether or not you have to eat to be released. This also depends on your procedure.

However, most of the time the nurses will have crackers, juice and jello and that sort of thing so you can get some sort of snack anytime. Hope this helps!

OK, if I'm ever hospitalized again, apparently my best bet would be to leave California. Couldn't help but notice that most of the bad food stories occurred in our state--which is famous for fresh produce, good wine, wonderful restaurants, etc.! The UK looks like the best option...

Lonicera, like mjd says, they usually *do* have juice and crackers, available anytime. I was hungry right away and was given a very small meal, so I begged for juice and crackers a few hours later. And I suppose that they probably would be a little concerned and may not spring you if you weren't eating at all. But, I'm serious about the farting. You will be asked over and over if you have "passed gas."

Regarding the anesthesiology, the Anesthesiologist will talk to you before your surgery. There is something they can put in your IV that helps with nausea. I got really sick after a C-section. I told the Anesthesiologist about this before both of my recent surgeries and had no problems. They even gave me something in the ER when they put morphine in my IV!

Is this your first time in the hosp?

Fire away the questions! These are the fun ones for us to answer!



Margot

I am 5 days post op and have to tell you after one day of liquid diet and then not being able to eat after midnight the day of my surgery, which was at 2:30 PM !!!!!, My stomach was growling and I had a major headache when they took me back.....Since I had a LSH I went home at noon the next day and I was so hungry anything would have been good. But I have to say the lunch wasn't bad at all, Cheese ravioli, steamed veggies, soup and a huge piece of pound cake. And like someone said in another post, once I "passed gas" I was out a there!!!!

Thanks ladies for all the great info. Where would I be without my sisters!! Wow Chicky - I'm glad your had such scrumptuous meals at your castle - and uniformed service to boot, how elegant. It must have made your stay so much better! Did you forget to mention the candlelight?

Unfortunately, I haven't heard rave reviews about our local hosp. fare, so will find out, as suggested, if I can bring a few small things, or have my DH get me something. And, yes smargie, this is my first stay at a hospital. I've had surgery in the past, but only as an out-patient. Last time I had anesthesia, I felt like I was going to for a couple of days. I don't know if it was the anesthesia or the pain medicine. I don't think I tolerate narcotics well at all.