I'M HOME: 8 Tips to Surviving Hospital Food
I was at the hospital for three days, at the rehab for two weeks, and now I've been home over a week. I've got people coming and going, friends helping me, therapists, nurses, and homemakers. It's like Grand Central Station.

The good news is that I'm walking around like a teenager. Well, not really like a teenager, but walking without any pain.

Now that I have a new hip, I can think back to what it was like before the surgery, and it was painful.

Now I have no pain. After the surgey I had no pain. The nurse asked me on a scale of 1 - 10, if I had any pain, I told her "0." Then she said I couldn't get any pain medication. Well I wanted pain medication when I did my therapy. So I told her "three."

Here I am walking:



While at the rehab I found the staff outstanding - whatever I asked for was given immediate attention - the usually response was, "is there anything else I can do for you."

The only thing I found lacking was in the FOOD department. As time went by I learned how to insure that I got a meal I could enjoy.

8 Tips to Surviving Hospital Food

1. I ordered two entrees - I doubled my chances - that way, if one wasn't to my taste the other one might be good - sometimes even that technique didn't work!


Meal One: Hamburger Meal Two: Chicken with Rice

2. Mornings I would order a hot cereal - by the time it came to me it was cold - the staff was very busy in the morning so I didn't want to bother them. When I mentioned it to a therapist, she said, "that's what they are there for." After that if my cereal was cold I called and asked for it to be heated.

3. I love my cup of coffee in the morning. After a few mornings of getting coffee that was bitter I decided to request a cup of tea instead. I wasn't happy with that so I had a brilliant idea - "why don't I ask for a cup of coffee and a cup of hot water." That way I could dilute the coffee and it wouldn't be so strong. That didn't work - so I settled for just a cup of hot water.

4. One morning I ordered a banana as a fruit for breakfast. It was over-ripe. When I mentioned it to Steve he suggested that I specify on the menu that I do not want any brown spots on the banana. Would you believe after that I got a banana just the way I like it!

5. With time I found out that if I did not like the meal I received I could call the kitchen and request something else as long as as it was before 6:30p.m.

6. One day I mentioned to a therapist that I enjoyed the grilled cheese sandwich I had for lunch. She suggested that I could request a slice of ham and tomato as part of the sandwich. All I had to do was write in my request!

7. Some mornings I would wake up about 5:00 a.m - breakfast was delivered about 8:00 a.m. That was too long to wait so I called the aid and she brought me tea and toast to tide me over until my meal was delivered.

8. Every night about nine p.m. I would request some warm milk, graham crackers and peanut butter for a bedtime snack.

Not only did I learn some very helpful exercises at rehab I learned how to order and receive a decent meal.

Now that I'm home I'm having that great cup of coffee that I missed so much. Happy days are here again!!!

posted by millie garfield @ 6:20 PM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >>