Mancias
Before surgery a family member should speak with the nutritionist/dietician at the hospital about post-operative nutrition. Depending on the doctor's instructions and progression of healing he will go from liqiud feedings to more solid foods and there is much that can be done to accomodate the various challenges that this surgery brings to swallowing and taste. Check with your FILs dr. and insurance about post operative support. Occpational and physical therapists usually start care in the hospital and there are followup home visits. The hospital had a medical social worker who ordered at home visits by a nurse, for oc and pc and got a walker and portable potty chair delivered to my house. It is important to help make him as comfortable as possible after at home. For a while he may need some one available to assist in normal grooming and hygene tasks, taking medications, and feeding. I found it helpful to have disposable cups, napkins, spoons, and bottled water in my room at home. This save a lot of work for my helpers - husband daughter-in-law, and 10 yr old grandson - who came and went. One of them could leave me with individual containers of applesauce, soft drinks, juices, and such so I could have something when no one was there. My biggest problem post op was that our tubs were too high for me to get into and for a bath chair to span and there was nothing close enough for me to use for leverage to swivel in. Eventually I got so frustrated that I put a thick towel over the track for the shower doors and sat on that to get in and out of the tub. The family will find that such trial and error solutions are not part of the doctor's field of expertise, but you will find answers from those of us who have "been there" here.

Wishing a speedy and complte recovery,
Malka