Preparing for major surgery recovery and live alone?
I’m about 1 month away from a complete reverse shoulder replacement surgery. I live alone and no support system so I’m preparing for a good recovery. I’ve order a small freezer so I can prepare my meals and have them ready for me when I return home. I had looked up a lot of make ahead recipes. Well I had been saving a lot of them on Pinterest. However I didn’t real delve into them much. Today I looked at a couple and you have to bake them when needed. I’m wanting ideas of food that is good for cooking and then freezing so when the time comes I just need to thaw and pop in the microwave. I’m in need of advice on dishes I can do this with. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Related Discussions
Vinyl plank flooring vs pergo (laminate)
I currently have stinky dirty carpeting in my living room and I want to replace it with a durable flooring that can stand up to dogs and kids.
How to remove popcorn ceiling that has been painted?
Does having a paint over a popcorn ceiling change how I'd remove the popcorn ceiling?
How to apply peel and stick wallpaper?
I want to spruce up my walls with peel-and-stick wallpaper. Has anyone used this before and can advise me as to how to apply it properly?
How to stain wood floor?
I've heard staining is a good technique for updating floors. So how do I stain my wood floor?
Should I re-stain or paint my cabinets?
Edit:””” 3 years later😂 I decided to paint them white and I am so very pleased with the results!We bought a new house with these ugly cabinets. I really cann... See more
Help me with my kitchen - strange layout with 3 doors in it!
I am looking for BUDGET options for my kitchen. It is very strangely laid out. I have 3 doors (laundry, bedroom and outside) that do not help the layout. I am planing... See more
First, good luck to you on your surgery. I'm sorry you have to go through this all alone though, but it sounds like you have a positive attitude which will help tremendously! Are you a senior citizen by chance and have access to meals on wheels? Will your insurance allow a few days of rehab since you're alone? At any rate, your best best is a crockpot! Make soup, chili, and freeze individual servings in freezer bags. They'll lay flat, taking up less space, then all you have to do is thaw in the bag, or cut it out of bag and reheat in microwave from frozen. Also, if you like meatloaf, make a couple/bake, then freeze slices to reheat. Chicken breasts in a crockpot with enchilada sauce, spaghetti, all are good to make batches of then freeze in smaller portions! Take care!
I had 2 surgeries on the same shoulder so I understand get cold cuts keep them in the house make macaroni this way you could heat in micro wave get ice cream cones so you could take one you have to rely on your other arm for a wile
Hello. I wish you luck with your surgery. One meal I make and freeze is lasagna. I buy the throw away foil pans and then just cover it with foil. You could do this and make several smaller ones in a foil bread pan. Good Luck!
In addition to pre prepared meals, stock up on cheese and crackers, make a huge batch of hard boiled eggs to keep in the fridge, cut up some fruit to get you that first week after surgery, freeze some to thaw later, you can make a fruit smoothie with frozen fruit in the blender with one arm/hand with juice, milk or (ice cream when you are further along in you recovery.) Put everything, snacks, crackers, popcorn, cookies, in easy to open containers or zip lock type bags. I so feel for you! I have gone through several surgeries myself alone. Can be difficult at times, but you can get through it.
Hello 2do,
I have dependet right hand surgery last year so I can understand your concern. Meals like chili, spaghetti sauces can be made ahead frozen in Ziploc bags. Chicken pot pies can be made individually.
Also if you like eggplant, I bake up extra sheet pans of breaded eggplant slices and freeze them and make my eggplant Parmesan on demand as I need it. It’s just a matter of layering the sauce and mozzarella cheese as the hard work is done.
Best wishes in your recovery and healing ahead.
I had that surgery...it was easy for me. I slept in my recliner for a couple nights and then went about my usual things. Hard to put on hose but I could dress myself and do what I needed without much help. They encouraged me to use my hand so I crocheted a lot. In a few days I was driving myself to therapy... Good luck.