HELP NEEDED
Last edited Wed Apr 20, 2016, 08:57 PM - Edit history (1)
So, Monday I posted in the DU lounge about my aunt being in the hospital:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018858952
Well now she is out and she is staying with our family as she SLOWLY recovers. As I said, she broke her jaw, but the conditions are worse than I previously believed. First off, I didn't actually know how she came to break her jaw when I posted that OP. I knew she tripped over her cat and fell. Its worse than that. She had just gotten out of bed and was on her way down the stairs (the hardwood stairs) when the cat ran out in front of her. As you could easily predict, she fell down a flight of stairs landing face first on the hardwood floor. Her teeth punctured her bottom lip and cut straight through to the other side, requiring stitches on her chin and lip. She broke both her top jaw and part of her bottom jaw near the chin. She stayed in the hospital for about three days until yesterday. She stayed in our house over night. Today was the day of her surgery. We can't decide what hurt worse, the surgery or the fall. The doctors couldn't knock her out because they needed to be able to communicate with her through the surgery. The surgeon was clueless. The novocaine they gave her beforehand was basically worthless. She could feel practically the whole procedure. Now that its all said and done she can't open her teeth for 6 weeks! That's where I need help. The only thing she will be able to eat must be in liquid form (smoothies, shakes). We need to know how to make them taste as good as they possibly can so that every meal won't be a burden for her throughout the next 6 weeks. Thanks DU! 
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UPDATE: We tried using broth along with blending meat products. Worked like a charm! She said it tasted great!
= new reply since forum marked as read
She says it was delicious.
I couldn't believe it! THANK YOU A THOUSAND TIMES OVER! 
Thank you!
You'll need to provide the kind of nutritious liquid diet that is served in the hospital.
A water pic for dental hygiene also is a good idea, using only the lower pressure settings.
The hospital also should have provided a small pair of emergency wire cutters. If a patient whose jaw is wired gets sick and begins vomiting, the wires have to be cut.
I've gone through this a bunch of times after jaw surgery and while it's not pleasant, I survived it. Best wishes to your aunt for a speedy recovery. 
No wire cutters were provided 
that gives me quite an uneasy feeling.
I lived on pureed soups and smoothies.
I made a smoothie with yogurt, protein powder, frozen fruit, peanut butter, almond milk, and ice cubes.
It was a pretty good shake-like beverage. The cold helped with the pain. You can adjust the ice cubes and almond milk to get the right thickness.
The 'boxed' soups from Sprout's were pretty good, especially the tomato - basil.
You can add a bit of stock (available in reclosable boxes) to adjust consistency of canned soups when blending.
Just make sure that you clean the blender right after you make something. The stuff comes off so much easier than if you give it a chance to set up. 
