Totally relate to the rice paranoia, haha. I remember panicking after accidentally biting into a sesame seed bun—spent ages checking the mirror afterward. Pasta was definitely my comfort food too, though I got pretty bored of it by week two. Did you find any other go-to foods that helped ease your anxiety during recovery? I'm still trying to mix things up without stressing myself out...
Totally get the sesame seed panic, been there myself... I remember freaking out after accidentally crunching on a tiny piece of granola hidden in yogurt. Spent forever checking if I'd messed anything up. Honestly, mashed potatoes became my lifesaver—cheap, easy, and comforting. But yeah, after a while, even potatoes lose their charm. Soups helped me switch things up without too much anxiety. Blended veggie soups or even just broth with noodles felt safe and soothing. Hang in there, it really does get easier with time. You're doing great already by trying to keep things varied without stressing yourself out too much.
I totally relate to the mashed potato burnout, haha. After my own graft, I remember getting so tired of soft foods that I started experimenting with scrambled eggs—adding cheese, spinach, or even avocado to keep things interesting. Eggs felt substantial enough without causing anxiety about damaging anything. Also, smoothies were a lifesaver for me... throwing in peanut butter or protein powder helped me feel fuller longer. You're definitely on the right track though, variety helps a ton mentally. It really does get better with each passing week.
Totally agree about smoothies—they saved me too. But honestly, scrambled eggs got old pretty fast for me. I ended up leaning on soups a lot, especially blended veggie ones. Hang in there though, you're already doing great... it really does ease up quicker than you'd think.
Smoothies were definitely my lifeline too, especially in those first few days after surgery. I hear you on the scrambled eggs though—there's only so many ways you can jazz them up before they start tasting like cardboard, haha. Soups were a big help for me as well, but honestly, I found myself craving something with a bit more substance after a while. One thing that really helped was mashed sweet potatoes or even mashed avocado with a bit of seasoning. It felt like actual food and gave me some much-needed variety.
You're totally right about things easing up quicker than you'd expect. I remember feeling pretty overwhelmed at first, wondering if I'd ever eat normally again. But before I knew it, I was back to chewing carefully and eventually eating most of my favorite foods again. It's funny how quickly we adapt and heal, even when it feels like forever in the moment.
Also, just wanted to add—finding the right surgeon really does make a huge difference. I spent ages researching and meeting different docs before settling on mine. It was exhausting at the time, but looking back, I'm glad I took the extra effort. Having someone who genuinely listens and explains things clearly made the whole process way less stressful. If you're still in the searching phase, trust your gut and don't be afraid to ask lots of questions. It's your health and comfort on the line, after all.
Anyway, hang in there—sounds like you're already doing awesome. Before you know it, scrambled eggs will be a distant memory... or at least something you can enjoy again without cringing, lol.
