@jadwyer I still have teeth on the right side of my upper and lower jaw and didn’t have to have a free flap.
Not sure exactly what surgery you’re having but generally you get the obturator because there’s going to be an opening in the roof of your mouth after surgery. The obturator plugs that hole. Without the hole being plugged your speech sounds weird (“hyper nasal”) and when you drink/eat there’s a decent chance some of it will go up through that hole and out your nose.
Your doctor should be giving you clear instructions on what you are allowed to eat after surgery. I would call their office now and ask for those instructions so you can stock up. For me it was clear liquids (including jello) for a few days then “full liquid” which basically meant everything had to be pureed or that consistency. All of my surgery involved the upper part of my mouth and not my neck or tongue so swallowing wasn’t a problem. But I used jello, chicken broth, beef bone broth, protein shakes (Kachava brand), pudding. For pureed I’d blend up chicken noodle soup, beef veg soup, cottage cheese. Applesauce is perfect. Same with smooth yogurt. No chunks - still can’t chew! Mashed potatoes : heaven. Mashed sweet potatoes. One super helpful tip for me was adding some canned (soft, well cooked) cannellini beans to those soups. Helps add calories and fiber but doesn’t affect the taste.
You really have your hands full. Are there any local/county/city services you can take advantage of to help you through this if you don’t have enough family/friends pitching in?