Eating After Tonsillectomy
Eating after tonsillectomy can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the nutrition derived from solid foods is essential for out overall health and recovery from tonsillectomy surgery. The very act of swallowing also helps the throat recover. On the other hand, pushing foods past the raw and tender area of the tonsil beds after they’ve been cut and in many cases cauterized, can cause excruciating pain and, even bleeding. We need to go slow as we resume eating after tonsillectomy surgery.
Liquids. Let’s start here. Since you’ll be drinking at least 8 ounces per hour during tonsillectomy recovery. Put some thought into what you want. Sport drinks are good. They provide electrolytes and needed calories. Since most of the calories are from sugar, you’ll want to try some other drinks too. Avoid anything acidic, caffeinated, dairy, or thick for the first week. I was amazed by how many things I drank went down like battery acid or left a troublesome film on my throat. (tonsil bed) Water is always good, but it’s hard to stay interested in it. I also enjoyed chicken and beef broths. Don’t heat them beyond, “fairly warm.” Hot has an inflammatory effect on tonsil area tissue.
Gelatin was the first thing I was given to begin eating after tonsillectomy and I thought I’d gone to heaven. It tasted wonderful and, for some reason, I found it easier to swallow than water. It’s cool, soothing, and counts as hydration. Hands down, Jell-O, Jelly, or gelatin is my top pick for foodsfor eating after tonsillectomy surgery.
For the first five days I wouldn’t venture too far beyond the liquids and gelatin. It’s contrary to what your mother might advise but, like sleep, a normally healthy endeavor can result in an hour of searing pain. I tried mashed potatoes on day two and had tears in my eyes. For about a day after that, I stopped eating . I don’t recommend this. Eating after tonsillectomy is important for several reasons. Nutrition, activation of muscles in the affected area, and feeling of well being are all benefits of smart eating after tonsillectomy.
Also keep in mind that most prescription pain killers can cause nausea, especially on an empty stomach. It’s important to get some kind of food down before taking pain medicine, even if it’s just a liquid food like Ensure.
As your throat allows, try some foods like oatmeal, macaroni and cheese, (NOT al dente. cook it!), ramen noodles, mashed potatoes, gravy, or cous cous. Oatmeal was, without question, my breakthrough food as I began eating after tonsillectomy. I’m still eating it almost daily, probably because of the good feeling that it gave me in my second week.
When I was recovering, I used to daydream about eating steak. It seemed so unattainable. I couldn’t even handle mashed potatoes. When could I ever enjoy a nice juicy Steak?? I told myself, once I got through this, I would reward myself with a delicious slab of beef. To this day, I love my bloody Mary steak marinade recipe. Try it before surgery, or after you’ve recovered. Salud!
I’ve put together a collection of items that I think would be helpful, if not essential, to making tonsillectomy recovery a little more pleasant. Check out tGeneral Store.
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I’m 12 years and and desperately need my tonsils out. However, I hate jello, oatmeal, and a lot of other soft foods so I’m in for a challenge! The main reason I hate jello is because it’s made of animal bones and horse hides, but it’s also slimy and icky tasting! My mom says I’ll probably have to suck it up and it eat but I really hate jello. What else can you eat right away? I think I’ll probably live off of popsicles
I’m 13 and I need to get my tonsils out also. :c Hm, Popsicles have a lot of sugar, so I don’t think eating it all the time is good for you.
My son ate broths, popsicles, pudding…oh and baby food. You could also purée fruits and Vegi’s
I’m 27 and am day 6 postop from a tonsillectomy. I agree that day 3-6 have been the worst so far. In fact I woke up with the worst pain about 4am this morning. During the day the pain has been getting easier to manage with medication, but overnight and in the mornings has been the hardest time with pain. My tongue and throat are still pretty swollen. I’m lucky and have been managing to take all my tablets orally and they have been settling in my stomach without too much nausea. Although it hurt to swallow I think drinking plenty of water has helped with the discomfort and pain in the long run. Chewing gum has also been great, it seems counter intuitive but it really helps with the ear pain in particular, and also helps in keeping your throat moist. I’ve enjoyed having some barely warm soup over the last few days. Lemonade ice blocks in the morning have also been good to get the pain under control. I’m looking forward to trying some potato and other non sweet foods over the next few days as I’m over the sweet foods like jelly, puréed apple and custard now! Thanks to everyone who has posted on this website.
Cheers,
Rachael
Im 7 days post op and scabs are coming off. Im starting to eat more solid soft foods and feel like something is stuck in my throat. Could food get lodged in the wounds? If so, how do you get it out? Im still afraid of bleeding so have not gargled or coughed yet. It is possible its more scabs loosening, but I can not see due to tongue swelling.
I am 28 years old and on day 5 after my surgery and i am in misery… I started back to work today. I have eaten some mac and cheese and french onion soup. The first 2 days after my surgery i felt great didnt eat much but thought… this isnt so bad i can do this… but i was mistaken. when i wake in the morning my ears are killing me mostly on my right side, i cant take the pain killers cause they make me throw up so every 4 hours i take 2 advil and 1 tylenol and by the end of the four hous i am in pain!!! the swelling in my tongue is still there on the right side and it feels like im swallowing razorblades whenever i swallow. I drink a lot of water but i think im gonna switch to sports drinks cause the water is getting boring. but after reading all these comments i feel better because i thought that maybe i was getting infected because instead of getting better I was getting worse…. but i guess thats normal.
But on the up side i have lost 8 lbs….
but id rather be able to swallow…
hello im karla im 21 yrs old i just got tonsils out today.. i was so nervous but it isnt so bad.. i have some pain when swallowing but not much.. but yet again i just got them out ppl say the worst dayare yet to come.. so ill keep u guys up dated… so far ive been drinking ice w water which is helping and i also ate some jello and chocolate puddding very small portions because it hurts but the true it just hurts like if u have strep throat nothing major..but then again this is my first day..well see about the next week or so