What are the Best Foods to Eat After Tonsillectomy?
The tonsillectomy diet 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.
Liquids: The best friend of any tonsillectomy diet
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 foods for a tonsillectomy recovery. For the first five days I didn’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. Maintaining a good diet is important for several reasons. Nutrition, activation of muscles in the affected area, and feeling of well being are all benefits of a smart plan. 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.
Try to add as many calories to your day as you can. 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 steak. 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, including items for your tonsillectomy diet. Check out theGeneral Store. -Greg Tooke My short bio
I had my surgery on april 4th. I had no pain till tonight and i am eating easliy. When i was coming home from op i had a hashbrown and a bacon and egg mc muffin and i had been drinking water, coke, cordial and also been eating scrambled eggs, pumpkin soup with bread, ice- cream. Havn’t sleept much but eating nad drinking like a champ had some bleeding went to hospital and they said nothing. I am really craving maccers and kfc so bad and wanting to talk like crazy but i can’t and i have heard that i cant do this till 2-4 weeks after and thats too long. I am 14 atm turning 15.
Day 6 – No joke this recovery. I was able to eat only minimal pain meds yesterday (OXY/Acet) but then ended up taking one every four hours all night and still not being able to sleep with the pain. The drugs cause lucid dreams and even auditory hallucinations, but hey, if I get some relief that is okay. I am going to walk outside for the first time today to get the mail. It is really painful to be awake.
I am posting because I discovered a great food for these early days. Heat a cup of beef broth on the stove and when almost boiling pour one beaten egg into it. The egg will cook out very soft and stringy and will give you some substance so that you can take your meds without vomitting. I vommitted on Day 3,4, and 6 due to medications. I can’t wait to be able to thoroughly enjoy a big plate of nachos!
Does anyone have experience drinking vegetable juices?
My meds burn my throat and when i swallow it i have to drink something after. I take a pill up the rear and it helps alot which i think is the only thing making me eat.
I am on day 11 cannot get any juice down its like razor blades . Last night I had bleeding suddenly and had to go to ER. I also am tired of liquid diet (vanilla ensure keeping me alive) I want navho’s too!
My 6 year old daughter that’s going to have her tonsils taken out soon. Lately she has been freaking out about the littlest things. (Other then popsicles, Ice, and drinking plenty of fluids) How can I help ease her pain? How fast should I graduate her to different things and foods? Please help!!!
I’m 32 and just had mine out on the 1st. Slurpees have been one thing that has helped me the most, even more than popsicles and water ice, which I also have frequently. Other good tips I’ve picked up from this site that have helped are holding an ice pack on the outside of your throat and applying heat for ear pain. I’ve also read some people ease jaw and ear pain by chewing gum, though it hasn’t seemed to work for me. Another miracle pain reliever was the ‘magic mouthwash’. Its basically a prescription mouthwash that numbs the mouth and throat, I’m not sure if there’s an age issue with it do that’s a question for her dr. The name on the bottle is magic 240 I believe, and it’s safe to swallow so you wouldn’t have to worry about that. I got it from my primary care doc when my surgeon wouldn’t return calls for more meds, and i wish i had been given it from the start. As far as food goes, I’ve heard kids bounce back much quicker but I’ve managed jello, instant oatmeal with a lot of extra water to help it slide down easier, mashed potatoes, soup and soft boiled eggs. I’ve also gone through 2 jars of applesauce because it’s the best way for me to get the pain meds in, plus it’s cold so it’s soothing. A spoonful of honey also temporarily soothes it a bit. Definitely use a humidifier, especially at night, I actually borrowed a second one and have 2 right next to the bed and night times haven’t been too horrendous, the hardest part is sleeping propped up instead of flat, but again all of this may be different in kids. Everyone I’ve talked to who had it done that young barely remembers it so it’s probably a really good thing they caught it now, even though it doesn’t feel good to have too go through it. Good luck!
I had my tonsillectomy on March 15th . The first day was pretty painful. Day 1 and 2 all I had was water and gatorade. Gatorade was my savior. Popsicles too. Day 3 I started drinking Ensure. It was perfect. Filled me up, nutritious, and caused minimal pain. By day 4 I could eat mashed potatoes with gravy and mac and cheese. Now it is day 5. The pain is worse than ever. Still loving the Ensure, Gatorade, and pudding. Hope this helps someone out there.
I am a 25 year old female, and this is day 2 from my tonsillectomy, so far, Ive only been able to eat popsicles and ice cream. I had some soup yesterday which was amazing! I woke up this morning with the worst pain ever, taking liquid Ibuprofen helps me, I stopped the liquid APAP/Hydrocodone because it made me nauseous. I hope for the best outcome from this surgery, never again will I want to suffer from Chronic Tonsillitis.
You took liquid ibuprofen? I got mine out today and I was told no ibuprofen related products because it could cause you to bleed more.
I also was told no Ibuprofin. It causes blood to thin and therefore more bleeding. My daughter is 3 and had hers removed on the 29th of April. She is loving scrambled eggs that I made and then chill in the refrigerator and oatmeal room temperature. I make the oatmeal and then add milk to make it just a little thinner and bring it down to room temperature. Please call your doctor and make sure you are not causing any harm with the Ibuprofin.
I am 18 and had my tonsils taken out as I CONSTANTLY had tonsillitis. The pain isn’t that bad I was able to swallow crisps on the first day.. Ever since I left hospital I can smell scrambled egg and been craving a curry
The only thing that is painful is to talk!!