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Original poster

What foods to eat after tonsillectomy?

70 replies

Natsku · 04/02/2021 09:22

DD is getting her tonsils out on Tuesday and the doctor just said on the phone to avoid anything hot or hard. Need some ideas as all I can think of is things like ice cream and smoothies but that's hardly a balanced diet. Also if anyone has an idea of what to expect pain-wise and recovery for her, doctor said two weeks rest to limit chances of bleeding, I'm guessing that's not bed rest for two weeks but just taking it easy, right?

OP posts:

Original poster

Natsku · 04/02/2021 20:51

I'm not entirely convinced its obstructive sleep apnoea tbh, she has sleep issues but I've never noticed her breathing cut out, but that's what the doctor thinks and her tonsils are larger than they should be.

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TurquoiseDragon · 04/02/2021 21:15

@MrsDThomas

I had mine out 40 yrs ago and I remember days of eating angel delight, jelly and soft vanilla ice cream. It was lovely!

I had mine out 45 years ago, because at the time it seemed anyone who went into our local ENT unit for any reason had tonsils and adenoids removed regardless of the reason you were in the unit in the first place.

I went in because my hearing loss was thought to be fluid in the middle ear (it wasn't), and despite finding nothing, they still whipped out the tonsils and adenoids even though I'd never had any problems with them.

And the nurses gave me a crunchy cereal for breakfast the next morning. Of course, I couldn't eat that...... Mum made up for it at home.

CATINBOOTSz · 04/02/2021 21:22

25 years ago when I had mine out I was told toast and salty crisps

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NorthernChinchilla · 04/02/2021 21:32

Same here, I had mine out 20 years ago as a student, after bloody years of tonsillitis. I seem to remember they cauterised (sp?) the wounds so wanted you to eat hard foods to scrape the build up off.
So, so worth it though. Definitely stay home to reduce infection. Also, may be worth getting some/asking about kids' mild laxative or similar- in my case they gave me a shed load of painkillers, which was great, but I didn't go to the loo for a long time!! Depends on what pain relief you get.

Sure your DD will be very happy to have it done!

Original poster

Natsku · 04/02/2021 22:11

Think I've got some lactulose somewhere about but I expect it'll just be paracetemol and ibuprofen, they think ibuprofen cures everything here.

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caringcarer · 05/02/2021 00:13

Ice cream every 2 hours.

Original poster

Natsku · 09/02/2021 04:43

[quote pinguwings]@DenisetheMenace
My DD is having her adenoids and tonsils out on Monday. What you've written has given me so much hope! She's finally going to be able to breathe without a struggle.[/quote]
@pinguwings How did it go for your daughter yesterday? I'm getting so anxious about today

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Original poster

Natsku · 09/02/2021 08:04

Told the surgeon about other countries recommending toast and suchlike after rather than soft foods and he was shocked, saying nooo you definitely can't give her food with hard edges like toast!

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A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 09/02/2021 08:27

Had mine out as an adult in a private hospital, and they said advice had moved on on what to eat. I had to eat a sandwich when I came round, and some buttered toast the next day. It’s meant to make the recovery a lot quicker and lessen the possibility of bleeding later on in the two weeks I think. My friends partner had his out at a similar time but ate the ice cream and mashed potato, and had a horrible recovery. It’s really anecdotal, but my recovery was great. I was totally fine and eating normally after a couple of days, and didn’t get the bleeding.

Make sure lots of warm salt water gargles to keep it clean help with discomfort

CherryRoulade · 09/02/2021 08:35

Ordinary food but not sharped edge food. Not a diet of slush but not crisps either.
Ordinary everyday food.
The tonsil bed needs to be kept clean and ice cream/smoothies and sweet slush don’t help that; they cost the area in an environment entirely suitable for growing bugs.

Paracetamol then family food. If you make it a big deal so will they.

Spaghetti bolognese, cheese sandwich, bananas, burger, chips (shocking) risotto, panini, yoghurt, cucumber, whatever.

Avoid citrus fruit.

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 09/02/2021 09:59

I had to eat crisps and toast. I think it is to do with breaking down scabs and tissue? I didn't have too much pain the first three or four days but the bruising is the worst bit rather than the scabs if the pain meds are decent and that didn't kick in until around a week after for me. Mainly made swallowing a bit painful. Bloody delighted not to have tonsillitis four times a year though.

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 09/02/2021 10:00

Ice cream and milk produce mucus, I was told. But look, the consultant will advise on what to eat and what to avoid after the op so just listen to them.

Original poster

Natsku · 09/02/2021 10:45

He said no hard/sharp foods until the scabs are gone so complete opposite of NHS advice. Wonder if there's a comparison that shows whether bleeding and infection rates are worse here with this advice or not. DD is in a lot of pain so I doubt she'd eat toast anyway, she's just trying to eat an ice lolly now and asking when she can next get pain meds. Prescribed tramadol in case paracetamol and ibuprofen isn't enough.

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CarterBeatsTheDevil · 09/02/2021 11:50

I did have mine six years ago now so maybe the advice has moved on a bit. You can always give him a call via his secretary and say that you've seen advice that she should eat toast etc and ask why his advice seems different - he shouldn't mind explaining.

Original poster

Natsku · 09/02/2021 12:01

I did say that to him today and he just couldn't believe the UK advice, he said anything hard or sharp risks causing bleeding and that's why they say only soft foods until its healed, at least a week.

OP posts:

Pinkflipflop85 · 09/02/2021 13:18

Ds ate a bag of crisps in hospital, followed by a load of biscuits. They gave him a voucher for a happy meal to pick up on the way home as well.

Original poster

Natsku · 09/02/2021 13:34

Lucky boy! DD is hungry and doesn't want any more ice cream but all they will offer is yoghurt or cold fruit soup, bet she really wants something savoury.

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littlestpogo · 09/02/2021 14:00

Finding this thread very interesting as currently deciding whether to have mine out as an adult - have had repeated tonsillitis last 2 years but can’t work out of the op is worth it. Been helpful to hear from some people whom it obviously was!

AtLeastPretendToCare · 09/02/2021 17:23

@littlestpogo I’m glad I had mine out. It was painful for a while after granted and I was wiped by the GA for a few days.

I had tonsillitis regularly but it was causing me other issues too and so I just went private. I understand the laser process is a less painful and better recovery for adults than the plain cutting out method but not sure if the NHS offers laser.

PM me if you want details of who I saw privately.

littlestpogo · 09/02/2021 17:27

Thank-you @AtLeastPretendToCare - I am lucky to be able to go private. Currently seeing an ENT oncologist as also had an enlarged tonsil. Good to know re the laser. I will try and PM later

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