How do you get someone to eat after a tonsillectomy?

Answer 1

hi there, I'm currently on day 7 of my recovery. I'm guessing you are very early post-op or pre op. So I'll go into as much detail as possible.

-Take your pain medication like clockwork, if your dr says take it every 8 hours, you need to take it every 8 hours, even if it doesn't hurt, this is so when you hit day that 1-4 day period where things start getting rough, you don't want to be catching up on your meds.

-Be prepared to go and buy stronger medication. I went out and bought Co-codramol (parecetemol & codeine)

-DRINK LOTS OF WATER!! This may be the most important thing for recovery. In the 7 day period of my recovery, I've had at least 27-30 bottles of water, (during day 3 i went through about 10)

-Watch films and don't move around to much. I made this mistake and walked out of my room, in doing so i tripped on a wire and my throat bled for a while, so try to move slowly when going anywhere, also avoid long walks (made that mistake too) because it shakes your throat causing pain.

-Eating. I know it hurts because I've just got over the worst of it. you need to eat, the longer you don't eat, the longer your recovery (more pain) and also when you don't eat your chances of becoming infected multiply rapidly. so make sure you eat.

Food suggestions- Tuna on white bread Sandwiches

- Jelly (only soothing not very good if your hungry)

- Pasta

- Cake (if your having trouble eating, this will keep energy up)

- Eggs (I haven't had any but I hear they are very good)

Food precautions - Spicy! Do not have spicy food, it will burn and sting

- No crunchy sharp foods, eg crisps, it will scratch off your scabs.

- No citrus or acidic foods (I love Orange Juice so that was hard for me)

Stages- Day 1-2 These are not too bad, meds from hospital wearing off at end of day 2. prepare yourself for dy 3 by taking medication correctly

-Day 3-5 These were the worst days for me. You will feel like dying and I know this doesn't help as i've read it everywhere but I promise you, it gets better.

-Day 6 This is usually the earliest day that people's scabs come off. You will feel like coughing (Don't) Just eating soft foods (progressively getting harder) and they will come off.

-Day 6-14 I'm only on day 7 however, from what I've gathered, it just gets better from here so fingers crossed. However, you still need to take it easy, even after pain has gone!

So what can you do? Just sit around, watch TV, go to the cinima with friends (NO POPCORN), Play games, read books (if you read books just sit there and read, it feels awesome)

As hard as this may be, try not to bend over too much, when you do it you'll realise it hurts.

Sorry for the long answer, I wish i had a guide when i started my recovery. Just be patient, allso it normalif you can't talk or you can but it hurts so you don't, I'm still having trouble talking.

Anyway, good luck in your recovery. Ring your doctor if you have any problems EG bleeding

Hope you recover well

Charlie