What foods to eat before and after tonsillectomy surgery?　~with pictures of meals〜

Let’s have a tonsillectomy! For those of you who have decided to have a tonsillectomy, are you wondering what kind of food you will be eating before and after your tonsillectomy? Especially for those who enjoy eating more than anything else. I would like to share with you my experience of finally having my tonsils removed in my 40s. In my case, I was hospitalized the day before the surgery and discharged 10 days later. I will write about my diet before and after the surgery.

Before tonsillectomy

Before hospitalization

Since the tonsils are removed from the mouth, the wound cannot be stitched and must heal naturally to prevent the scab from peeling off. Because of this, I was told that the post-operative meal would be porridge or soft food. As an office worker in my 40s who loves good food, I enjoyed a delicious meal with my colleagues and juniors before my hospitalization. It might be my last meal! (This was before the Corona disaster.) Some of us said, “This could be our last dinner! I ate and drank my way to no regrets.

First day after hospitalization and before surgery (noon)

I was admitted to the hospital around 10 o’clock the day before the surgery. While I was waiting for my turn at the admission desk, a nurse came to call me and took me to the ward. After that, I received an explanation of the precautions to be taken during hospitalization and was shown to my bed in the large room. I changed into a sweatshirt instead of pajamas and finally started eating the hospital’s controlled meals. It was the first time in my life that I was hospitalized and I was very nervous.

First day after hospitalization and before surgery (night)

I chewed my food, thinking that this was the last time I would have a normal, crunchy meal. I wanted to drink alcohol, but the next day was the day of the surgery, so I had to be patient.

After tonsillectomy (1 to 3 days after surgery)

2nd day after hospitalization, 1st day after surgery (night)

The surgery was in the morning and I was under general anesthesia. I had to lie on the bed until I recovered from the general anesthesia. Of course, I could not eat or go to the bathroom, so I did not have lunch. The night of the surgery, I started eating three portions of porridge. I felt pain in my throat when I chewed and swallowed, so it was very hard to eat and drink.

Porridge is divided into three types according to the amount of water used: “seven-minute porridge,” “five-minute porridge,” and “three-minute porridge. The ratio of rice to water is 1:7 for seven-minute porridge, 1:10 for five-minute porridge, and 1:20 for three-minute porridge.

Third day after hospitalization and second day after surgery (lunch)

It was still the same three-part porridge. Desserts such as pudding and jelly made me happy.

Third day after hospitalization, second day after surgery (night)

On the menu list, there were “grilled codfish marinated in mirin,” “cauliflower in consommé,” and “ohitari (spinach). The taste was just as described on the menu. I still had a sore throat, so soft food was just fine. Maybe it was because I was eating less, or maybe it was because of the pain in my throat after the surgery, but I felt that I was eating less.

4th day after hospitalization, 3rd day after surgery (morning)

I started eating five-minute porridge for breakfast on the third day after the surgery. The change from three to five portions of porridge doubled the pain in my “throat. I felt a strong sense of foreign matter and had a hard time swallowing.

Fourth day after hospitalization, third day after surgery (noon)

Forgot to take pictures.

Fourth day after hospitalization, third day after surgery (night)

The pain was still there in my throat, so I got more painkillers and started taking them before meals. I wondered if I would have to work very hard to get used to the pain. I thought.

After tonsillectomy (4 to 6 days after surgery)

5th day after hospitalization and 4th day after surgery (morning)

This is breakfast on the fourth day after surgery. The “throat pain” was still there, and I felt a strong foreign body sensation as it passed down my throat, making it difficult to swallow.

Fifth day after hospitalization, fourth day after surgery (lunch)

It’s lunchtime. I continued to have a “thirst” pain. At this time, the pain was so bad that I couldn’t finish my meals, which was a shame. It was so painful that I asked the doctor to change my diet back to three-part porridge.

Fifth day after hospitalization and fourth day after surgery (night)

I am glad that I was able to get him to go back to three-part porridge. I had gotten used to five-minute porridge, so the three-minute porridge was very easy to eat. If you let them know in advance, they can be flexible with meals, so don’t hesitate to tell them about your pain and ask them to be flexible.

Sixth day after hospitalization and fifth day after surgery (morning)

It is still three-minute porridge. The side dishes will be changed to something that does not require chewing when it is made into three-part porridge.

Sixth day after hospitalization and fifth day after surgery (lunch)

Still on three-part porridge.

Sixth day after hospitalization and fifth day after surgery (night)

Still on three-part porridge. I thought I would have to get used to eating regular food after I left the hospital, so I decided to change my diet to five-minute porridge. But I couldn’t change it.

Seventh day after hospitalization and sixth day after surgery (morning)

The pain seemed to be less than when I ate for the first time after the surgery, but I still had a sore throat and could not ask for a change to five-part porridge.

Seventh day after hospitalization and sixth day after surgery (noon)

Forgot to take pictures.

Seventh post-hospitalization day, sixth post-operative day (night)

Dinner. Around this time, I start thinking about the meals I will have after I leave the hospital. As a single mom, I don’t have the skills to make porridge, so I’ll stock up on retort porridge! So I started looking at porridge shopping sites on my phone. It’s hard for me to eat porridge without soft foods as well as “side dishes”, so I discovered nursing food. There are many categories of chewing strength to choose from: “easy to chew,” “can be crushed with gums,” “can be crushed with tongue,” and “no need to chew. I thought I would have to start with “I can crush it with my gums. I thought I should start with “can crush with gums”.

After tonsillectomy (7 to 9 days after surgery)

8th day after hospitalization and 7th day after surgery (morning)

It’s three-part porridge. He is doing well. However, I can’t eat anything that might irritate my scabs or wounds. The food menu list continues to have the words ‘no fruit, no vinegar, no irritants’.” Saikyo-grilled straw,” “Turnip with plum paste,” “Jelly.”

8th day after hospitalization and 7th day after surgery (lunch)

It’s three-part porridge.” Golden grilled chicken”, “Dressed with sesame sauce (cabbage)”, “Jelly”.

8th day after hospitalization, 7th day after surgery (night)

It is three-minute porridge. My doctor told me the day I was to be discharged from the hospital, so I had to go back to three-minute porridge, five-minute porridge, seven-minute porridge, whole porridge, and regular food, I thought these days it would be hard to live alone, but the pain was hard to get rid of.” Oden (soft vegetables)”, “Sesame Yogoshi (Ongoing)”, “Tuna and Tamaso Mayonnaise”

9th day after hospitalization, 8th day after surgery (morning)

It’s a three-course breakfast.” Chigusa-yaki”, “Ohitashi (spinach)”, “Canned fruit”

9th day after hospitalization, 8th day after surgery (noon)

This is a three-part porridge lunch. The round thing is “Shumai”. And “Carrot and Onion Salad”.

Ninth day after hospitalization, eighth day after surgery (night)

It’s a porridge dinner. Yuyan-grilled straw”, “boiled komatsuna”, “simmered winter melon with minced chicken”

Tenth day after hospitalization, ninth day after surgery (morning)

Finally, breakfast on discharge day. I’m leaving the hospital today, but my throat is still sore, so I had to stay on three portions of porridge.” Beef Soboro Tofu”, “Ohitashi (cabbage)”, “Jelly”.

Summary.

I think the degree of pain after tonsillectomy varies from person to person. In my case, even though I took painkillers, the pain in my throat was so severe that I could not return to a normal diet until I left the hospital. I told my doctor that I couldn’t come to the hospital right away because I was working alone, so I received more painkillers when I left the hospital. The pain continued after I left the hospital, but was controlled with painkillers. I’ll write another article about what I ate after I left the hospital. About a week after I left the hospital, the pain became more like a discomfort, and I got used to the discomfort and went back to eating normal food about 10 days after I left the hospital.