A tonsillectomy is a common outpatient procedure most often performed on children. Because the surgery entails excising the tonsils from the back of the throat, postoperative pain is inevitable. The doctor will recommend following a specific diet plan after a tonsillectomy to keep pain to a minimum and reduce the chance of rupturing the surgical site.
Presurgery
Doctors perform tonsillectomies while a patient is under general anesthesia. As with most surgical procedures, your doctor will instruct you to not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery. You may be asked to limit certain medications prior to surgery as well.
Immediately Postsurgery
In the first few hours after the surgery, you will want to consume clear liquids. Options include water, apple juice, ice pops, gelatin and fruit punch. Cold items may feel best on the fresh incision site, but any temperature that you prefer is okay.
Initial Days
For the first day or two postsurgery, you may want to stick to clear, lukewarm liquids. Cold or frozen liquids may feel best to a sore throat. Milkshakes, ice cream, pudding and creamy soups may also be appealing. After 24 hours, start introducing soft foods such as scrambled eggs, cream of wheat, mashed potatoes and applesauce as soon as you feel ready.
Weeks After
Your doctor will advise you to avoid crunchy foods such as nuts, popcorn and chips for at least one week. The sharp bits of these snacks could break off and cause bleeding. Tomato sauce, orange juice or spicy sauces may cause a burning sensation at the surgical site, but will not do actual harm.
Considerations
Not everyone is ready for solid food at the same point postsurgery. Do not be surprised if you lose weight or experience a drop in appetite following the surgery. When you feel healed and return to a normal diet, the weight will likely return.
