After tonsil surgery (tonsillectomy), eating the right foods plays an important part both in managing pain and in trouble-free healing. The plan below is the gradual, day-by-day guide I give my patients.

What to expect after the anaesthetic?

Tonsil surgery generally requires 20–60 minutes of anaesthesia. The patient may be restless for a few hours afterwards and may doze for most of the day; nausea and vomiting can occur. These usually disappear without treatment by the evening of the day of surgery.

Day-by-day eating plan

Day of surgery: ice cream, milk, water.

Day 1: ice cream, milk, water, peach, apricot and apple juice. (Do not give sour cherry juice.)

Day 2: in addition to the day 1 foods — strained cold soups, sweetened yoghurt with the cream removed, cold meat broth and chicken broth.

Day 3: in addition to days 1 and 2 — mashed potato, pasta with yoghurt, ayran (a yoghurt drink), blended rice pudding or milk pudding, and custard-style puddings.

Day 4: in addition to the previous days, the soft inside of bread softened in liquid foods may be given.

Day 5: vegetable purées and blended soups can be added to the foods above.

Days 6–9: the patient should eat plenty of the foods above.

After day 10: normal food can be resumed.

What should be avoided?

Sour cherry juice should not be given. Hard foods such as bread crust, spicy and sour foods, and fizzy drinks such as cola should not be consumed — they can increase pain. The patient must be encouraged to eat and drink by mouth; no medication other than the prescribed painkiller and antibiotic should be used — aspirin in particular.

Things to watch after surgery

Vomiting with blood may occur a few times on the first day — this comes from blood swallowed during the operation; do not be alarmed.
A temperature of around 38 °C on the first night can be due to the anaesthetic and is considered normal.
Because of the risk of bleeding, the patient should not cough, try to clear the throat or strain the back of the nose, and should spit out rather than swallow whatever comes into the mouth. If blood comes from the mouth, an ice pack can be placed under the throat.
Heavy exercise and tiring work should be avoided for 10–14 days, and smoking and alcohol avoided.
Pain can last 5–12 days, so the prescribed painkiller should be continued regularly. Pain felt spreading from the throat to the ear is normal.
One or two days after surgery a white, infection-like appearance may form in the throat — this is a healing scab and disappears by itself.
Teeth should not be brushed for 10 days.
By the end of day 10 the patient starts to feel well, and full recovery is expected within 3 weeks; return to work or school is possible after 7–10 days.

When should the doctor be called?

Although rare, call without delay in the following situations:

Bleeding or spitting fresh blood
Being unable to take enough fluids, with reduced urine output
Excessive sleepiness
A temperature of 39 °C or above

If nothing is abnormal, coming for a check-up 10 days after surgery is enough.