What to abstain after tonsillectomy?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was consulted with Specialist Doctor I Tran Minh Tuan - Doctor of Ear, Nose and Throat - Head and Neck Surgery - Department of General Surgery - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.
Tonsillectomy is a fairly simple and safe surgery. However, the care after surgery is very important, if not taken care of properly, there will be many complications. Therefore, "what should be abstained after tonsillectomy" is a matter of concern to many people.

1. After tonsillectomy, what should I abstain to quickly recover?

What to remove tonsils from so as not to affect the cut as well as make it more comfortable, comfortable, and less painful is an important issue that needs to be investigated. After tonsillectomy, the patient needs to abstain from eating foods that cause irritation as follows:
Hard foods: In the first 10 days after tonsillectomy, you should only eat soft foods such as porridge, milk. to provide nutrients. You should not eat hard or rough foods such as popcorn, nuts, sugarcane... Because at this time the incision is still unstable, these foods can touch the incision causing pain and difficulty swallowing. and bleeding. Besides, confectionery or nuts such as almonds, walnuts, flaxseeds, chestnuts, etc. are difficult to chew and swallow. Food that is too hot or too cold: This is a food that must be avoided if you still wonder "what to abstain after cutting tonsils". In particular, not only after tonsillectomy but also for people with tonsillitis, doctors recommend not to eat foods that are too hot or too cold to avoid irritating the tonsil mucosa. Spicy foods: The foods to avoid when having tonsillitis and after cutting inflammation are relatively similar, mainly the food groups that are not good for health. Especially hot and sour dishes should not be eaten. These foods can cause burning in the throat, especially the newly cut tonsils, which can cause pain and discomfort. Pickled foods (such as radishes, sauerkraut, cucumbers, ...) or foods prepared with a lot of spices (garlic, chili, pepper, ...) are always on the list of dishes to eat. abstain after tonsillectomy. Fatty foods: Similar to spicy foods, greasy foods are also things you need to avoid after tonsillectomy surgery. Foods that contain a lot of fat can accumulate in the nasopharynx after eating. If they stay there for a long time, they can cause infection or inflammation at the surgical site. Not only that, foods containing a lot of fat are not good for heart health, causing internal heat and discomfort in the throat. Stimulants: After tonsillectomy, the incision has not healed, your health is still weak, the use of stimulants such as alcohol, tobacco, coffee, etc. will cause an infection of the surgical site. aggravated. And if the incision has healed, the risk of tonsillitis will also be very high. Raw, undercooked foods: The tonsils need to be kept clean and sterile, while consuming raw or undercooked food can lead to serious infection. That's why people who have just had tonsillectomy absolutely do not eat raw, rare, salad or raw vegetables. In addition, raw food will often be hard, not good for the throat and digestive tract. Carbonated drinks: Normally, carbonated drinks make the drinker feel sore throat, cough. If the cough is strong and a lot, it can damage the tonsils and cause bleeding. Once the tonsils have been bleeding, it is very difficult to stop the bleeding, which can easily lead to many dangerous complications. In addition, carbonated drinks and stimulants also reduce the effectiveness of drugs such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatory. Not spitting up sputum after tonsillectomy: Sputum after tonsillectomy will make the condition worse, it has a high risk of causing bleeding at the cut.

2. After tonsillectomy, what should I eat?

Knowing "what to abstain from tonsillectomy" is good but not enough, you need to build a nutritious and reasonable diet so that the incision heals quickly and the body recovers quickly. Here are some foods you should eat after your tonsillectomy.
Soft and dilute food: The incision is new, the throat is still sore, so soft and thin foods such as soup, porridge, pho, soup, smoothies, ... will be a reasonable choice for you at this time. Besides being soft and thin, these dishes should be left to cool so that you can easily eat and swallow them, and at the same time avoid damage and bleeding of the tonsils. Green vegetables and fruits: Vitamins, fiber and mineral salts in green vegetables and fruits will help you increase your resistance, thereby speeding up your recovery. You should choose vegetables such as amaranth, spinach or gourds, zucchini, pumpkin, potatoes and then steamed or boiled soft for easy eating. With fruit, you should squeeze water or grind it into a smoothie and drink it with yogurt to get the most minerals for your body. However, you should also note that you should not choose acidic fruits such as tangerines, oranges, grapefruits, ... because they can make the incision painful. Foods rich in protein and zinc: Zinc has the ability to increase the activity of the immune system and help wounds heal. That's why after tonsillectomy or other surgery, you should add foods rich in protein and zinc such as salmon, animal liver, nuts, etc. However, you also need to pay attention to the amount The amount and processing method is suitable for the digestive system and the condition of the incision. Drink plenty of water: Water not only helps the body's metabolism take place smoothly, but also helps eliminate toxins effectively. Therefore, after tonsillectomy, try to drink a lot of water (2 liters / day). However, you absolutely do not drink ice cold water, carbonated soft drinks, you should only drink warm filtered water to make your throat more comfortable. In addition to following a reasonable diet, you also need to get enough sleep, get enough rest, take care of your teeth and take medicine according to your doctor's instructions, and schedule follow-up visits. This will ensure that the tonsil incision heals quickly and the body recovers quickly.

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