Breezing through tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy recovery

Does your child or teenager need to have their tonsils and/or adenoids removed? If your child regularly suffers from painful tonsillitis or inflamed adenoids, then it is likely that their Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) consultant will recommend that they have their tonsils and/or adenoids removed via a tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy.

Watching your child in pain with back-to-back tonsil infections or waking up at night unable to breathe is just horrid, and if these come back time and time again, then the repeated agony for all of you will be tiring and relentless. You will all probably be very ready for this operation!

I have been there myself! When I was little, I regularly suffered from painful tonsillitis, congested adenoids (I was a big snorer!) and ear infections, which affected my sleep and my hearing. I seemed to live on banana medicine (amoxicillin antibiotic) as these issues were pretty constant. Eventually, it was recommended that I have an operation to have both my tonsils and adenoids removed.

I still vividly remember the hospital room. I was six years old, and on a blazing hot day, I was given some rather melty vanilla ice cream my mum had been storing in the hospital freezer for me to eat after the operation! I also remember eating lots of wobbly jelly as my mouth and throat were pretty sore!

However, I completely understand that any operation, even minor or common place can be hugely daunting, and I want to help by sharing my tips on how to prepare well and recover quickly and to ease any worries for you and your family.

Not knowing how to help your little one can also add to the stress around an operation so, please do read my blog, How to prepare for & recuperate from an operation where I go into more detail about helping a child with anxiety relating to an operation. In the same blog I also share more detail about how anaesthetics can affect your little ones if you have any concerns over that side of things.

Although the thought of surgery for a child is scary, it’s important to remind yourself of the misery that constant illness has probably caused you all and remember that having a tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy can make an enormous difference to your child’s wellbeing; with less time off sick, and better sleep (for all of you). But as parents we cannot help but be anxious about the operation and recovery, so I do hope that my tips on preparation and recovery will help.

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Preparing for the operation

The reassuring news is that these surgeries on tonsils and adenoids are common and routine. In fact, the UK’s NHS carries out approximately 31,000 tonsillectomies annually. It also helps to know that doctors will only send you down this route if they consider it absolutely necessary and many will only advise an operation if your child is really struggling.

It is always a good idea to bolster your child’s nutrition and immune system before any operation and you can start to look at introducing natural ways to do this for you child at least 10 days prior to the operation and keep going with these for at least 10 days afterwards. Here is why supporting nutrition and immunity is so important:

An easier recovery. A stronger immune system can mean a smoother and faster recovery as it strengthens their body’s natural defence mechanisms.
Excessive bleeding is far less likely. This is one of the risks of having any kind of surgical procedure.
A reduced risk of infection. A strong immune response is so important in warding off any potential infections picked up in the hospital or whilst recuperating.
Reducing inflammation. The right nutrition can mitigate any inflammation caused during and after the operation. This could mean a less painful healing period and reduce the need for painkillers after the surgery.
Promote healing. If their immune system is working well, it will only help their body’s healing process. This in turn aids in your child’s overall recovery from the operation so they start eating well and return to being their normal vibrant self nice and quickly.

Bolstering the immune system

Luckily, there are plenty of natural ways we can support the immune system and the healing from an operation.

Active honeys, such as Jarrah or Manuka have an anti-inflammatory action that can help ease pain and inflammation in the oral cavity. These specialist honeys are very healing, and research has found that active honey can reduce the number of painkillers needed whilst recovering from the operation. They can also help to prevent post-operative bleeding. Offer your child a teaspoon of active honey 2-3 times a day before and after the operation.

Vitamin D levels have often been found to be very low in children living with chronic tonsillitis and having enough vitamin D is essential for the immune system to function efficiently. Vitamin D is known as mother nature’s steroid and has some anti-inflammatory properties which can aid healing. Vitamin D is ideally found from sunshine exposure, and this can be tricky when we live in a country which mainly offers grey and wet weather. There is some vitamin D in organic whole milk, outdoor-raised meat, fish and some mushrooms.

Vitamin K2 plays a role in clotting and may help to prevent significant bleeding, so it’s important to add this in as much as possible before the operation. Ensure your child gets enough K2 by adding in leafy greens and fermented foods to their diet such as yoghurt, kefir, miso soup and sourdough bread. It can also be found in mature cheese and butter from grass-fed cows.

Both Vitamin D3 and K2 can be supplemented quite easily and are often combined.

Vitamin C helps with the healing process and supports immunity. By giving your child enough vitamin C you are providing them with the necessary building blocks they need to heal quickly, as it promotes tissue repair, minimises inflammation, and protects against infection. One study found vitamin C helped with post operative pain. Foods that are high in vitamin C include citrus fruits such as oranges, strawberries, bell peppers, and broccoli. Avoid excess amounts of Vitamin C around 24 hours before the operation as it may reduce the effectiveness of the anaesthetic. But it is OK to have plenty of vitamin C otherwise.

Zinc is necessary for the production of collagen, which helps with healing (scar formation) and can speed up the healing of any incision as well as supporting the immune system. It can also help any taste disturbance after the tonsillectomy. Zinc-rich foods include meat, shellfish, dairy, seeds, nuts, and whole grains. This can also be supplemented if needed.

Extra tips for recuperating from surgery

As a parent, it is normal to be concerned about the postoperative period. We want to help our children recover quickly and knowing likely responses might be helpful.

Some children will complain of nothing more than a sore throat for a week or so after the operation. But some might also have sore ears (caused by the sore throat) which is horrid when they think they should be feeling better. They will probably be recommended to stay off school for 10 days so they recover well. The biggest postoperative risk is heavy bleeding after the operation as well as high levels of pain.

It can a little tricky recovering from the operation as your child’s mouth will probably be very sore and here are my top tips to help things heal:

Hydrate – The most important thing is to keep your child well hydrated and in addition to giving them plenty of sips of water, try coconut water, and diluted fruit juice through a straw (orange or pineapple juice might sting, so avoid shortly after the operation). Try some of my juice recipes.
Soothe – Ice cream is your friend and learn to make nutrient dense ice cream, sorbets and smoothie bowls. They are nice and soothing on the inflamed area.
Eat well – As their appetite improves and pain subsides, solid foods and chewing are strongly encouraged to help with the healing process. Chewing is important, mainly because it stimulates the muscles around the throat. This boosts the physical healing of the injury. Moreover, solids help restore a sense of normalcy.
Look after their teeth – Even though they might be reluctant to brush their teeth, while their mouth is sore, brushing teeth very carefully will help the mouth to heal at is helps to reduce the numbers of bad bacteria in the mouth and keeps things fresh. To minimise the discomfort, choose a soft-bristled toothbrush and gentler toothpaste.
Gargle – Bad breath can be quite common due to the healing in the back of the throat so encourage gargling if they are old enough with a mildly salty water to improve the bad breath and this will also flush out any bacteria in the mouth.

Don’t forget to keep the nutrient-rich food up following the operation. This will all help the healing process and ensure your little one is up and about as quickly as possible.

Round up

Agreeing for your child to undergo an anaesthetic and go through a surgical procedure, however routine, is a big decision to make. By incorporating these nutrients and practical tips into your child’s pre-op and recovery plan, you will be promoting a smoother recovery. The important thing to remember is that you are not alone, and with the right medical help, foods, supplements and some common-sense tips, your little one can heal comfortably and quickly.

My NatureDoc clinical team are here for you if you feel you need more specific help before or after the operation for your child’s immune system and they will happily offer more in depth one to one support.

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