My neighbor's adult daughter just had her tonsils removed and the surgeon suggested popsicles, jello or water ice rather than ice cream initially. Dairy products may cause nausea and increased mucus in some people so the suggestion was to try small amounts to see if it is tolerated first. Then you can add pudding, milkshakes, smoothies.

Sounds like being at HOME with mom is all the care package he could want for. By the time you take him back to his place he will be recovered and not even remembering this.

DD had this done just a few years ago, during college. She stayed with us for a few days during and after. I have to say she was REALLY scared of the pain based on her friend's experiences, but I don't think she ended up taking more than two doses of the pain meds. So here's hoping your DS's experience is similar. Popsicles were great. She also enjoyed milkshakes, so if he doesn't already have a great blender/smoothie maker, maybe that would be a good Christmas gift. Also, is he into games? There is a lot of sitting around doing nothing for a few days. Even without a lot of pain, she wasn't up to doing much, so we watched movies mostly. Eventually, he'll need to eat something besides ice-cream: applesauce, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, soup.... Also, maybe a good protein mix for smoothies?

My son (30) just had his tonsils out. I live in his neighborhood, but stayed with him for 10 days. I think he really enjoyed me waiting on him and doing his laundry, etc. The only thing that he really wanted every day was a slushy from Sonic. We put it in a Yeti, no straw, We bought all the other stuff they recommended and he didn't feel like having anything.. Keep him on his meds every 4 hours while he is awake. It is quite painful! He was afraid that he would hemorrhage.... worry wort. The first day or two is a piece of cake AND then the third day hits~ Best of luck! We stayed on the couch and streamed alot of TV shows.

My son had a T&A when he was a young teen due to sleep apnea. I agree with maire_cate about the popsicles, italian ices, slushies, etc. Might be fun to pick some of his childhood favorites. T&A surgery in teens/adults can get complicated, as I'm sure you know. My son ended back in the hospital to cauterize a bleed. So glad he will be staying with you!

It's been a few decades since I had my tonsils out as a teenager, but I second the recommendation of popsicles and jello. I think IIRC clear fluids are best initially before adding in dairy products.

Teeda, yes, this is for sleep apnea. He is so congested he can’t really use the c-pap machine. He got these genes from DH, so I have assigned his care to DH, haha. He is tired all the time and hopefully this surgery will be a game changer for him. I know it can be complicated…he isn’t so much worried about the pain; he’s afraid he’s going to die. He is going to the best ENT hospital and I reminded him that I allowed this place to operate on his little brother when he was 2 years old, so they can be trusted. ;)

So far my package includes jello, pudding, and applesauce! Can’t really put smoothies under the tree, but we always have smoothie ingredients in the house bc DH has one almost every day.

Good wishes for an uneventful surgery and speedy recovery!

Some doctors recommend no straws post surgery so check on that before smoothies and milkshakes. I subsisted on jello and mashed potatoes - a little thinner than normal.

I had my tonsils out at 19 - oh, dear, just realized that was 50 years ago this coming holiday season. Anyway- I did have a couple of bouts of vomiting blood, right after waking up in my room and then a few days later, when I should have been going to a New Year’s Eve party. And I found it to be very painful and didn’t want to eat anything for quite a while.

But then I am super sensitive to pain. Best wishes to your son.

I have not dealt with this, just wanted to send best wishes!

My niece just had hers out and is having a tough time but I think a lot of it is from an over bearing mother!

This may take some work ahead of time. GET LIQUID PAIN MEDS!!!! She was not prescribed liquid initially becasue the MD said a lot of places to not have it now so he just does oral to make sure the patient has some relief. He wasn't lying as my SIL had to call several pharmacies to find one that had any/enough to fill a script.

Does he have a pre op visit or has he already had that? It might be nice to have the script ahead of time to get it filled.

Best wishes to him! Does salt burn wounds in the throat? If not, make him some electrolyte ice cubes, and you can smash them for chips. if needed. Some could have sticks. I like the Propel or Ultima (Amazon or some CVS) because they are sugar free.

I had my tonsils removed when I was 2 so my experience is not helpful ... but when I had my dental surgeries apple sauce was surprising good.. I never really ate it as an adult.

but the absolute BEST comfort was from Rita's Italian Ice. If you don't have them there, it is a fruit ice but spun in an ice cream machine so very smooth and creamy without any dairy. Ours are all closed down for the season here but I am told you can make something every bit as good with a vitamix -- other blenders can be used but the vitamix is the one that makes it super creamy.

I finally had this surgery when I was 45! I should have had it done when I was a child. They say it is harder to recover from when you are older, so it's good your DS is doing it now. I was very miserable after surgery for a few weeks, but my health and breathing are much, much better now.

I recommend some long narrow gel ice packs, to wrap around the throat. It helps with swelling and pain. I loved pebble ice because it was so soothing to my throat, and hydrating. A pebble ice maker would be an awesome gift! I think an insulated tumbler, like a Yeti, would be great in a care package. Also Ibuprofen and Tylenol, lip balm, saline nasal spray, tissues, electrolyte drinks, and protein shakes.

They recommend sleeping upright for the first few days, so a comfortable chair or recliner, and tons of pillows help a lot. All I did for the first week was sleep, try to drink enough to stay hydrated, take pain pills (a pill organizer is good for keeping track), and watch a little TV.

Best wishes that it all goes as well as possible!

Sue, the surgery made a big difference with my son. From the time he was young child he snored like a trucker. Once he got into middle school he was having a lot of attention issues. I took him for an evaluation and the doctor immediately noticed the huge adnoids and tonsils. There is also a history of sleep apnea in my family.

FWIW, my ENT said this can be an unpleasant surgery in adults. I have huge tonsils and was debating having them removed, and he talked me out of it. Part of that is because I am a giant baby with surgery and pain, but the surgeon said that many adults really do have some fairly significant post-surgical pain.

Knowing he has his mom to help him is so very sweet. I hope he has an uneventful recovery.

DD had it done at age 20 just before she went to med school, this was about 2.5 years ago. It was very painful for the first 4-5 days. DD was a skilled gamer in college, I remembered she played games to bear the pain. If your son is a gamer, a new game might help.

Thanks everyone. Surgery is Jan 4 so has not had pre-op appt yet and no specific instructions from the dr yet but I know that will be coming.

I'm just wondering if he would appreciate being reminded of the surgery on Christmas day. Maybe have a gift package for him when get's home from the surgery.

Funky - can't beat Rita's Water Ice. We have one in the food court at the local mall so it's open year round. And the best part is that it's next to an entrance so I can run in and pick up a quart or two for the freezer and then treat myself to a Misto on the way out.

Maire

Our daughter had her tonsils out in high school over Spring Break. There’s no getting around the fact that this is an especially long and painful recovery. The recommendations here are excellent, especially getting the meds, drinks and foods ahead of time. And, as RN strongly suggested, LIQUID pain meds!!! For DD, being propped up in the comfy recliner in our family room where she could watch tv or nap, and I could quickly help whenever needed was a godsend! AND, a good stack of favorite dvds to take her mind off the pain was a huge help! What I did have on hand for her right there in the family room was a warm blanket , her pillow, an emesis basin to spit blood into. Sorry if that’s TMI, but it is needed! A box of kleenex, a bottle of chilled water, an ice pack, the dvd/tv remote, warm socks, a small trash can, chapstick, and her cell phone. All of this didn’t take away the pain, but they did help make her 2+ weeklong recovery easier . . . and mine, too!

As a kid i hemorrhaged pretty bad that i fainted and was put back in the hospital. it was because I ate something tiny that scratched my throat. Gross, but there was lots of blood. Stay away from anything made with ice. Even popcicles in case a small piece is swallowed. Thoughts will be with you!

Yes! No salt or acidic foods/juices! When I had my tonsils out at 9 y/o, I pitched a fit for tomato juice, my favorite. Mother cautioned against it but I was hardheaded. Finally after a week, she gave me a bit of tomato juice. Lo, these many years later, I can still remember the pain!

I have one of these, and I love it. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09J1LJ4HC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Cheaper at Costco if you are a member: https://www.costco.com/brookstone-heated-throw.product.100686921.html

Can you see my post immediately above this one? On the front page, it isn’t showing me as a poster/respondent. I’m wondering it is because I put AMZ and CSTCo links in my post

ETA: More than one way to skin a cat:

Because the links won’t work now, just search Brookstone Heated Throw at either Seller. Talk about cozy and comforting!

Lip balm! I don't know why but the one time that I had surgery, I would have given anything for some lip balm - I guess maybe I was breathing through my mouth more than usual.

bbstx, I don't see your other post.

100% green tea can help with healing wounds. Drinking cold green tea should help him to recover faster.

Another that had tonsils out at 19yo. I had experienced infections long enough. I do not know why my mother never insisted during my numerous infections while I was growing up. I drove myself to the hospital after a half day at Army Reserve, had them out the next morning, spent another night, then drove home to my apartment the next day.

My after surgery experience was the same as Gin's - woke up, threw up. Nurse brought me a Coke which burned. Juice was good, slushy would have been great. Straws are not permitted. Ice cream also hurt. Jello, pudding cups. Mashed bananas. Scrambled eggs. Eventually grits. Anything not too hot or too cold. Nothing hard and/or scratchy. I also had liquid pain meds, which I don't recall helping that much.

Maybe a subscription to a really premium streaming service, like HBO max? You can always cancel after a month!

Do you have a comfortable recliner? If not, can you rent or borrow one? I had some really gnarly oral surgery and sleeping in a recliner helped my face not swell up, which helps with healing.

Kinda practical and obvious advice, but I recommend stocking these OTC meds:

--Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen (tylenol). You can safely alternate the two if you're in pain and need to take these more frequently. I've had several small surgeries, and I always wanted to switch off of the opiate meds after a few days.

--Benadryl. When he does switch off the opiates, he might want something that will help him sleep. (Benadryl is the same thing as Tylenol PM, but w/o the tylenol.)

I had my t&a when i was 20. It was much more painful than my surgery for kidney cancer at 57, and I’m not kidding! Every breath, every swallow, was pure misery. And I still snore louder than a lion roars All night long. I wish your son as painless a recovery as possible.

It's been many years since I had mine removed as a teen. I was so happy because after my adenoids were removed it pretty much ended the chronic nosebleeds I'd had my whole life.

I don't know if this is allowed, but I'd check. I seem to recall being able to suck on lozenges with numbing ingredients. Not suck as with a straw, but let them dissolve in the mouth. They have over the counter and prescription strength, so I'd ask if he can use them. Maybe they are standard issue.

I hope he has an easy go of it. The anxiety will probably be worse than the surgery.

This can be a rough surgery for an adult. It was pretty awful for our DD when she had hers out on Christmas break from college when she was 19 or 20. She ate hardly any food for two weeks. Maybe a few popsicles was all. I think I remember that straws are not allowed for a period of time either. Her ENT prescribed a liquid pain medicine, and we actually had to have it refilled. Oh, and he will have dragon breath for a few weeks. A mask will come in handy for his caregiver!

The ENT had warned us, but I honestly was not prepared for how terrible it was for our DD. Be sure to look up info about the scabs falling off because there can be a bleeding complication, but I cannot remember details. Thankfully she did not have that issue.

She wore a wrap around ice pack, so have a few of those on hand. We ended up putting towels over her pillowcases due to the bloody saliva (sorry to be blunt), but there might be better options for that. I really hope your son has a smoother experience, but I was woefully unprepared for the pain from this surgery. Neither DH or me or our sons had to have it. It’s so odd because in younger kids it’s not that big a deal.

I have no advice to add but I must say my sympathy anxiety level is up. Your son is so lucky to have you and DH to take care of him. I think I would focus on other things for Christmas and have all the preparations/comfort gifts ready to go pre/post surgery. Will be thinking of you all!

My husband had his removed about 15 years ago. He told me to tell you to offer chocolate pudding. It took about three days before he could tolerate food (even jello). chocolate pudding was the only thing he could finally eat.

I understand how your son feels. I am thinking that a wedge pillow, a cozy or weighted blanket might help him be comfortable. My daughter has the Zuma Foam Wedge from Brentwood Home, and said that after her surgery it helped her sleep and with other supports sit up to watch TV or read. https://www.brentwoodhome.com/collections/wedge-pillows. Did he enjoy Legos when he was little?

Happy, what makes you ask about Legos? He was a huge Lego fan.

This is all really helpful info, including the scary stories you’re sharing (which I won’t share with him)! Sounds like we need to be prepared for anything. I am glad I asked because I don’t know anyone IRL who’s been thru this as an adult.

Probably a good idea to save the care pkg for later and not as a holiday gift. We can give it to him the night before surgery and the fun of ”presents” will help.

Thank you!!!

Soft & flexible for neck.

Sueb, I think you might have mentioned that your son played with Legos. There are so many different Lego sets. You might be able to choose one to keep him busy during his convalescence. If you saved them from when he was little, you could surprise him with them.

It has been a long long while since i had mine out as a teen. My brother however had his removed as an adult. No straws has been mentioned, but with smoothies, icies, and other thicker drinks, you can use a spoon. So maybe find a long iced teaspoon for him to use.

Also, nothing acidic like orange or tomato juice or tomato soups, so think about that when planning any food for the first couple of weeks. Burns like fire in the throat.

Best wishes to your son and to you as caregiver.

Maybe he would like some cozy things such as a soft faux fur or fleece blanket, warm socks, flannel PJ bottoms or a cozy sweatshirt? Best wishes for his smooth recovery.

If dairy is not recommended, I recommend oat milk. You can make pudding or banana smoothies, or look for oat milk ice cream. My sister struggles with mild nausea and she swears that anything oat calms it.