Why drink Coke after tonsillectomy surgery?
Introduction
Because we are still technically in the grip of a recent event, there’s a good chance that, over the years, you’ll have experienced the occasional sore throat.
A sore throat can be caused by all manner of things, from straining your voice through yelling, to coming down with an illness or infection such as tonsillitis.
Your tonsils serve a very real purpose in your body, (more on that later) though unfortunately, some people are prone to tonsillitis and other conditions affecting the tonsils, which may result in them needing a tonsillectomy.
Tonsillectomies may be simple medical procedures, but that doesn’t make them easy to recover.
Not only can recovery be painful, but it can also be confusing as people sometimes struggle to understand what they can eat and drink after the procedure.
Lately, the internet has been talking about how drinking coke following a tonsillectomy can help with recovery, but why drink coke after a tonsillectomy?
Read on for the answer.
What are the tonsils?
Your tonsils are located in the back of your throat and actually make up a very basic part of the human immune system.
In your throat, towards the back, you’ll find two soft masses of tissue.
Due to their location, the tonsils are there to help prevent germs and bacteria from entering the body via the mouth or the nose.
Within them, you’ll find large accumulations of white blood cells, which are there to help destroy germs and bacteria before they enter your system.
Think of your tonsils as doormen or bouncers in a nightclub, preventing harmful bacteria, germs, and pathogens from getting into your body.
What is tonsillitis?
As helpful as the tonsils are, unfortunately, for some people, they can prove troublesome.
Because they’re exposed to germs, bacteria, and other nasties, the tonsils themselves can sometimes become infected, resulting in a condition known as tonsillitis.
Tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsils, causing them to become swollen, inflamed, sore, and sometimes pus-filled.
Not only can tonsillitis make you feel unwell because of the infection, but sometimes it can spread or cause trouble breathing because they’re so swollen.
Often the condition clears up by itself or can be treated with lozenges, painkillers, or throat sprays.
In case of a bacterial infection, however, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
In extreme cases, or in people who continually suffer from tonsillitis, surgery may be the only option in the form of a tonsillectomy.
What the heck is a tonsillectomy?
If you suffer from your tonsils a lot, your doctor may decide to prescribe a tonsillectomy.
Naturally, as this is a surgical procedure, you’ll likely be worried about it and wondering precisely what it entails.
A tonsillectomy is a simple surgical procedure in which both of a person’s tonsils are surgically removed from the back of the throat.
Usually, tonsillitis will be prescribed if the patient either: suffers from frequent tonsillitis or throat infections or if the tonsils become so swollen and inflamed that they cause breathing difficulty or sleep apnoea.
What to expect after a tonsillectomy
Despite tonsillectomies being one of the simplest and most basic surgical procedures in existence, that does not mean that people aren’t worried if they have to undergo one.
Undergoing any form of surgery can be nerve-racking, especially if it’s your first time, but don’t worry; it’s very simple.
Typically, a tonsillectomy only lasts around 30 – 45 minutes and is one of the simplest surgical procedures in existence.
It’s usually so simple that it won’t even need to be carried out in a hospital.
After being put to sleep under a general anesthetic, you’ll wake up shortly after the procedure and feel a bit disorientated for a while.
You’ll also have a sore throat, for which you will likely be prescribed painkillers.
How long it takes you to recover will depend on a whole host of different factors.
Different people recover from tonsillectomies at different rates depending on their overall health, their age, their genetics, and their specific circumstances.
Generally speaking, however, those aged 19 and below will make a full recovery in around 7 – 14 days, while those aged 19 and above will recover in about 14 – 21 days.
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What to eat and drink after a tonsillectomy
We’ll look at why you drink coke after tonsillectomy a little later on before we get to that, however, here’s a brief overview of what to eat and drink after having your tonsils out.
Usually, after the procedure, throat pain will usually be common, so you should avoid foods and drinks that could irritate the throat.
You should also avoid dairy as dairy can cause stomach upset, which may cause vomiting.
Avoid citrus fruits, drinks, and acidic foods as they could burn the throat and cause pain. You should also avoid very hot foods and beverages as they could burn the throat.
Instead, try to eat cool or cold foods and avoid crunchy foods or foods with sharp edges.
As for drinks, cold and fairly flat drinks are great for soothing the throat, though try not to make them ice cold.
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Why drink coke after a tonsillectomy?
As mentioned, many people online have found that drinking cola after having their tonsils removed has helped them recover, but why is that?
While coke contains no magical medicinal ingredient to speed up healing or recovery, the sugar in the coke can give you energy which can help you to recover quicker and feel more alert.
Not only that, but the cool liquid will also soothe and cool the throat.
Let your cola sit for a while before drinking, as too much carbonation may irritate your throat.
You should also not drink it for 24 hours after the procedure in case you vomit, as the dark liquid may be mistaken for blood and can be distressing.
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