"Lukewarm foods were definitely my friend—especially oatmeal with a little honey stirred in."
Oatmeal was a no-go for my kid... the texture just didn't sit right. We found mashed potatoes or scrambled eggs worked way better. Agree on the salt water though, total lifesaver.
Interesting, oatmeal didn't really work for me either—felt kinda gritty and uncomfortable. Did scrambled eggs ever feel too dry or sticky? I found creamy soups like tomato bisque or even cooled-down mac and cheese easier to manage. Also curious about the salt water rinse... did you find it stung at first, or was it soothing right away?
"Also curious about the salt water rinse... did you find it stung at first, or was it soothing right away?"
For me, the salt water rinse was a bit of a mixed bag. Initially, it stung slightly—nothing unbearable, just enough to make me pause—but after a few seconds, it actually felt pretty soothing. Funny you mention scrambled eggs; I had similar issues. They were either too dry or weirdly sticky. I ended up blending them with a touch of cream cheese to smooth things out. Did anyone else experiment with smoothies or shakes? Curious if cold helped others as much as it did me...
Salt water rinses were pretty soothing for me right from the start, but I kept mine lukewarm—not too hot or cold. Cold smoothies definitely helped numb things a bit, especially in the first couple days. I also found yogurt drinks handy; they're smooth, cool, and easy to swallow. Scrambled eggs were tricky for sure... I ended up making them extra soft with butter and milk. Did blending with cream cheese change the taste much? Sounds interesting.
I agree about lukewarm rinses—my daughter found them much more comfortable too. Did you find smoothies with berries irritating at all? We stuck mostly to banana and mango because I was worried about seeds causing discomfort. Also curious about the scrambled eggs... cream cheese sounds tasty, but did it make them thicker or harder to swallow? We ended up doing mashed potatoes with extra gravy instead, which seemed easier for her.
