Tonsillectomy Recovery and Depression
One challenge that many tonsillectomy patients don’t anticipate is depression after surgery. Even people with the sunniest of dispositions may find themselves in a dark place after enduring the hardships of surgery and its recovery. [quote]Before discussing the topic of depression after surgery any further, let me say that if you are under a doctor’s care for depression before surgery, be sure to work with them to plan treatment after surgery. [/quote]
Tonsillectomy surgery, like almost any other surgery, requires more of your body than normal. The healing process takes energy. After tonsillectomy, eating and sleeping become difficult. This makes the healing process more of a strain. I have tips for both eating and sleeping on other pages. For now I’d like to address the almost inevitable event of depression after surgery.
Depression After Surgery
Two weeks of battling pain, not getting enough sleep, taking narcotic pain medicine, and being removed from your normal social interaction can have a profound effect on your mental state. Being prepared for depression after surgery can help you feel better.
Doing your best to stay nourished, get sleep, and stay ahead of pain will all help. I further recommend planning some simple daily activities like a short walk outside, a relaxing bath, a daily television show. These simply activities can get your mind off the discomfort, give you something to look forward to, and give normalcy to an otherwise abnormal time.
Another trick to beating depression after surgery is to record your thoughts and feelings in a journal. Oddly, this seems to release the struggles a bit. I also suggest participating in the online forums and offering others support. As I’ve often said, when you shine a light for others, you also light your own path.
Finally, let people in. Family, friends, health professionals, even co workers have more compassion than you may realize. Let people help. Ask for help in advance- before you have surgery. I personally would be delighted if a friend asked me to run out for Popsicle’s or chewing gum because they’d run out during their tonsillectomy recovery. Help others to help you. You’ll both benefit.
Finally, try to remember that this is temporary. How you are feeling in the midst of your recovery is not how you’ll always feel. Try to imagine the better life you’ll have without the problems the surgery will have corrected. Again, you can read of success stories in my book and on the forum.
Tonsillectomy Recovery
Take care,
Greg
I think the first week was easier. Honestly. I’m on Day Nine… and now that the scabs are coming off and I have thrush, I’m in more pain than I was before. Drinking anything is now extremely painful. Water, juice, my meds… taking pills… you name it. It hurts. the tip of my tongue hurts from the thrush. I found that putting an ice cube in a ziploc bag and putting that part of my tongue against it helps… for short moments only, though. Any advice for other things?
I am on post-op day 12 and depression day one! What the heck? I thought I was doing so well considering and now this? I know that I don’t feel the full understanding and support of those around me. I just didn’t realize I would be sitting at home sobbing like a baby all day! And I feel if I tell anyone they are just going to wonder what is wrong me and tell me to “snap out of it” or “suck it up”! So, why is this normal after tonsillectomy? What causes this? I don’t think we can full prepare for depression to hit – it just does! I just feel so crappy today and desserted in a way.
Sherrie, I’m so sorry that you’re having such a rough time. I did too. I really think there are a few things at play here here; 1. You’ve probably been on a narcotic pain killer for some time and are physically withdrawing. that’s enough right there! 2. On top of that, you probably haven’t slept well for a long time. that’ll wear ya down. 3. How’s the diet been? Let me guess- LIMITED? Yeah, give yourself a break. Give yourself some time. You’ll feel better soon. This will pass. People who haven’t been through it have no idea. Don’t be too hard on them either. Take care. Try to eat, drink, and sleep as much as you can,
Hi Greg-
I’m on day 17 I believe of recovery..and I went off the pain meds completely on day 15. I’m a 21 year old full time college student who also has a job so this has been quite the shake up in my life! I was talking to my roommate and mom about how I’ve been feeling and I said “I’m exhausted still, but eating much better, taking the vitamins, having ensure, sleeping a ton…” but there is something I can’t put into words. Something just doesn’t feel right. I realized that I just feel like I don’t have my personality anymore.
I have a card on the bulletin board on my desk from a co-worker that says “you’re always so happy and smiley…” and I thought to myself “not anymore!” and just about started crying. I sit in class with a blank stare, and moments that used to bring me joy leave me emotionless. I’m glad to have found this on here and I REALLY hope it’s just from going off the meds (roxicet). I am seeing my surgeon for a follow up in a few days and will be sure to bring this up.
Thanks,
Jen
Hi Jen. Sorry to hear this. I think your suspicion is correct though. Coming off those med’s will really do a number on your mind, body, and spirit. Don’t forget that you were also starving for sleep and food. Give yourself a little time to get back to normal. It’ll be ok. I really think so.
Hello! I am a 47 y/o female, and can absolutely attest to the depression that comes post-tonsillectomy! I had done a lot of research prior to my tonsillectomy on 10/15/12, in order to prepare for it, but somehow missed the part about dealing with depression. My depression began about two weeks post-surgery. It was absolutely miserable!! For a few days I could just hardly stand to live with my own self. I was fatigued, melancholy, cloudy headed, had some shaking, etc.. It’s hard even to put into words, but I knew it all had something to do with coming off the pain meds (dilaudid), as well as all the other trauma from surgery. The depression lasted less than two weeks – maybe 7-10 days. There were several very difficult days when it first began, but I muddled through and knew it would eventually get better. Each day then did get better and better. My energy came back. My spirits lifted… My advice to others is to just know that the depression is coming, and to take things one day at a time. You will suffer for a few days, but then, gradually things will begin to feel more normal each new day. I am just over four weeks post-op now. My energy is nearly normal, though still a little low, and NO depresssion. The bothersome throat pain is long since passed, with the exception of some discomfort when I yawn. The worst thing now is that I don’t like how my throat has healed up. The arch on each side of the uvula (dangly thing) is not symmetrical. Right side is fine, but left arch is lower and the skin feels taut on the left side. My throat just doesn’t feel “right”, and with the uvula area hanging a little lower than before surgery, it does affect my speech a bit. I also don’t like the weird taste in my mouth, and hope that goes away soon. I will probably schedule a follow-up appt. with my surgeon so he can see how my throat has healed. I imagine I will just have to live with things the way they are now, or have further surgery to correct it. THAT I am NOT interested in, though!! My best to everyone recovering from adult tonsillectomy. It is absolutely brutal, but the human body is an amazing creation and will heal and recover in time. P.S. I am a stay-at-home mom, but if I were employed I would have needed 2 1/2 weeks off work for recovery – if not, 3 full weeks!!
i had my toncils out september 2012 and my taste isnt back yet every time i eat or drink i fill sick when is it goingto come back its getting me down
Hi, thank you Greg, this made me feel a bit better…
I’m 16 and I had tonsillectomy a week ago. I’ve had to stay home since then, and I’ve got one more week to go. It kills me that I can’t go to school and see my friends. My parents don’t fully understand how I feel, I can’t eat nearly anything and I’ve had enough of the narcotic painkillers prescribed for me. I just feel really depressed, being isolated from everything, and like that’s not enough I’ve developed this ridiculous fear that everyone will forget me while I’m healing up at home. I just can’t help it…but like I said, it made me feel better to read that I’m not alone in this.
Alex
Hi Alex. Yeah, hang in there. This really is temporary. It feels like a long dark tunnel, but the other side of it is WAY better than the side you came in on! Try doing short little outings- even a walk around the block can help you feel more normal. Take care!
Aside from being miserable from being in pain, lack of sleep, food and drink, I have suffered from depression from the lack of social interaction. I don’t have lots of close friends and am not out all the time, but I do see my friends regularly and my job is very customer focused so there is a lot of interaction with others. I missed being physically able to talk and sing. Then I missed being able to have visitors because I was scared of having another post op bleed. I was not on medication for very long and experienced no withdrawals at all. I have never had depression before and like others have said I consider myself a naturally bubbly person. I went to the doctor for a check up 3 weeks post op and unexpectedly broke down. I believe I was suffering from post traumatic stress having been taken to A&E in an ambulance in the middle of the night to have emergency surgery to stop a bleed. I am now 4 weeks post op and have been doing some gentle exercise and meeting friends and starting to feel much more positive and less tearful. Really feel for everyone who went through the operation and experienced the same. I had no warning of this and didn’t know how to cope.
I am 20 yrs old and have suffered from anxiety and depression in the past. I am medicated but stopped taking clonazapam for a few months because I was doing really well. Yesterday, day 15 post-op tonsillectomy, a few family members and my boyfriend were over. I was able to wade around the pool but I started feeling sick so I had to lay inside. I am menstruating at the moment with is making me feel awful. I stopped taking my hydrocodon that day. Around five o’clock, I broke down to my boyfriend and spiraled. I started crying nonstop like episodes I’ve had in the past. My panic was exasperated because I started having flashbacks of horrible crying bouts for hours and days and horrible times in my life. I am making myself feel worse by thinking about my old feelings and being terrified I won’t be able to control them. I called my doctor today and picked up a prescription for my clonazapam. Hopefully, this will take the edge off and calm my nerves. Does anyone have any advice? I am afraid I’m going to have to go through what I used to when I had trouble in the past. Will it pass? I just wanna know if I’m the only one feeling like this.
-Casey
I’m 19 male, recovery day 9 I just feel miserable and depressed. I’m really lonely I hate being stuck inside I just feel like crap mentally. I don’t care about the pain or anything.
I am coming up on day 12, post tonsillectomy. I pretty much knew what to expect, but ever since I went off the Percocet 4 days ago I have not been able to sleep at ALL. Today was my first day back to work, which I attempted only because I was sick of laying around, however I was up all night. Didn’t get to sleep until 6:30 am, woke up at 11 and got ready for work. you would think I should be exhausted by now, but here it is 3:30am and I cannot sleep. I feel like crap, my eyes feel awful, but the insomnia seems to have taken over. I’m not sure if it’s because I stopped taking the Pecocet or not? And not only that, but the last day or 2 I have felt just so depressed, not sure if that’s part of the withdrawl or not? Please let me know if this has happened to any of you out there.
Hi Greg,
I’m 21 years old and I had a tonsillectomy done on 2/17/12 so 15 days ago. I am suffering from depression/anxiety. I have never in my life been depressed! I am the most happy person.. and I have no reason to feel sad. This is really weighing on me and I’m wondering if I need to go to my family doctor? I thought that it was me coming off the pain meds but it’s been almost a week that I’ve been off them. What should I do? Any suggestions?
Thanks,
AJ
Hi Ashley,
I’m sorry you’re feeling this way. It really is common after tonsillectomy. I’m a really happy guy too and found myself weepy, for Pete sake! 15 days, hmmm, how long have you been off the pain meds? Are you sleeping well? I would expect some of these feelings for a good week after you’re off the meds. I think if you’re off them several days and back into your normal routine, and still feeling this way, check with your doctor. I’m not one, so take any advice I give you as one patient to another.
This experience really can knock you out of your saddle. Will you stay in touch and let me know? Thanks, you can also connect with me on Face book
Greg
Hi All,
About day 5 post-op, I was as weepy as can be. Lack of food and sleep, pain meds, and some minor complications just took their toll. For a couple of days, I held a pity party for myself. I couldn’t believe how icky I felt. After talking with a couple of friends, taking a long shower, and *finally* sleeping for 4 hours straight, things got better. I am on 8 days post op, and my optimism is coming back. It’s a process, as they day, but it does get better! This (and thrush) is not something that the health care professionals prepare you for. So glad this site is here as a guide!
Hi Amy- Yeah, it’s for real. I remember breaking down crying one day. later I thought, “what the H$ll was going on???” I’ve read countless stories of people suffering this. Hang in there. It really does get better my dear
I’m on day 10, post-op, and I’m so glad I found this site! I didn’t realize that being this depressed after surgery was so common. I think a lot of the moodiness and depression stems from the medication… I’m having some withdrawal symptoms, mild, but still there, and I’m definitely still not sleeping well. Thanks for posting about depression… I didn’t think of this before surgery, and no one brought it up.
oops- I meant that last comment as a reply…