Depression After Tonsillectomy
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. **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.
Tonsillectomy Recovery- Day 17: Why don’t I feel better?
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.
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 simple 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.
Take care,
Greg
I am an 18 year old female who had tonsil surgery about 15 days ago. Although I feel recovered physically, the Valium almost made me forget a whole week and a half of my life. Not to mention this week was Christmas! Being out of work, school, and not being able to think straight can make you lose sight of your identity. It’s also been really hard to have an appetite or sleep, mainly because of this anxiety. It is sometimes so hard to just let go of this worrying.
Hello-I had my surgery on 12/20 so I’m on day 11. I knew this wasn’t going to be pleasant but I’ve been taken aback with just how awful it has been. I had a bleed on day five or six and it was scary but stopped after a few minutes. I’ve been terrified since then that I will have another!
Today I have a slightly stuffy nose and blew my nose too hard, making it bleed a bit. Freaked me out. I was able to eat a little on Christmas but since then, nothing but chicken soup and popsicles. I’m so hungry but don’t want to eat anything. It’s hard to sleep in bed and I keep ending up on the couch so I can sit up while I sleep. I hate leaving my hubby in bed!
My right ear has been really sore and painful; there’s one spot in my throat on the right and it shoots pain straight into my ear. My head feels cloudy, I guess from lack of food and all the pain meds. I’ve only taken Tylenol for the last couple of days.
I’m so ready to just be healed. It’s starting to make me emotional.
Thanks so much Greg, I am 51 and had tonsillectomy surgery 2 months and two days ago. I’m still having issues like the feeling like something in the back of my throat, hard to swallow at times etc . . . and I’ve been reading about how it’s been years for some people and they have just had to learn to live with there throats that way and that has caused me MAJOR Anxiety . If I could just get assurances that my throat will be back to normal some time soon, Just Very Scared Its Gonna Stay Like This after reading others post. Also I still have two white spots on back of my throat. Is that scabs or scar Tissue. THank you so much for any Information.?
My throat really didn’t feel completely normal for almost 6 months. I had that same sensation. It also seemed…weaker back there- like I couldn’t form a tight seal when swallowing. My sense of taste also took quite a while to get right. I remember red wine tasting awful for months. The white spots might me strep or a virus, not related to tonsillectomy. I’m NOT a doctor so please take my thoughts as just sharing an experience.
Hope you’re 100% soon. -heading over to check out your blog 😉 Take care!
Hi Greg how are you feeling now?
Im 44 and just had my tonsils removed.
I’m feeling the same anxiety as u described.
Can u tell me more
Hi Kevin. I feel great these days. Recovery is really tough but it was totally worth it to me. Hang in there. This. Is. Temporary!!!!
Ice lollies help. Probably takes 2+ weeks before u can eat well . Tiredness is a factor too. It will get better, but is a long haul. Im 72 and it just takes us all different timescale.
Hi, I’m a 35 year old female 13 days post surgery. I’m still in a little pain but mainly depressed due to not being able to eat. Has anyone else experienced loss of taste? If yes, how long did it last? I try to force myself to eat but everything makes me nauseous since I can’t taste it. I’ve already lost 20 lb in 13 days due to not eating. ?
35 year old female
Hi, I am 36 year old female. Had a horrible experience with my tonsillectomy. Yes, horrible loss in taste…I can taste nothing! How long did that last for you? I am only 5 weeks post surgery.