Tips For Tonsillectomy Recovery
1. Drink fluids
2. Drink cold fluids
3. Drink more cold fluids! A steady flow of cool liquid is probably the most important thing to speed your tonsillectomy recovery.
4. Get a good cool air humidifier and run it all the time.
5. Don’t worry about sleep. Forget the normal time convention. Sleep for short intervals, preferably in a recliner. Sleep can be your worst enemy. Sleeping a few hours in a bed usually results in a dry throat that hurts like crazy. It can take almost an hour to get the pain back under control.
6. Keep a written log of your medications as you take them. It’s easy to forget what you’ve taken and when. If you would have problems that require help from the doctor, it can come in handy.
7. Read about others’ experiences and share your own. (Check out the tonsillectomy surgery forum)
8. Plan ahead! Stock up on items you’ll need ahead of time for your tonsillectomy recovery.
9. Take something with your pain medicine. Carnation Instant Breakfast or Ensure will at least provide a base in your stomach and reduce nausea.
10. Plan some minor events. Even a simple event like a walk or a bath can take your mind off the discomfort and help your mindset during tonsillectomy recovery
11. Chew sugarless gum. When pain gets referred to the ears, and it often does, chewing gum can ease the ear pain. It also keeps the swallowing process active, which many believe aids in tonsillectomy recovery.
Those are my top tonsillectomy recovery tips. For a detailed daily checklist, check out my upcoming book.
I’ve put together a collection of items that I think would be helpful, if not essential, to making tonsillectomy recovery a little more pleasant. Check out the Tonsillectomy Recovery General Store.
Take care,
Greg
Humidifier- tonsillectomy patient's friend
Tonsillectomy Recovery
I am on day 9. Judging from what I’ve read, I’ve done a little better than average. Other than early morning on day 2 where I felt nauseous with extreme pain plus what felt like a migraine headache all at once, it has felt manageable. Things that helped me most: a humidifier from the moment I got home, Polar Ice gum, Gatorade, Philly Swirl popsicles, and taking 1/2 doses of meds every two hours. Salty things tasted better than expected and helped with the motion sick feelings.
i cant sleep because of the dangly bit is so swollen its blocking my throat! going to raid the house for chewing gum its wednesday now and i had the op tuesday morning, felt fine and was eating crips yesterday and now struggling to open my mouth, i was drinking a lot of milk in hospital but read online it was not good for you, it felt like a calming film going down my throat a lot better to drink than water
My husband had his tonsils out and is at two week mark. His biggest complaint now is that he can’t sleep because he wakes up choking.
Hmm, the tissues take a few months to fully recover and firm up. Not sure but perhaps it will resolve itself in time. (hopefully soon!)
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of taking ensure or something similar with pain medication. The first day of my tonsillectomy, I was taking tylenol with codeine with no problem. The second day, I did not have enough to eat, just a milkshake and a popsicle. The result: I threw up 7 times until I could get some anti-nausea medication. Not only did this irritate my already fragile mouth, but I couldn’t keep down anything to help with the pain, not even regular tylenol. It was horrible and what’s worse is knowing I could have prevented it. See if your doctor can prescribe you anti-nausea medication beforehand just in case you have problems.
does anyone know how to get this awefull taste out of your mouth?
Have your own tonsillectomy recovery tips? Please share….