Ross Tells His Not So Bad Experience With Tonsillectomy Recovery
I’ve had a fairly mild recovery and I wanted to share my story for anyone who wants to read another perspective/something more positive. I came across this site and a few others similar to it a day and half before surgery and honestly, the horror stories almost made me cancel the whole thing. I am so glad I didn’t. Not all ENTs are created equally. There are ENTs and ENT surgeons. Recovery is different for everyone and my experience or anyone else’s may not be your experience. If your ENT isn’t comfortable with surgery or refuses to operate no matter how bad your tonsils get, get a second opinion or find a new ENT. Mine did not hesitate to operate and he knew what he was doing.
For those who don’t care to read the whole story- Uneventful recovery. No bleeding. No uncontrollable pain. No significant nausea. No weird tastes or smells. Slept through the night every night. Did not barf. Did not crap my pants. Most importantly-did not cry. 10/10 on post-op benefits and won’t do again. Honestly, the worst part was the anticipation of pain. Reading horror stories about agony that you are about to go through did a number on me. The expectation was way worse than any pain I felt. A big part of this recovery is mental. You will not have a miracle shortcut recovery. Kids get away with a few days of applesauce and tylenol. Adults do not. Your new job is simply recovering. It is important to be prepared for this reality. Be expecting a solid week of being house-ridden and another week of light activity. I didn’t leave the house once until day 6 and it was a short trip to the pharmacy, but I was still tired after. I didn’t drive until day 9. That means a well-stocked pantry and Netflix/cable/movies/books/video games. I was fortunate enough to have parents nearby who have a house with a first-floor guest room with a full bathroom. A lack of stairs was a big plus. It is best if you can stay somewhere that has someone home all or most of the time. Drink lots of water. I did 2 liters per day minimum. Run a humidifier 24/7. Moisture in all forms makes everything so much more comfortable. I could tell when my humidifier ran out within a few minutes by the increase in scratchiness in my throat. Fans/blowing air will not be your friends=instant discomfort. I was lucky to have my surgery during the winter. Drink lots of water. Take your pain meds on time whether it hurts or not, even at night. Set an alarm and keep a table with the medicine schedule next to your prescriptions and check them off. Do your homework on pain management. Studies show tylenol with codeine is just as effective for managing short-term post-op pain as much stronger painkillers. Not all painkillers work the same way or effect the same part of the nervous system, meaning that stronger doesn’t always mean less pain. It may mean different or worse side effects. Drink lots of water. He/she who eats and drinks soonest and heartily should recover fastest. Get some Ensure/protein drinks, soup, broth, pasta, popsicles, mac and cheese, rice, and jello. Buy low sodium because salt will not feel good those first few days. Make sure to get something food-oriented down your throat even when it hurts. Mac and cheese will become your 5 star meal for a few days. Anything carbonated will be uncomfortable to drink in the first week. The first bite of real food will taste like dinner at the Ritz.
Sorry that the story got longer than expected.
Bio- 32 year old American male. 6 ft/275 lbs. Well-built with some extra padding. I have worked on the phone in a call center for the last 8 years.
Quick background- I had a raging (strep test negative) sore throat sophomore year of college (2004-2005) that waxed and waned for 6+ months. My tonsils got big after that and I believe that was also when I started snoring bad-like freight train bad. Like hear it downstairs over the tv bad. I would go years between sore throats after that, but I had occasional discomfort from all sorts of things like food and environment. In February 2015, my tonsils swelled bad enough that they were touching and I was having problems swallowing. I went to a local urgent care and the attending physician just happened to be an ENT doing some overtime. He agreed that they were huge and gave me some prednisone and sent me on my way, saying that he didn’t have his regular scopes and tools at the urgent care. No mention of coming to his office sometime or anything indicating that there may be a bigger problem. Prednisone didn’t do anything for the swelling and I went back 2 weeks later after reading up on GERD and acid reflux, which I have a few times a year. I did a 30 day course of prevacid and they shrunk within the first few days. In January 2017, I had bad reflux and felt some acid land in my throat and it caused a sore spot. My tonsils started rubbing on it all day and it wouldn’t heal. By mid-February, I could barely talk without serious discomfort. I basically felt like I was going to gag every time I spoke. I went to the same urgent care and it ended with a referral to an ENT. I ended up going to the ER thinking they would have an ENT on staff- nope. ER did a CT scan, agreed my tonsils were huge…..and referred me to an ENT- but also gave me the name of a good one who likes to operate in that hospital :). The ENT saw me the next day and said my tonsils were coming out about 30 seconds after I sat down. He said tonsils like mine don’t walk through that door very often and they were huge. He also mentioned adult tonsillectomies are painful and that he was sorry that I would need one. But he said I would breathe a lot better and stop snoring as well. I was unable to return to work because I couldn’t talk and I had my surgery a week later on 2/22/17.
Day 1- I had my surgery as outpatient through the local major hospital. Mom picked me up and we arrived at the hospital right on time for my 545 AM appointment. Pre-op check-in took a few minutes and I was in my gown and on the gurney by 615. IV went into top of right hand. The whole surgery team had a good laugh when I mentioned that I read some horror stories on the internet the day before. The surgeon said that with pain meds, it should feel at most like you burnt your throat eating some hot pizza. The last thing I remember was being amazed at the surgery room even with no glasses on. So shiny and bright. I heard the doctor say he was giving me something to relax and I was out 5 seconds later. My procedure was done with electrocautery. My surgeon has been doing tonsillectomies for 40+ years. He’s good at it. Everything went well and I was out in about 30 minutes. I woke up in recovery shortly after. My head was clear instantly and I could breathe so much easier without tonsils but they had to give me a nebulizer treatment because I was coughing a little and I could feel my asthma starting. I was very comfortable with nothing more than a mild sore throat. I had a few popsicles and drank a few glasses of ice water- all of which felt great. The nurse asked if I wanted my first dose of pain med. Expecting the worst but not feeling anything bad yet, I said yes. I was prescribed liquid tylenol with codeine 120/12 10ml every 6 hours as needed. Also given augmentin liquid to avoid post-op infection. One of the residents from the surgeon’s office gave me a final checkup before discharge and mentioned I could take the pain med every 4 hours. I’m glad I did. The rest of the day went smooth with pain being being a 1-2 out of 10. It really did feel like I burned my throat on hot food. I was eating jello, Ensure, and popsicles as soon as I got home. Dinner was noodles in broth. It took a good hour to get full from dinner but no problems. Part of my tongue is numb but it is pink again and moist for the first time since I can remember.
Day 2- More of the same. Some increase in discomfort and a little nausea for a few hours as anesthetic wears off. Pain was 2-mild but persistent discomfort. Still chugging cold water and taking pain meds every 4 hours around the clock. Eating same things from day 1. Tried real mashed potatoes. They hurt to eat. Too much friction.
Day 3- Noticeable change in pain. Still under control but more aching in general. Finally started to notice some of the ear pain everyone talks about. Feels like dull ache in ears with a little pressure. Pain was a 3 all day- general discomfort. I can tell when I am about due for another dose of pain med. Pain starts to increase about 3 hours after last dose. Still eating and drinking same things.
Day 4- Pain is back to a 2 most of the time, but occasional spikes to 3 or 4. Ear discomfort comes and goes throughout the day but nothing actually hurts. Just general dull aching. Same diet.
Day 5- Woke up at 6AM for pain med dose and pain spiked when trying to swallow. Went from 2 to 7 or 8 instantly in ears. It hurt so bad so quick I almost couldn’t swallow my medicine. I lit up like a Christmas tree for a few seconds. Then the pain went back to normal and my med kicked in a few minutes later and I was back to sleep. I finally understand and appreciate how much work my pain med is doing. I noticed some redness above my uvula and it is tender when I swallow. Continued same diet. Tried homemade alfredo sauce with pasta for dinner. Went down good but seasoning irritated my throat for a few hours.
Day 6- More of the same general discomfort but nothing notable. Started spacing doses of pain med further out. Same diet for most of day. Tried baked chicken for dinner. Meat is hard to swallow but worth the effort.
Day 7- No pain meds all day and no increase in pain. Tried breaded pork tenderloin for dinner. Easier to eat meat but still a lot of work.
Day 8- No pain meds all day and pain is less, but getting scratchy throat throughout day. Continued same diet.
Day 9- Pain gone for the most part but still lots of scratchiness in throat. Diet is still a mix of noodles, jello, Ensure, mac and cheese, and a little meat. I had my post-op check-up and everything is healing nicely. I moved back to my house at this point. Part of my tongue is still numb.
Day 10-14- More of the same. Eating mostly normal food but still staying with softer stuff like rice, pasta, risotto. Still pretty sensitive to seasoning and flavor. Carbonated drinks still feel like pop rocks and explosions in my throat. My tongue is finally back to normal.
Day 15- Back to work. First half of day was reorientation. Only on the phone for second half and made it through day but throat is scratchy and uncomfortable.
Day 16- First full day on phone. Made it through day but definitely can tell I am talking all day. After 10 hours on the phone, I feel about the same as I did after 5 or 6 yesterday. So my throat is getting stronger.
Day 17-20- Luck with timing means that I only had to work 2 days before I had my normal long weekend (I work 10 hours 4 days, then sunday off, then 10×4 again, then 5 days off). I went out for a nice dinner with family on day 18 for the first time and had a few beers for the first time. The flavors are amazing.
It’s day 21 and my recovery is just about over. My scabs are pretty much gone with a tiny bit still clinging on the sides right above where my tongue sits. I can talk and eat with no discomfort. I had homemade pizza 2 nights ago and it was so good.