Jaclyn’s Tonsillectomy Story:
I am a 29 year old female, and I have been suffering from reoccurring and constant strep throat for the majority of my adult life. This is what caused me to get my tonsils removed.
I had done my fair share of research before I had the surgery so i knew what to expect and learned some tips to make the healing process a little more bearable.
The day of surgery after the process was no big deal. I actually felt surprisingly well. I did however have to stay in the hospital. I was given Popsicle, jello and painkillers in pill form crushed up in apple sauce. The pills in the apple sauce were terrible to try and swallow.If you have have the pain meds through your IV do that!
I also had my nurse bring me ice packs to rest on my throat which I found relieved a lot of the discomfort.
Going Home After Tonsillectomy
The next day I got to go home, and still was felling pretty well. Once I got home I mostly slept. I did set an alarm every four hours to take my pain medication. This was very very important. As soon as it starts to ware off you feel it!
The biggest mistake that i learned very quickly after being home was – keep your throat moist. If it dries out it is the most excruciating pain you have ever felt.
Day 3 is where I began to wish I would go to sleep and never wake up. Everything hurt from my ears to my neck, tongue and throat. everything. Just keep calm and bare with it. I promise even though it doesn’t seem like it, you will survive! take your pain meds on time, and keep hydrated. The meds will likely upset your stomach as you cant eat much of anything. I found that drinking soup broth helped with that a lot.
There was two things I found I was actually able to ingest. Soup broth, and canned sliced peaches. I found the peaches were soft and slippery and if i cut them into little pieces they literally just slid down. Chewing and moving your tongue is next to impossible.
I have heard to chew gum because it helps. I tried to chew gum and wanted to die. I guess everyone is different.
After about day 5-7 I was feeling slightly better in the sense that I could move from one couch to another, and could stay awake for more than a couple hours.
I found that for about the first week I couldn’t lay down fully, because my throat was so swollen I couldn’t breathe if I did. so keep yourself inverted a little.
The scabbing in your throat will eventually start coming off, and is pretty nasty when it does. after about day 6-7 I started swishing luke warm water around my mouth which felt incredible.
I’m not too sure really what else to say. If you are getting your tonsils out good luck. you will need it. its terrible and you will hate everything but I promise it will get better!!!
I am now three and a half weeks into recovery and I am finally able to eat most foods again. I still have some swelling and scabbing. My taste is a little bit off but apparently that will correct itself. I will admit trying to swallow food feels extremely strange as I’m missing a huge part of what used to be my throat.
I survived and so will you!
All the best!