Tonsillectomy Tips
As I’ve written, there was much that I did not know as I planned, experienced, and recovered from my own tonsillectomy. My Ear Nose and Throat doctor, (ENT), and his nurse gave me some general information about the surgery. We talked about how tonsillectomy surgery was performed, what the risks were, and what to expect after my adult tonsillectomy surgery.
In addition to this information, I tried to arm myself with as much information from other sources as I could. The internet is filled with medical information and advice. Some of it related to tonsillectomy. Some of it is accurate. Some of it is valuable to a person considering or recovering from tonsillectomy surgery. Most of it is not. Some of the scariest information I got was from my family and friends. Everyone seemed to have some horror story about an adult dying from tonsillectomy, or having a near-death experience from bleeding or anesthesia. As if I wasn’t nervous enough! Fear and anxiety are usually born of uncertainty The more we know about what to expect, the better we are able to execute a task without irrational fears.
I’ve read thousands and thousands of comments on the various pages of this website. One message is expressed again and a gain: Knowing what to expect helps enormously! This is your chance to do others a great service. Take your wisdom, born of personal experience, and help others. When you shine a light for others, you also light your own path.
For a live discussion about tonsillectomy and tonsillectomy recovery, join us in the Tonsillectomy Recovery Forum
The doctors, nurses, bloggers, publishers, family and friends all helped shape my expectations about what to expect before, during and after my tonsillectomy. None of it compares to the value of actually experiencing it. I learned more in the weeks before and after my adult tonsillectomy than I could have learned from years of research. This website is filled with over 50 pages of that wisdom.
If you are reading this, you probably have some experience yourself. How would you like to help someone who is trying to decide whether to have a tonsillectomy? Help someone planning or recovering from tonsillectomy surgery? By answering this one question, you may be able to save someone from a struggle you had:
IF I WAS PLANNING MY TONSILLECTOMY TODAY, THIS IS WHAT I WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY…
I got my tonsils removed on July 19th–so that makes today post-op day 8 and I developed the white film on my tongue sometime between day 2/3 and experienced horrible breath around that time too. I read another website that someone’s doctor suggested a toothpaste with a baking soda base—like arm&hammer. I got the arm&hammer breath freshening toothpaste on Wednesday and the white film on my tongue is completely gone! Between the toothpaste and gargling saltwater after meals– my breath is not too shabby.
I’m 55 and had mine out same day as you. I also had the spots on my tongue and all over my cheeks but doctor didn’t think it was thrush. Ate yogurt with Acideophilus and it went away. Didn’t have the breath issue. My scabs have not all fallen off yet so I stll have pain when swallowing. How are you doing on our day 12?
my top tips.
Water!
Mac and Cheese, yes the crappy packet type.
I am 23, female, had my tonsillectomy on June 20th. This will be a horror story. I tried my best to drink tons of water, gatorade, jello, soup with some noodles in it.. anything of that sort.. freezies.. etc..kept up on the meds, and antibiotics.. and by day 9 i was feeling good enough to eat something, so i did (a piece of fried fish which i chewed a million times and washed down with tons of water)
I was fine, or so I thought.. sometime after i ate, i had to call my cell phone provider to clear something up and so i had been talking, and while talking i noticed i was swallowing an awful lot.. i spit and it was pure red blood. i almost lost it.. went upstairs to my apt and showed my mom what was going on.. i relaxed, and about 5 mins later it seemed to subside. next day, a saturday.. the folks decide to go out and grab coffee and whatnot.. around this time, i was still half asleep, in and out of wakefulness.. about 10 mins after they left, i noticed i was doing the same swallowing thing.. NOT normal.. went to the bathroom and i was GUSHING blood.. i mean absolutely POURING out. i called them in a panic and told them not to go far because it looks like i need to be rushed to the ER.. right before i got up on the bed in the hospital to be put on an IV, i gagged/coughed out a blood clot bigger than a golf ball.. once they hooked me up to the machines and i calmed down i was able to form a clot that stayed.. and tried to remain calm.. a little while after that, the ENT came, said it looks like i had a vessel going off and id have to go back under.. great.. waited forever, trying to keep a clot that had formed in place.. right before they wheeled me into the operating room the seal broke and i was again drowning in my own blood.. they pumped my stomach, and i even threw up additional blood twice once i came to. all in all about a liter of lost blood.. and a night in the hospital. fast forward to this morning.. (july 4th, a wednesday) BLEEDING AGAIN (are you f-ing kidding me?) called my mom to come and take me to the ER.. bleeding wasnt nearly as severe this time but it was coming from the same side.. saw the ENT who did the surgery the first time around and by the time i saw him, everything had seemed to clear up on its own. not even a clot to be seen. he did some chemical cauterization on the spot and asked how close i live to the hospital.. said hed be happy to admit me but that id probably be more comfortable at home especially if i live so close. they say this doesnt happen much but that it does happen.. of course, i would be the one it happens to.. now i am scared for a few more days that this could happen again in a deep sleep.. im keeping my fingers crossed. i begged to have this procedure more than 5 years ago and was dismissed by a quack of a doctor.. my tonsils would get so infected i needed to take 3 extra strength advils at a time just to even function slightly (the daily limit of ibuprofen recommended..) point of my story is, no matter how good you feel or how hungry you get- stick to the liquids and stuff, especially the older you are. and try to have this operation as young as possible.. the blood vessels in my mouth seem to be trouble, but everyone is different.. tons of water, and be careful with certain antibiotics.. ive had bad reactions to clindamycin (ranging from difficulty/painful swallowing to a hopelessly raging yeast infection 🙁 it also renders the pill useless so i have also been menstruating outside of the time i should be.. as if i need that right now) make sure to drink milk or eat some pudding/rice pudding/tapioca before and a little bit after taking this medication, it is wicked..
Sorry! I ran out of room and had to begin a new post
MY TIP LIST continued from my post below:
7. SUNSHINE! If you can, go outside everyday and enjoy a little sunshine.
8. Do not take pain meds on empty stomach no matter how much it hurts to swallow. I dipped little bits of bread in soup broth and ate those before taking my meds. This worked great!
O.K. I think that’s it! Good luck to anyone reading this who is about to have your surgery. It does suck, but it will be worth it in the end! If I could get through it, you can get through it!
Also, thank you Greg for starting this VERY helpful website. At first I was mad that I found it because it scared the sh_t out of me; however, if I had not found it I would not have been prepared AT ALL! So thank you bunches!!!!!! 🙂
Going back to work tomorrow, yay! So here are my tips for all those about to have a tonsillectomy, some are repeats and some are not:
1. Begin a stool softener the day before your surgery and continue to take one throughout your recovery. The pain meds cause major constipation!
2. Drink fluids- LOTS of them, particularly water. Iced tea is also great b/c it contains some healing components.
3. humidifer is a DEFINITE! Run it 24/7.
4. Take two weeks off from work.
5. CHEWING GUM!!!! I think it saved me at times! I went through about ten packs, no joke. Also, sipping on PEPPERMINT TEA was great!
6. Because days one and two are so easy in terms of pain, try to get in as much healthy food as possible which will help speed up recovery. Use juicer and blender to make veggie and fruit drink concoctions. Once day three hits, the pain is so unbearable and it becomes more difficult to think “healthy”.
When I was a little girl and had a ear ache my mom would have me put cotton balls in them to help keep air out. Day 5 was the worst so I tried it and it worked. Making sure to breath through pain like child labor has also been a blessing. I thank Greg for this site for this was the only way I have been surviving through this. I pray for everyones quick recovery and good luck! 🙂
I just wanted to piggyback on your thanks for this site. I have lived here this week. Also the breathing thing is all that is keeping me sane. Day 6 is not fun but remember the human body is capable of many things and this shall pass.