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 had my tonsils out yesterday morning, and it’s been a pretty rough two days. But, I understand that the worst is yet to come. One thing that’s helped me a lot that I haven’t seen on here is using a camelpak for hydration. My boyfriend actually thought of it and let me use his. He elevates the pak on a stool higher than my bed/couch and I just keep the straw in my mouth all day. It’s 8:30 PM, and I’ve already had more than two gallons of water. I can tell the hydration and constant use of my throat muscles is helping. The worst is when I drift off to sleep for an hour or so and then wake up and try to drink– it’s incredibly painful. I’m already getting nervous about going to sleep tonight. But, knowing that I have a good way to take a ton of constant sips of water to stay hydrated is a relief.
Just thought I’d pass along a tip from day 2! Hopefully I’ll get to day 10 without any horror stories!
Oh my gosh! I can not believe I went through this and not cry. As I read your stories, I’m crying reminiscing the pain, discomfort, and fear. I feel for your pain, and all that you’ll endure during this process. It’s not easy at all, and at times frustrating, and awfully depressing. You can’t speak, you can’t eat, to drink, you gotta take it easy. It’s harsh. Someone described it as barbaric, and it is. I suffer from migraines, and I know that pain. Tonsillectomy pain is right up there! First of, I’m not a dr, but I work in medicine. Take your pain pills, no matter how minor the pain is. Reason being, you want to keep the pain meds working because, the pain medicine is now in your system at a high level bringing your pain down. As the medicine starts to leave your body, the pain begins to increase. To keep the pain at a minimum level, you take the medicine before it’s too low, and the pain is back to being unbearable. Migraine sufferers know this too. Once your pain is at full throttle it’s harder for the medicine to work, and bring the threshold down. You need to trick your brain receptors, before your pain kicks in. That’s TIP #1. To avoid all horrid stories, and someone did mention it already but believe me, I had the smoothest recovery due to TIP #2. ICE WATER! No juice, no water, ICE WATER! I can’t stress it enough. For starters, it feels soothing to the throat, cause at times, it feels like it’s on fire. So that feels good to you. Secondly, the ice water, helps constrict blood vessels, so there’s less bleeding. And lastly, it’ll help keep the swelling down. Besides keeping your body hydrated, you won’t feel any build up in the back of your throat. Sleeping, and being awake is easier after a full day of ICE WATER. After you’re feeling better I do recommend sticking to cold water. And Tip #3 HUMIDIFIER. It was a life saver. I got a humidifier and bought the liquid to pour into it to sooth coughing. Coughing can cause the famous bleed out we’re all trying to avoid after this procedure. I would turn it on at night and sleep like a baby. It keep your room moist, therefore, your throat stays moist, and you don’t wake up feeling like you opened a can of jalapenos during your sleep and ate the whole can. You will have that feeling now and then but it’ll be less. The reason why the throat hurts so much, is because, it dries up and your tongue tends to stick to it. So to avoid that, get yourself a humidifier and ICE WATER, and life should be easier.
I’m on day Day 19, and I’m still drinking the ice water. I keep feeling like I have a huge chunk of flem stuck somewhere between my throat and my nose. I do suffer from allergies, and my Dr. took out both tonsils, and adnoids. It’s uncomfortable and annoying. A warm steamy shower helps, but when you’re caught in the store during the day, after you already took a shower, the ice water helps. It helps more than cold water. I hope this feeling goes away soon, and it’s nothing to worry about. I’m about to email my Dr. and find out what’s going on.
To those that already got the surgery, and are in the middle of recovery, Good luck, and I feel your pain. My pain was bareble on Day 9. I wish you a speedy recovery, and I hope my experience helps you, and bring you comfort. I swear, PAIN MEDS EVEN IF YOU DON’T NEED IT, HUMIDIFIER, and ICE WATER, ICE WATER, ICE WATER!!! I hope you find comfort, and I promise it’ll get better as the day go. Hopefully before Day 10. Day 2,6,and 8 were the worst for me. Please take it easy, and do not do anything that you think will hurt you.
For those of you daring to get this procedure, (sigh) I’m not regretting it, yet. But please know, this isn’t an easy recovery, it’s not a walk in the park. Keep yourself active by going for a small walk and do breathing excersices after the surgery and during recovery. It will be bothersome, but you need clear out your lungs. Take it easy, relax, and any tips you’re reading in this forum, follow them. They will help you. I had a good recovery, no complications, one scare cause I dared look into a mirror. The mirror is not your friend so avoid it. Buy the things you need in advance, and DO NOT GO THROUGH THIS ALONE. Make sure someone is there with you, to help you during recovery, and keep a pen and notepad close. You will need it. Before you to surgery make sure you have these three important things stocked in your fridge. Even if you have and ice maker, ICE, WATER, PAIN MEDS, and a HUMIDIFIER. You will need all. Good luck to you, and may your recovery be a easy too. Best wishes.
Ps. The white tongue issue, brush gently as far as you can get. Even if it’s just the tip of the tongue. Use mouthwash, even if it’s just to sit on your tongue. As you recover and your able to open your mouth a little wider, you’ll be able to scrub it clean. By DAY 10 mine had cleared. Just be gentle, as your tongue is swollen, and it took a beating during surgery. Chewing gum helps you salivate, which will help you keep your throat moist. This works especially if you’re outdoors for a small walk. Breathing exercises to help clear your lungs too. You don’t want those gases in your lungs. Breath them out, and gently. ICE WATER! and Good luck.
Shannon, I had the white film too. I was concerned it could be oral thrush (which it turns out is common in tonsillectomy.) I started eating yogurt with acidophilus in it every day and mine cleared up in a few days. I believe your doctor can also prescribe probiotics or other medications that could help, but for me the yogurt was enough!
Today is day 9 and it is still really painfull not as bad as every other day. Day 7 was my worst day I was brushing my teeth and spit and started bleeding and had to go to the hospital. But how do you get rid of the white film on your tounge 🙁
Im 20 years old and am on very early hours of day 8, my biggest tips would be:
Eat toast – soinds crazy but put margarine on it (do it while its hot so it melts) and eat slowly it helps removed the scabs. I ate it from day one.
Avoid acidic food- my hospital tried to hurt me and gave me orange juice. Dont do it it stings like mad!
Sugary foods- these caused me major discomfort but alot of people have said differently.
Mash potato, scrambled eggs, mac and cheese- been my diet with the toast. Eating when ever u can helps with energy levels.
Water. Water. Water.
And take ur meds regulary (mine where every 4hrs) even if u dont need them. Mine put me to sleep which helped alot. And if ur in pain take more.. Just dont overdose!
I Ste toast and butter today my day 6 it felt so good like the butter was coating the scab. Plus bread part helps calm your stomach from all the medicine. Toast rocks!!!!