A collection of various experiences of adult tonsillectomy patients on their first day of recovery
From thousands of post comments to the tonsillectomy recovery forum, I have assembled a sampling of various accounts and impressions of tonsillectomy recovery for each day. We shall start with tonsillectomy day 1. These comments are taken from tonsillectomy patients who were kind enough to share their experiences to help others as they navigate the bumpy road of tonsillectomy recovery.
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Please feel free to add your own experience with tonsillectomy day 1.
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Tonsillectomy Day 1
Tonsillectomy Day 1: This is not too bad. Pussies on the forum!
Tonsillectomy Day 1:(surgery day): Thank God I woke up! Whoa – drugs.
Tonsillectomy Day 1: I had a freezie when I got home and lots of water. I watched some television and took the amoxicillin that I was prescribed to prevent infection. I decided to try to swallow the capsules because they looked small enough…BIG MISTAKE! After the first one, it felt like it was stuck in my throat, but I tried to take the second one…even bigger mistake. So I start getting anxious because I feel like the pills are stuck in my throat and not going down – even with loads of water. It turns out they did go down, but because my throat was swollen, they felt like they were just sitting there. I was prescribed liquid codeine and told to buy liquid Tylenol. However, the only liquid Tylenol my mom could find was for children, so instead, she decided to buy Tylenol caplets that melt in your mouth – which turned out to be for children as well. The first night I only took Tylenol because I wasn’t in that much pain at first. Needless to say, I was in pain during the night and slept maybe 1-2 hours in total.
Tonsillectomy Day 1: i had the surgery at 3:20 pm ( they were over an hour behind schedule).I woke up feeling like crap and the nurse had to give me lots of morphine through the IV drip. I spent the night in a hospital and it was the worst night ever. My throat was in pain all night even though they gave me the liquid codeine. There was only 2 of us in the “day surgery” ward ( where they keep the overnight patients) but the other lady was snoring all through the night! which made things even worse haha. I only got about 4 hours of on and off sleep. My mom picked me up at 6am and i went home and slept for a bit.
Tonsillectomy Day 1 : My surgery was at 9:30am ET this morning and I was home by 1:30pm which included a 20 minute drive home. I had a tonsillectomy and he just trimmed a little of my extremely long uvula. I woke right up from the surgery with no problems at all. The pain I had was a 1or 2 on a scale of 10. hardly any pain after the surgery and I was able to eat apple sauce, ice and water immediately after waking. No side effects from the surgery med’s. They did give me some anti-nausea drugs. I still feel like I have just a mild sore throat.
Tonsillectomy Day 1 : Days 1&2 were definitely the honeymoon phase. All was grand in tonsil land
Tonsillectomy Day 1 : I just had it done this morning, massively consming water, pain meds every 4 hours, popsicles, little apple sauce and trying to maintain a healthy probiotic regimine. Its weird because it feels like a bad case of strep throat….so far. But I do feel instant relief with my breathing.
Tonsillectomy Day 1 : Well i just got home from surgery. I had my tonsils removed, deviated septum fixed, uvula removed and turbinates (nasal wall tissue) reduced. I have no recall of surgery, only remember maybe a minute of being in the operating room, then waking up in the recovery center.
Pain is not what i expected it to be. I think i have worse pain from strep throat
Tonsillectomy Day 1 : Post op eight hours……everything feels fine but I’m scared for the horrible days ahead. Sandra you developed ear pain at 3rd day? That makes me nervous
Tonsillectomy Day 1 : (Day of surgery) I actually felt pretty darn good, was able to eat a little, but I wish someone would have told me that I needed to re-learn how to swallow. VERY SMALL sips is the key.
Tonsillectomy Day 1 : Slept only about 2 hours due to still being very restless and fidgety from the effects of the anesthesia. Stayed on a steady dose every 4 hours of pain med’s which seemed to edge my pain. Still in a great deal of pain all day. I ate more Popsicle and jello and applesauce and was able to eat some luke warm soup which tasted great and drank 2 ensure shakes and a yogurt shake. The anesthesia effects seemed to finally wear off sometime in the early evening making me a bit more comfortable. Still in a good deal of pain. My entire mouth now hurts along with the throat and I am having jaw pain and slight ear pain and tongue pain from the clamps they used during the surgery.
I am 25 years old and my day one went pretty well, which was yesterday, the 28th. I was also nervous because this was my first memorable surgery. My first surgery was a naval hernia when I was like 2!…anyway, after I woke up I was immediately talking before my feet hit the floor. I couldn’t tell you what about…probably that vacation to Paris the anesthesiologist was trying to get me to talk about. Anyway, I was immediately able to eat 2 Popsicles and 3 ginger ales before they sent me home. They say I had already took my first dose of medicine, which I had no recollection of, so I had to wait 4 hours for the next. The pain was bearable though and I took my medicine on the hour, every 4 hours or either 5-10 mins early so I wouldn’t have a delay. I had no appetite but I stayed hydrated with plenty of water and Popsicles. My only regret was trying to eat cinnamon applesauce. Its my favorite, but I didn’t think about the fact that cinnamon is kind of “hot/spicy.” luckily I had my water next to me after the first spoonful! I’m up now taking my meds on time and I only feel a little pain when I swallow but I don’t flinch or anything. My best advice so far is to drink sips, not gulps, of water or juice all day and take your medicine on time. The tetracaine lollipops also helped between med times. We’ll see how day 2 goes.
I am a 36 years old and day 1 was yesterday for me. I was very nervous for the surgery but it went well. I was given meds to calm me down and put to sleep “in a nice way”. I actually woke up still in the OR but they were wheeling me out…for 1 seconds I was curious why I was in the OR but quickly realized it was all over and my wife was soon by my side. The pain in the recovery room was a little more than I thought it would be be. I’d say 4 to 5 on the pain scale…I ate 3 popsicles and two waters and was on my way home…stopped for ice cream on the way. It took my wife a while to get all my meds since the first pharmacy didnt have it all…when she got back home I was starting to feel some decent pain…6 on pain scale. I was able to get it back to 4/5 with meds and got about 5 to 6 hours sleep last night. I plan to post every day through day 15 or so.
Day 1 – Surgery. Surgery went smooth. Minimal pain post-op. Prescribed liquid percocet (up to 10mL every 4 hours) and and antibiotic. Nauseous on the bumpy ride home but not again since. At least I get the kids’ bubblegum flavored antibiotic that I loved growing up! Taking only 5mL (half-dose) of the percocet since the pain isn’t that bad. (Editor’s note: I thought I might have a easy recovery based off of day 1. Not so much.) Most of the remainder of the day I slept on and off with water and popsicles.
I’m 25 yo and I Had my tonsils and adenoids removed along with my uvula trimmed yesterday afternoon. I woke up in excruciating pain I was crying for them to give me more medicine! How come everyone was lucky enough to wake up feeling great and in no pain but I was wide awake and crying! lol They gave me some applesauce in the hospital and I was on my way home. Took 2 Percocets (cut them in half) and put them in another cup of applesauce (pudding and yogurt is too thick for me now) and it went down easily. Pain gone! Except for the big lump in my throat from the swelling, which my uvula is trimmed and its severely swollen but not hanging on my tongue like many others so I can’t imagine the pain if it was still as big as it was omg. I slept about 7 hours last night but I set up an alarm every hour to take some water, eat a popsicle and just stay hydrated AND keeping on top of my medication schedule. I’m sleeping upright, slightly reclined with lots of pillows because I am so afraid about the swallowing of blood by lying down flat. Also, I have excessive burping which is really uncomfortable, what is that? I’m just taking it easy and hoping for the best knowing that the worst is still yet to come.
Hi Estefani, and welcome! Glad the pain med’s helped. The burping might be an after-effect of the anesthesia. General anesthesia, in my understanding, shuts down the digestive system. It may just be, “waking up.”
I was so nervous about this surgery, and the horror stories posted online! My doctor confirmed the idea of a tonsilectomy being more painful for a 32 year old an a child, telling me the recovery would “hurt like a bit@h”After months of dread, I had my surgery yesterday (the 30th of December) at 7am. It was a pretty easy procedure by reports: only took 25 minutes instead of the predicted 75! The med mixture of Hydrocodone and Acetaminophen is very helpful, though it tends to wear off about an hour before the next scheduled dose.
I had some fresh blood in my spit…it wasn’t a lot but it was consistently coming up so I went back to the ER at the doctors request. He cauterized a small spot on one side, and said the healing was otherwise coming along nicely.
While uncomfortable and somewhat painful, this experience is not unbearable (so far!). I definitely think some of the tips on this sight have helped tremendously…humidifier and lots of cold liquids! I also made sure to keep my nasal passages clear before the surgery with a saline rinse. My doctor says this is a good thing to continue with post-surgery (helps encourage beathing through the nose not the mouth). Although I know this experience will be slightly different for everyone, it really helps to know what has helped other people!
I am 25 years old and my day one went pretty well, which was yesterday, the 28th. I was also nervous because this was my first memorable surgery. My first surgery was a naval hernia when I was like 2!…anyway, after I woke up I was immediately talking before my feet hit the floor. I couldn’t tell you what about…probably that vacation to Paris the anesthesiologist was trying to get me to talk about. Anyway, I was immediately able to eat 2 Popsicles and 3 ginger ales before they sent me home. They say I had already took my first dose of medicine, which I had no recollection of, so I had to wait 4 hours for the next. The pain was bearable though and I took my medicine on the hour, every 4 hours or either 5-10 mins early so I wouldn’t have a delay. I had no appetite but I stayed hydrated with plenty of water and Popsicles. My only regret was trying to eat cinnamon applesauce. Its my favorite, but I didn’t think about the fact that cinnamon is kind of “hot/spicy.” luckily I had my water next to me after the first spoonful! I’m up now taking my meds on time and I only feel a little pain when I swallow but I don’t flinch or anything. My best advice so far is to drink sips, not gulps, of water or juice all day and take your medicine on time. The tetracaine lollipops also helped between med times. We’ll see how day 2 goes.
Hi Cassandra. Hope things are good for you. Try Lipton instant chicken soup.
I am a 36 years old and day 1 was yesterday for me. I was very nervous for the surgery but it went well. I was given meds to calm me down and put to sleep “in a nice way”. I actually woke up still in the OR but they were wheeling me out…for 1 seconds I was curious why I was in the OR but quickly realized it was all over and my wife was soon by my side. The pain in the recovery room was a little more than I thought it would be be. I’d say 4 to 5 on the pain scale…I ate 3 popsicles and two waters and was on my way home…stopped for ice cream on the way. It took my wife a while to get all my meds since the first pharmacy didnt have it all…when she got back home I was starting to feel some decent pain…6 on pain scale. I was able to get it back to 4/5 with meds and got about 5 to 6 hours sleep last night. I plan to post every day through day 15 or so.
Day 1 – Surgery. Surgery went smooth. Minimal pain post-op. Prescribed liquid percocet (up to 10mL every 4 hours) and and antibiotic. Nauseous on the bumpy ride home but not again since. At least I get the kids’ bubblegum flavored antibiotic that I loved growing up! Taking only 5mL (half-dose) of the percocet since the pain isn’t that bad. (Editor’s note: I thought I might have a easy recovery based off of day 1. Not so much.) Most of the remainder of the day I slept on and off with water and popsicles.
I’m 25 yo and I Had my tonsils and adenoids removed along with my uvula trimmed yesterday afternoon. I woke up in excruciating pain I was crying for them to give me more medicine! How come everyone was lucky enough to wake up feeling great and in no pain but I was wide awake and crying! lol They gave me some applesauce in the hospital and I was on my way home. Took 2 Percocets (cut them in half) and put them in another cup of applesauce (pudding and yogurt is too thick for me now) and it went down easily. Pain gone! Except for the big lump in my throat from the swelling, which my uvula is trimmed and its severely swollen but not hanging on my tongue like many others so I can’t imagine the pain if it was still as big as it was omg. I slept about 7 hours last night but I set up an alarm every hour to take some water, eat a popsicle and just stay hydrated AND keeping on top of my medication schedule. I’m sleeping upright, slightly reclined with lots of pillows because I am so afraid about the swallowing of blood by lying down flat. Also, I have excessive burping which is really uncomfortable, what is that? I’m just taking it easy and hoping for the best knowing that the worst is still yet to come.
Hi Estefani, and welcome! Glad the pain med’s helped. The burping might be an after-effect of the anesthesia. General anesthesia, in my understanding, shuts down the digestive system. It may just be, “waking up.”
Take care and best of luck!
I was so nervous about this surgery, and the horror stories posted online! My doctor confirmed the idea of a tonsilectomy being more painful for a 32 year old an a child, telling me the recovery would “hurt like a bit@h”After months of dread, I had my surgery yesterday (the 30th of December) at 7am. It was a pretty easy procedure by reports: only took 25 minutes instead of the predicted 75! The med mixture of Hydrocodone and Acetaminophen is very helpful, though it tends to wear off about an hour before the next scheduled dose.
I had some fresh blood in my spit…it wasn’t a lot but it was consistently coming up so I went back to the ER at the doctors request. He cauterized a small spot on one side, and said the healing was otherwise coming along nicely.
While uncomfortable and somewhat painful, this experience is not unbearable (so far!). I definitely think some of the tips on this sight have helped tremendously…humidifier and lots of cold liquids! I also made sure to keep my nasal passages clear before the surgery with a saline rinse. My doctor says this is a good thing to continue with post-surgery (helps encourage beathing through the nose not the mouth). Although I know this experience will be slightly different for everyone, it really helps to know what has helped other people!
Hi Amber, I am 33 and just on the tail-end of my recovery. I hope yours goes well!