Tonsillectomy Recovery Day by Day
Day 2
Check out our new tonsillectomy recovery video- Caution: Not always pretty
A collection of various experiences of adult tonsillectomy patients on their second 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. Below I share comments about tonsillectomy day 2. 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.What to eat? Thoughts on the post tonsillectomy diet
Please feel free to add your own experience with tonsillectomy day 2.
-Greg My short bio
Day 2 : I don’t even need narcotics. Give me some pudding!
Day 2 : This must be the pain everyone’s talking about. Yay, drugs!
Day 2 : So, I woke up today in some intense pain, as the children’s Tylenol wasn’t even lasting half of the time as it was supposed to. My throat and uvula felt extremely swollen, which is completely normal for the first few days after surgery. I was really adamant about not taking the codeine because I have a very sensitive stomach and I know that codeine is very strong – especially on an empty stomach. I decided to try to swallow the amoxicillin again – I guess I didn’t learn my lesson the first time! After 30 minutes and finally getting both capsules down, I decided enough is enough and next time I was definitely going to open the capsules and mix them with jell-o. Sure enough, I decided to be smart one more time and say that it’s all in my head and they won’t get stuck again. Um, why am I so stubborn at times? However, the third time they got stuck was the charm. I started getting upset and promised myself that I will not swallow them again. I stuck to my word this time! Needless to say, amoxicillin and jell-o don’t taste so swell together. In fact, I gagged just about every time I had to take them; lucky for me, it was 2 capsules 3 times daily for 1 week – what bliss! The morning and afternoon wasn’t terrible, as I was able to get by on the children’s Tylenol. I ate popsicles and freezies throughout the day, and was wondering why I had so much phlegm. I put my thinking cap on and realized that it must be the sugar in them that is causing the excess of phlegm – it wasn’t pleasant. Nevertheless, I continued to eat them because they soothed my throat. I realized a weird symptom today, uncontrollable burping!?! I was a little taken back by this, but after talking to a few people, I was told it was just my digestive track returning to normal. The evening on the other hand, got a lot worse! I decided to sacrifice my stubbornness, and take the codeine (yes people, on an EMPTY stomach)! That night my stomach hurt a bit because of the codeine, but I figured it would settle. I prayed it would settle! I didn’t even want to think about vomiting after a tonsillectomy – ouch!
Day 2 : bad morning, felt good during the day, night time pain was really bad Stopped pain meds on day 2 due to nausea and dizziness.
Day 2 : i went home and slept and woke up at 9:30am and wasnt feeling too bad. I lost track of time and missed my timing for the meds and was in excruciating pain at about 12pm. once the effects of the t3′s came in, it eased the pain a little bit. I managed to eat 3 fried eggs and some soft meat thing. but i felt really nauseated after eating it. I also drank a lot of water even though it hurt like hell to swallow
Day 2 : I’m about to finish day 2. I have been chewing on some juicy fruit gum, eating bomb pops and scrambled eggs(with just a little milk and cheese mixed in) and they are going down easy. I now have some pain on my tongue, several sore spots. Hurts worse than my throat. The liquid roxicet the doctor gave me works great. I’m only consuming about 5ml instead of the recommended 10ml.
Day 2 : Well it was a bit of a rough night. Had another anxiety attack around 6am. Had a bunch of flem/thick mucus coating my throat because it was drying out, due to breathing through my mouth. The this mucus was making it difficult to swallow and I began to worry i would choke or drown. It is also difficult to drink, when i swallow fluids creep up my nose, but since i cannot really breathe through my nose, i cant clear it. This also gives me anxiety.
tonsillectomy recovery day 2 : Day two–sucked!! Nauseous all day from taking pain meds on empty stomach, throwing up, finally doc gave a scrip for anti-nausea medicine so my mom (bless her heart, stayed with my for 5 days) went and got my meds. Couldn’t eat or take pain meds without barfing. Pain was awful.
tonsillectomy day 2 : day 2 was terrible! Mornings are the worst too. I found waking up a few times in the night just for a sip of water really helped! Also for the first time last night I used an icepack! So much relief! It’s such a long process but there is a light at the end of this painful tunnel!
Day 2 : Day 2- bad morning, felt good during the day, night time pain was really bad.
day 2 : Days 2-3: I would call this a “steady decline”. Pain became worse and I could not eat anything. No popsicles, no ice cream. Finally at the end of day 3 I discovered Jello. Oh thank heaven for Jello, it felt soooo good both on my throat and to actually have something in my stomach.
tonsillectomy recovery day two : Was able to sleep a little bit more over night but not much. The Lortab med made me feel very weird and I took a little too much of it because the pain was so bad and that was a mistake. Felt like I had a minor overdose. I ended the day with a slight mental breakdown in the bathroom with the worst pain in my throat and head that I have ever felt in my life. Did not eat much and my appetite seemed to vanish. Pretty much hit a roadblock today and my body just did not feel like doing anything.
tonsillectomy day two : I made it through the night ok. I was put on an oxygen reader to make sure I was breathing an acceptable level of oxygen. I didn’t get much sleep because of the pain.
Aug 20th, 10:41a: (Sorry for long post, this outlines from yesterdays Tonsiectomy to the following morning)
Please forgive any typos, still have a ton of drugs in me. To be clear, I am the biggest pansy when it comes to pain.
So much so, when they were hooking me up to the IV I almost decided not to go through with my tonsillectomy. The wife and the sedative they gave me helped sway my decision.
The reason: I had a table saw accident several years ago and knew what 10-10 pain is. If you are anything like me, you researched the sh!t out of this procedure and are now terrified because almost 98% of the accounts of this surgery are horrible stories.
I am journaling my experience for those like me that are spending 100’s of hours reading and prepping. Hopefully, this will help you.
Just had a coblation tonsillectomy at 7:30a Thursday August 20, 2015, for chronic tonsil stones. ENT told my wife he could not believe they were not removed as a child because of the scarring on them from multiple sicknesses.
I am a 35-year-old male and live in the USA. Just got back home now several minutes ago from outpatient surgery and wanted to start this right away while it is fresh in my mind. This must be the “honeymoon phase” since I am in very little pain. Maybe a 1-2 out of 10.
Ate jello and now about to eat Kraft mac and cheese since I hear when the anesthesia the stuff wears off, it is bad.
I am prescribed 1-2 Dilaudid 4mg every 4-6 and Norco 10/325 every 2-4 hours. Phenergan suppositories for nausea, tetracaine numbing lollipops, the tonsil fire extinguisher, and a stool softener. ENT talked me out of the steroids since he said it prolongs healing but I really want them, all I need to do is call and ask.
Drinking a TON of water right now to keep hydrated. Took two soft ice packs you can get in the camping section of Walmart and put them in a sock to wrap around my neck. Will keep you posted.
Aug. 20th 5:30p.
So pain is at about a 2-3 out of 10. Not terrible at all. I am at 64oz of water in a Nalgene bottle that has a neoprene cover on it to keep it cold. Resting in a recliner watching TV. Have two TV stands next to the recliner with a humidifier on each one, tv remote, etc.
Ate jello, which went down great then ate Kraft Mac and cheese again, and a protein shake.
Wife made me mini Gatorade ice cubes and strawberry ensure ice cubes.
ICE, ICE, ICE and WATER, WATER, WATER is a must! Was able to take a few cat naps about 30 minutes a piece. Making sure I stay hydrated.
My sister is a surgical nurse for an ENT and stressed the importance of ICE and Hydration. I have had an ice pack around my next the entire time.
Not too much more to report. Oh, buy one of those travel neck pillows.
Aug. 21st 2 am
Ladies and Gentlemen, please put your seat trays and seat backs into upright and locked position because we are in for a bumpy ride. Boy am I glad I got that food down earlier.
Took my last pain meds yesterday night around 10:30p and fell right to sleep. I set an alarm for 1:30a to make sure I drank more H2O and took more pain meds. Well, no alarm clock needed. I woke up with a solid 7-8 out of ten pain level at exactly 1:19a. Feels like the left tonsil scab is wanting to peel (which it does not appear to by flashlight inspection) and like the worse case of strep throat I ever had.
I forgot to mention from when I woke up in recovery and to now I have not talked, but two words to make sure the vocals still worked. Been using a dry erase board or texting from my computer and phone to communicate with the wife. From several other peoples stories they said talking tends to make you pay for it later.
On top of that, I also forgot to mention I am on three different blood pressure medicines and Prilosec as well for acid reflux that my GP, who referred me to the ENT said I must stay on. That is an additional four pills a day that must go down each morning.
From up until now I was rotating from one Norco 10/325 to one 4mg Dilaudid every three hours. The pain I just work up in, I just took one of each and a Phenergan to keep the nausea down. I also drank another 16oz of water, had apple sauce, and made another protein shake.
It is not my intention to scare anyone away. I did mention earlier I am the world’s biggest pansy when it comes to pain, I just want to share an accurate experience of what I am going through as it happens. It has been pretty much on par with other people’s stories.
I am journaling this in pages on my Mac, so I will go ahead and upload it to this forum in case someone else is in or near the same recovery phase as me.
The Phenergan is starting to kick in which makes you sleepy. Thanks for listening and must keep that end goal in mind of NO MORE TONSIL STONES:-)
>>Next -Recovery Day 3 >>
Ok, so today is day 2(3 if u count day of surgery). I’m still taking 5 ml of roxicet everyb 3 hours, and have noticed I’m clock watching a lot the last hour or so. Cloroseptic spray and cepocal drops are my buddies, and hubby found my new best friend. He used my bullet to make me an apple juice slushy, wow is it wonderful!!
For food I haven’t been very adventurous today. Only had 1 cup of jello and part of a pudding cup. I have absolutley no interest in food.
My big problem today is coughing and throat clearing….. The thick mucus is gonna drive me crazy!
I was able to sleep part of last night using a wedge pillow. Hopefully it will work tonight to.
I am getting the beginning of ear /jaw pain. I think it’s really gonna suck in another day or so.
Hot items are of no comfort to throat, ears , or jaw. I’ve had an ice bag non stop since the procedure, and an electric blanket for the rest of me.
Think tonight I’m gonna try the humidifier and see how that goes.
May you all have easy speedy recoveries!
I’m 22 years old and had my tonsils out yesterday (18 Dec 2012). Today hasn’t been bad at all. The doc prescribed me Prednisone to help with the swelling, which seems to be working well, Zofran for nausea (which I’ve only taken twice–once yesterday and once this afternoon), and Vicodin, which I haven’t even touched. Plain ‘ol Extra-Strength Tylenol and Advil are doing the trick for the time being. I was surprised when my surgeon said I could take ibuprofen–he said Advil and Motrin would be fine since I barely bled at all during surgery, but to steer clear of aspirin and other NSAIDs for the time being. Last night i set my alarm to make sure I’d get up and drink every couple hours and take more Tylenol when it was time for another dose. I’ve been guzzling ice water and hot tea all day, as well as chewing gum, eating numerous popsicles and frozen fruit bars, and even half a bowl of overcooked pasta. I have a hunch that it’s going to get worse before it gets better, but for the time being this isn’t half bad.
My 18 y.o. son had a tonsillectomy yesterday at 7am, we were home by 10am. I gave him 15ml of Lortab elixir every 4 hrs and 400mg of liquid Advil in between. He basically, slept for 26 hrs, except for me waking him for meds, water and bathroom. Today, he took a shower, drank a Carnation Instant Breakfast and joined me on the couch. At 2pm, he decided he wanted Taco Bell! So, against my advice, (I had mine out at 31 and was miserable for 2 weeks), he went to TB. He ate 3 soft tacos!!! And he’s fine! WTH??? He just ate a big bowl of angel hair pasta at 8pm. Is he just sailing through this, or is the hammer going to come down on Day 3? I’ll let you know, but as for right now, he is doing amazingly well. Maybe because he has suffered so much with strep throat this year, this, is like a walk in the park.
Day 2 feels similar to day 1. Continuing to take Lortab every 4 hrs. Not in a terrible amount of pain but noticing there is more swelling in my throat. I can feel my uvula resting on my tongue which feels awkward when swallowing. Able to eat brothy soups though which is great because I haven’t lost my appetite so far. Humidifier and sleeping propped up on the couch really helps keep my nasal passages clear. So like day 1, day 2 isn’t as bad as I thought.
Day 2…so far ok. Didn’t have too much trouble yesterday, but sleep eluded me. Propped my head up to allow drainage but kept waking myself up from the snoring/gurgling…assuming from the swelling of the uvula. Have popping in one ear like fluid bubbles. Gonna try ice packs for the facial swelling and sucking on some hall breezers.
I’m on day 2 also Stephanie and about like you. I had to have a diet pepsi this am due to the horrible caffeine headache. Felt nausea coming on last night and quickly had 7- up and it settled. Mucous is starting and I find myself clearing my throat a lot. My plan is to take a bath with eucalyptus to see how that does. Thanks for the ice- pack reminder. Will do that too. I am on percocets every 4-5 hours and pain is managed so far! Keep us posted on how you’re doing.
I had a tonsilectomy yesterday and today it’s so hard to swallow, I barley want to take my Codiene it barley even works it just makes me a little tired, and sleeping doesn’t help me. Makes my back pain to away that’s about it, I managed to eat a little cup o apple sauce and half a jar or banana baby food, which made it burn my throat so I think that was a bad idea. I am craving a nice juicy ribeye I’m so mad I cannot eat I just want to cry. Drinking water is very hard for me to, I can barley get down my own saliva. 🙁