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
Tonsillectomy Day 2
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.
Tonsillectomy
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:-)
Day 2: my throat is of course more soar than yesterday. It is harder to swallow spit, food and drinks. I have been talking today but not as much. I also left the house so I don’t feel too awful. My diet consists of water, crushed ice, pudding, teddy Graham’s, apple sauce, mashed potatoes, oatmeal and Mac and cheese. My scabs has begun to darker a little, yesterday they were white. I do take 2 medicines one every 4 hours for pain and an antibiotic twice a day, one in the morning and one at night, both liquid. The pain reliever works wonders for my throat. I also fall asleep a lot, I doze off unknowingly but I’m not complaining I need the rest. Also I am 18 years of age I know the older you get the worse the recovery. I heard Day 3 is the worst so I’m preparing myself for tomorrow
Its day 2 for me and swelling has begun, but particularly on my left lower cheek and neck NOT the right side. When I swallow I can taste something at the back of the left side of my throat. I am super hydrated, sucking on ice chips every few minutes, have humidifier on, taking abx. and pain meds on time, feeling pretty good, but a bit nervous there may be an infection given the left side of my face is so much worse than the other side…Did you all have much swelling? I don’t see it mentioned here.
Have a question, when you are de scabbing does your syliva getting so thick you can not swallow it and when you try you gag and more spit comes out from somewhere below your tongue. Plz help
Day 2 after coblation tonsillectomy yesterday (6/20). Last night was rough because I am getting over a cold and had phlegm dripping back down my throat onto my very swollen uvula, which made me feel like I was choking/couldn’t breathe. The mucus seems to be a little lighter today, so I was able to take some naps. My tongue is more swollen today with some sore spots on it. The white scabs are forming where the tonsils used to be. I’ve been drinking lots of ice water and ate some noodle soup today (very slowly). I’ve also iced my neck, which is swollen. The Hamilton ice shaver (listed in the general store on this site) has been a godsend. I have been taking my pain medicine on a strict schedule and then am eating once it kicks in. May try some scrambled eggs later since the pain is still not all that bad, relative to where I know it’ll be over the next few days.
Hey, Sarah, hang in there! Take some stool softener, if you haven’t already. I was prescribed Percocet and haven’t had a decent bowel movement since before surgery. Days 3 and 4 I had nausea associated with taking my pain pills. Usually kicked in within 40 minutes of taking it. I’m on day 5 now, and the nausea is better, but I spent days 3 and 4 taking pills with just small spoons of applesauce. Too much food and I felt very nauseous. If you can get ahead of that situation, it may not be a problem for you.
Days 1 and 2 were very good to me, days 3 and 4 were much less kind. I slept away the entirety of day 5, and when I finally “woke up” at 4pm, I felt hungry. Earache was nearly gone and I stayed up for 3 hours feeling pretty good. I hope this can be an encouragement to you as you enter the two days I felt were the worst so far. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Thank you, Martha! I appreciate seeing your progress reports since you’re just a few days ahead of me. Glad day 5 was better for you. I have been taking stool softeners but haven’t had a BM yet – we’ll see how it goes tomorrow. I preemptively took some zofran when I was taking my pain pills yesterday, and it’s very constipating. I seemed to do OK without it today as long as I ate something, so maybe that’ll help move things along. I’m not looking forward to the next few days, but I appreciate your encouragement!!
Tonsillectomy, Day 2: I had my tonsils and adenoids removed this morning by coblation, a newer technique in use in only 30% of tonsillectomies (it was approved for use beginning in 2001). According to my hospital’s website, “Coblation is not a heat-driven process, therefore it does not char or burn healthy tissue like conventional electrosurgery and laser surgery. It combines radiofrequency energy with a natural saline solution to gently and precisely remove tissue leading to a fast and easier recovery.”
I have slept in three spurts of around 3.5-4 hours. After that, I wake up and feel too alert to continue sleeping. I feel very alert and able to be active during my waking moments.
Pain has been a constant 4 today (it really only hurts when swallowing). Setting my alarms to wake up and drink every hour has been helpful. My throat hasn’t felt raw yet, only a little by my adenoids, where water doesn’t reach when drinking. Medication dosage has been as follows: Hour 1, 1 Percocet. Hour 2, drink reminder, if sleeping. Hour 3, 600mg ibuprofen. Hour 4, drink reminder if sleeping. Repeat.
I have had a mostly normal diet today. Several Juice Stop fruit smoothies. I did eat grilled chicken and calico beans for lunch, chewing very carefully. I had tater tot hot dish for supper, again mashing it very well. The DQ Blizzard and frozen smoothies are amazing at soothing my throat.
I feel thick mucus in my throat, maybe my body’s attempt to coat and protect the exposed tissue where my adenoids were? I also can still feel my uvula sitting at the back of my tongue. Annoying but not painful.
I’m holding back on dosing with 2 Percocet since I hear that the pain can continue to increase in the next few days. Thank the Lord I’ve had a few good days. It has given me the resolve that I can get through this, even if it does get worse!
Day 2: my throat is of course more soar than yesterday. It is harder to swallow spit, food and drinks. I have been talking today but not as much. I also left the house so I don’t feel too awful. My diet consists of water, crushed ice, pudding, teddy Graham’s, apple sauce, mashed potatoes, oatmeal and Mac and cheese. My scabs has begun to darker a little, yesterday they were white. I do take 2 medicines one every 4 hours for pain and an antibiotic twice a day, one in the morning and one at night, both liquid. The pain reliever works wonders for my throat. I also fall asleep a lot, I doze off unknowingly but I’m not complaining I need the rest. Also I am 18 years of age I know the older you get the worse the recovery. I heard Day 3 is the worst so I’m preparing myself for tomorrow
Its day 2 for me and swelling has begun, but particularly on my left lower cheek and neck NOT the right side. When I swallow I can taste something at the back of the left side of my throat. I am super hydrated, sucking on ice chips every few minutes, have humidifier on, taking abx. and pain meds on time, feeling pretty good, but a bit nervous there may be an infection given the left side of my face is so much worse than the other side…Did you all have much swelling? I don’t see it mentioned here.
I definitely had swelling in my lower face/neck area. It subsided after a few days. Good luck!
Have a question, when you are de scabbing does your syliva getting so thick you can not swallow it and when you try you gag and more spit comes out from somewhere below your tongue. Plz help
Day 2 after coblation tonsillectomy yesterday (6/20). Last night was rough because I am getting over a cold and had phlegm dripping back down my throat onto my very swollen uvula, which made me feel like I was choking/couldn’t breathe. The mucus seems to be a little lighter today, so I was able to take some naps. My tongue is more swollen today with some sore spots on it. The white scabs are forming where the tonsils used to be. I’ve been drinking lots of ice water and ate some noodle soup today (very slowly). I’ve also iced my neck, which is swollen. The Hamilton ice shaver (listed in the general store on this site) has been a godsend. I have been taking my pain medicine on a strict schedule and then am eating once it kicks in. May try some scrambled eggs later since the pain is still not all that bad, relative to where I know it’ll be over the next few days.
Hey, Sarah, hang in there! Take some stool softener, if you haven’t already. I was prescribed Percocet and haven’t had a decent bowel movement since before surgery. Days 3 and 4 I had nausea associated with taking my pain pills. Usually kicked in within 40 minutes of taking it. I’m on day 5 now, and the nausea is better, but I spent days 3 and 4 taking pills with just small spoons of applesauce. Too much food and I felt very nauseous. If you can get ahead of that situation, it may not be a problem for you.
Days 1 and 2 were very good to me, days 3 and 4 were much less kind. I slept away the entirety of day 5, and when I finally “woke up” at 4pm, I felt hungry. Earache was nearly gone and I stayed up for 3 hours feeling pretty good. I hope this can be an encouragement to you as you enter the two days I felt were the worst so far. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Thank you, Martha! I appreciate seeing your progress reports since you’re just a few days ahead of me. Glad day 5 was better for you. I have been taking stool softeners but haven’t had a BM yet – we’ll see how it goes tomorrow. I preemptively took some zofran when I was taking my pain pills yesterday, and it’s very constipating. I seemed to do OK without it today as long as I ate something, so maybe that’ll help move things along. I’m not looking forward to the next few days, but I appreciate your encouragement!!
Tonsillectomy, Day 2: I had my tonsils and adenoids removed this morning by coblation, a newer technique in use in only 30% of tonsillectomies (it was approved for use beginning in 2001). According to my hospital’s website, “Coblation is not a heat-driven process, therefore it does not char or burn healthy tissue like conventional electrosurgery and laser surgery. It combines radiofrequency energy with a natural saline solution to gently and precisely remove tissue leading to a fast and easier recovery.”
I have slept in three spurts of around 3.5-4 hours. After that, I wake up and feel too alert to continue sleeping. I feel very alert and able to be active during my waking moments.
Pain has been a constant 4 today (it really only hurts when swallowing). Setting my alarms to wake up and drink every hour has been helpful. My throat hasn’t felt raw yet, only a little by my adenoids, where water doesn’t reach when drinking. Medication dosage has been as follows: Hour 1, 1 Percocet. Hour 2, drink reminder, if sleeping. Hour 3, 600mg ibuprofen. Hour 4, drink reminder if sleeping. Repeat.
I have had a mostly normal diet today. Several Juice Stop fruit smoothies. I did eat grilled chicken and calico beans for lunch, chewing very carefully. I had tater tot hot dish for supper, again mashing it very well. The DQ Blizzard and frozen smoothies are amazing at soothing my throat.
I feel thick mucus in my throat, maybe my body’s attempt to coat and protect the exposed tissue where my adenoids were? I also can still feel my uvula sitting at the back of my tongue. Annoying but not painful.
I’m holding back on dosing with 2 Percocet since I hear that the pain can continue to increase in the next few days. Thank the Lord I’ve had a few good days. It has given me the resolve that I can get through this, even if it does get worse!
I am getting my tonsils out tomorrow via the coblation method. This is very helpful advice – thank you for sharing.
Good luck Sarah!