A collection of various experiences of adult tonsillectomy patients on their sixth day of recovery
From thousands of post comments to the forum I have assembled a sampling of various accounts and impressions of tonsillectomy recovery for each day. Below I share comments about tonsillectomy day 6. 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.
Tonsillectomy Day 6 Scabs bleeding! : I can only eat popsicles. That is all.
Tonsillectomy Day 6 : At 5:30am, I started to panic because I coughed a lot and when I spit up some saliva in a tissue (which I have a habit of doing to see if there is any blood); I saw a slight hue of red. RED=BLOOD! So, of course I got nervous. After drinking some water, I tasted some blood but I didn’t see anymore and I was able to swallow with a bit more ease. It wasn’t the full scab that came off, but a piece of the scab on the right side. When I woke up, I drank water and felt a burst of pain in my ear and stinging in my throat for a couple minutes. When I brushed my teeth this morning, there was a little more blood when I spit into the sink, so I’m assuming I lost a little more of the scab. I’ve been sucking on ice chips the past few days and it really feels nice on my throat. I ate applesauce and soup today with a little ease. I’ve notice my ears get worse when I eat. I was craving pizza tonight and it was sitting on the counter (my family had it for dinner), so, I decided to be a champ and try it. I was able to eat all of the toppings off of a slice of pizza minus the spicy pepperoni. Let me tell you, it was a blessing! I tried gargling with cold water and even though I refuse to look at my throat, I can tell that it feel fresher and cleaner. Good news – I was able to swallow the amoxicillin today; it feels awesome because if I had to eat another cup of jell-o and medication, I’d die! Fifth day post-op and I actually stepped foot out of my house today. Since we have a huge snow storm, I had to make sure I was fully covered. Nevertheless, even though I only sat in the car, it felt good – it was progress! I was told that taking a warm shower before bed will help moisten my throat and potentially prevent coughing at night, so I tried it.
Tonsillectomy Day 6 scabs Healing
Tonsillectomy Day 6 : Day 6 and the pain is just about the same as yesterday, but that relentless ache is exhausting. I know there’s a light at the end of the tunnel (and it’s not a train) but when I am tired and weak and freaking out because my Mom went home and my husband decided to sleep in this morning leaving me to take care of my nearly 7 year old son…. Well, I got a little teary.
My husband took a gander at my throat today and declared it “gross, but healing.
Tonsillectomy Day 6 : Day 6 = Ouch
Tonsillectomy Day 6 : day 6 here and I have to say, it definitely has been the hardest two days so far. I am spent and am sick of not eating the way i want to. I have been sticking to cold drinks and liquid meals. Spoke with my PA today and she said to do my best to keep the scabs on for a minimum 10days by drinking tons of liquids. The longer they stay on, the better the new skin underneath will be…so I am doing all I can to keep these puppies attached. I have given up on eating anything warm or slightly solid,I just want this over with!!
Tonsillectomy Day 6 : Yeah, so I slept for about 12 hours. But now I think sleeping that long was the worst idea ever! My hot pot ran out of water and I wasn’t sipping on water for those 12 hours. I just drank a smoothie mix every 4 hours to take my meds. I woke up with about 8/10 pain, tried to get up and passed out in the hallway. Oh Joy! My ears are killing me!
Tonsillectomy Day 6 : Side note, i have lost like 12 lbs. Probably not healthily as all i have consumed it water, gatorade, jello and apple sauce. Those products are not known for their nutritional content. I have made two healthy juice drinks using my juicer, but don’t think that compensates for the lack of nutrients for the last week.
Tonsillectomy Day 6 : The pain is rather terrible today, it was much worse last night.
At about 3am i woke up with pain, it was as if someone was stabbing my throat with a needle or pin
and i woke up this morning with blood in my mouth. Not a lot but it still scared me! I rinsed my mouth with ice water and sucked a piece of ice and it stopped.
Tonsillectomy Day 6 : Day 6- good morning, post op app’t- stints in nose removed, I can BREATHE again 🙂 went shopping at the mall for a few hours after- got home exhausted & later in pain ;(
Tonsillectomy Day 6 : Recovery Day 6 (post-op day 7):
Another day filled with pain. Was able to drink an ensure today but did not eat much. Was able to eat some popsicles. During the evening time had horrible pain shooting from the right side of my throat and it felt like a burning feeling when I would drink anything almost as if I was drinking acid even when I drank water. Had to take a bit more Lortab to curve the pain. Looked at my throat with a flashlight for the first time since the surgery and it looked like a battle zone in there. Lots of white coating all over the tonsil beds and my uvula is still swollen very large and kind of sticking to one of the sides of my throat. Could see the white scabs as well.
Tonsillectomy Day 6 : Day 6: I cried over applesauce and pudding. It hurts to swallow, I can’t yawn and just try to blow your nose without wanting to fall over and die. This pain is ridiculous. I woke up in the middle of the night with a dry throat and more pain than I could imagine so I dragged myself downstairs and forced down some pain meds to help me take the pain.
Tonsillectomy Day 6 :day 6 of my recovery and in the worst pain ever. I thought I was on the mend, only having pain on the one side but then I started to cough, and it kept me up all of last night and all of that white membrane over the surgery site is starting to come off as well as some of the scabs… is that normal? I am very scared that with my coughing it’s going to cause issues that will result in another surgery.
After my bleeding yesterday, today has been the worst pain so far. Pain killers barely touching anything. Sticking to pure liquids for fear of another bleeding epidemic. Today, I am suffering the most ear pain so far and have been icing the most to try and maintain the pain. I’m about one level of pain away from calling my doctor for stronger meds.
Eating chicken stars soup with about 3/4 the noodles taken out, drinking strawberry pedialyte, water and apple juice. Watching My little pony… Yes, i’m 20 years old and am in such a state that the only pleasure I get is through children’s cartoons. I just want all this to be over.
Also feeding into my anxiety by researching my bleeding and the chances of it happening again… I’m practically comatose on the couch trying not to overexert myself in any way.
Day 6 of my coblation tonsillectomy went smoothly. Pain got a tad bit worse but it isn’t bad at all, 3 out of 10 I would say, maybe a 4 at brief moments. I realized today the switch occurred – I prefer room temperature liquid now not freezing cold anymore. Also Gatorade began to burn. I’m assuming this all has to do with the scabs. I can see the tops of white scabs but can’t open my mouth further. Anyway, I am feeling good. Hopefully by the weekend things will begin going back to normal.
Ok, dare I say this but I actually started to fell better today (day 6). It had been pretty terrible with the ear pain and feeling like I was swallowing shards of glass with every sip of water. But today it seemed to turn around. I am spitting out little white chunks of scabs, but they are very small. I have hope now that I will only get better, but I am scared that this is a cruel joke and the worst is yet to come. Crossing my fingers!
Post-op day 6… (day 7 if you count the day of surgery as day 1)
PLEASE GOD LET THIS BE OVER.
Yesterday was terrible, and today has not been brilliant either. I had a scab come off around 2am last night, accompanied by more bleeding than I had anticipated. I sucked on some ice cubes and sipped ice water and it eventually stopped. After talking to the 24hr advice nurse at ENT, my mom (bless her heart, she has been putting up with her helpless 25 year old daughter through all of this) told me that things sounded good and that I was turning a corner. I was so happy!
Until this morning… when I brushed my teeth… and that same side started bleeding… again.
It was 6am and my mom was ready to take me to the ER, but after more ice cubes and rinsing with ice water the bleeding eventually stopped and we instead made an appointment for later in the day. It turns out that I have at least one clot hanging out on the side the scab came off on. My ENT doctor wanted to try to cauterize it right then and there, in her office, with me not having eaten anything in forever and already in massive amounts of pain. I had a mini anxiety attack and couldn’t let her do it, so instead I got permission to increase my pain medication and instructions to go straight to the ER if my throat either bleeds more (quantity) or more than once. It’s impossible to tell at the moment whether it’s just little blood vessels or an artery under that clot, with the former being less of a concern and an arterial bleed requiring that I go back into surgery. Please, God, no.
I have been miserably sitting in bed trying not to do one single thing to upset my throat and make it bleed, which has involved a lot of sleeping. I am also getting into a bit of a time crunch of recovery, as I have to start rotations for my 4th year of pharmacy school on the 24th! So in between naps I have tried to catch up on emails and fulfilling requirements that should have been done long ago.
Oh, and I am SO HUNGRY!!! I was trying to eat orzo pasta in butter yesterday for some substance, but was too afraid to chew anything today due to the bleed risks. Thankfully I discovered room temperature mashed potatoes. It took me about an hour to eat a cup, but that was the most substantial thing I think I’ve eaten so far. I think I am going to try to eat some more after my next dose of pain meds. This chronic hunger/malnutrition can’t possibly be helping with anything (particularly my mood!).
I’m really hoping I’ll turn a corner here soon and hit the home stretch… without having to have my throat recauterized.
Side note: I think that post probably should go under “Recovery Day 7”, since I think most people are counting surgery day as day 1. My next post will go under day 8.
My 15 yr old had his tonsils removed June 11th and it has been difficult for him. Today he had a little breakdown. He attempted to eat chicken noodle soup, roman noodles, and mac n cheese. He has not been successful at all to take in any food today. He stated that Popsicle hurts his throat. He stated that his throat hurts when he swallows any liquids, including his Lortab (which is in liquid form). He does alot of spitting. I assessed his surgical site and all looks good. He expressed his frustration and stated that he was not going to eat or drink anything. I found this site right after he made that statement. I read several comments hoping it will help him and me get through this recovery! I stressed to him the importance of keeping fluids going. He understands, but my heart goes out to him. I just don’t like the mood swings. I know he is hurting and is frustrated, but it does get better and this is the only time he will ever have his tonsils removed! Thank you to all of you for your ideas and encouragements. Remember this too shall pass! I had my tonsils removed at the age of 14 and I really don’t remember too much of the recovery, just I got through it.
Hang in there Mom! He’s lucky you are there for him. Are the popsicles the juice kind? Those burn. My favorites were the cheapo root beer and banana flavored. He REALLY needs to stay hydrated. Chewing gum is good to at least keep things working. Will he do that?
After my bleeding yesterday, today has been the worst pain so far. Pain killers barely touching anything. Sticking to pure liquids for fear of another bleeding epidemic. Today, I am suffering the most ear pain so far and have been icing the most to try and maintain the pain. I’m about one level of pain away from calling my doctor for stronger meds.
Eating chicken stars soup with about 3/4 the noodles taken out, drinking strawberry pedialyte, water and apple juice. Watching My little pony… Yes, i’m 20 years old and am in such a state that the only pleasure I get is through children’s cartoons. I just want all this to be over.
Also feeding into my anxiety by researching my bleeding and the chances of it happening again… I’m practically comatose on the couch trying not to overexert myself in any way.
I’d like to sleep until it’s all over please.
bleeding again, only a bit… about 5 min. stopped with ice water. This is getting old.
Day 6 of my coblation tonsillectomy went smoothly. Pain got a tad bit worse but it isn’t bad at all, 3 out of 10 I would say, maybe a 4 at brief moments. I realized today the switch occurred – I prefer room temperature liquid now not freezing cold anymore. Also Gatorade began to burn. I’m assuming this all has to do with the scabs. I can see the tops of white scabs but can’t open my mouth further. Anyway, I am feeling good. Hopefully by the weekend things will begin going back to normal.
Ok, dare I say this but I actually started to fell better today (day 6). It had been pretty terrible with the ear pain and feeling like I was swallowing shards of glass with every sip of water. But today it seemed to turn around. I am spitting out little white chunks of scabs, but they are very small. I have hope now that I will only get better, but I am scared that this is a cruel joke and the worst is yet to come. Crossing my fingers!
Post-op day 6… (day 7 if you count the day of surgery as day 1)
PLEASE GOD LET THIS BE OVER.
Yesterday was terrible, and today has not been brilliant either. I had a scab come off around 2am last night, accompanied by more bleeding than I had anticipated. I sucked on some ice cubes and sipped ice water and it eventually stopped. After talking to the 24hr advice nurse at ENT, my mom (bless her heart, she has been putting up with her helpless 25 year old daughter through all of this) told me that things sounded good and that I was turning a corner. I was so happy!
Until this morning… when I brushed my teeth… and that same side started bleeding… again.
It was 6am and my mom was ready to take me to the ER, but after more ice cubes and rinsing with ice water the bleeding eventually stopped and we instead made an appointment for later in the day. It turns out that I have at least one clot hanging out on the side the scab came off on. My ENT doctor wanted to try to cauterize it right then and there, in her office, with me not having eaten anything in forever and already in massive amounts of pain. I had a mini anxiety attack and couldn’t let her do it, so instead I got permission to increase my pain medication and instructions to go straight to the ER if my throat either bleeds more (quantity) or more than once. It’s impossible to tell at the moment whether it’s just little blood vessels or an artery under that clot, with the former being less of a concern and an arterial bleed requiring that I go back into surgery. Please, God, no.
I have been miserably sitting in bed trying not to do one single thing to upset my throat and make it bleed, which has involved a lot of sleeping. I am also getting into a bit of a time crunch of recovery, as I have to start rotations for my 4th year of pharmacy school on the 24th! So in between naps I have tried to catch up on emails and fulfilling requirements that should have been done long ago.
Oh, and I am SO HUNGRY!!! I was trying to eat orzo pasta in butter yesterday for some substance, but was too afraid to chew anything today due to the bleed risks. Thankfully I discovered room temperature mashed potatoes. It took me about an hour to eat a cup, but that was the most substantial thing I think I’ve eaten so far. I think I am going to try to eat some more after my next dose of pain meds. This chronic hunger/malnutrition can’t possibly be helping with anything (particularly my mood!).
I’m really hoping I’ll turn a corner here soon and hit the home stretch… without having to have my throat recauterized.
Side note: I think that post probably should go under “Recovery Day 7”, since I think most people are counting surgery day as day 1. My next post will go under day 8.
My 15 yr old had his tonsils removed June 11th and it has been difficult for him. Today he had a little breakdown. He attempted to eat chicken noodle soup, roman noodles, and mac n cheese. He has not been successful at all to take in any food today. He stated that Popsicle hurts his throat. He stated that his throat hurts when he swallows any liquids, including his Lortab (which is in liquid form). He does alot of spitting. I assessed his surgical site and all looks good. He expressed his frustration and stated that he was not going to eat or drink anything. I found this site right after he made that statement. I read several comments hoping it will help him and me get through this recovery! I stressed to him the importance of keeping fluids going. He understands, but my heart goes out to him. I just don’t like the mood swings. I know he is hurting and is frustrated, but it does get better and this is the only time he will ever have his tonsils removed! Thank you to all of you for your ideas and encouragements. Remember this too shall pass! I had my tonsils removed at the age of 14 and I really don’t remember too much of the recovery, just I got through it.
Hang in there Mom! He’s lucky you are there for him. Are the popsicles the juice kind? Those burn. My favorites were the cheapo root beer and banana flavored. He REALLY needs to stay hydrated. Chewing gum is good to at least keep things working. Will he do that?