Planning and Recovering From Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy
Let’s start with my own tonsillectomy recovery story. I wasn’t always this healthy. As a kid I ingested more penicillin than a corporate-raised chicken. I was in the doctor’s office several times each year with a sore throat. As the doctor or nurse peered into my mouth, the reaction was always the same: “Whoa, those are some big tonsils!” The diagnosis was usually tonsillitis, or strep throat. As the doctor wrote the prescription, he’d explain that years ago, tonsils like mine would have been removed, but, “these days,” we try to hang onto them. “These days,” were the 1970’s. I guess the tonsillectomy pendulum had swung back from the days when kids got their tonsils out because their brother was getting his out.
Aunt Kate’s reassurance helped, but I still wrote out some just-in-case instructions for my brother and hid them in my closet. I sheepishly told him where they were, just in case.
“This is temporary. You WILL feel better. Hang in there and stay hydrated!” -Greg Tooke
As an adult I continued to suffer from frequent bouts of tonsillitis. It seemed that I caught every bug that passed through my house or workplace. I guess those big ugly tonsils were a nice home for those nasties. It wasn’t until my 40’s that I also became aware that I suffered from something called, Obstructive Sleep Apnea -a condition in which a person stops breathing while asleep. I snored often and would awake abruptly, gulping in big breaths. I felt tired most days. After raising four babies, I had come to accept fatigue as a normal part of life! One day at a routine physical my doctor remarked about the number of episodes of strep throat and tonsillitis I’d had. We also talked about the sleep problems. While he didn’t formally diagnose obstructive sleep apnea, he suspected that I had it. He recommended a tonsillectomy, because of all the tonsil problems I’d had. As a bonus, I might find relief from the sleep apnea as well. If not, I’d undergo a sleep study. Forty four years old and father of four boys and a doctor finally said it: Those tonsils are doing you more harm than good! As much as I hated those tonsils, I was terrified at the thought of going under the knife. I started reading about tonsillectomy recovery on the internet and talking to friends. That didn’t help. “My cousin knew a guy who got a tonsillectomy and bled to death.” “At your age, tonsillectomy is dangerous.” When I met with the ear, nose and throat specialist, (an otolaryngologist), he told me that the risks are the same for an adult undergoing tonsillectomy surgery as for a child, but tonsillectomy recovery is longer and more painful. He was right about that!
Deciding to get a Tonsillectomy
I scheduled the surgery for the day after Thanksgiving. A traditional day of feasting in the United States. If it was to be my last meal, I planned to make it a good one! As it turned out, I was so nervous and scared that I could hardly eat on that day. I was recently divorced and had shared placement of my four boys. So many people counted on me that I began to question my decision. What if I died on the table? How reckless to leave behind a family, simply to avoid frequent tonsillitis? My aunt, a registered nurse reassured me about how simple the surgery was, and how far anesthesiology had come. I had nothing to worry about. Aunt Kate’s reassurance helped, but I still wrote out some just-in-case instructions for my brother and hid them in my closet. I sheepishly told him where they were, just in case
“My tonsils were like a 400 pound gorilla on my back. I don’t miss them at all. Ever.” -from the forum ________________________________________________________________________________
I took a week off from work, asked my ex wife to take care of the boys that week, and asked my uncle to drive me to and from the hospital. (a requirement with anesthesia) That was about all the tonsillectomy recovery preparation I did. I was about to learn a lot! Surgery went fine. I awoke in recovery with a serving of Jell-o in front of me. (“Jelly,” to my British friends) The nurse said that I had to finish it before I could check out. I swallowed it with great relish. It was divine! I called my uncle and we were out of there. I felt ok. I told him thanks and not to worry. I’d be fine. I believed this. Aside from a couple visits, I spent the next ten days alone in misery. The pain set in after about 24 hours. Streaming movies and television shows were my friends. Sleeping became my worst enemy. I’d wake up with my mouth dried out and my throat on fire. Oh my God. I was not prepared for this! I ran out of Popsicle’s on day three. I ran out of pain medicine on day five. The pain peaked on day seven. I broke down and cried in front of my brother on day eight- a combination of pain, drug induced depression, and sleep deprivation. Since then, I’ve read thousands of similar accounts on the tonsillectomy forum I created. It didn’t have to be so hard. If I’d known what I do now, I could have done so much to make my tonsillectomy recovery better. I hope to reach as many people as I can to help guide them through the tunnel. It has been my passion and taught me more about compassion and the amazing strength of the human spirit than any other life experience. When you shine a light for others, you also light your own path.
In the pages at follow, I’ll share tonsillectomy recovery tips with you that I learned from my tonsillectomy experience and years of coaching others through tonsillectomy and recovery.
hi to everyone.:-)..it is already a month after my tonsillectomy(feb1,2017)..i just wanted to know from those who had tonsillectomy after a month or 2 if you still suffer from dry throat? i observed that i always have dry throat especially the upper part. as if water can’t reach that part of my throat. i drink a lot of water to wet my throat but i feel like my throat dries fast..
Are you taking any medication? While I was still on meds following surgery, my mouth was always dry. If you aren’t on any meds, it’s an issue you should bring up to your doctor.
Hi All , im on Day 7 (5-7) have been my worst days and haven’t slept at all. Yes I understand that there will be pain and that I’m ok with at the moment but the biggest problem for me is my ears!! It makes my entire head feel unbalanced my ears have been the worst – the rest I can slowly deal with
It feels as If am two people at the moment
One during the day – with no pain what so ever then comes the night or early mornings and I feel like jumping out the window 🙂
Anyway thanks for all the messages on here keeps me smiling knowing that soon this should all be over !
Love From Sunny South Africa ( Sebastian )
Hi Seb. First of all, lock the windows. Secondly, (and you won’t like this) its completely normal. Following my surgery, I described it to my doctor as “theres a nail in my ear and a dry sock in my throat.” He told me that when the swelling goes down, the pressure building in the ears will go with it. And he was right. This, too, shall pass. Take care and hoping you heal quickly. You are through the hardest part!!
Hi all,
I’m finding this site to be very helpful as will be having a tonsillectomy soon (still awaiting a call from the scheduler.
I’m a single woman living alone, and my doctor says I MUST have someone stay with me the first 24 hours, and then i’ll need a “helper” for 3-5 days. I have a couple of friends who will help me post-surgery, but they won’t be able to stay over (or even stay long). What sorts of things will i need help with? Do you think I can do it on my own? I don’t like to ask anyone for help, and i’m even worse about accepting help, so this is tough.
Thanks for any tips you can offer!
Hi Jill, You’re having major surgery; a procedure (proven beneficial) is, quite simply, going to knock you on your butt…and onto a bag of ice. Your doctor is absolutely correct. In fact, the hospital won’t insert the I.V. to get things started until they have first confirmed you have someone to drive you home and will stay with you for the first 24 hours. If your friends won’t stay over, maybe you can stay with them. Do you have family that might be willing to stay with you for a week? You will need help with everything! Arrange for help, THEN get 3 bags of crushed ice, humidifier, popcycles, jello, applesauce, and any other soft food you may try to eat in 2 or 3 days (when nausea has passed.). And NO, you should not do this on your own. Put the “Wonder Woman” shirt way. Suck it up precious one, and ask your TRUE FRIENDS for the help that you will need. Everyone on this forum truly wants to help you get through this, and always willing to offer words of wisdom and support. And we ALL recognize that you should not try to do this on your own. You will be in my thoughts and prayers for a speedy (2-3’week) recovery. And if you don’t get the help that you need, at least for the first week, recovery may take longer. Always here for you, accompanied by the compassionate supporters on this forum. Please keep us updated, because you will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Thank you Janet. It’s pretty terrifying because i’ve always been so independent (my first phrase as a toddler was “I do it!”, and it’s been tbat way ever since). Unfortunately this is more out of necessity than choice now, as i don’t have family and it’s really hard to ask my friends to leave theirs to help me. Most have young children who need them home and also, everyone works. I don’t know how i can possibly ask anyone to take off work to help me (all my friends are pretty broke….). I thought about maybe offering to lay them to miss work, but they’ll still have to use their vacation time, and i’m not ok with that. My best friend unfortunatley will be out of town the first week, but she can help me the second week. My main concern is my very active dog who is used to getting out for a couple of hours a fay. I plan to hire a dog walker for that but i have a feeling she’ll drive me nuts. I looked into hiring a nuse for the first 48 hours, but it was over $1000. As i’m already going to be off work unpaid for 2-3 weeks, that’s out of the question. So the best (or only) option for me at this point is my neighbors, who will pick me up and get me settled at home. They’re just a text message and 30 seconds away, have a key and can check on me frequently. I scheduled this for a Friday so that they won’t have to take off work. Unfortuately that meant going with a doctor i haven’t met before, but i was assured anyone can do this surgery. They also told me they’ll call me on day 3 and that will be considered my “post op” appointment. I was really surprised at that. Also they said the hosptial will start me on Tylenol and see how i’m tolerating the pain before they’ll give me any pain meds. That’s scary because i have been warned by multiple people to take the pain meds every 4 hours at first if i need it or not to stay on top of the pain. They also onky prescrive tylenol w/ codiene, which i’m prone to vomiting. I will have to ask for something else. I’m grateful to have found this forum because this is the mos alone i’ve ever felt in my life, and it’s pretty scary and stressful. I just have to plan ahead the best that i can.
Hey Jill, it sounds like you have explored all of your options, proving “I do it” mantra remains. ?You’re lucky to have a kind neighbor. Tylenol for tonsillectomy pain is like using child’s water gun on a house fire. If nothing else, get pain meds that will stay on top of the pain. Please keep us all posted. You are in our thoughts and prayers, Jill.
Latest update–Kaiser refuses to dispense any pain meds prior to the surgery. Let me clarify–i’m not asking to take anything now–haven’t asked for or been offered any medication for the last month with my tonsil the size of a golfball–but just asked that i be able to pick up pain meds prior to the surgery. I said “even the night before, or eve the morning of–just so that i don’t have to ask someone else to do yet one more thing for me”. They said “We’ll assess your pain needs in recovery.” As if they might not even prescribe anything….? They then said “you know, we can’t give you narcotics ahead of time–these are for after the surgery and only if you need them”. I honestly feel like they’re treating me like i’m drug seeking. My primary doctor ordered a urine test for me (without my consent or permission–i thought it was for something else) 2 months ago and i tested positive for marijuana (legal in Oregon, although i was totally unaware the brownie i ate was a pot brownie until an hour later….) and i truly feel like this is behind the way i’m being treated. They claim it’s policy but i’ve had 2 previous surgeries with them and i was able to pick up pain meds days prior to surgery. They are playing games with me and i am not comfortable going into this knowing that they may try to deny me pain meds when i’m unable to advocate for myself. I think i may need to cancel this surgery. From everything i’ve read, tylenol isn’t gonna cut it. And quite frankly, i don’t deserve to be treated like this.
Hi Jill, I bit my tongue not to say that! “Anyone can do the surgery” – um, no. Greg; you’re the expert here. Will you please offer your thoughts for Jill? Btw, as a Paralegal, I can tell you that NO DR. may run drug testing without your prior consent. It may be an opportunity for you to interview other ENT’s for your surgery, and arrange when your best friend returns from out of town. Stay in touch.
Hi I am a 41yr old female 11 days post surgery & I have to say it wasn’t as bad as what I thought it would be. I did conblation laser surgery which was less painful. I read a lot on the internet before I went in for the surgery & I was afraid! Some people were saying it’s more painful than childbirth & the pain level was 11 out of 10.. However my experience was overall not that bad.. Yes the first couple of days it’s hard to swallow & the only thing I ate was Ice & drank loads of water. I also had ice blocks. I avoided ice cream as it creates mucus & it’s harder to swallow!
I had a flatmate in the house however I wanted to be left alone as you are tired from the medication & Can’t talk properly so it actually hurts more to have someone there that you have to communicate with..
my advice is to drink lots of water constantly! It stops you from becoming dehydrated & helps with the removal of the scar tissues. I never had any smell because I kept up the water in take. You are still able to move around & do things it’s just your throats that’s sore.. it gets better day by day! I’ve had no bleeding post surgery & generally it’s been a lot less painful than what I thought. Keep up with your painkillers & take them on time before the pain sets in. You can brush your teeth after surgery & rinse with water.. i was given betidine mouth gargle & that has helped. Sleeping at night is the worst as you will wake up dry & need water & constantly have to pee!
Day 9, 10 & 11 I could start to eat bread & toast.. after the 1st week I was out & about shopping & back to normal activities however I was tired due to not sleeping properly & not being able to eat like I usually do.. Give yourself 2 weeks to be back to normal & feeling good! It’s one surgery that I have not regretted doing.. The two weeks downtime was worth it! Good luck
Thank you–all i’ve heard so far are horror stories (i’ve heard the “worse than childbirth” thing from 3 different friends!) and i’m happy to hear it wasn’t as bad as you expected. Still pretty terrified, but i hope my experience is like yours! I think maybe after reading so much bad stuff, we expect it to be worse than it is. At least that’s my hope! I’ll know a week from tomorrow…..
Great Advice Janet! Kimberly It will be over soon. Janet is correctly right. You are in the beginning of your days. Everyday will be different so try to rest.
Hi i had my tonsils removed and also my uvula ( the dangly thing in the back of my throat) removed last thursday so in on day 4-5 and im 34 years old.
My advise to everyone – DO IT!!! yea its paunful but no worse to me then my regular bout of tobsiliris or strep . Mine were so far gone oral antibiotics didnt cut it. I had to have injections.
Even laying here now with 7 stitches to the top of my pallet id do it all over again. My biggest advise BUY A HUMIDIFER, totally worth it. Crush up some ice and constantly have some in your mouth. Lastly stock up on some cold packs so soothing on youth throat and helps me sleep. Dont be a hero and think your ok and dont need your meds or you will feel the full force of the pain ( i thought i was fine and missed a dose- takes a while to get back in your system) other then that rest and drink. I genuinely thought it would be worse from all the horror stories i read; i nearly chickened out. If you want a better quality of life – just do it!!