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.
I need to schedule appointment to get my tonsils removed… My doctor prescribed a tonsil fire extinguisher to help me deal with the pain associated with a tonsillectomy… Has anyone in this forum heard of or used this to help after surgery?
Popsicles and ice chip and a cold glass of Gatorade
No ice cream because of the milk
It’s 2am where I live, day 9. I’d rather die than swallow. This better get better. I just want my normal life back ??
Hey Krista, you are not alone, just about everyone in this forum has been where you are on day 9. Ouch. Really ouch. This will pass. Check out gregs helpful daily tips at the top of this page. Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.
Hi Janet, thank you. I found it amazing how I seemed to feel so much better as soon as day 11 came around. I’m now on day 15, is it normal to still be in a little bit of pain?
absolutely normal. No worries, and I am thrilled you’re feeling better. Whew, right?
Hi krista, I too am on day 9, and I would honestly prefer dying to this pain. My throat is stinging and burning, and I still need to take the narcotics which knock me out. I threw up yesterday for two hours, I just want this pain to end.
Hi Kehndra, I also was on the narcotics until day 11 – then I seemed to improve quite quickly. It’s now day 15, I’m still in a bit of pain on one side. Are you still in any pain?
Hi Krista
I still am in some pain, but it’s more of a sore throat type pain. I’ve only needed to take ibuprofen and lozenges for it. My eating is almost back to normal, although I’m only eating one meal a day. I’m hoping to do a half day at work tomorrow, to ease myself back in.
Hang in there. it will get better….I am on day 2 and with prayers I’m feeling better. just be prayerful, trust me, it works
Day 8 here, 40 year old woman. Yes the pain is awful–it’s every thing i read about and i have an unusually high pain tolerance so I was hoping i’d be ok…..nope. Days 1 and 2 weren’t bad at all, but i ran out of Oxy day 3 and it took 29 hours to get a refill–why they don’t provide enough meds to last at least a week is not right. Now doctor denied a second refill–i’m guessing doctors are so scared about creating opiate addicts that they think it’s better for people with legitimate pain to suffer through it……(and maybe it is but it sure doesn’t feel like it right now!)
Something i found TREMENDOUSLY helpful is sleeping upright. This helps to keep your mouth closed while you sleep which prevents scabs from drying out (which is when i’ve felt the most pain). I don’t have a recliner so i just propped myself up on the couch and wore one of those U shaped airplane neck pillows–i consider this to be the best thing i purchased so if you don’t have one, borrow or buy one!
Also, i live alone and was really worried about being able to care for myself after surgery. Everyone told me “you’ll need help with EVERYTHING”….but no one could ever give specifics. Doctor said someone had to stay with me for 48 hours and i would need help for 3-5 days. For me, this wasn’t at all the case. After surgery a friend drove me home and that was it–luckily i haven’t needed anything (other than neighbors to walk my dog) from anyone since. Not saying everyone can do it like this, but i almost hired a nurse for $240/hour for first 48 hours and it would have been an absolute waste of money.
Hang in there everyone, this is awful but it WILL end….
Congratulations, Jill, you are thru the hardest part! What a great idea on the u-shaped pillow. I wish someone would create such a pillow with a flap around sides and front that could be filled with crushed ice. Btw; following my surgery, I slept upright for about ten days, and I don’t have a recliner either. I took every pillow in the house and created one on my bed! Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Jan
I’m on day 5/6 (it’s 1.30 am in Australia) of my tonsillectomy. My throat feels swollen and tight right now. I’m so over this pain, I have an anxiety disorder, and the pain is really making me anxious. I’m on oxycodin and paracetamol for the pain, it dulls it a bit, but it’s still there and it hurts to swallow. Everything aches, I’m so tired of this pain. I’m scared my throat will swell up more, and I won’t be able to breathe 🙁
That won’t happen, you WILL keep breathing. I promise. 🙂
Thank you Janet. Today has been a bit better, I’ve been very strict with my medication schedule. I just want this to be over! It’s so painful. I got my tonsils removed because of constant tonsillitis, and sleep apnoea issues, and I just want to hurry up and reap the benefits.
Hey guys! Just thought I’d share my tonsillectomy recovery story as many on here are terrifying! I needed a tonsillectomy as I suffered with recurrent tonsilitis since being a child. I am 20 years old and on 2016 had 9 bouts of tonsilitis.I had been mentally preparing myself for atleast 8 months after cancelling 3 appointments for a tonsillectomy. I did loads of research and read everyone’s horror stories, worked myself up, changed my mind about the op again then just thought, just go for it your well and truly prepared for what is to come! I had my operation on 3rd March 2017. Coming round from the general anaesthetic I was quite teary, not due to the pain more the confusion of where I was and not seeing a familiar face straight away! I was observed for 4 hours after before I could go home and was prescribed 30mg codeine, ibuprofen and paracetamol which I was to take every 6 hours. The codeine had me feeling so high it was unreal! That night I slept through from 9pm until 7am in the morning. I managed to sleep through every night I haven’t been woken in pain once.
The mornings are definitely the most painful. As soon as I woke up I would take my pain meds and get some frozen peas to put under my neck to reduce the swelling. After about half an hour the tablets kicked in and I was absolutely fine. I just kept on top of the medication taking it on time, and I also brought an ozone generator prior to the op – I ozonated all the water I consumed as it attatches itself to free radicals in the body and gets rid of any bacteria. I also ensured I brushed my teeth every morning and night. I have consumed a very normal diet I have eaten loads of wotsits, toast, roast dinners anything that was put in front of me I ate. I barely ate any ice cream as it caused phlegm and it was sore to bring up.
Day 5 was probably the only painful day for me again I still managed to eat solid foods but it was more the earache that caused a problem. I have been out everyday post op just little trips to the supermarket or matalan just to get me out of the house I made sure I wore medical face masks to filter bacteria which I got on eBay for like 50p.
Today is day 11 post op I have been completely back to normal since day 9. All scabs have disappeared and my throat looks healthy again just a slight twinge when swallowing and a dry throat in the mornings but it doesn’t cause any pain.
I think I worked myself up so much that in the end it was nothing like I thought it was going to be. I’m not saying it wasn’t painful, but it was definitely manageable and far from excruciating but everyones experience is different 🙂
I would definitely recommend drinking as much water as possible as this thins the scabs and makes it less painful when they come off. I would also like to mention that on the pain killers I have struggled to pee and also have not gone to the toilet for a number 2 since the morning of my operation (11 days ago) but I was told this is a side effect of the codeine (which I stopped taking on the 10th of March) so if this happens I’d recommend some sort of laxative however I have been drinking 8 movicol a day and still nothing. Eat as much solid food as you can even if it hurts force it down it really does make you heal faster as it encourages the blood flow to the wounded area.
I wish you all the best with your surgery, don’t let people’s experiences put you off. In the long run it will be worth it!!
is this what you used my daughter goes on Thursday and hoping she recovers as good as you.