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.
Hey guys! On day 13 with a pretty easy recovery from tonsillectomy/septoplasty/turbinate reduction/sinuplasty. I did want to give you guys a heads up regarding my biggest issue so far. On day 7-8 I woke up sharp pain in my side (lower left rib) that hurt anytime I moved or took a deep breath. After dealing with it all day I went to urgent care where X-rays revealed I had partial lung collapse. This is known as atelectasis, and it comes as a result of being under general anesthesia and or having the breathing tube down your throat during the procedure. I was never warned by anyone at the hospital of this possibility or given breathing/coughing excerises to to help prevent this! Additionally the hospital should have given me an incentive spirometer which is used to excercise your lungs. While I should be enjoying the of last days of recovery, I am now having to deal with the partial lung collapse which has given me more pain than the tonsillectomy itself!
I’m 21 male and am on day 8 of recovery, the pain was excruciating after day 2 and I found out why on day 6. It turns out that although I just had my tonsilectomy, I somehow managed to get strep throat at the same time. ?Not fun, my biggest recommendation from this experience is that you need to trust yourself. If you feel like something is wrong call the doctor. If the doctor says don’t worry, but that feeling doesn’t go away then go to the hospital. Even if it turns out to be nothing, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
im 28female，yesterday，Day 0 had a tonsillectomy in Beijing.they give me general anesthesia.Today，after surgery，day 1，its so much pain，pain，cant eat，too pain.i will keep update
Hi Camille! Hang in there and STAY HYDRATED!!
Hey everyone. I’m 25. I am kinda freaking out. I am on day 8 of my tonsillectomy and I STILL have a low-grade fever. The highest it has been is 99.6. I’m on around the clock tylenol and ibuprofen (I can’t take narcotics, due to a history of addiction). My right lymph node is huge and painful. The doctor prescribed me antibiotics and I’m not feeling any difference. My temp usually goes to 99.2 and is 99.6 today. Do you think it’s an infection? Or the wrong type of meds? Or just a low grade fever from the crazy inflammation. Does anyone have this experience?
This is part of why I got my tonsils removed in the first place. I always had mystery low-grade fevers.Heeelllppp
Hi Ali, quite normal, especially without the benefit of narcotics. (Kudos, to you, btw) Most hospital discharge instructions suggest that you return to the hospital if fever goes to 100.6 or higher post surgery. But I think its worth your time to telephone your surgeons office. Infection is very rare. Be sure to check the drop-down Menu at the top of this page by our firum host, Greg. Good luck, and feel better soon! Keep on touch. Keep hydrated!!
Hey. I’m 20 years old and I’m on day 10 of recovery. Did your swelling finally go down? I went to the ER tonight because of it hurting so bad. What did you to help it go away?
I’m a 35 year old male and currently on day 5 of my recovery path. I had tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy together. I had my surgery in the UK. No problems with that and when I woke up I felt very little pain. I remained in hospital overnight and from about 2am I couldn’t sleep as every time was dozing off I felt like choking. The next day (still in hospital) I started bleeding. It was bright read blood though nurse were reassuring me that I have no severe bleeding and need to continue to rinse my mouth. At one point I felt as I needed to vomit and something large was blocking my airway. It felt like a cling film stuck to my throat. I started to panic and doctor arrived. I then vomited a massive blood clot that was lodged on my right side where the tonsil used to be. I actually pinched it with my fingers to get it out. It was very traumatic but I felt a massive relief. The doctor told me it was blood I swallowed during the procedure and it’s fairly common. I must say that I never come across this before so I thought I would post it here so people can prepare themselves if anything. I’m now a bit paranoid that I will have another clot this time on the other side. I feel like there is something for stuck there. I think this is all in my head now. Anyways, I’m trying to stay positive although the last night was the most painful for me. I mostly suffer at night as during the day the pain is manageable. In the UK they advise you to eat normal diet and all the “rough food”. I must say that I’m trying to eat as normally as possible.
Hey Luke, you “pinched the blood clot out” – wow. Im sending you a medal, I would NEVER do that, and have no idea if that was a good idea. Are you feeling better now? Days 5 – 7 were the hardest for me, but you get thru it. Please check the drop down menu put together by our forum host, Greg., shown at the top of rhis page. Im wishing you a speedy recovery. Stay in touch, let us know how you are doing.
How are you feeling? Jan
Thank you Janet. I’m feeling much better now. It is now exactly 4 weeks since my operation. I still have some discomfort but no pain. The only thing I’m concerned about is the feeling of something “stuck” between my soft palate and throat. My ENT told this week that I’m still healing and it’s likely the swelling which can irritate my throat and give me that healing. I hope this doesn’t last too long and it’s quite annoying….