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 everyone-
i’m a 19 y/o girl and on day 6 T&A post Op and I just want to say this website was so helpful.
I had my surgery in the early morning and it was so quick and painless especially because of the general anesthesia. The surgery is the easiest and least painful part… It’s what comes after is the worst.
The rest of that day was nearly painless besides for a scratchy throat. I ate slushies and ice cream and everything was fine. Then came the night. Nights are the worst because you want to sleep but cannot and you need pain meds constantly.
Thank god I had my mom or else I would’ve just laid there and died. I had a really rough time swallowing and the pain in my ears is horrible. I recommend children’s liquid tylenol, just ask the pharmacist how much an adult dose is- for me it was 20 mL. it’s much easier on your stomach and doesn’t taste as bad. MAKE SURE TO EAT AFTER MEDICATION!!!!!!!!!!! i had to take amoxicillin twice a day and tylenol with codeine every 6 hours and those made me vomit for 2 days straight. Throwing up is horrible. Make sure to eat even if you feel like you can’t. I couldn’t get down dairy bc it would coat my throat and I was already producing so much spit and mucous. MAKE SURE TO SPIT!!! Do not swallow. Swallowing will cause you to throw up as well. Ice chips are amazing, and mashed potatoes are wonders. Jello is also tolerable. Once i hit day 5 I could have these Chobani yogurt drinks.. I don’t know why but they were amazing. No coating of my throat and 15g of protein. The ear pain is horrible. But from the looks of the other commenters I will make it 🙂 I cried to my mom on days 4-6 because the pain was just that unbearable. I wish I could just pass out and not feel any pain. I can’t even open my jaw because it’s that sore. Please please drink water and eat when you don’t feel nauseous even if you don’t want to/aren’t hungry. Ice packs work wonders. So does children’s tylenol. I wish everyone else good luck 🙂 i haven’t brushed my teeth in 6 days and I feel like a monster 🙂 but we will all make it. If this is the worst pain i will ever feel in my entire life then I’m set for the rest!
Hey everyone I’m on day 17 post op and I’m still in a great deal of pain ibprophen isn’t helping and I am already done with my second bottle of liquid pain meds. I’m tired all the time right now and feel miserable is this normal? Any advice would be great. And my scabs haven’t fallen off yet.
I’m in the same situation have you found any relief? I’m in such pain.
Hi I’m 17 going to be 18 on the 3rd of July. I went into this tonsillectomy very unprepared. Mine was June 20, 2017. My friend had her about a month ago and by day 7 she was perfectly fine and eating normal again so I listened to get advice. Well I’m not on day 7 and I can’t eat anything or drink anything. I’m forcing myself to drink water and I have an appetite; however, as soon as I try to swallow it’s nothing but pain. My ENT said it wouldn’t be this bad and when I called my nurse she told me the next 3 days were going to get much worse. This blog is amazing. Not everything works for me but I’m not sure what I would have done if I hadn’t run across it!
Ibuprofen. . Water in a spray bottle. . Sleep.
I swear by it. Even at 28th day right now. Doc checkd me and all good but my mouth roof has fallen so uvula touches tongue. Annoying. But then my tonsils were humungus little flickers. Rest as much and spray your mouth even if u cannot swallow. U need to stay hydrated. Um m m . . No pain no gain??!! Ok maybe not right now but it will b fine. Even at a month gone my doc said it will tk ages to properly settle to a norm. Case of wait. All the best . LISA
you just spray your mouth with water? do you think my 3 yr old would like this, he isnt drinking much
Hi Briana, firstly – HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I am sure that you know after reading posts in this forum, that everyone responds differently. My worst days were days 5, 6 & 7. Excruciatingly brutal, I couldnt swallow water until day 10, but I constantly sucked on ice chips. Dont measure your recovery by anyone elses standards. Our forum host, Greg, has acculated a wealth of expert knowledge-based resources. Just go to the top of this page and click on the drop down menu. Keep hydrated, ice wrap around neck, take pain meds when you need them. My ENT had me setting an alarm so I didnt miss dose of pain meds. You cant let the pain get away from you. Sleep as much as you can. Stay in touch! Jan
My doctor told me he was going to do a tonsillectomy and adnoidectomy. He also said he was going to shorten my uvula. I now have no uvula. Not sure why. I am completely recovered but I have a strange feeling every time I drink and soda products. It closes off my throat a little. It’s like my tissue swells. Has anyone else have this sensation?
I’m so glad people are sharing! I’m a 20-year-old female and I had my tonsils and adenoids taken out a week ago. I just want to say this is the worst pain I’ve ever had after any surgery. Aside from that, I’m on day 6 of post-op and it has been a better day considered to days 2-5. My tonsils were HUGE and I’m glad they’re gone!
My surgery was on a Thursday, (6-15-17) and I slept a lot, took my pain meds, & ate jell-o. That Saturday I woke up in pain & I started caughing up & throwing up blood. (Gross I know.) I called the surgeon & he said to gargle with ice water & eat ice chips. This helped.
Recently I’ve been caughing a lot when I can’t control it and I cough up small/huge amounts of white chunks. For my sake I’d like to say they’re scabs. (This started on day 4).
At night my throat seems to be okay besides being dry. Ice packs have been a dream to my face!
I really hope the pain subsides because sometimes it’s a 12/10. If anyone has had similar issues or recommendations, PLEASE LET ME KNOW! ?
Hi I had mine out a day before you and have been in some pain…first three days were controllable with paracetamol and ibuprofen then I had to start taking codeine. I was unable to eat or hardly drink as it hurt so bad I cried alot. I went to see my GP yesturday to ask for something stronger turns out I have an infection hense why the pain is worse he’s given me liquid form of antibiotics they taste vile but since taking them yesterday and allowing them to kick in ive woken up abit better and today ive been drinking more and managed to eat a little bit of mac n cheese and some chicken noodles. Hopefully now ive got the right meds I can finally get better….hope you get sorted and I wish you all the best in your recovery