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.
Has anyone had minor bleeding that still recovered normally and it did not turn into an emergency?
I’m a 31 years old female had tonsillectomy one month ago and still have the black surgical ties on my throat,. I’m freaking out. some one else went this far with out the ties falling off?
It’s disgusting and very uncomfortable please someone answer, I have an appointment next Tuesday with the ENT specialist but I want to know if this happen to others?
I’m a 53-year-old female who had a tonsillectomy on Tuesday, August 15. I found this forum helpful and informative–but also frightening–so frightening that I gave serious thought to not going through with the surgery. So I want to add my experience to the many below, both to say thank you for the very helpful tips and to give hope to others still anticipating the procedure. I suspect more people tend to post when they’re hurting than when things go well. My surgery went very well. During my recovery I had no nausea, no bleeding, no ear aches, and I never even used a heating pad or an ice pack. Thanks to the information I learned here, I used a humidifier every night, and I never dreaded going to sleep. I never awakened with the feeling of a parched throat, though the early mornings were difficult until I downed a dose of pain medicine. One thing that helped me most was the pain medicine. It was liquid Hydrocodon-Acetamin, and I took it about five times during each 24-hour period. It really helped manage the pain, and I was given enough of it to last for 2 weeks. My surgeon also prescribed 2 Tetracaine HCL lollipops for occasional use to help numb the throat. I didn’t try to eat normally; I ate only soft food, but I ate whatever I wanted at whatever hour I wanted it. (Mashed potatoes at 5:30 AM are OK!) If surgery day is day 1, then days 5 to 7 and the morning of day 8 were my most difficult ones; but even on those days, my pain medicine was up to the challenge. At some point on day 8, I felt as though I had turned the corner. I was wary, wondering if it was just the calm before the storm, but the storm had indeed passed, and I no longer felt “sick.” The next few days I felt neither better nor worse, but I was gradually getting better. I had only a little trouble with constipation; and a single dose of Mirolax, some increased water, and fruit smoothies took care of that problem. I moved in with my parents during my recovery and had an army of supporters and many prayers offered in my behalf. My employer was very considerate, and I didn’t return to work until August 30. Though there definitely were some difficult moments, all in all, my experience was far less traumatic than I feared. I thank the Lord for His goodness and am glad to be able to share with others the fact that things went well for me.
Lisa, I having been putting off the surgery for at least 2 years now. I am 56 and I want the surgery due to tonsil stones. Bleeding is my biggest fear. Reading your experience gave me hope. Thanks for sharing!!
Lisa,
This post put me a little at ease after reading everyone’s horror stories. My surgery is tomorrow morning.. eeek! Hoping for a fairly easy recovery like you had. Thank you 🙂
Lisa, hope you are doing okay, my wife had her surgery on Dec13th ….we were on our way to recovery but had a set back ..bleeding… it’s christmas eve and my wife had to have emergency surgery to stop bleeding that started…….. stay positive and know look ahead each minute your that much closer to healing
I just had mine out 2.5 weeks ago. 27 yo female. The worst part was actually the pre op process; i have a phobia of hospitals and medical procedures due to childhood illness. the recovery was about as i expected:
Day 1-2 not too bad, still have IV pain killers in my system, taking 2 tylenol+5 mg oxy every 4 hours.
Day 3 the oxy made me throw up what little i could ear (jello, popsicles, italian ice, water, gatorade) and starting to get a lot of mucus in my throat; dropped oxy dose to 2.5mg every 4 hours.
Day 4-5 tried eating small amounts of overcooked pasta, hurt like hell but it got down and stayed down.
Day 6 had to have my caretaker drive me to my parents house to pick up my dog from my sister, stopped for soft serve ice cream, that was super painful, but tasted SO GOOD. Significant fever started in low 99s, highs in the high 100s
Day 7 pain started getting worse, frequently an 8-9/10; back on 5mg of oxy every 4 hours; fever holding around mid 99s
Day 8 woke up in the middle of the night crying from the amount of pain i was in, boyfriend had to double my dose of oxy (he’s an RN) and sit up with me until i fell asleep, fever still in the low 99s
Day 9-11 pain still bad, still can’t talk for more than a minute or two without considerable pain flare/swelling, fever gone
Day 11-14 pain started receding rapidly, no more need for oxy around the clock, just morning and middle of the night doses required
Day 15 back to work, still on oxy morning only, no more night dose
Day 16-17 mild sore throat, no more trouble speaking, even singing in my car again 🙂
Take aways: All in all, terrible recovery, but it could have been worse. It took several days for me to even think about tolerating anything solid, and stay away from dairy!
It kicks up the mucus and makes it very thick and difficult to swallow. I started spitting out mine (gross i know) because in doing that i was able to monitor for any significant bleeding while my throat healed. Slept in a recliner for almost 2 weeks, which didn’t do my back any favors, but with the oxy who notices back pain anyway. Now i just hope i get sick less often and sleep better. Only the winter will tell. fingers crossed!
29 years Female -Caribbean (The Bahamas)
hello
Thank you so much for putting togther this forum;it has been so helpful. However i wish I had discovered this before my tonsillectomy to be better prepare.
When I first decided to do it and in speaking with my ENT he advised that would spent one night in the hospital after the procedure for monitoring which I thought was not necessary. He then advised that I will be out from work for about 3 weeks which I then ask him is ut really needed. I made up mind that if i felt better before the three week i just go back to work. I realizing now I probably that going back to work early is not going
Day of procedure
My procedure was schedule for August 21st 2017 (soo I am recent). I didnt realize when I booked that day the solar eslipe was going to happen which made me more uneasy. All sort of thought ran thru my mind; what it the power went off and for some reason due to freak of nature the genator will take longer than usually to kick in all because of this galactic event happen (Crazy me). So i decide to be the first one in OR as the ENT started he working 730am.I was also neverous because I never before been put to sleep so I was afraid of not waking up. I kept asking all the nurses and the doctors how long will it take of course the a sure me not long less than 20 minutes. It was in fact quick i was particially in and out of the OR. I woke up asking for pain meds which the provide thru an I V. For most of the day I was slept. So I hardley felt pain. I was able to eat lunch which was mash potatoe and some veggie and some steam Tuna. After that I went back to sleep. Took some Capol and antibiotics when back to sleep. I was able to eat dinner potatoes again and veggie with Tuna. Before bedtime I was give some Voltaren liquid med thru IV which put me off to sleep again. I woke up around 1am in with a sharp pain in my throat I decide to eat some ice to relieve it but it was no help. I then called the nurse who gave me some Capol. That help but of course woke up with hours of taking it with pain.
Discharge Day (Day 2 )
Got early because I was eager to get out of the hospital i was given a dose of Voltaren befpre Capol and antibiotics before I left. My ENT requested I do a follow up the next day. I slept most of the day wake up only to take meds. I didn’t eat anything only tried the ice cream and ice chips but swallowing was hard and painful. Like most of you stated Ice cream should not be recommended as and aid in recovery especially during those first 5 days. Maybe a sorbet be used or advise (as it used to cleaning the Platte before your main course). The night was rough with pain and dry mouth.
Day 3-4
This was my follow day with the ENT which he said everything is going well and to continue with the meds. I would have another follow up the following week. As usually on these days i rested and tired to eat but nothing the pain would just consumer me.
Day 5 -7
This were my worst pain level days ever! I thought that the pain meds were not workings and called my ENT to see if he could have given me something stronger. He advise that i should be taking my Capol every 4 hours. Because I wasn’t keeping a med log like recommended by most of you; I was guess when my next dosage time hence caused me tonhav so much pain. Soooo on Day 6 I decided to keep a better record of my meds time. On day 7 at 530 am I had taken my first dosage of Capol for the day seconds later I felt like a water sprout was in the mouth and a pool of blood came out. It was like my throat had sprung a leak. I ran in my bedroom where my husband was asleep turn on the light and stood in the door with blood spurring from my mouth my husband rush me to Accident & Emergency A&E . All sort of thought ran thru my mind I was like, is this it and started to pray. On the way to the A&E my husband called my ENT and advised him of what was happening he decided to meet us there. I was bleeding so much that I swallow some?. My husband was such in panic that missed the short route to the A&E. By time we reach it was the sprout had stop. The good thing of living on a small island is that everyone knows everyone. My doctor was able to call one of the attending doctors in A&E who was able to assist me until he had arrived. When he came he advised me that a piece of the scab had fell off and sometime when it happen you bleed. Of course he said if I had called him before I left home he would have been able to tell my husband what to do to control it. But I told blood was gushing and I panic. I was give ice pack to place on my under neck around the throat area. He cleaned around the area I had already began to clot as he took out some of the clots. I was given a shot of pain meds and garval(settle my stomach since I turn into a vampire for those couple of minutes). I was discharged and told to keep the ice pack on most of the day and sleep with my head elevated and also to do a follow the next day. I slept most of the day taking my pain meds. By this day I had gotten a better grip on taking my pain meds and was able to monitor it better. However i felt awful. I thought was doing this necessary. I thought to myself that i should have just dealt the tonsillitis as the came instead of taking out my tonsil. 🙁 I was feeling helpless and felt like I made a poor decision.
After Day 7 event I decided to Google what had happened to me and saw similar story and some giving the same details has to what they had done in that event. I then discover this forum that is really helping understand this recovery process as each day passes. It is one thing hear your doctor say by day 10 you will be fine and reading for other experience that it will get better.
I am happy that I found this forum it helped me understand what I am going thru and what to expect in the coming days.
Recommendations
Do take all the time give to by ur doc don’t rush back work
Drink plenty of cool clear liquid as every stated at every 20 -30 second it helps
Try the sorbet instead of the dairy made ice cream. (i am going to try it today)
As stated do keep a log of your meds intake.
oh and get a humidifier it helps at night. After reading about how helpful it was i got one and it works. Two days wake up without a dry throat.
Remember it going to be fine take each day day. Use this time to Commune with God or mediate since u cant talk to much!