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 had my tonsils taken out, I am currently on Day 10. I have officially hit the turning point. Now my throat feels like a sore throat and I only took one tylenol for minor ear pain that I had this morning. There is light at the end of this dark tunnel! It was so painful. The worst days were day 5-8. It feels like a burning pain that just is super unbearable. I thought it would never go away and I would never be able to eat. But it will get better. I was super depressed through the painful days, but I want to let anyone know that it will get better and just keep your mind of the pain! I am surprised how over night the pain just decreased dramatically! Thank you for all tge other posts that gave me tips through this recovery process. Drink water…keep your throat cold (ice it)…and keep positive!
I am on day 7. This website has helped me tremendously. Yesterday was my hardest day. I cried the entire day and all the laxative I had been taking for a week kicked in the entire day. It was horrible. I have been trying to find a day that I will be better. I hope on day 10 that I am better because I am going crazy.
I had my toncils removed 10/23/17 so that puts be at day 4, I have to say I’m dreading days 5-8!!! So far today has been the easiest day since the surgery, still in loads of pain but today went by and I didn’t want to throw myself off a building. The major ear pain started today as well as the extreme neck and shoulder pain. Even with pain killers I seem to feel everything still! After reading so much experiences im praying to God Day 5-8 isn’t going to be a nightmare. I’ve been forcing myself to drink fresh brewed iced mint tea with loads of honey and that seems to help. Today I also ate part of a cheeseburger because I was about to loose my mind if I had to eat another bowl of soup or cup of jello!!!
How are you doing?
I just wanted to share my recent tonsillectomy recovery story. I know that a lot of times the horror stories are the ones that get shared.
I am 44 years old and just finally had my tonsils out. Something I should have done thirty years ago.
My tonsils have always been a source of sore throats, strep throats, sleep apnea, and other issues. I have had absesses drained, etc…
I went into the surgery thinking I would be a horrible patient, as I usually am, who would likely not drink or eat if my throat was sore. I totally expected to need to get IVs to counteract my non compliance.
I can tell you I was pleasantly surprised. The pain was tolerable and nothing compared to the pain I had when I had the absess drained.
I will say, all in all, if you have absesses, get the surgery. It was not all roses and cream, as it is scary when you are an adult and you hear about the risks of bleeding, etc… but it is well worth it.
Just to help you know what to expect, just before the two week mark was the worst day emotionally. I stuffed off the scabs, I guess and started spitting out blood and other stuff. Which, made me completely emotional as to whether or not I should go to ER. But drinking ice water did stop the bleeding rather quickly. Still, it is scary to see things come out of places you can’t reach or see.
But all in all, the experience was nothing compared to the sore throats that convinced me to do this in the first place. I was able to get through the whole ordeal on nothing but children’s advil. (they don’t make the adult in liquid……)
A couple other tips: McDonalds fries and chicken nuggets are tolerable and were my saviors. That and microwavable mac and beef and mashed potatoes and gravy.
And soda cans on the outside of the throat.
Hi everyone… I had surgery on Friday the 13th of this month. The doctor told my mom that my tonsils were bad and had an abscess on one of them too. He also said they should’ve came out a long time ago and doesn’t see how I didn’t have more issues with them.
I’m on day 5 of being out of surgery… and I’m so miserable I’m ready to cry. All I want to do is go to bed without fear of choking, gagging, and or coughing. Day 1 was fine… pain in the throat of course. Day 2, I wasn’t hydrated enough so it started hurting really bad. I was on Tylenol with codeine and it didn’t help at all. So we switched to Children Tylenol. It was alright til I had swelling in my right side face to the lower part of my neck. I’ve been taking Motrin ever since day 3. It helps so much with swelling and pain.. I had a serve pain issue today (day 5) where my ears were killing me and my throat.
Just yesterday I went to the ER to make sure everything was okay because I was gagging so bad and the vomit reflex hurt my throat… saw blood but not a lot wanted to make sure I wasn’t at risk of hemorrhaging.
Right now I’m in bed trying to sleep but keep getting paranoid that I’ll choke or cough/gag.. it happened twice so far just about. I feel sick and hungry.. still on liquids.
I’ve been to the doctor a today for check up, I’m on day 8 now after tonsillectomy.
A tip he gave me for when the pain is truly unbearable, like waking in the night for meds. His advice was to hold your hands over your ears with the palms to seal and swallow your water etc. There’s no pain. I tried it and it really did work! Just a small tip for that horrid and dreaded moment your thirsty and need to drink/take meds! Hope this helps anyone in need! 🙂