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.
MIchael,
Working with our physician these can be on a list as pre-op items to acquire. Informative, very informative! Thanks for the suggestions.
V/R
Chuck
MY Daughter ( 18 years old ) is on day 7 of recovery post her tonsillectomy. She has lost some of her scabs yesterday and is still having considerable discomfort. I had my Tonsils removed at 40 years old so I could help her through her recovery but I wanted to THANK YOU for having this forum!! It has helped her for sure!! Im a Dentist and I feel there is a sincere need for more education on the recovery from this surgery. Here are a few things that I’ve done to help my daughter through her recovery. I had a topical anti-inflammatory made up at a compounding pharmacy. It contained ibuprofen as the anti-inflammatory ( diclofenac is a good choice as well ) lidocaine for a numbing effect, cyclobenzaprine as a muscle relaxer, chitosan and DMSO to help the meds penetrate the tissues to provide the relief. The topical really helped!! She asked for me to apply the compounded med ( apply directly under the chin where the neck is swollen and sore after the surgery ) each time she woke from her pain meds and gave a big thumbs up and was even able to muster a smile! I have also had her rinse with Chlorhexidine which is a mint flavored oral antibiotic rinse. That helped her breath odor a bit as well as helps to prevent a post op infection. The Chlorhexidine lasts for 3 days so it isn’t imperative to rinse with it daily. Closys is an antiseptic mouth rinse you can buy over the counter at Walgreens that is a terrific antiseptic as well as an odor oxidizer which will help keep your mouth moist. It contains no alcohol and has no real taste so its like rinsing with water. There is a small container or peppermint oil to flavor the rinse but do that in a separate container in the case you don’t like the taste. To help control the bleeding when the scabs start to fall off make a strong tea using a tea bag and chill it. The tea has tannic’s in it that will cause the small vessels to constrict to slow the bleeding and the cold will sooth the lesions. Slowing the bleeding limits the amount of blood you may swallow and that will keep you from getting nauseated as well. Biotene is a brand of oral moisturizers that may help and you can get it at the local drug store.
The only other recommendation I can recommendation I can make is to give your loved one a lot of TLC and encouragement!! Empathy is good in large doses as well. If you have not had your tonsils out please don’t give your patient a hard time after you think they should be better. The Tonsillectomy is a MAJOR surgery to endure. Be patient and it will pay off in dividends!!
If you have any questions post them here and I will do my best to help. God Bless you all!! Prayer works wonders as well!!
Wow! Michael that’s some great stuff- Thank you! I’m glad that you and your daughter have benefitted from the site and seem to be doing well. It sounds like she’s in good hands! Take care. Best wishes to you both.
Greg
Michael would you mind if I shared this comment as a permanent post for others to refer to in the future? Thanks again
KIRSTEN,
I know the recovery time is different for each of us but hang in there!!!! 🙂 You’re about finished with the worst part of the healing process and things start to get better. Day 8 was it for me. After that each day became progressively better and better. Wish you the best.
Congrats chuck im so glad your recovery is going well 🙂
i am on day 8 now and havent lost too many scabs yet but im coughing up an incredible amount of phlegm. Yay for catching colds prior to surgery.
I hope the rest of your recovery goes smoothly and enjoy every bit ofbfood you are getting for those of us who cant eat it yet 😛
Day 8 – I stopped taking all med’s. Pain is tolerable. Scabs continued to diminish in size.
Day 8 thru 11 – Scabs continue to diminish in size. Throat feels very good compared to what I was dealing with from day one. I ‘d rate it like a very, very, very mild sore throat. MAJOR BREAK THUR – I’m back on solid foods which started on day 11. I actually had stuffed bell peppers, some chicken and fresh steamed veggies….ahhhh, life is beginning to get back to normal. I didn’t eat the food while “hot.” I waited until it was just warm and the throat handled it well. Things I continue to do is drink as much smart water as I can take. Also, I continue to eat the popsicles and will do both until all the scabs are gone. Sleeping is a bit rough as my throat tickles all the time while I’m trying to sleep, so I keep a thermos of cold water by me when I sleep. I take a sip and it nips it in the bud until next time. Last, I was able to call the doctors office and schedule and appointment. Voice is coming back slowly. Total weight loss was 12 pounds. I pray all of you have a good recovery!!!!!!!!!