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.
scheduled for surgery next week. I have had tmj and ringing in my right ear for a few years now, wondering if these conditions will be made worse or be a problem during the surgery. Has anyone else dealt with these issues?
Hi Janet,
I have TMJ too, which has improved over the last few years since I use a night guard at night to prevent my clenching from damaging my teeth/jaw, but it hasn’t been too bad since the surgery. Just make sure that your anesthesiologist knows that you have TMJ so they will be extra careful with your jaw when intubating and positioning you for surgery. Also, if you wear any kind of appliance all ready, start using it right away. I was afraid to put mine in the first few nights and my jaw got very sore for a few days but once I started using it again it was fine. As for the ringing in your ears, I have no idea, but hope it helps!
Thanks for the advice Lisa, I will mention the tmj to my doctors before surgery. I was wondering if anyone has tried using water in a spray bottle to constantly keep the throat wet and hydrated especially before trying to eat. Maybe it would lessen the pain.
Lisa try not to stress over the work I’m sure your co workers understand. Hope your recovery is getting better.
Today is day 10 and I do not feel like I’m better. Days 5-9 were absolutely miserable. I don’t think my scabs have come off, they still have the yellowish white coating, but it does seem thinner. It still hurts like hell and I have been taking the pain meds every four hours since the surgery so I feel that awful narcotic depression now. I’m supposed to go back to work tomorrow, which I think will be impossible. My doctor told me to take a week off, I added an extra day (today). But I’ve used all my sick time now and I won’t get paid for any more time off which is distressing. Plus I’m a really dedicated worker so I feel a lot of stress for forcing my coworkers to work shorthanded. I’m so sick of this. I just want to normal again. I’m in a bit less pain this morning but I still can’t swallow more than liquids without being in agony. I know it has to get better at some point, but now I’m stressed out on top of being miserable and I just want it end!!!
I’m 49 years old… Got my tonsils removed 4/2/15. It’s 4AM and I’m up from the pain.
I sure hope this is the last sore throat I ever have. So far Kidney stones and shoulder surgery were worse but I’m not even 24 hours post-op.
Hi Scott. Be prepared, because I wasn’t. I was too nervous to read stuff like this before my surgery but I wish I had. The first say 36 hours after the surgery were not bad but then, seemingly for no reason, the pain got unbearable. Day 5 I had my fiancé call the doctor. The nurse there explained that the pain get worse day by day until day 7-10. My doctor did not explain this before. He said simply that the recovery time is 7-10 days. I don’t really understand why the doctor couldn’t have been more clear with me. Once we spoke to the nurse I decided to start reading what I can online (can’t take it back now). Sounds to me like my doc really doesn’t prepare patients well. Being a nurse, I can handle that, but I cant even imagine how people would feel. Anyway. Be prepared, it gets worse. I’m on day seven and literally praying (not something I ever do) for this to be the day things get better.
I’m 36 and on day 5 of recovery. Who schedules a surgery like this on April Fools Day anyway?? Lol well I did. I’m a long time sore throat sufferer including an abcess tonsil 3 years ago. I had an incompetant ENT for the abcess who wouldn’t even discuss a tonsillectomy. My recovery so far ha been pretty intense. Days one and two were nothing! This surgery gives you a false sense of hope the first couple of days. So far today, day five has been the most painful. I pray that tomorrow is easier than today was. I’ve been living off ice water and itilian ice with a popsicle and some soup broth thrown in. I’ve tried mac n cheese, mashed potatoes and cream soups and they brought tears to my eyes. I wish all of us the best. And try to remembet this too shall pass.
I am 21 and I had my tonsils and adenoids removed on 3/20/15. I must say I would not wish that pain on anyone, not even my worst enemy. Day 1, I was talking after surgery and drinking like everything was fine, sleeping like crazy on because of the anesthesia. Pain meds were taken around the clock of course. Days 2-5, I had plenty of help, but the pain I was in, OMG SO BAD! I felt like every time I swallowed my own saliva, which was super thick, was like swallowing glass. For some odd reason my ear pain was so bad it caused me to have migraines which caused a lot more pain that pain meds didn’t help. I couldn’t eatmuch of anything So I was basically just drinking water, Apple juice, & sports drinks for the electrolytes. Day 6-9, things didn’t seem to get better only worse, on Day 10 I ended up back in the hospital with hemorrhaging on the left side. Scared the living crap out of me because the blood woke me up out of me sleep chocking me. Rushed to the ER and they had to keep me all morning and night for observations. The hemorrhage ended up clotting back up and forming a scab again. Now I’m on Days 12-14, the hurt to swallow is almost completely gone and I’m now able to eat a little more than just Jello, Frozen Yogurt, Popsicles, etc. I recommend not sleeping with a fan on, if you do, set an alarm to wake you up every two hours to moisten your throat so it will not dry out in your sleep. That’s part of the reason I had the hemorrhaging.
Hello,
I’m 31 y/o female on day 5 today after my tonsillectomy and turbinate collation. I have had recurrent strep infections and since the last one in Nov. have been having symptoms of sleep apnea. I have been through a pretty nasty trauma in the past that took over a year and three surgeries to recover from and this is nearly as bad. I know this will get better, but it’s hard to feel so helpless. At least with broken bones you can tell yourself that the more effort you put in with physical therapy the more you are doing to get better. This is a helpless, lonely, waiting to get better kind of recovery. I felt pretty good the night of my surgery, even called and talked to my mom. That was the last time I spoke out loud. Now even whispering hurts. The first two nights were pretty bad, but the days were ok. Monday (day 3) I even ate some macaroni and cheese (overcooked the life out of the noodles). Yesterday and today (days 4-5) I can barely swallow anything but water. I have to time it to an hour after taking pain meds then try to get something with some calories down. I’ve found putting a tablespoon of butter in/on whatever I try to eat helps make it a bit more satisfying. I’m only off work until day 11, and I’m starting to think now I will have to call out for a few more days. I had my fiance call the doctor today because it seems to be getting worse instead of better. They said that’s how it goes. The peak of pain is expected at 7-10 days. Then it gets better quickly apparently. I am probably going to need a third bottle of pain meds. I’ve just opened the second one. I tried to skip a dose overnight last night and that was a mistake. I do find that ice on the throat/ears helps when the pain is really bad. I all ready took the short course of steroids the doctor prescribed and now I wish I had waited until now to take them. I also read a lot of research about the use of ibuprofen after tonsillectomy and it all shows that it does not increase the risk of post-op bleeding, so I’m taking about 200-400mg between pain med doses. That seems to be helping the meds last longer. Overall I am sure I will be glad to have gotten my tonsils out, but today especially I wish there was a less painful way to do it!
Hey Lisa – sounds like a textbook recovery pattern, even though I know it really does not feel like recovery right now! It is a grim lonely time being in pain and unable to eat, drink, sleep or talk properly but it DOES end. Hang in there, count off the days, max out the meds (including ibuprofen – did me no harm; I took 3 different types of meds in rotation). Drink as much as you can. Some people find they need laxatives too although I was OK. Book extra time off now if you can, to take the pressure off yourself. Plan something nice for about day 14 (NOT food-based!), and try to get some fresh air daily, as soon as you can. Try a hot water bottle too – I found it really helped to relax my throat and jaw in the second half of my recovery (but not the first). Good luck to you!