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 am now post op of 8days and I have never been in so much pain!!
I got my op on the 12/23 and had the worst experience ever whilst still in hospital as i started bleeding an also when i coughed a lot of blood clots were coming up,ended up having blood tests done to see what was causing the blood clots & still no outcome!!!
I was given paracetomal & ibuprofen liquid along with codeine tablets 4 the pain and when I went back to see the doctor today I was given more liquid & tramadol for the pain
The pain I have had in my ears & jaw are so unbearable an brings you close to tears and it’s hard when trying to deal with a 7yr old when you are in pain just doesn’t work as the child doesn’t understand what your going through
Thank Gd the stomach pain I was experiencing has mitigated and I can attempt to eat. My uvula is also not as swollen which helps with the pain in my throat. Every now and then I get pain in my throat like shards of glass and pain in my ears like they are being stabbed and are bleeding. From what I read on here I have been using a hot water bottle as a hot compress for that and it is really soothing. The worst part now though is the terrible taste in the back of my mouth- nothing I do can get rid of it and it is making me nauseous. I just wish I knew how much longer this will be so I could count down and not up indefinitely!!
I’m 18 I had my tonsilectomy 6 days ago, I’m in some of the worst pain I have ever experienced. Nothing is fully getting the pain down. I can’t hardly eat anything, I feel like giving up. Everything hurts, my jaw, ears, teeth, just everything. Please tell me something that is going to help.. Please.
Try putting heat on ur ears really makes a difference. And around the clock Advil is great.
Thanks for commenting SHifra- I wish I’d known about the warm compress when I was recovering
No problem- got the idea from others online and it really helps!
First off I really hope your husbands not that much of a jerk. You’re not doing this to yourself at all. I’m 28 and had my tonsils out 12/18. The pain is life consuming. Mentally, emotionally and physically draining. On 12/6 I started bleeding because my scabs were falling off. Im told by every nurse in my life and Google that was normal. What want normal was that about 24hrs later I started bleeding again and it was constant for 3.5hrs. I was dragged to the ER crying and fighting because I knew I needed surgery again. Its been 2 full days since being cauterized again and I feel like death again. 12days of a liquid diet. I sleep all day and night. On Christmas I tried to help cook and then passed out for a 3hr nap because making cookies was that draining. Just try ice packs on your neck and cheeks, warm not hot chicken broth, the naked smoothie drinks, liquid Tylenol in between pain killers. And just rest. Your husband needs to know this is a serious surgery not like getting a knees replaced and the more you love the faster you heal. I’m also a nurse so I know these things. Good luck recovering!
I’m 39 and had my tonsillectomy on 12/22. Yes, Christmas did not exist for me, nor have the other 7 days. Tomorrow will be day 8 and I’m keeping a journal because nothing could have prepared me for how bad this recovery is. I slept for 6 hours last night and woke up at a 12 for pain. Day 3 was by far the worst when my uvula swelled to 4x its size and was blocking my airway. Gasping for air did not promote swallowing. Didn’t eat from day 2 thru day 4 and until day 5 when I ran out of Tylenol w codeine and my husband found one of my many prescriptions for sore throat pain – hydrocodone, I couldn’t get the pain under control. When I could finally open my mouth wide enough, saw that the dr cut my uvula. I can see it is now smaller, but it feels like I have ulcers lining my throat and every sip, hot or cold is like a spike in my throat.
Every time I sleep, I wake up in agony. Every time I take medicine, I am in agony. I haven’t uttered a word since the recovery room and believe me, that’s the hardest part w a 5 & 8 year old on Xmas especially. All I want is for this pain to end. I can’t see it in sight. My ears and my head just throb all day and night. I was sleeping in a recliner, but the arms are wooden and my elbows needed a break, so I moved to the couch to try to remain upright. I’m guessing that the scabs are falling off, though how can you tell? More raw redness than before? I have definitely spit out some weird stuff too and feel like I have an excess of yucky saliva. I haven’t found the humidifier to be helpful either, no matter how much I leave it on. I’m always nauseous and don’t want to use a stool softener even tho I’ve only gone once since the surgery and that was 3 days ago. Afraid it will make it worse when the antibiotics side effects kick in – and they always do. My husband thinks I am doing this to myself by not getting off the recliner and doing things. I honestly feel incapable of doing anything. Even the walk to the bathroom is much too far. Any positive advice? Thanks.
First off I really hope your husbands not that much of a jerk. You’re not doing this to yourself at all. I’m 28 and had my tonsils out 12/18. The pain is life consuming. Mentally, emotionally and physically draining. On 12/6 I started bleeding because my scabs were falling off. Im told by every nurse in my life and Google that was normal. What want normal was that about 24hrs later I started bleeding again and it was constant for 3.5hrs. I was dragged to the ER crying and fighting because I knew I needed surgery again. Its been 2 full days since being cauterized again and I feel like death again. 12days of a liquid diet. I sleep all day and night. On Christmas I tried to help cook and then passed out for a 3hr nap because making cookies was that draining. Just try ice packs on your neck and cheeks, warm not hot chicken broth, the naked smoothie drinks, liquid Tylenol in between pain killers. And just rest. Your husband needs to know this is a serious surgery not like getting a knees replaced and the more you love the faster you heal. I’m also a nurse so I know these things. Good luck recovering!
Got my tonsils out Wednesday 12/23. Been doing the non narcotic route as I don’t wanna deal with all the side effects. Just been taking Tylenol and Advil as needed. First few days were ok. Pain is the worst when it hurts In the ears but from reading on here I’ve been using a hot water bottle. Yesterday I got some stomach bug and it hurt and i was scared to move- I didn’t want to throw up. Now I barely ate or drank anything and am really hungry. I think the pain is getting worse. I hate just lying around all day, I just want this to be over already!
I definitely understand what you are going through. I am only seven days post-op. the pain does get a little bit worse but it has made a great turn for me around the sixth day. its like having bad strep throat. make sure you stay ahead of it and make sure you follow your doctors instructions. for the first four days i took the narcotics as directed. it really made a difference. after the fourth day i stopped using them because i didnt want to feel dopey all the time. Extra Strength Tylenol is all i use now and i dont take it that often. I want to this to be over soon as well but good things comes to those who wait. I’m pulling for you.