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.
Ok I’m on day 18. Doctor told me there was an infection during surgery so my recovery will take longer than normal cuz of more scar tissue. (Can’t really eat textured food feels like sand paper in my throat.) now I’m finding my food doesn’t have any taste Coke cola bitter taste…most foods have no flavour or a bitter taste…. Has anyone had this issue?
My girlfriend had her tonsils removed in Septemver 2014. It is now January 2016. She noticed that she now struggles to eat and drink things she previously did. She can no longer drink her favourite kind of tea as she feels it tastes like gas, like a gas leak maybe kind of metallic. She also used to love mango, juice mainly, she finds it now burns her mouth. She also has this problem with curry and spicier food like Nando’s, no longer being able to cope with the level of spice as before. Toothpaste also burns her throat. Has anyone else experienced similar? She had swelling of her tongue after the operation for several weeks, we think this may have something to do with it but were wondering if anyone else has had the same problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I had my surgery 7 months ago and my taste buds are still shot. It is hard to taste the flavor of most foods. I used to love avocado and banana, but since I can’t really taste the flavor, I no longer enjoy these foods because of the texture. If I eat something VERY sweet or salty, a mild flavor comes through. My throat is constantly dry and it becomes hard to talk as water does not help. I have difficulty eating and drinking at times as well. I never snored pre-surgery but now will snore at times and sometimes a sudden loud snore that it wakes me up. Looking back, I’m not sure that I would have done the surgery.
I’m 3 months in and my taste buds are shot too… My doc said 3 -4 months but I have heard from others closer to a year… I find though if I eat really spicy food I taste the food it has flavour… Jalapeños has become my friend for certain foods
Hi I’m Maddie and I’m 17,
First, I got my tonsils out on 1-20-16 and it is currently 1-25-16. Since I had surgery in the morning and threw up for 6 hours in post-op, do I consider that a day of recovery? If so, I’m finishing my 6th full day and I don’t see a light. Just nonstop tears, ice packs, and weak medicine. I can’t take it and I need encouragement please!!! Anything helps!!!
Hi Maddie- sorry you’re having such a tough time. Many others, me included, have been right where you are. It will get better. Keep drinking liquids, take your meds on time (even if you have to set an alarm clock!) sleep propped up- like in a recliner, run a humidifier. If your ears start hurting, chew gum and apply a warm compress.
Hang in there sweetheart- This is temporary!!!!
I feel your pain Maddie, I’m 13 days and still not able to eat anything without it getting caught in my throat. I find crushing the meds worked better for me and faster than trying to swallow it whole. I just stuck with water and ice tea seem to help. I also made my own apple sauce. It gets better. Slowly but surely. I don’t know what meds you are on but I found mine worked wonders last night was the 1st night I slept through till morning…I couldn’t eat ice cream or Popsicle they all hurt. Try smoothies with no seeds. That helps for a bit. But coconut water without pulp or jelly is really good for you, keeps you hydrated.
Hi Maddie,
I’m on day 10. It will get better. I survived off of ice chips. I put cold packs on my throat and had ice chips constantly. Do your best to distract yourself. Make sure to stay hydrated. I had to be tricky about this by taking my medicine and then waiting 20 minutes for it to sink in and then chugging as much water as I could stand before the pain got too intense again. Hang in there. This too shall pass.
I am on day 7 post op, and woke up at 3:30am thinking .. Omg I didn’t think pain could be worse then the prior days, but it was. I finally got pain meds down by 5:00am and woke up at 10:00, the day went on and I had overall improvement and today was the second day I could get any kind of broth or food down.
You will get through it! You are young and will recover. You have to stay positive and keep yourself distracted. Keep your head up!
I am on Day 4 of getting my tonsils removed. First 2 days weren’t too bad, outside of the swallowing pain which I had the tylenol + codeine for, plus cepacol tablets. Spent the days doped up on the couch in front of Netflix & Hulu. Yesterday and today have gotten worse, today I woke up with horrible nausea and a bad headache. I was also filled with phlegm which has no place to go so I just hung my head over the sink for a bit. Pain was so bad I started crying, and then of course the phlegm gets worse and I can’t even blow my nose without it hurting. Blah!
For food, I’m mostly doing juice, gatorade, applesauce, popsicles. I’ve been trying yogurt and pudding, but the dairy is giving me mucus so I’m cutting back on that. I tried mashed potatoes and bread soaked in broth, but it would get stuck in my tonsil holes, which was very uncomfortable, so I gave that up. I’m going to try an avocado today, mashing it up until it is soft enough to swallow.I am fantasizing about the day I am well enough to eat pizza again!
Hi guys ….. I had my tonsillectomy on the 6/1/16 …… Mine has been just over 2 weeks now …… Upto day 3 I was fine … I ate fine . Rough foods … After that was horrible . Felt like my head was going to explode !! Ache in the neck ,ear ache throat pain headaches was horrible ….. This settled ….. As I said been over 2 weeks now although I feel better I’m still finding it hard to swallow and still on meds too … Codine . Antibiotics . Ibuprofen ….. I’m still sore and eating is not good feels like I have a golf ball in there ….