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.
Hi all, im a 19 year old female. I got my tonsillectomy on Wednesday the 15th and it been 5 days of recovery. Is it suppose to be very sore and painful ? I got orders to stay away from toast and any fruit and to drink a lot of coke or sprite. I only eat jelly and custard and sometimes like 2 to 3 teaspoons of oats or mashed pumpkin. Any tips for a quick recovery ? I noticed crushed ice works very well to relieve pain.
Hi, I was told to eat normally, especially toast and harder foods to keep my throat moving and also scrape the white scabs off, from day one. I did and even though it hurt I had no problems with eating. Hope this helps !
I was told to eat normally as I can too. It helps move the germs along so they don’t build up back there and create an infection.
Hey everyone, been reading comments left right and centre about different experiences, and I’m still feeling pessimistic! I had my tonsillectomy on Monday 13th, I woke up high as anything and didn’t feel much pain, immediately had to eat a sandwich that was all thick and gloopy and kept getting stuck 🙁 I then had to eat sausages and mash, they wouldn’t let me home until I could urinate, but I couldn’t stop so that was okay! I’ve barely eaten at all since, and the past 3 nights I’ve been vomiting which i am confused about.. I got given ibuprofen and co-codamol, but the dosage was way to high and I just slept constantly, so returned to the doctors to lower my co-codamol and swapped the ibuprofen for naproxen. I haven’t even looked at my throat. I can’t stop feeling sick and it’s frustrating me, completely lost my appetite, I’ll have food Infront of me and I can’t eat anymore than 2 mouthfuls and then I just throw it back up again. Very annoying and I’m due back to work on the 27th! Luckily no bleeding or sign of infection as of yet… Maybe I’m just being dramatic! Here’s to hoping I feel better tomorrow!
if you are worried go and see your GP. I didn’t vomit at all but I do have a strong stomach. It’s not going to help if you don’t eat. Take care.
Tonsillectomy, female, 16, UK.
Sorry about the detail but when I was having my operation I searched everywhere. Just remember everyone’s different and the pain does go away! So stay strong!
So from around the age of 10 I started getting frequent tonsillitis, at least three every year. I kept going to the doctors getting the same antibiotics, when it came to my GCSES I kept getting ill, so when I got them again I asked if I could be referred and I did. When I was seen they were massive at this point in time they never went back to “normal” so I straight away got made to book the operation and just had to wait.
I had to arrive at the hospital for 7:30, waiting in an area called pre admissions.I was waiting for about 3hours and 45 minutes, then I was called to go upstairs. I changed into a gown and then onto a bed. I was wheeled into the an anaesthetic room, the man told me he was going to give me some gas and air as I didn’t have strong veins and he would just put the cannula in once I was asleep to prevent as much pain as possible, the last thing I remember was laughing at my mam and then waking up alone in recovery! I went down at 11:15 and woke up about 12:30 the surgery took some time as the doctor said my tonsils were very large. When I woke up I felt groggy and confused. The pain was bad so the nurse gave me more pain killers and anti-sickness medicine, I was crying at this point. I was then moved up to the furthest end of the room and was asking for my mam, as I was 16 they allowed her to come into recovery room I was in recovery until 2:30 as the nurses decided where to take me ( they weren’t sure if I was going to children’s ward as I was still in full time education(a levels) or the adults ward, I went to the adults ward as there were no beds in children’s ward. At about 4 I was asked to try and eat. Because if I could eat and felt OK I could go home. I ate two mouthfuls of weetabix and had to lay down with nausea and sudden sweats, the nurses gave me more anti sickness medicine and pain killers then at 6 I got broccoli and cheese sauce and two hash browns. I managed to eat all of that so at 8 when the doctor came round again I was allowed to leave, at this point I felt great, I was able to get up and move about feeling fine. And the pain wasn’t bad. I was discharged at about 8:30 and arrived home at about 9:15. Once home I ate some custard and took my medicine, extra strength ibuprofen and paracetamol and went to bed.
Day 1 post op:
I woke up (7:30 ish) Feeling sore but not too bad. I laid on the sofa took my medicine then managed to eat half a tin of soup and one slice of toast, the pain during the first day was manageable and barely noticeable towards the night. I also ate another slice of toast at lunch and for tea I had chips cheese and gravy. During the day I was regularly taking my pain killers. Went to bed around 11:00 feeling fine and only woke up twice for a drink and then went straight back to sleep
Day 2 post op:
Woke up in slight pain Had of toast and one scrambled egg for brunch. Pain throughout the day being manageable. for tea I ate broccoli and cheese sauce. Good nights sleep
Day 3 post op:
Woke up in the most pain I’d been in so far, took medicine, Ate soup and a slice of toast, Later that day I started to eat peaches and had to stop because they stung. Yoghurt caused nausea Struggled through pasta for tea. Rest of night ok
Day 4 post op:
Woke up in excruciating pain ate a few mouthfuls of weetabix, dough balls and a few mouthfuls of spaghetti. Pain being a 6/10 throughout the day
Day 5 post op:
Very bad day, barely any sleep, couldn’t eat without feeling nauseous, so didn’t. Pain medicine did not seem to be making a difference. Went to a&e, got anti-biotics for an infection, codine tablets, liquid paracetomal and some anti-sickness tablets.
Day 6 post op:
woke up during night needing more meds, steady day. Manageable pain. Ate one weetabix, small bit of pasta and half a tin of leek and potato soup and bread.
Day 7 post op:
Woke up after a full sleep. Felt little pain, ate weetabix, crisp sandwich
Day 8 post op:
Christmas Day! I managed to eat my dinner, just a smaller portion. Starting to feel better, still laid around, Resting. As it was Christmas for the next few days I laid around and relaxed, as you would do anyways, so I would say around 10 days post op I was feeling better and well enough to go out. However I would suggest staying of work/school for 2 weeks if possible so you don’t get an infection. Any questions please ask 🙂
20 yr old from England – had my surgery on monday, was given a heavy dose of morphine so didn’t particularly notice the pain that day but did throw up a lot. I have a family history of being allergic to codeine so decided with the nurses it was probably best not to risk taking the cocodamol I was given to take home, instead just taking ibuprofen and paracetamol. Tuesday woke up feeling rotten, forced myself to eat a piece of toast as per the doctors orders. Slept most of the day and felt well enough for friends to come and visit. Woke on wednesday feeling horrible. Took painkillers but they didn’t seem to have any effect. Tried to eat my daily piece of toast but ended up choking it back up. Tongue and jaw so sore i could hardly talk. Made the fatal error of looking at the back of my throat in the mirror – GROSS! Getting minimal amounts of sleep now as I struggle to swallow and therefore choke, which each time gives me a mega headache. Same feelings for yesterday apart from the ear pain started up, so much so I was tearing up through the night and seriously considering just taking the cocodamol despite the consequences… Woken up today pretty much the same. Praying that after the weekend things should start to ease!
Hey, I feel your pain. I’m 14 days past surgery and I have nothing more than a sore throat now so it does get better. I can’t take codeine or co codamol so the hospital gave me tramadol to take with paracetamol and ibuprofen, the mix really takes the edge off. You may feel a bit woozy but it’s worth asking your doc about it. Hope you feel better soon.
Thank you for that reassurance!! Unfortunately yesterday i woke with the worst pain ever so went to a+e and ended up passing out in the waiting room. Turns out i’ve got an infection and its passed into my blood so on an antibiotic drip for 24hrs. Hopefully when this starts to kick in everything should begin to heal! I asked about tramadol and was told as its another opioid pain medication they wouldn’t want to risk me being allergic to that as well.
Oh no! I hope you are ok. I got an infection 2 days post surgery but I caught it in time before it got into my blood and they put me on co amoxiclav penicillin. I knew by the taste I had in my mouth, nasty. It’s a shame about the tramadol, they are a great pain killer. I’m now day 16 and I still have a sore throat, not so much painful but dry and stinging. I think I should have laid off having a vodka last night! Take care.
Hey, im just wondering, Ive been quite good the past few days, most of my scabs are gone, around 60-70%, but this morning, I woke up with a huge build up of phlegm, and sometimes when im spitting out, there’s slight green/yellow parts, and I’m wondering, do you think this might be an infection starting and should I get seen too? (I was put into hospital on Tuesday last week for bleeding, and was also on antibiotics. Also, I smoke, but haven’t in 6 days.)
Personally i’d go! I’m the type that’d rather be safe than wait and possibly be in as much pain as i was yesterday. If you’re from the UK try ringing 111 and see what they suggest?
Update: as if things couldn’t get any worse… had a nap yesterday afternoon and woke up choking on blood, didn’t stop for a good hour and it was flowing out of my mouth when i leant forward. Therefore back to a+e!! Due to my pain levels and the on and off bleeds they kept me in over night and gave me more antibiotics and fluids. Just got back home, feeling exhausted but all bleeding has stopped so just praying for a decent night’s sleep.
Try sleeping in a recliner with an airplane (travel) pillow, it was the only way I could sleep. I couldn’t eat food for about a week but I bought fresh cold pressed juice and froze it until it was a slush consistency. Gets a couple vitamins in and the cold feels nice; just stay away from the citrusy ones I relied on carrot, apple, ginger. Good luck!
Just an update from last week – I’m now on day 13, last night when I went to bed swallowing was stil a bit painful and I had a strange shooting pain down the front of my neck. This morning I have woken with nothing more than a mild sore throat. Happy days, there is light at the end of the tunnel…I haven’t checked my scabs yet but I’m sure they will be less than yesterday. I’m looking forward to no more nasty tonsil stones and ear pain!! Good luck everyone.