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 Lauren
I am sorry you feeling that way. Unfortunately it may get worse as your body is needing to help you heal. This is going to be a hurtful process so you are going to be strong. What help me was to crush one tylenol into my applesauce the pain will control itself faster that way. Try drinking lots of water to stay hydrated and also to speed up the recovery. Get a humidifier and be on it all day. Also get an ice pack and wrap it around your neck it will help soothe the pain down. Dont try eating anything hard it will irritate your throat. Applesauce/ jello/ mashed potatoes/ soup dont forget the water. Try gargling with warm warm and salt that will also soothe the pain. For now all you are needing to just sleep. Sleep will be the most impossible thing now your body needs the rest to heal. Please be strong it will get better.
I’m now on day 7. Pretty much out of pain meds. Scabs still haven’t fallen off but my tongue is still very swollen and hurts! I had to get stitches so no easy days for me. Now when i drink it comes out my nose every time. I went into a dr visit he says I have to tough it out. I have to wait another week for pain to subside but everyone’s pain seems to decline after day 5,6,7 but my scabs haven’t even begun to fall off yet. I regret having this done. I haven’t ate in a week. I’m going insane at this point. I am very weak…..
NICOLE; how are you feeling now? Are you in as much pain as you described? Because you should not be at this point. With all due respect, you need to see another doctor – at least for a second opinion. A doctor that will check the status of the scab, evalate your pain, and refill your pain medication for another week or so. Ask DR about xanax a few times daily; boosts your pain meds and help you not go insane. DEMAND pain medication when you truly need it, but wean off as soon as you no longer need it. Try taking Tylenol in between doses of your pain medication. And you shouldn’t be dripping fluids from your nose any longer after you drink fluid. That might happen the first day (as it did with me) but not a week later!! You need to eat Nicole. If you can’t handle applesauce or other soft food like jello then hit the baby food aisle;I know it sounds crazy. Try their applesauce, bananas, pureed fruit – anything that you would normally eat in an adult food and not pureed – try it. You are starving your body from the energy that it needs to heal. I understand. it hurts too much to swallow, but please, just try. I survived on pudding ,Jell-O. and juice along with huge amounts of water ( and I hate water) for almost 10 days – I get it. But I also had a kind, understanding experienced surgeon that recognized I was in pain and refilled the medications that I needed. If yours doesn’t, shop for another doctor or go to emergency room….every day if you have to. Your tongue will hurt for about 7 to 10 days but each day it should get progressively better. Btw: it took 11 days for my scab to completely fall off, no worries. Keep ice or bag of frozen peas around your neck. Keep humidifier on 24/7. How are your ears feeling? You will be in my thoughts and prayers, contact anytime. Watch this blog, a lot of followers have amazing advice!
Hello Janet,
I am still in as much pain if not worse today. I am giving it until Monday and if I’m no better I am going to a emergency room out of state. I demanded a refill in tears and the doctor basically said he will not refill because he says I must be a addict! I could not believe what he said to me i gave him a few choice words and hung up. I did get stitches and he says that’s why my pain is stronger and longer but I have to tough it out. As far as eating I want to eat i physically can not eat my tongue is too swollen to swallow. I have aten a few bites of apples sauce but that burns very bad to the point I feel sick to my stomach and loose my appetite. My doctor said he isn’t concerned with me eating as long as I drink. I can only seem to get down water painfully but I get it down. My hiccups are back too. I’m on day 9 I think and I take ibprophin and alieve religiously. I’ve been to the er once they gave me fluids, steroids and if pain meds and sent me home. My doctor is tied into the my local hospital so I would get no relief for pain just iv fluids by going to the er. Which I’m drinking so it seems pointless. He also refuses any more steroids. My lip is still numb and my tongue still swollen. The emergency doctor visit and my er visit could not even see my throat due to the swelling but didn’t seem to be concerned. Something just doesn’t seem right to me so by Monday I’m traveling out of town to have another hospital who didn’t do this work look at me because I really feel like they might have done something wrong. I’ve felt the same since i woke up from surgery with NO relief whatsoever. I’m weak I’m starved and I’m frustrated. 🙁 I’ve been watching this blog for advise I have tried several throngs just nothing seems to be working. I hope to find someone who went through this and what was wrong or what solution works for them. Thank you for your prayers and thoughts.
Nicole
Hi Nicole, About two years ago, a law was passed that permits hospitals, physician offices and pharmacies to share information. Nationwide, Nicole. So it doesn’t matter what State you go to, they can easily access your medication records. It was prompted by the outcry against opioid addiction – which really is a problem in this country more than any other. Doctors are the first to admit their guidelines are harmful to those really needing pain medication. Like you. Clearly, you cannot become addicted in five days, I think you should make an office visit appointment with your physician to see what he can do to lessen your pain. And after day 10, it should be manageable with OTC medications. If you truly fear there was some medical error, then see another dr., and be completely honest. There are alternatives to hydrocodone or oxycodone that really help with your pain, including antidepressants. Or, maybe go in to see your doctor. Do not discuss with staff on phone, just make an appointment for complications from surgery and you need office visit appointment right away.
Be honest with your Doctor at visit, and tell him/her that you are not an addict, you’re not exaggerating your pain. Either something went terribly wrong with procedure, or there is something more sinister going on in your body. Have you ever been tested for MRSA? Had a recent physical? This is your life, and YOU have got to get back to it. Tell the doctor you need their help to do just that. You are in my thoughts and Prayers. Now, go gargle with warm salty water! ????
Yes I know. My reason to go to another hospital that is unaffiliated to look for any damage they might have done. I live on the state line so another state is about 30 minutes from here. While I am in pain, pain medication is not the main reason for me going. The swelling and me not being able to eat and me being in this amount of pain still is making me feel something is wrong. That’s why I want to go somewhere Unbiased to check. My doctor and surgeon are all affiliated with my local hospital. Cahoots if you will. I’m afraid they may not tell me if their is something wrong to cover their doctors butts. I been gargling so much It’s drying out my mouth. I haven’t been checked for mrsa. I had a CBC done when I went to the er last week. Wouldn’t mrsa show up?
A little update. I’m in the er. My throat began to bleed out of no where. May need a second surgery. 🙁
today is my 9th day after surgery.on the very early morning of my 7th day,i woke up from tasting blood in my mouth.then i started coughing up blood.it stopped.sfter 2 hours i started to bleed again but not as much as the first one. Morning time,my sis checked my throat and found out the the scab on my left side was gone so with my offensive smell.Maybe that’s the reason of the bleeding? 8th day from my post op, i went to the hosp for follow up check up and the doc said i should have gone to the a&e when the bleeding started becuase i might have an infection.Then he prescribed me an antibiotics for 7 days. I started taking it last night. Now,i woke up again tasting blood in my mouth and started coughing out a bit of blood then it stopped after i applied ice pack on my neck.i went to sleep then i woke up again tasting blood in my mouth.this time i was just spitting it.now i am applying ice pack again on my neck. does any one of you have same experience? i am a bit scared. The doctor said tho that my throat is healing.
when i cough or spit blood,there is a black curdled blood on the tissue.is this normal?
the pain in my throat is managable now. I started eating a solid but not so hard foods..
My new friend, Nicole? Why 2nd surgery? Whats going on? Debridement and repack? In local hospital, or go across state lines? Need update! My thoughts and prayers are with you! Jan
No state line I tried ensure and my energy began to rise. From what they explained they burn the site to stop the bleeding. I was sent home but I haven’t sleep because I’m still bleeding. It has slowed but still bleeding and I swallow it which causes me to vomit up the blood. Ent refused to get out of bed to come in I have to go to their office to see if he’s sending me to get another surgery which means I have to start all over for scratched. This surgery has been a murphey law. i guess I will see what this doctors says tomorrow. The er was amazed this is happening so late in recovery. For some reason my recovery was very long. I just ready to get back to normal and eat. I haven’t ate in 2 weeks. The thoughts of starting over is causing major anxiety.
I haven’t seen to many people who share my symptoms. I am currently on day 3. I was admitted after I was supposed to have a day surgery due to a complication with me having a hard time stopping bleeding. Causing me to get stitches on my left side. I have lost my voice my tongue is so swollen I can barely close my mouth. As well as my throat causes me to have a hard time sleeping. I wake up gasping. Also I have hiccups maybe 45% of my day. And it hurts! And from what I read the worse is to come. I have obstructive sleep apnea and had strep throat 5 times last year. My doctor has gave me Percocet pills and I have a pill splitter and they are still getting stuck! I called for a liquid and they refused. My advice is get liquid everything if you can. And take the pain meds religiously 30 to 45 minute prior to due dosage. I have had 4 children 2 surgeries and 2 dislocated knees and this one tops the cake. This hurts! I find sherbet and water are the only things that semi swallow with the least amount of burn on my throat. I tried soup and that was awful. Also a ice pack on your throat works wonders. Good luck to anyone going through or about to go through this.
Hey Nicole, you have really had a hard time, and I’m so sorry, even without complications like you have had, it’s hard enough. If your doctor won’t give you liquid pain medication, and liquid antibiotic and stool softener, find another doctor who will. No tell him or her exactly that. Your swelling is only going to get worse over next few days, get what you need to be comfortable. Keep your throat moist; get room humidifier (cheap at Wal-mart, ice packs around neck, and gargle every time you go pee. Warm-salty water (drool it out, don’t spit). Kind gross, but works. Sleep upright (blood rushing to area will increase swelling.) when swelling maxes out, your eats will hurt – may be normal, but sucks. Try not to yawn or cough (hurts) Keep crushed ice in mouth constantly! Or popcycles. My prayers with you, reply anytime. (I promise, your voice will return!) Janet
Thank you Janet for your prayers. I appreciate all your advise. I have a humidifier going at all times. As for the popsicles I can’t open my mouth wide enough to eat them. That’s how badly my tongue is swollen. I’m now sitting at the emergency room at 1:41 am getting steroids and duladid and fluids in a iv. Have you ever heard of this type of complication? I expected the throat swelling and pain but my tongue? And the constant hiccups? That hurt my throats that much more. The worst part of recovery is I feel starting to rear its ugly head but I’m already miserable. I’m going to be calling the emergency line tomorrow and demanding liquids because I’m starting to suspect some malpractice may have taken place. My doctor never spoke to me or my family after surgey and I’m here stuck with a swollen tongue and hiccups and choking on the pills given to me for pain. Before I called and started chewing people out I was trying to research if this is normal. But the people here at the emergency room seem to be stumped too. Hopefully I make since as I am on a strong iv pain killer right now. Thank you for all of your advise.
As a paralegal, i should warn you NEVER to use the phrase malpractice with any health care provider; puts them on defense and you will never get a straight answer. That being said, have they given you any benedryl? Almost sounds like allergic reaction, huh? This is not normal. While in ER. Ask for surgical consult (another way of making paper trail) and you comfortable, and they send you home, the Er DR can give you liuid medication don’t take no for an answer. Stay in touch. Ill be thinking about you and sending you loads of preyers. You will get thru this, and one day, laugh about this nightmare. Peace be with you.
Janet
Hey everyone,
I got my tonsils out on the 27th and didn’t find day 1 that bad…but ever since after, I have trouble even sipping water. I’m trying to eat a large variety of food – in England we are encouraged to follow a normal diet post tonsillectomy so I’ve been forcing down bread, pastas etc as its thought that these texturised foods scrape the back of the throat stopping bacteria from building up.
But the pain is becoming unbearable…I think during the operation surgeons caused trauma to my tongue and its swollen from one side which just adds to the pain. I can barely speak and the right side of my neck aches so much and that side of the throat hurts even more when I swallow. I don’t know if anyone has experienced this? I am worried as its come on since yesterday…like having a permanent lump in the right side of my throat along with right-sided ear ache.
Also does it hurt when the scabs fall off?
Hey Adina, yes, your tongue will be sore for a week or two – completely normal. The pain on side of neck is from swelling, usually hits around day 3. Ugh, right? That pain passes pretty quickly if you are using ice packs on your neck, and drinking lots of water. Hugs to health. Janet
Ive been icing it a lot and it feels a lot better! Thanks so much for you advice 🙂 but it does feel like I have something stuck in my throat?