Tonsillectomy Scabs- How and when do they fall off?
Regardless of the tonsillectomy method used, some sort of scab is going to form over the the area from which your tonsils have been cut, coblated, and/or cauterized.
It’s normal. It is normal. People often become obsessed with the appearance of the tonsil beds as they recover from tonsillectomy. Almost like a recently lost tooth, it can be hard to resist the temptation to explore the new landscape. This too is normal. I strongly advise against molesting the area with foreign objects. Those scabs will fall off on their own. Touching, poking, or scraping on them increases the risk of hemorrhage and you don’t want that.
Many Otoraryngologists, or ear, nose and throat, (ENT) specialists recommend eating a somewhat rough diet, (think dry toast), to keep the affected area clear of excessive tonsillectomy scab build-up. This advice is most often given in the United Kingdom and Australia. Most ENT’s in the United States advise a soft diet.
Which ever route you take, there will likely be formation of tissue that covers the tonsil beds. I recommend following the advice I give in other pages of this site; keep the throat moist, avoid sharp foods, stay hydrated, take pain medications on schedule, sleep upright if possible, and leave those tonsillectomy scabs alone. They will normally begin to slough of at about day seven or eight of your recovery.
What Happens When Tonsillectomy Scabs Fall Off
You may feel a sharp pain occasionally as the tonsillectomy scabs fall off. This is common. This is normal. There is a slight increase in risk of bleeding while tonsillectomy scabs fall off. If you do have some bleeding, try gargling with ice cold water. This will usually stop the bleeding. If this doesn’t work, and bleeding becomes profuse, call 911 or get to a hospital immediately. Don’t panic. In there relatively rare cases, health care professionals have great success at stopping the bleed.
Daily Photos of Throat After Tonsillectomy. Caution: Scabs
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I just had surgery Feb 13th. It’s only been 6 days and the pain is horrible without medication and manageable with it. I’m still on pain medications. Dr. Prescribed me oxycodine with acetaminophen and I take 1 pill every 4 hours. Prescription says take two, but I’ve been managing with one so far. Since it is in pill form I do crush it and add it my watered down apple sauce. That helps instantaneous and I’m very thankful. I also stay hydrated. Drinking water from the moment I got out of surgery and even now. I am overwhelmed and tired of the pain. I still am able to only eat watered down apple sauce, cream of wheat (watered down) and bread. Whoever said ice cream is awesome after surgery must’ve never felt the mucus that comes after it. My mouth inside is white and my breathe wreaks. I play around and tell my family to watch out for the stink bomb. Lol. But seriously, I brush my teeth, floss and swish watered down mouthwash and my mouth still smells like poop. I’m only on day 6 and even though it hasn’t been a walk in the park I’m anticipating the days when my mouth no longer stinks and my strept won’t be as bad. (I got stept 9 times last year) I’m glad I got this surgery, but the pain is intense. It’s uncomfortable and very irritating. I’m starving and trying to force myself to drink ensure or slim fast yet the drink is too thick. So, I just tell myself I paid for one expensive weight loss program. Hahaha. But seriosuly, ice your neck, take your medications on time (crushing the pill & putting it a watered down apple sauce is amazing) stay on top of your water and you should be fine. I haven’t been confined all these days to the house, i have gotten out. I do light housekeeping. I play with my kids. All of this is capable. My throat does hurt and my ears feel like their on fire but I’m just looking forward to better days.
Oh, and these scabs are disgusting. I sometimes feel like their is a hair in the back of my throat. Yuck. It will get better. It will get better just tell yourself. I’m happy to have the surgery regardless of all the pain I have to go through to get it. I believe it’s totally worth it. I hope this helps you and I wish you a happy and healthy recovery.
Hey Melissa! I had my tonsils out 3 weeks ago and I can honestly say days 6/7 were the worst. I ate solid foods really crunched up as it helped start taking small bits of the scab off – nibbling ginger biscuits was particularly helpful. Ice pops were also good and warm tea when the scabs started falling off. Also I would recommend taking some kind of laxative/very low dose because the codeine did horrible things to my stomach on days 9-10.
Hang in there! You’ll be so pleased in a couple of weeks!
Hi Jess… thank you so much for your encouragement can you please tell me how to get these scabs to come off sooner? My throat is so dry and I drink gallons of water yet because of the scabs it’s not touching my throat. It’s been hard. Lately I’ve been coughing and its horrible. It’s overwhelming
My name is Erica I had my surgery done on February 9th postop day three. My right side of my throats hurts to swallow more then my left. I have bad breath even tho I brush my teeth. I get headaches in the middle of the night. My jaw hurts in the middle of the night. I just started spitting up white stuff out of my mouth.
Had my tonsillectomy on the 8th of February 2017. 2nd day post op. I cant even drink water. My jaw and my throat hurts so bad! I wish theres something to numb my throat.
Omg I got mine done on the 7th
I had my tonsillectomy last feb 1,2017. today is my 6th day but i am still in so much pain.i can’t even eat properly. my diet is only porridge and water and apple juice. yesterday my sister said my my breath smells very bad even i brush my teeth and use mouth wash.it stresses me out because even i don’t open my mouth,they said it still has a strong bad smell.any one who has same experience? i was about to go back to work on thursday but this bad smell freaks me out..??
I’m on day 4 right now. I got 9 hours of sleep some how. My throat is almost always moist. Last two days I didn’t have to take pain medicine because it has little to no pain. (I’m 13 on the 20th) I’m scared for the descabbing process my diet is apple juice, porrage, water , jello. Swallowing barely hurts today it’s just uncomfortable
Jacob,
You been lucky but of course your age helps! I was hospitalized first 2.5 days. I wasn’t able to sleep more then 4 hrs. Key is stay on pain meds whether or not you need it. Drink plenty of fluids. I didn’t even notice mine came off. I’m 36 be 37 in a week! I ate Mac n cheese that was extra creamy
It is same here i am on my 6th day and i have teriible smell and taste i cant handle it anymore and also pain kills me
If anyone is a few days post op or about to have a tonsillectomy then number one thing as you’re coming off the pain killers, especially codeine – remember to take a laxative or stooo softener. Im 10 days post op and feeling great with my throat – all scabs gone and everything healing nicely but I have been in agony for 32 hours with constipation from the codeine!! The doctors didn’t tell me about this specifically so please please take something as a precaution! I can’t tell you the pain!