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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So I’m on day 7. And day 1 I had very bad pain but I ate a frosty and this calm the pain I took the meds they gave me. Day 2 I was eating Apple sauce and mixed fruit that I rinsed the juice off I didn’t like the meds the seem to make it worst. day 3 omg the worst ear,back,neck,head pain ever I was trying to cry.I couldn’t eat I thing and still took my meds. Day 4 I went to my doctor to ask her what was going on and found out I was dehydrated and lost 11 pounds and still taking the nasty meds. Day 5 I cried all day this pain was like I was swallowing flaming nails and by the point I was still taking the meds and I did not sleep at all.day 6 I woke up about 11:00 am after I just couldn’t take the pain on day 5 and the sleep took over and I tried to eat soup and water and everything tasted like it was well mixed with salt. I couldn’t take it. So I went to the md who took out my tonsils and he gave me more meds. Mind you the 1st dose I had was at 11 and I had to take it every 4-6hours. And after 11 I forgot to grab it when I left the house. So I went all of day 6 only taking meds once and I felt great no pain at all and I loved it even though I didn’t eat anything but later that night I got sick as I was going to bed and I threw up stomach acid. But still didn’t take anything I called the md because I coughed up blood but.he told me to gargle cold water and this helped after an hour. And I fell asleep soon after. On to day 7 and now I feel like I swallowed rocks my throat feels hard and I can’t sleep. But the tonsils being taken out really was ok.,all spit a lot like every 10 seconds and it was like thick chains of water. I lost 19 pounds so far and I don’t think I will be taking anymore meds unless I’m crying in bad pain. The meds were the worst part I felt every time I was dying and the meds was like fire on a lit wound. I loved the fact the later on day 6 I had finally sucked up the pain and drank some ice cold water and it was wonderful. But I tried doing it about midnight at day 7 and about cried so I am drinking a cup of room temperature water that I let sit out. No meds and in very little to no pain.
I’m 18 and I had my tonsils taken out on April 3rd, so I’m currently on Day 6. Day 1 I could barely breathe because it was so swollen, I didn’t speak to anyone for 3 days because the pain was just too much. I’ve tried my best to eat solid foods, and day 5 I thought I was getting better, but on Day 6 I woke up in the worst pain I’ve ever been in. I can feel the scabs when I swollow and it’s so frustrating, I just want them gone. I wake up at the same time every night with siliva everywhere, because I can’t naturally swollow it in my sleep due to the pain. From what it looks like, the experience is different for everyone, but I’d rather have tonsils than go through this again. Good luck to anyone having this operation. It’s horrendous
im going through the exact same thing as you are i got mine removed the 6th, i wake up with syliva everywhere and my mouth is super dry, it hurts to talk let alone swallowing or eating anything and i have the worst ear aches, head aches and the sharp pains in my throat is horrible although its not as bad as when i had my tonsils, they got so big it closed my air way had to go to the er, or and then icu and was breathing through tubes but this is like a whole different and worse pain i cant sleep at night without taking the t3s they prescribed and even then i wake up every 4 hours in pain. just want this to be over in so tired of being in pain 24/7
I know how you feel the scabs are just starting for me and I feel like I can’t sleep cause I’m chocking on rocks. My friend is trying to get his out and I told him to keep them unless the really need to come out.
Well guys. It’s day 8 post op and I woke up choking on blood. My throats was bleeding so bad. I gargled ice water and it did nothing. After I was on my way to the er a huge scab and clot broke off and then bleeding slowed. I wish I had never done this. My throat is now super sensitive its sharp pains every time anything hits it. I lost my last big scab about 30 mins ago luckily with no bleed. I got a small amount of liquid laticain(sp) while I was at the er which helped very little and tasted very bad. Hopefully this is the last bit of trouble. Maybe making my throats adjust to new things is the last hurtle. I am sorry for everyone going through recovery. This was a very hard process with 2 er trips, 15 lbs, and next to no real food. Good luck all!
I just had a hemorrhage on my day 7 of recovery. I had to go to the ER and then they transported me via care flight to a nearby hospital with available space in the OR to perform a second surgery to cauterize the bleed. Honestly, it was the most terrifying day of my life. That was 2 days ago and I feel like I’m living in constant fear of another bleed. I just want to be better.
Hey guys
I’m on day 10 post op.
pretty rough time day 4-6 being the absolute worst! My scabs have been coming off the last few days as I assume the little pointy things that hurt at the back of my throat are them. However I hve felt from day 8 it’s got a lot easier but today now with no scabs my throat is so sensitive! Anything touching the area even water in freshly healed skin makes it agony! I can’t even swallow water cold because it’s so sensitive to the new skin! Ahhhh!
I’m 33 years old just had tonsils removed last wed 3/29. Awful pain since day 1. Can hardly sleep. Last night (Sunday) I thought the pain had gone down and then abruptly during the night I woke up with stabbing pains in my mouth. Perhaps the scabs starting to come off? Any suggestions? Today is Monday, 6th day in. :/
i am 27 and got mine out 30th. i got really dehydrated and got an infection and wound up in my er saturday i woke up sunday and felt sooo much better after antibiotics and fluids. Well I woke up this morning and I am in so much more pain. From what I hear its normal to have a good day and then the metaphorical rug get yanked out from underneath you the following day. My doc said Its possible to have a good day and several bad ones or just have a bunch of good ones. But hydration and slightly abrasive foods. mashed potatoes, krystal burgers, stuff to gently pull off the scabs. My uvula is swollen so much that when i eat jello or pudding its too much and i end up choking! I hope your recovery goes fast!