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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16 years old. Currently on day 12, I had my tonsils and adenoids out. I feel great! Although that is because I forced myself to eat at day 4 (McDonald’s fries at 11pm because I couldn’t take eating applesauce for a second longer) Potatoes and chicken were my best friend. The more I used my muscles in my throat I found that it was easier to bounce back. I started talking since Day 2, and it was very hard at first. I, luckily, never bled however i had an instance where my uvula did pop out onto my tongue. I learned the hard way that uvula swelling is normal. I often stood over the sink and constantly spit up. It helped get the scabs out rather than knowing you swallow them. I constantly drank iced Gatorade and water, but what worked wonders was a Slushee from my local 7/11. I understand some aren’t as lucky but the key is a very good doctor! I wish you all a speedy and safe recovery.
17 years old here. I’m trembling at the thought of being over 20 and having this surgery done. Most defidently the worst thing I have ever had to endure even through splitting my head open. I am on day five and constantly spitting up tiny pieces of gross ass scab. Along with little amounts of blood. The worst is waking up In the middle of the night to take the meds at 3 6 and 9 and that pain is indescribable. I have lollipops that numb everything which is amazing and I’m on oxycodone. Drinking water is hell. I haven’t eaten in two days. Even popsicles is terrible pain. I just want chicken nuggets and to sleep a full night fuck.
Hey, I’m 17 too! Just got mine out. Today will be Day 7 for me. It really is the absolutely worst pain I’ve ever been through. The scabs coming off smells horrible and tastes even worse. I’m down 10 pounds. And I can tell you now I’m not really at a good size to be losing weight! About an hour ago, I sat in the middle of the kitchen floor and silently sobbed about how sad I was that I couldn’t eat all my favorite foods. It’s really been tough. We can only hope and pray it gets better I guess!
I’m 18 and had my tonsils and adenoids out on the 13th, so I’m on Day 6. Like ten minutes ago, I sneezed and a small brown scab came out of my left nostril. I was wondering where that came from because it looks like my tonsil area still has two white scabs. Also I’m only getting pain on the right side of my throat and was wondering why.
I have had the random scab and blood question myself, it’s most likely from your adenoids, no big deal, as long as it’s not bright red and coming out by the liter don’t stress. Just drink ice water.
Pain is going to come in all shapes and sizes, just sit back relax and wait for your next medication dose. Make sure to drink a ton of water.
You can actually drink water and have it come out your nose as well. Doesn’t happen all the time but isn’t uncommon either. Will eventually heal. Probably something lifted up by fluid and carried out through your nose .
I am Day 6 post-tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. I stopped the Tylenol/Hydrocodone and Ibprofen on Day 4 due to nausea and vomiting. I am now only taking liquid Tylenol, which seems to be enough to take the edge off the pain, but it only lasts about 3 hours. At this point, the pain seems to be subsiding, but the scabs have taken over as the major issue. They are disgusting. I can’t even get down water anymore because I can still taste the nasty scabs. I’m trying to drink flavored things to mask the taste a bit. Not much solid food yet…some mac & cheese, a couple of pancakes. I get hungry, but eating is so painful and such an effort, that I don’t get much down. Can’t wait for the scabs to come off, even if it means more pain for a bit.
By the way, forgot to write in my post above that I am 51. The issues that all of you 20-somethings are having worries me a bit. If it’s that bad for you, how is it going to be for me?
I’m female and 49 I’m on day 13 and it’s been fine. Not much worse than the bouts of tonsillitis I’ve been plagued with for eight months. Tongue and uvula swelled at beginning but It’s been sore rather than painful. My discomfort was in my mouth rather than throat. Left side sorer but my tonsils were huge. I used solpodeine every 6 hours and Keral twice a day. Set alarm and take painkillers during the night. Use a humidifier next to your bed, it makes all the diffrerence, drink as much as possible. Chewing gum helps keep saliva flowing and muscles working. Swallowing feels a bit raw for a few days but gets easier. I’m down to panadol extra morning and night. Still hard to yawn but mouth opens fine other than that. I’m just glad they’re gone. 🙂 Good luck.
I’m 48 an on day 8. It is hard and scary at times . Key is to relax take scheduled pain medicine , and from day 6-8 its a Roller Coaster . Mainly uncomfortable but you will survive.
This happened to me too yesterday, day 4 for mw. I sucks so bad but we will get through it. My mom put an icepack on my throat and it slowed down, then i sipped water and spit it into the toilet. Now everything tastes like blood and the scabs were disgusting to pull off. My nurse says she will be REALLY surprised if it happens again, so that’s helping me some.
I am 21 and had my tonsillectomy on the 10th, so this is technically day 7, since I was rudely awoken by my scabs coming off. I woke up to warm liquid pouring down my throats and felt like I needed to cough (thank God I didn’t.) i made it to the bathroom and managed to cover the whole counter and sink with blood for a few minutes, screamed my mother’s name, and then ran over to the toilet. It was pouring out of me, but I feel like I ended up swallowing a majority of it because gravity pulled it down my throat instead of back up. The blood got thick and dark for a period, which I’m assuming was the scabs. I had to manually pull it out of my mouth, though, because my tongue has been so swollen that it just got caught. Gargling or drinking ice water was out of the question, honestly.
Spit, spit, try not to think about how much blood you’re staring at because then it’ll become vomit AND blood, and spit some more. when you stop crying and shaking, drink or gargle. i warn you: drinking hurts like hell. but hey, this whole process has hurt like hell pretty much, so you’re a pro by now!
The wounds themselves feel like they did when i first got out of surgery. I just don’t have a nurse here to conveniently yell “THE PAIN IS AN 8” to right now. I’m laying back down, water and spit bucket in hand, just drinking and spitting til the blood disappears.
I know weakness, shaking, and lightheadedness come with losing a large amount of blood, but I’m sure eating less than 100 calories a day and only having water or apple juice doesn’t help either. Also, shoutout to my ENT for not warning me about anything like this, and actual shoutout to all of you who have helped me through this process. Prayers, Y’all.
? that’s what I’m scared of being sleep while the blood and scraps come off what if I choke? Or swallow it ? I’m so confused and shout out to my ENT because I wasn’t aware of any of this as well