Tonsillectomy recovery??

Question

I was wondering if anyone had any great tips on recovering from tonsillectomy. I'm scheduled in less than two weeks and am 33 years old. I've bought jello, pudding, popcicles, cool mist humidifier. Plan on asking for lots of pain meds. Can anyone think of anything else that will make life less miserable the first few days or week??? Thanks!!!

Answer 1

I had my tonsils out when I was 28, so I will be able to relate to you. Just so you know it took me two weeks to fully recover. The first week is really rough. Do you have anyone who can stay overnight w/you for the first two nights?

I ate jello, popsicles, mashed potatoes, and drank tons of water. Needless to say, now I cannot stand jello...ick. I also ate a lot of apple sauce.

You should be prescribed pain medication. I was on some serious stuff and eventually weened myself off of it.

It's good that you're being prepared. I would rent movies as well, have plenty of books/magazines, etc.

Another piece of advice, do NOT eat a ton of ice chips once you wake up in the recovery room. Have a few but don't over do it or else you will more than likely vomit and that will NOT feel good.

Best of luck to you.

Answer 2

Hi! I'm an Audiologist and I work for an ENT group and my son was 9 when he got his tonsils out. The same day as the surgery, she'll feel a bit groggy and disoriented from anesthesia until it fully wears off after a few hours. Then there will be some pain, but what my son complained about the most was wanting to clear his throat, because it felt like there was phlegm in it. Actually it's the swelling of the tissues where the tonsils were removed - it's part of the healing process, like how a cut itches while it's healing. You CAN'T clear your throat or cough, because you could damage the healing tissues. The doctors have a new method of sealing the tissue that is quicker to heal than they did six years ago, so this probably won't be as difficult for her. Just keep the throat hydrated by drinking lots of clear fluids -- we stocked up on Kool Aid. It's less of a risk with the new techniques, but sometimes a scab can form and if it's large and then becomes dislodged, there can be bleeding; so hydration is the best way to minimize the risk. My son was back to normal after a few days, and wasn't thrilled about having to limit his activities. He had his surgery over spring break and he felt fine to go back to school after the ten day break. The physical restrictions are again to minimize the risk of dislodging any scabs or straining the tissues until they're fully healed. My son hasn't had any problems with his throat since, so explain that while it may feel worse than her worst sore throat for a couple days, she'll never have to deal with them being that bad again - there's a long-term reward for a short term discomfort. I still have my tonsils and I just turned 40! I hope I never need them removed, because they say it's harder the older you are... Good luck to you both!

Answer 3

I had a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy at 20. If you can get past the second day, you've made it. It's miserable, but it passes soon and it's totally worth it. I used to get strep every 6 ot 7 weeks, and I haven't been sick since the surgery. I've had more energy and my overall health has improved. They say to eat and talk as much as you can even though it's painful. It speeds recovery time (but just soft foods, of course). I ate bread and stuff the first day. After a week, I was still a little sore, but only after I'd eaten quite a bit already or had been talking a lot. Unfortunately, having it done as an adult isn't as easy as having it done as a kid, but it's worth it. I'll be honest, the first day, I thought, "not too bad". The second and third days were very painful and I had a hard time sleeping because the swelling made me snore a lot and my uvula (your hangie-down in your throat) kept gagging me because of swelling. After a few days, though, I was glad I did it, so be patient and hold tight.

Answer 4

I had my tonsillectomy done last year when i was 23. Not a fun experience, at all. But on the bright side i have not had one sore throat since. i used to get strep throst about 7 times a year. The first week is the worst. But it took me a full two weeks to recover. I have heard of some adults that felt fine after a few days. Just take it easy and try to eat something before taking pain pills. I was in so much pain i couldn't eat and took a pain pill and began throwing up from it. And believe me that is the worst thing in the world to experience after having that surgery. i wish you the best and hope you have a lot of movies to watch.

Answer 5

Oh yeah... don't drink from a straw and don't drink soda. I had one done this year and in recovery they gave me pepsi w/ a straw. Well...apparently it's not safe or good for you post-op. The doctor was quite irritated with the hospital. I had a post-op bleed b/c I was cleaning with bleach 10 days post and it irritated my throat. The pepsi didn't help either. Seriously, take it easy, if you have kids, get help around the house, and try to rest. I slept 24hrs afterward. I am not trying to scare you by any means but please take care of yourself.