RECOVERY AFTER TONSILLECTOMY IN ADULTS

rachaelh · Newbie Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 2

I just made a new topic, when I probably should have just posted in here.

I'm going to repost it -

"I'm an 18-year-old female, living in the UK. I had my tonsillectomy on Wednesday, which would make me day 5/6.

Firstly, I've gone through agony over the past few days (which was expected, yet I didnt envisage it to be this bad! You never really can...). My throat and my tongue feel like crap, and as of today, I've felt a different sort of pain in my throat - instead of the usual 'sandbelt switched on, full blast', it now feels constantly like I'm being pinched with tweezers.I assume this is the membrane falling away? Alos I've felt nauseous, faint and achey (which I hadn't been feeling prior to today).

I'm on Diclofenac, Paracetemol and Codeine - which were working until today, but now they seem to be less effective.

Anyway, I'll get to the point. I'm supposed to start University on Wednesday. My family don't seem to understand why I'm terrified to leave the house, and whilst I'm certainly not planning on being the life and soul of the 'party', right now I really don't think I can manage the outside world at all. But obviously my family just assume that I'm using my tonsillectomy as an excuse not to start this part of my life, which is ridiculous.
I just want to know how long it took others sufferers to recover (even though I know not all cases are the same) or any advice or opinions at all.

I would love to not have to miss out on my first week of Uni, but at the same time, I don't want to rush my recovery - I'm terrified of unexpected bleeding, fainting because I feel uncomfortable, or catching an infection.

I know my post is a big long ramble, so if you got up to hear, thanks for listening to me Smile

"

And as for the 'dont eat solids or talk' thing, here in the UK, it seems to be the opposite. straight after my recovery from anaesthetic I was encouraged to eat as normally as I can and talk as much as possible- to get the muscles working and prevent hemorrage. It was (still is) ridiculously painful, but I think it makes more sense this way? I've ate toast (on day one!), regular meals, fish, chips, popcorn, and loads more. Also I've had a few really long phone calls with friends to keep the vocal chords flexing. Hopefully in the long term, this method will work out for me.

Death of Rats · Newbie Joined: 19 Sep 2007 Posts: 2

Well, this is how it's been going with me. I'm a 23 year old guy.

I got the surgery on the 12th, and immediately after the operation I went and got 2 soft tacos from taco bell. I ate mexican food not 3 hours after having my tonsils out. The first day was a blast. I was so messed up because of the pain medication that I was talking and laughing and having a good time. I even ate some chicken and noodles with mashed potatoes later on in the day.

Day 2 was also fine. I was in a little pain, but nothing too severe. I started having to take stool softeners because of the vicodin. I still was able to eat chicken and noodles, but anything other than that hurt too much. I was constantly drinking Propel or water.

Day 3 was a little worse. I hadn't had to go number 2 since the surgery, and I think that caused me to get really bad acid reflux. Also, my uvula was really swollen and my throat was hurting a lot more. I was still able to eat and drink. I figured if I could keep stuff down that the nutrients from it would help me heal and keep up my immune system.

Day 4-5 were about the same as 3, but progressively getting better. I kept eating and drinking and taking my pain meds as often as was allowed. I also started drinking smoothies which helped with the swelling in the back of my throat.

Day 6 I felt much better. My throat was no longer all that sore, and I was regular with my trips to the bathroom again, still taking the stool softeners and magnesium pills. I was also able to mix up what I ate a bit. Unfortunately on day 4 I had started to lose my sense of taste, and everything started tasting bad. I did find one thing that still tasted right, cinnamon toast. So I had some of that and some french toast. I also ate some popcorn.

Day 7 I felt fine. A little pain in my throat from where the scabs had started to come off, but nothing too bad. However, it's really gross when the scabs start coming off. Pieces of the scar tissue started coming off that were about as large as a quarter. Brownish yellow chunks of dead flesh the consistency of cottage cheese. Coughing them up is rather gross, but don't freak out. It's suppose to happen.

Now I'm on day 8 and I'm doing my best to make sure to get all the loose scar tissue off that I can. The left side of my throat is starting to get sore again, but nowhere near as bad as the first few days. I believe it's because the freshly grown tissue underneath the scar tissue is now exposed. I've only experienced minor bleeding, nothing too serious. I've managed to get most of the scar tissue off of the right side of my throat by gargling with mouthwash and water, and clearing my sinuses. It's gross, but I feel better after doing it.

I believe that eating from day one has helped me heal much faster, and kept my immune system in check. I'd suggest to anyone who gets their tonsils out to try to eat as soon as they feel they can. Your body needs the vitamins and nutrients in food in order to keep your immune system up. Chicken and noodles or soup are both good choices.

mwa323 · Newbie Joined: 16 Sep 2007 Posts: 2

That is hilarious! That must be the worst advice ever. Stop lying. You should not eat solids for 2 weeks unless you want to bleed and get cauterized in the doctor's office. Straining you voice by speaking more is the dumbest thing I ever heard. Are people that stupid in the UK? Also do not eat warm food till 2 weeks unless you want bleeding to happen.

As for me, on day 7 I had bleeding start. It freaked me out. It was a lot of blood and I assume it was the scabs that were falling because they were not there anymore the following day. The doc said the bleeding occurred because I had warm food which encourages bleeding. Thankfully, he said my healing was going great and I did not have to get cauterized. He said not to strain my voice because if my new raw skin gets irratated, my blood vessels could break open and then I would need to get cauterized. Anyways, I feel the pain has dramatically decreased since the scabs came off. I had my first night of full sleep on day 8. We'll see what happens!

Death of Rats · Newbie Joined: 19 Sep 2007 Posts: 2

Funny seeing how I've been eating solid foods since hour 3 and I've been fine. I've also been talking a lot.

I'm on day 7 and I've only have very very little bleeding. Almost all my scabs are off and I'm doing dandy.

marie56 · Newbie Joined: 20 Sep 2007 Posts: 1

I had my tonsills out at the age of 45. If I had known how much pain I would have been in I wouldnt have had it done. A week after the op I collapsed due to dehydration, this was because I was constantly vomiting. They discovered I had an infection and put me on antibiotics. Then I haemoraged and had to be admitted to hospital and have my throat cautorised. This left me with the feeling that I had something stuck to the back of my throat and I had the constant fear that I would choake or not be able to breathe. I was off work for over a month and still dont feel right nearly 3 months later.

Guest · Guest

22 yr old female-I got my tonsils out on the 10th of September. I thought everything was going pretty smoothly until Monday when I couldn't stop spitting up blood! I had half a cup. I went into the hospital where they performed emergency surgery to re-cauterize my throat. Now it has been bleeding on and off today and yesterday and I am a mess. I am so nervous I will have to go back in for emergency surgery. AND the process is starting over again so I have a full 2 weeks left of not being able to do much. This stinks. Crying or Very sad

SarahLatishaLee · Newbie Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 2

Hey ya'll...I'm 21 and had both sets taken out on the 20th. I was actually supose to have them taken out on the 27th of August but reading all of these postings just freaked me out.
So I went through with it anyhow (Mostly because my boyfriend shipped out and I didnt want him to see me like this). Going in on Thursday was pretty nerve racking. I had to strip down to my skivies and put on their little dressy deal, sat in the room for about 40min before they took me in to have it done.
Im going to have to say that the worst part of this entire thing was waking up after surgery. I didn't know how to breath right, my throat was sore, the room was spinning, the nurse kept telling me to wake up and when I didn't she just sat there and sighed at me til I poked open one eye. Shortly after they asked me when my pain was on a scale of 1-10 and I told em a 5 then got some pain meds they wheeled me to a room to sleep in bed while my dad watched over me.
I came home pretty much 30min after they wheeled me to the room. I was super dizzy and just layed in bed for two days after that. Yesterday I finally got up and walked around downstairs. But the night I got home I got sick. Probably from the liquid vicodin they gave me that I took on an empty stomach with warm jello that did the trick. Then again yesterday when I was bleeding a wee bit into my stomach. But today the pain has been pretty good. On my fourth day, the pain isnt too bad. I've been sleeping with ice packs on my throat which really helps me swallow.

Other than water I haven't been eating much else. Applesauce, Jello, Vanilla ice cream. Just keep on top of ur WATER.

SarahLatishaLee · Newbie Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 2

Im a 21 yo female. Over this past year ive been getting chronic flare ups and all the doctors did for me were prescribe some steriods. Once I got fed up with being given the same treatment they finally sent me to an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor who told me that my tonsils were obviously being overworked. Since they were the size of golf balls and looked like mini brains (was quite funny).
I had the appointment all set up for the 27th of August but pushed it back because of what I kept reading in here. Thanks a lot guys. HAHA. Safe to say I reset my appointment and went through with it. Here I am on day 3/4 and I can safely say that as long as I drink water, cold water and only eat cold things my throat is fine. Of course the liquid vicodin doesn't NOT help. But I found that leaving a cold pack of ice or whatever from my freezer on my throat for 20min does help the pain subside and cut back my use for pain meds.
The only bad part of surgery was the AFTER. I had a snotty nurse that didnt like not having me listen to her telling me to constantly wake up then show her with my hands on a scale of 1-10 what my pain was. Other than that im fine.
The pain is pain, it is to be expected. But it isn't anywhere as bad as I thought it was going to be. Just make sure you drink plenty of water, like I said. That really helps keep your throat moist.
Only thing im not looking forward to now is the scabs coming off. ICK! I'll let ya'll know how that goes when it goes down.

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE ELSE! Very Happy

christianp · Newbie Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 3

I would just like to say how important it is to carry on a full diet. All the doctors, consultants and nurses have stressed this importance because it helps the body to heal. Without food how do you expect to heal?? Plus as the girl above said it actually prevents the bleeding complications and does not cause them! Also the nurse said lots of fizzy drinks. Lots of fruit and veg etc..

I have carried on a normal diet and it is now day 6 and the pain i am experiencing is starting to seriously carm down..

Also if you do not eat a normal diet your stomach will become shredded from all the meds and antibiotics. I cannot stress enough EAT EAT EAT!!!!

orzo · Newbie Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 2

Hi- Iam on day 8. I was instructed by my doctor and the nurses in recovery in a large metro American Hospital that talking will not make any further damage and eating soft foods for one week and then slightly harder foods after is fine- BUT- for at least 2 weeks no Hard foods- like doritos and chips as they can scratch and cause bleeding.

As for me- I was great last week. Minimal pain , I really thought I was in for it as the doctor said don't hate me next week- but I breezed through last week. Now this week another story. Today is the worst day yet- but I just came off my steroid pack so maybe that is why. He said Saturday would be the worst. I had my lingual tonsils out and my tongue is feeling odd. Only my right side of the palatine was done ( it was a revision) and that side sucks- but I have my left pain free. My adenoids were done too. The other day I had an odd clotty thing come out- maybe an adneoid scab. But- my area on the right where it is white- well there are smaller holes in the white hole- is that normal???

RECOVERY AFTER TONSILLECTOMY IN ADULTS

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