WHAT HAPPENS FOLLOWING TONSILLECTOMY SURGERY?

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I'm 27 and had my tonsils removed last Wednesday- the day of the surgery was the best that I have felt. Probably still had the nice hospital anesthetic courseing through my body- day one wasn't too bad either, I ate half a piece of raisin bread (took about 40 mins and I swallowed it with water!) and drank about 2.5 l of water. Day 2 was worse, my throat started to ache-they sent me home with Panadeine Forte, anti inflammations, anti biotics and a gargle. . I ate ice cream and jelly. Plus drank heaps of water. Day three was much the same as day two. Day four brings us upt o date- I woke up with ulcers on my tongue and my throat- I have an ache in my ear and a headahce. I cant eat, I can hardly drink water! But have to force it down. My painkillers seem to be doing jack all and I've already had 8 today. I can't talk, sleep...i';m sick of cold food and watching dvds! I just want this to be over!!! I want to be able to brush my teth properly, my mouth feels foul! PLEASE TELL ME THAT DAY 6 ONWARDS I will show some improvement

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Going on Day 4 now... I'm feeling much better. I haven't taken a drop of Hydrocodone or Lidocane! Quite an accomplishment considering the past few days have been disastrous.

Now, I don't know if this is normal, but I think I'm scabbing already. I coughed a few times today (with literally no pain!) and on my tongue was a patch of dried blood. I'm not sure if it was just only dried blood or if it was in fact a scab.

Today was the first day I got any outside nutrients in my body (even if they might've been not so good... any little bit helps). I had a chocolate Italian Ice and it felt great! As soon as I got half of it down, I was talking and everything! Later on in the evening I made myself some Campbell's Tomato Soup at Hand. It took a little bit, but I finally made it all down. The warmness felt great. I'm still spitting up TONS of phlegm... I've designated a small, plastic cup that I got at the hospital as my official Spittoon.

Maybe tonight will be my first restful night of sleep. One can only hope. I'll keep you updated as time goes on.

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Day 5. Things are finally beginning to look up... sometimes. The only time that I really regret the surgery is when I wake up in the morning. When I wake up, my entire head is just RIDDLED with the worst pain I've ever felt. My jaw, my tongue, my neck, my mouth, my head, EVERYTHING hurts and I don't understand why! I feel like I'm sleeping comfortably, and when I wake up I'm just in pain! I hope it's going to go away soon though.

Today was a significant improvement on my food habits though. I have now eaten tomato soup, mashed potatos, and macaroni & cheese. Keeping all of it down! I still haven't thrown anything up, which is more than what I can say for my friend who had the surgery on 7/31.

I do notice however that I now need to take the Vicodin to get through the day pain free. It's good, cause it makes me drowsy and want to sleep. I do have to say... that I would kill (not really) someone for some Arby's right about now. My stomach is GROWLING!

ashemi · Newbie Joined: 17 Aug 2008 Posts: 1

I am a 23-year-old female who is on day 4--nearly day 5--of post op.

Day 1 went well. I went under anesthetic around 11:40am and was already awake by about 12:30pm. My parents said the surgery lasted only about 15 minutes. When I first woke up my eyes were quite blurry from the anesthesia. That wore off by the time I left the recovery area around 1:45pm. They had me drink a couple cups of water and eat a popsicle while I rested. They also gave me some IV pain medication, which took my initial pain from around a 5 to a 1. I was rather surprised at how bad I didn't feel the rest of the day. My one setback of the day was nausea. I threw up the first time I took my Hydrocodone at home. This could have been due to the fact that I hadn't eaten for some time, and you should have food in your stomach when you take it.

Day 2 brought me optimism after a bit of a rough start. I had trouble sleeping the night after my surgery, and I didn't drink nearly enough fluids overnight, which caused my throat to dry out despite having a humidifier running. I would suggest to anyone having their tonsils out to make an effort to get up during the night to sip water. By not doing so, I dried out my throat, and when I woke up around 4am, I immediately went to the bathroom and threw up blood. I gargled some cool water and brushed my teeth and felt much better. While I wasn't feeling the best, by afternoon I felt better than I had expected to especially given my morning. My boyfriend was tired of sitting around with me, so we went out to a movie, and afterwards I got mashed potatoes, which are an excellent alternative to all the sweets that are associated with recovery, ie ice cream and popsicles.

Day 3 was a turning point. I was more tired than ever. I hadn't eaten much the past couple of days with the exception of a cup of ice cream and the mashed potatoes, so I suppose I was just feeling weak, but I slept much of the morning. I read that some people have trouble sleeping, but I haven't had that problem. My ear pain started on this day along with a terrible headache. I continued to feel nauseated, but I have yet to throw up again. The pain in my throat was the worst it had been and any thoughts of eating were gone. I tried to sip on water as much as possible but mostly there was just pain and fatigue.

Day 4 was somewhat a continuation of day 3. I didn't feel as tired, however, and I tried to eat and drink a significant amount more. While my throat doesn't feel any better, I am not going to recover any faster by avoiding food and liquid intake. I found that ice cream is the easiest to get down. Yogurt is also good. My mom made cream of potato soup and homemade applesauce for me as well. For dinner I had some scrambled eggs, which went down quite well and are a good source of protein. I have lost about 6 pounds since I had my surgery 4 days ago.

My advice:
1. Drink water. Everyone says it and everyone is right. Force yourself if you have to.
2. Keep your throat moist.
3. Maintain good hygiene. I find this helpful anytime I am sick. I feel better if I get ready for the day as if I felt well.
4. Gargle with a hydrogen peroxide solution. My doctor gave me directions to mix 1 teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide with 8 ounces (1 cup) water and gargle 3 to 4 times a day. This will keep the white membrane thin and help it to remain longer. The solution also helps clear out some of the phlegm others have had issues with.
5. Be patient. Healing takes time.

Guest · Guest

I was so glad to stumble across this forum! It nice to know Im not being a baby when it comes to the pain of an adult tonsillectomy!

im on day 4/5 post-op and I have to say I'm feeling terrible! The first day or two after the op I was fine and could talk normally but now its awful!

The worst is the nausea, everyday Im getting sick and I cant walk very way without sickness setting in! And because you're meant to eat with the meds its so hard when youre feeling sooo sick! I woke up this morning in agongy went to get my tablets to find i ended up in the bathroom retching and throwing up which of course made my throat kill, so I started crying and trust me that hurts just as much!!! i cant even have a good cry! loll

the one thing i recommend is lollies, although Ive been told scratchy food is best, when you're feeling like crap an ice cold milk lolly is the way to go. It lines your stomach so you feel like you've got something in there and also soothes the back of the throat.

anyone got any tips for dealing with the sickness?

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good lord, i am so miserable.... i feel like i've been hit in the head.. my right jaw, teeth, ear, neck are pounding... the dr. said this was residual pain and told me to continue taking pain medication..... yesterday I swallowed , what I assume to be, a huge scab and became sick for the rest of the day..... I haven't been able to taste food since the surgery... literally everything tastes like pure dirt !!!! my throat looks like a sesspool of white puss! and my uvula (the dangly thing) was at one point six times it's normal size... it has reduced to about twice its normal size is the only healing I think i have done !!!

can anyone please tell at what day can I taste food...... it of course hurts as all get out to swallow.... but I can handle that, it's the fact that I can not taste anything!!!! please help! my dr. is no help at all... she says "it's normal to feel like this."

Guest · Guest

Hi everyone,

Im having my toncils out tomorrow and reading all your posts Im crapping it. Im so worried and scared i cant cope with having toncilitus everyother month and its messing work up alot so I have to get it done. I cant stop Crying im so scared. I hopethigs go well and i dont suffer too much afterwards keep your fingers crossed for me please.

snix

aro9 · Newbie Joined: 21 Aug 2008 Posts: 2

Hello all,

Thanks everyone for your posts. It's been a great help! I am on (just this very minute) day 6 after having my tonsils removed. I'm a 22 year old female and I had them removed in Ireland.

The surgery was fine. Really easy. Before the sugery I was a little nervous but as soon as the drugs kicked in-I was fine. Waking up I felt great. My surgery was at 12.15/12.20 and I was woken around 13.10. I didn't feel at all woozy. In recovery (awake) for around 15/20 mins. When I was taken back to my room I wouldn't have minded a sleep but for the first hour the nurses were in every 15 mins checking my blood pressure etc. My temperature was high after the op but they told me this was due to the fact that I was feeling unwell prior to the surgery (was actually beginning to come down with tonsilitis!!). Temp went down that day but back up again that night. The evening of the surgery I ate some ice cream, jelly, tea and toast. It felt fine and the next morning (I was in the hospital overnight) I ate toast for breakfast. Doc asked me how I was and I felt great. He told me that things would get worse!

The first few days back home were fine. Not much of an appetite but ate toast, ice cream and other little bits and pieces. The back of my throat was a but tickly and dry but not too bad. Coughing doesn't hurt but sneezing and laughing is painful.

Yesterday and today: different story!! Am in agony! Have ditched my prescribed meds (Diaphine (sp?) and Paracetemol) in favour of Solpadeine. I just need something to ease the pain! The ears are the worst-especially when swallowing. Keep getting little sharp, jaggy pains in my throat too. I have a sweater with a hood up and cotton wool in my ears. I pray that this is the cresendo!! Mangaged to eat though. Had jelly and ice cream today, scrambled eggs and pancakes and just ate a bowl of cereal. Painful but I want to eat as the doctor told me to.

Thank God I have had no bleeding. Touch wood this will remain the case. Felt nauseous the first few days due to the meds but I haven't actually thrown up. I don't regret it (yet!!!) but I'm worried about my recovery taking a long time. I'm a teacher and have to go to work Sept 1st no matter what. Fingers crossed!!!

I'm so glad I've come across this board: I'm staying with my family at the minute and I think their sympathy is wearing thin. So at least now I can show them that these few days are supposed to be worst and I'm not attention seeking!!!

So thanks all!! Chins up!!! And Good Luck!!!

prestonsmommie · Newbie Joined: 22 Aug 2008 Posts: 3

hello, I am a 23 year old female, just had tonsillectomy 3 days ago on 8/20. I am so confused as to why hardly anybody had little or no pain the first 2-3 days. I have been thru childbirth and broken bones, stitches you name it but nothing compares to the horrible pain I've been thru so far post-op! The first day I came home by 11am and slept all day. I've had nothing to eat in 3 freaking days and I am miserable! The tylenol with codine hasn't been working at all for me, so I called my DR in tears begging for something stronger, which he refused at first! Finally he gave in and prescribed celebrex which is normally prescribed for arthritus but he explained its also an anti-inflamatory and helps with acute pain. I took just one pill, and spent the rest of my day vomiting all day yesterday. Needless to say I won't be taking any more of those again! Today I finally forced myself to eat a whole can of chicken noodle soup!

Now I am scared to see how days 5-8 will feel for me, when the scabs start falling off, considering the horrible pain I've felt the first few days!!

prestonsmommie · Newbie Joined: 22 Aug 2008 Posts: 3

Here I am 5 days later now on day 8 post op exactly 1 week since my tonsillectomy and I don't feel like I've had any progress whatsoever!! I feel like I am getting worse by the day. I am still on the Loratab every 4 hours in order to numb the pain, and have really not eaten hardly anything in 8 days. I've lost 14 lbs, and am really wondering if I'm ever gonna feel the same again ;(

WHAT HAPPENS FOLLOWING TONSILLECTOMY SURGERY?

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