Recovery Tips for Adults after Tonsillectomy

Hey guys! I am on day 12of recovery of getting my tonsils AND adenoids removed.  I am doing sooo much better. Everyone's recovery is different from what I am reading but I promise it gets better! I was pretty bad the first 2-3 days but days 4,5,6 were complete agony for me. Pain and frustration were kicking in. I am on liquid hydrocodone and also pills for percocet and magic mouthwash (lidocaine, benadryl and antacid mixed) I always kept water with me at all times and especially next to me at night. I threw up the first couple of days from having no food in my stomach and taking my pain meds, but today I was able to eat some rice and vegetables one of my firsty days of eating some sort of real food. The last time I took my pain meds was 12 hours ago so I would say I am getting much better!

 

My advice is: always keep swallowing and hydrate hydrate hydrate, I started mixing lots of foods with half and half to make them a more comfortable texture (chocolate pudding, mashed potatoes, applesauce, put it in smoothies, etc) Night time and mornings are always the worst so you are not alone (Even if it feels like you are)

As for ear pain, I never had any just sometimes my ears feeled blocked for a couple minutes.

I know that people have said this surgery is worth it and I am hoping so..I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel soon :-) Good luck!!!

Totally in the same boat. I'm 20 and on day 5. Can barely swallow my own spit without making a face. I've found out that chamomile tea helps a lot. My medicine is the worst. Liquid hydrocodine and it burns like hell. I spit constantly and everything I put into my mouth just gets mucousy. I've woken up crying because my tongue hurts. Thankfully my mommy is awesome and wakes up with me. Cold hurts more than warm for me personally. But we can do it.

Hello to everyone reading this, I have a tip for everyone. If it help even one of you then that is wonderfull. I am on day 9 post op. Days 1-3 great, well in comparison, days 4 and 5 I thought I was gonna die..... My tip is that when you reach the days that you have the ear and jaw pain, for me it was 4- now, get some bengay the cooling kind and put it on your neck and jaw line and behind your ears. For me it made my pain levels go from a 15 on a scale from 1-10 down to about a 6.

I'm 16, just barely got my tonsils out 12 hours ago. When I first got out of surgery, my throat didn't hurt at all. It was amazing, i could eat pretty much anything until about 7 hours afte. I've been really good about eating ice and otter pops. They help a lot! But it's the beginning of summer vacation and I'm extremely sad because I have to spend the next two weeks in bed while everyone else is out, enjoying their summer. I just keep trying to tell myself that it's worth it and two weeks will go by very quickly!

Any good movie reccomendations?

Yes I do its been seven days now since my tonsils and addnoids where removed can't rst ice cream Popsicles pudding yogurt or anything yet water even burns my throat

I am 40, and on day 6 of hell! Major bleeding, yeast infection( in mouth from meds), swelling to the point on not being able to breath! Pain meds are not working, no food going down, and liquids are only trickeling down. The constant feeling of something being stuck in the back of my throat is the worst! Good luck to all out there! You are so going to need it!

I'm a 29-yo female having my tonsils out next week. I'd like to think I have a high pain tolerance, but after all the horror stories online, I'm not so sure.

I'm hoping to track my progress on my blog. Assuming I'm not too conked out on pain meds, that is. 

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Hi! After multiple cases of severe strep throat, I finally got a tonsillectomy monday morning 12/29. It is now Saturday 1/3, 5th day post-op, 6th day including the surgery. I am a 21 yr old female. I have read multiple cases online and wanted to share mine, for anyone who is looking to go through with the surgery. Unlike a lot of the pretty terrifying stories online, mine thus far definitely seems pretty positive overall.The first three days (two days post-op) for me were the worst, but they weren't unbearable. I slept an hour at a time the first night, but I found sleeping sitting up was important so that I didn't choke on my extremely swollen uvula. I wasn't able to eat substantial food until early the third day. Sure, the pain was pretty bad, but I think the fact I did not stop drinking water helped me the most. And not to mention I was visiting home for the holidays and so I had my mother's help when I needed it. I didn't leave the house until the 4th day post-op, and only left for about 20 minutes. On the 4th day post-op, the worst pain was my ears and jaw. I found that chewing gum hurt at first, but has helped in the long run. Also, I had been putting ice packs on my throat, but heat on my ears and upper jaw. It helped a lot. By today, the 5th day, the pain is super manageable. It's definitely worse in the mornings and at night, but today is nothing compared to how I felt earlier on in the recovery process. I had read everywhere that the pain only gets worse at this point, but I'm relieved it's been the opposite for me!I think when it comes down to it, my recovery has been pretty easy. And here's what I've done:

-Drink water. Even when it hurts. Drink ice water to take down the swelling. But don't stop drinking water. Don't be afraid that there's pain. Just keep drinking.

-Eat as soon as you're able to. I was put on Percocets and antibiotics. Food helped to calm my stomach after taking the meds and it strengthens your immune system. I ate apple sauce, chicken broth, oatmeal, potatoes, etc.

-Have someone around to help.. because it helps! I didn't have to leave my house and I got plenty of rest.

-Rest. Sleep whenever possible, and set alarms to take your meds throughout the night. You don't want to start the day in pain.

-Take your meds. After the 3rd day post-op, I weaned myself off of the Percocets (by only taking them at night) and started taking Tylenol 3 with codeine. It was easier on my stomach. Ask your doctor about it! It's a prescription and it still pretty strong.

-If you're on antibiotics like I am, eat yogurt or take a probiotic. It'll help you feel better and help your digestion.

-Oh and did I say DRINK WATER. Because that's very important. Sucking on ice is great like everyone says, but I'm talking drinking a lot of water.

My recovery hasn't been a nightmare and hopefully yours won't be either! (although, for me, expecting the worst made the outcome a lot more surprising and positive). Best of luck!

I am 13 and I'm on day 8 of recovery. Day 1 and day 2 are terrific. Day 3,4,5 and 6 are ok but day 7 is horrible. I had abdominal pain and my throat was ok. The abdominal pain was unbearable though. I laid in bed all day. Now on day 8 I feel better than ever even though I just started drinking a lot of water. Good look!!!

Tonsillectomy of a 7-year old: DAY 7 - My son went to the ER today after intense pain this morning in his throat while simply trying to drink his liquid Motrin. He couldn't keep chocolate milk down. The next thing I knew, his mouth filled with blood. I told him calmly that his mouth was bleeding and that we were going to the hospital RIGHT NOW.

While I was quickly trying to get everyone into the car, including my 1-year old, my son was screeching in pain and holding his stomach saying he needs to vomit. I told him to calm down because remaining calm will help his body. By the time we got in the car, he threw up so much blood AND HE FELT BETTER AFTER IT. Blood was everywhere. I drove straight to the ER.

The doctor cauterized a supposed wound in his throat that was bleeding. All that THICK blood that my son vomited was OLD blood that had been dripping inside his throat. The doctor (surgeon who performed the procedure) said that it is normal for kids to vomit blood.

We were directed to continue soft foods and liquids and were told that it can take up to 2 weeks to heal. By Day 7, my son lost 3 pounds. :( Here's a recap of this horrid week:

Day 1: son dizzy from hospital meds

Day 2, 3: son acted normal... lots of sitting, movies, ice-cream, yogurt.... Wants to run and play but it seemed odd he felt FINE.

Day 4: the pain came this day like a tidal wave. Since the start we've been consistent with alternating Tylenol and Motrin every 4 hours.

Day 5-7: still pain, mostly in the morning after waking up.

Next week we leave for out of the country but might postpone our trip because we are afraid of another complication.

NEW PLAN OF ATTACK:
* eat more soft foods to keep up nutrition. Doc said it's normal for food to get inside the "holes".
* I've been reading up on drinking ALOE VERY JUICE for tonsillectomy for the healing properties. Will buy and start.
* My aunt told me her doc told her to drink lots of Lipton Tea (??) because of the healing properties. She had her tonsils removed years ago.
* Hardest thing for KIDS is keeping them calm when they are usually acting up their ninja moves :) -- play board games, read to them, watch movies

Anything else?

Thank you for your honesty and sharing your experience! I, too, am an older woman (57) and have been told my tonsils have partially grown back after having them removed when I was 7 years old. I had a sleep apnea test, but have not gotten the results back yet. I find myself wondering if I will have to have them removed again to improve my breathing. The idea scares me a LOT, but your post has encouraged me to do whatever is necessary to improve my health. Bless you!

Hi I'm 52 years old ,and my my surgery on 10/15/15.its been 9 days, and I'm still hurting .yesterday was a bad day,today I woke up with pain,but so far has been manageable. I've take my liquid pain meds every 4 hrs,and that's helped .thus has has been horrible. And the worse pain I've ever indured.hang in there and pray.BC without prayer I wouldn't have mad it thus far.

Thanks I'm 41 yes old everything I swallow
I feel igetsstuck in the back of my throat I feel like I have some thing there makes me gag

I'm 31, had tonsils removed and uvula shortened. I'm on day 9 and it has been a terrible painful experience. It is still sore to swallow and I really haven't had anything to eat since the day before surgery. Day 4 was the worst for me. I couldn't even swallow the pain meds. I ended up going to the ER and getting IV meds and fluids. They also gave me a steroid prescription to reduce swelling. I took pain meds every four hours and have been sleeping a lot. I actually ran out today so I'm hoping the pain doesn't get much worse. The back of my tongue has been in a lot of pain and idk if having the uvula cut made swallowing worse but it seems like it has. Luckily I didn't have any nausea or vomiting. I've mainly been drinking gatorade although I drank a pop, opened it the day before so it was flat, but the sugar rush made me feel better. Good luck to anyone who plans on getting the surgery at a later age, it sucks.

I agree, I'm 26 and have been begging to have my tonsils removed well! Yesterday I did 03/02/2016, it's not bad I'm eating Chinese food , cold cream of wheat, ice cream, I just drink alot ! Of water! !!!! Keep my pockets wet like the docrib said, a little bleeding Tin your places, no bad breath yet, water n gatorade, taking percocet 5 mg