Recovery From Adult Tonsillectomy
Had both removed at age 44, about a 4 of 10 on pain scale. Important to stay hydrated (which sounds awful because your throat hurts) popsicles or ice tubes are great. Makes a remarkable difference to be out in the sun doing something to take your mind off of it. I wanted to sleep but couldn't very well the first week. Overall, not the most fun I have had but certainly not the horror stories you will read online.
When I got them out when I was 18 (almost 30 years ago), I was told no ice cream. Only water, broth, jello and tylenol with codeine, which didn't help the pain at all. I have no advice other than it hurts like hell and you should just give her whatever the heck she wants. I've had friends who have had their tonsils out as an adult and endured child birth and they said the tonsillectomy was worse. (But don't tell your daughter that.)
TigerLilly said:
When I got them out when I was 18 (almost 30 years ago), I was told no ice cream. Only water, broth, jello and tylenol with codeine, which didn't help the pain at all. I have no advice other than it hurts like hell and you should just give her whatever the heck she wants. I've had friends who have had their tonsils out as an adult and endured child birth and they said the tonsillectomy was worse. (But don't tell your daughter that.)
Yikes! Hopefully, they have improved the technique over the past 30 years. Then again, I only had 20 minutes of pain when I gave birth so "worse than child birth" might not be so bad.
I had it done in my 20s and the pain was terrible. On par with removal of 4 impacted wisdom teeth while wide awake. Not as bad as 2 childbirths (one all natural), though 
definitely no to ice cream. Makes you phlegmy, which makes it worse. I think I had lots of broth....and drugs
My sister had hers out in her 20s, also wasn't allowed cold-cold for a few days. Could suck on ice chips, lots of sipped cool drinks. Nothing hot either (no extremes). They wanted her to eat scrambled eggs so they could check her swallow - she can't abide eggs!!
Quiche, yoghurt, mash, tofu etc. basic invalid diet. She'll know when she's ready to move to a little more texture.
When my son had his tonsils out, all he wanted to eat was soft, white bread and rolls.
When I had my tonsils out (many, many years ago as a child) I was bitterly disappointed because I didn't even friggin' want the ice cream or jello I'd been promised. I was in way too much pain to want to eat or drink anything.
I think this may have been the first time in my young life that I realized that the adults in my life were sometimes very wrong.
My brother had his tonsils out when he was very young, and the people in the hospital brought him ice cream. With walnuts in it. (a) My, how the recommendations have changed, and (b) Seriously? Nuts, for a kid with a raw throat???
I think anything cool and slippery would be helpful during recovery, and whatever good pain meds they prescribe for her. And lots and lots of distractions!
Had mine out in my 20's and it was unpleasant. For me, the recovery time was incredibly long. My throat was agitated for months and I had difficulty speaking. Forgot that ice cream nonsense. Any and everything was painful.
I'm still happy I went through with it. I no longer suffer from long term sore throats, laryngitis or heavy coughs with bleeding from irritation. I was a hot mess before the surgery.
My daughter had hers out 6 years ago while she was in college. She is not the best patient - had to have IV fluids twice at SMG Urgent Care because she wasn't drinking unless we watched her do it and she got dehydrated. So stress the constant fluids! Also, she would have been more comfortable if she took the pain meds on a schedule for the first few days rather than waiting to need them and being in pain until they took effect. Have a supply of straws on hand. And our immersion blender was worth its wait in gold for making whatever foods soft and liquidy enough to be easily swallowed.
Now that I am recalling, her grandma's 75th birthday was during her recuperation. We arranged a party at a restaurant close to grandma's house so that she could just show up for a few minutes and then go back to rest. She went to the party and ordered sushi. I was at the other end of the table and cringed when I heard. The thought of uncooked fish passing her open wounds! She survived. Me too.
Be sure they give her Vicodin or an equivalent. This is not a job for Tylenol. The pain is really serious.
val said:
Be sure they give her Vicodin or an equivalent. This is not a job for Tylenol. The pain is really serious.
As above, or some other kind of pain med she can easily swallow.maybe in liquid form. An adult tonsillectomy is much more serious than a children's tonsillectomy, as a former O.R. nurse, I know this to be a fact. Good luck and keep us posted.
cubby said:
@ Kibbiegirl: Not to pry, but how long ago did you have it done? Hopefully things have improved over the years and techniques have changed (although, for sure its an ordeal). Thank you.
Um...20 years ago!
A good friend had them removed as an adult, probably about 4-5 years ago. I have never before seen a friend in such terrible physical pain. She lost a lot of weight.
Obviously your daughter's doctor will prescribe pain meds, and I would NOT hesitate to have her use them BEFORE she feels bad pain. A doctor friend says "the pain response is not conducive to the healing process." or something like that. Doctors have told me in the past to take pain meds on schedule, before the pain is bad, because pain pills often prevent pain but once there, apparently pain is often difficult to stop.
Good luck to her (and you!!), and best wishes for a very speedy recovery!!!
A peculiar aside - my doctor once commented that I had my tonsils removed during a routine. I know for a fact that I never did and told her that.
I suffered from "tonsiliths" for many years, often having to remove them myself with a q-tip (so gross!). Anyway, apparently my tonsils dissolved on their own at some point, because there is no longer any trace of a tonsil in my throat. (And I very rarely get sore throats anymore, except during bad spring allergy times.)
Thanks all. I've now done some research into this and accompanied my D on 2 different consults with 2 very reputable doctors. The techniques have definitely changed and improved in the last decade. However, it is till going to be an ordeal for sure. But, recurring tonsillitis and mono is also an ordeal and the problems will continue without the procedure.
I was told to fill the rx for pain meds (oxycodone) days before the procedure in order to avoid the risk of not being able to get it once the procedure has already been done. Daughter absolutely wants tonsils out so it looks like that's what will happen.
cubby said:
Thanks all. I've now done some research into this and accompanied my D on 2 different consults with 2 very reputable doctors. The techniques have definitely changed and improved in the last decade. However, it is till going to be an ordeal for sure. But, recurring tonsillitis and mono is also an ordeal and the problems will continue without the procedure.
I was told to fill the rx for pain meds (oxycodone) days before the procedure in order to avoid the risk of not being able to get it once the procedure has already been done. Daughter absolutely wants tonsils out so it looks like that's what will happen.
Careful with the Oxycodone. They do not call hillbilly heroine for nothing. You should hold onto the pills and give to her as needed.
Wow. I had no idea they used such high-power painkillers for a tonsillectomy. That gives me a whole new feeling about it.
Wishing your daughter the best, Cubby, and a short, painless recovery.
Woot said:
cubby said:Careful with the Oxycodone. They do not call hillbilly heroine for nothing. You should hold onto the pills and give to her as needed.
Thanks all. I've now done some research into this and accompanied my D on 2 different consults with 2 very reputable doctors. The techniques have definitely changed and improved in the last decade. However, it is till going to be an ordeal for sure. But, recurring tonsillitis and mono is also an ordeal and the problems will continue without the procedure.
I was told to fill the rx for pain meds (oxycodone) days before the procedure in order to avoid the risk of not being able to get it once the procedure has already been done. Daughter absolutely wants tonsils out so it looks like that's what will happen.
No. Giving "as needed" at the beginning is terrible advice because she'll never have good pain control.
Give them to her on schedule in the first few days, when the pain is severe. Then taper to "as needed" and then off.
Nothing short of an opioid pain reliever will work. Unfortunately, we don't have better (non-habit forming) drugs to use.
The important thing is to taper off and stop taking them as soon as she starts to heal, when her discomfort can be managed with non-opioid drugs.
"Give them to her on schedule in the first few days, when the pain is severe. Then taper to "as needed" and then off."
^^THIS^^
mjh said:
Woot said:No. Giving "as needed" at the beginning is terrible advice because she'll never have good pain control.
cubby said:Careful with the Oxycodone. They do not call hillbilly heroine for nothing. You should hold onto the pills and give to her as needed.
Thanks all. I've now done some research into this and accompanied my D on 2 different consults with 2 very reputable doctors. The techniques have definitely changed and improved in the last decade. However, it is till going to be an ordeal for sure. But, recurring tonsillitis and mono is also an ordeal and the problems will continue without the procedure.
I was told to fill the rx for pain meds (oxycodone) days before the procedure in order to avoid the risk of not being able to get it once the procedure has already been done. Daughter absolutely wants tonsils out so it looks like that's what will happen.
Give them to her on schedule in the first few days, when the pain is severe. Then taper to "as needed" and then off.
Nothing short of an opioid pain reliever will work. Unfortunately, we don't have better (non-habit forming) drugs to use.
The important thing is to taper off and stop taking them as soon as she starts to heal, when her discomfort can be managed with non-opioid drugs.
Ok. But I had tonsils out at 21 and only took Advil. I don't think my advice was terrible as I never "needed" stronger pain medication. If this can be avoided it should.
As this article referenced on PubMed points out, taking pain relief as prescribed after this surgery is highly unlikely to cause addiction or other complications. We could always check with Bikefixed, I guess or scottgreenstone (have I got his name right?)...
Had that drug after foot surgery. I was in agony and barely slept through the first night. My surgeon called me back at 7am next morning and said if I still had bad pain after taking one pill, then to take two instead.
Husband was at work, and thank goodness my young kids both went to daycamp on a bus back then, because even though I was writing down every pill and trying very hard to keep on a tight schedule, I'm pretty sure I took more meds too early at some point mid-nap bc I lost a LOT of hours and felt completely out of it for awhile thereafter. (I was able to go back to one pill the next day.)
So, yes, be extra careful and have a sober adult be responsible for giving each prescribed dose, but do give the pain relievers on time. Ideally, most of the pain will be kept at bay that way.
I think the point is that a healthy/sober/caregiver adult should hold the pills and dole them out (on schedule, not wait for pain), rather than handing the bottle to the patient.
PeggyC said:
Wow. I had no idea they used such high-power painkillers for a tonsillectomy. That gives me a whole new feeling about it.
Wishing your daughter the best, Cubby, and a short, painless recovery.
I only wished they gave something this strong when I had it done. Codeine/Tylenol is completely useless and I was in the worst pain of my life with no relief.
That said, given what it did for me, I'd do it all over again. I used to regularly get bronchitis and I had my adenoids out at the same time because the combination of enlarged tonsils and enlarged adenoids not only made me congested all the time, but caused sleep apnea.
So, these horror stories are horrible, but it's still worth it, I think.
Holy cow. I'm glad my tonsils have always behaved themselves. My inner ear, now... that's a whole other story.
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College daughter most likely having this done in a few weeks. Any advice?
Thank you.