Pam says:April 16, 2010 at 1:28 pm
I am 37 years old and on post-op day 5. I’ve learned my new hydration friend (believe it or not) is Diet Snapple Peach Tea. You can choose a different flavor but the peach is great. It’s sugar free and the tea is such a good feeling. My doctor even recommended tea post-op.
If you have been given liquid Nycet as your painkiller do NOT, I repeat do NOT try to take this without dilution. The gag affect alone is pain pain pain. I had success with mixing it with WHITE GRAPE JUICE – find sugar free if you can. Sugar will make your throat “sappy” and will increase the chances of coughing. I had the Nycet days 1 thru 4 about 3-4 times a day at first but now I’ve switched to children’s Tylenol. Keep it in the refrigerator if you switch to this. It gets a little thick but since it’s in liquid form (and cold) it goes down relatively easy.
Once you’ve gotten to the point that you can ingest something other than jello and broth (my daughter calls it “soup juice”) I highly recommend Yoplait Parfait yogurt. I know we’re not supposed to have dairy but it hasn’t been an issue in my case. It hasn’t produced profuse coughing or that pasty feeling in the back of my throat and let me tell ya – it is delicious.
Sleep – ahhhhhhh here’s something I can’t wait to get! I have had success with sitting up. A good bolster under the knees keeps you from sliding down and takes the pressure off your lower back. I know it sounds silly but try an ice collar – if you didn’t get one from your doctor you can pick one up from the drug store. All it is is an ice bag in a sleeve with ties. The ice collar was and is still my best friend when I go to sleep. LOOSELY tie it, prop yourself up, bolster those knees and BAM you’re asleep Keep bottled water next to you so you can hydrate as soon as you wake up. There’s nothing worse than dry throat from sleeping with your mouth agape (and it will be – trust me).
I hope these tips have been helpful. I know you’re all out there suffering through just as I am. Good luck!
Bethany says:April 15, 2010 at 6:02 pm
1. Drink water, gatorade, apple juice, grape juice from the minute you get home to the hospital. I psyched myself up for this, and I knew it was the one thing I had to do, and I think it helped–I didn’t have tons of pain, and I was almost pain free by day 7 (I’m 33 years old).
2. Set your alarm for every hour or two to drink fluids for the first week or so. The nights are not tons of fun, and waking up frequently is kind of a bummer, but staying hydrated and keeping your throat moist is a must.
3. Stop reading terrifying accounts of people who had terrible experiences with their tonsillectomy. If you’ve decided to do this, you will only have your experience. You don’t need to carry the weight of everybody else’s. And remember, oftentimes people post when they are in the throes of pain, so it sounds worse than it is. The pain really was not that bad–no worse than bad strep.
4. Netflix streaming. I watched the entire series of Friday Night Lights. Thanks to my tonsillectomy, I got to stare at Tim Riggins for hours on end. This was definitely a plus. I was too out of it to read or watch whole movies.
Kristen says:April 12, 2010 at 7:53 pm
Make sure your doctor FULLY informs you of the possible side effects. I am 3 week post-op and cray daily because my sense of taste is all screwed up. I have lost way too much weight and will not even be able to enjoy my husband’s upcoming birthday. I am taking Zinc, as I hear that it can help with taste distortion but for now I am hungry and miserable.
Willie says:April 10, 2010 at 12:45 pm
I just had a bilateral Tonsilectomy, septoplasty, and turbaniate reduction. I have severe OSA. I’m two days post op and it sucks. Won’t drink anything but warm liquids. I gargle warm salt water like it’s going out of style. My CPAP machine is annoying. UGH!!! My girl is the best!! She has been taking great care of me. PHO is delicious!!
Becky says:April 8, 2010 at 1:30 am
I am 4 months post op day of surgery 12/9/09. I wish I had my tonsils out years ago. I was at a point in my life that I was getting strep throat every 6 weeks. I have been sick only once since my tonsils were removed( got a real nasty cold/bronchitis 10 days post op). I had my 3 month post op visit and the dr told me that, I will not have sore throats for the next few years !!!! Finally freedom from sore throats. Which is not a good thing cause how am I supposed to know when I am coming down with a cold ??? I no longer feel so ragged , I have so much energy. The surgery was not that bad. I was used to a constant sore throat it was really no difference after the surgery. Just day 5 post op. I cannot explain the pain in my ears !! I’ve expierenced childbirth twice in my life and let me tell you, I would rather have given birth without drugs again then to have that kind of ear pain. I cannot explain the pain. Its not like a earache its much worse. Per my surgeon its cause the nerves are healing from the throat to the ears, that is why it was so painful. It lasted a day and as Greg says I kept my positive attitude and I read this site and really helped me out soooo much. If you are going to have your tonsills removed dont’t be scared it will be the best thing you ever did……….
Christine says:April 7, 2010 at 11:54 am
The best thing in the world for me was to take a popsicle off the stick and microwave it in a mug for a few seconds. Then I just ate with a spoon a little icy bite at a time. It is also best to sleep sitting up. Lastly make sure you have a refill of pains meds if you need it.
Shannon says:April 3, 2010 at 11:27 am
1) Have something in your stomach when you take your pain meds. I had a bout where I vomited for a few hours because I took my Lortab medicine during the night when I had no food in my stomach.
2) Stock up ahead of time with many different things. Many people recommended mashed potatoes, but I couldn’t handle them so I had many other options to turn to since I was stocked up. Hot, warm, and cold foods!!
3) DRINK!! Water or gatorade helped me.
4) Ice pack for the outside of your neck!
Greg says:March 30, 2010 at 7:58 am
MORE TIPS AT: http://www.tonsillectomyrecovery.com/Tonsillectomy-Tips.html
Val says:March 29, 2010 at 5:42 pm
My best tip: If you split your pain meds up, they never fully wear off and aren’t as harsh on your stomach. For example: If you are prescribed 2 tsp of pain meds every 4 hours, take one tsp every two hours instead. You are still getting the same amount this way, but overlapping it!
AMiller says:March 27, 2010 at 7:32 pm
I’m having my surgery on Wednesday 3/31/2010…I’m TERRIFIED. I’ve never had a surgery and this may sound silly but I’m afraid mostly that I won’t wake up. I’m a single mom of 1 daughter. I have Obstructive Sleep Apnea so not only are they taking my tonsils, they are also cutting my uvula and soft palate back. I have searched the web for information and I appreciate your website soo much, it has been most helpful.
Mary – 6 weeks post-op says:March 24, 2010 at 1:53 pm
I have a few tips:
1) Ensure – vanilla, butter pecan and most especially chocolate. It kept me from being miserably hungry AND I drank 1/2 of an ensure 20-30 minutes before every pain med dose to coat my stomach and keep me from throwing up.
2) I couldn’t watch movies, my attention span from the meds wasn’t that long. So I watched 3 seasons of How I Met Your Mother and read some mind-numblingly easy books.
3) This website. It really helped when I was at rock bottom or feeling sorry for myself….
4) And just keep thinking/visualizing the end result: BETTER HEALTH. I’m 6 weeks out and feel awesome. More energy, less overall achy-sick feeling, better breathing, and no tumor in the tonsils. It was definitely worth it, for me.
Greg says:March 24, 2010 at 7:39 am
Maya says:March 23, 2010 at 5:11 pm
So i am 3 weeks past my surgery and i feel amazing, relieved, happy, full and healthy the first 10 days were dreadfully painful, but as i know now, worth it. my tonsils are gone, and my mouth has space to enjoy all the joys of life. some negative things that still bother me is that i always have a bad taste in my mouth, and don’t seem to be fully able to taste flavors and i feel like i have a sore throat, but all that is minor to the pain of about a week ago.
throughout the time that i was in bed, my dad could come in and see me crying and upset that i couldn’t get up, or talk or eat and was in pain, and the best advice he gave me, that prevented me from not loosing my mind is to constantly remind myself that this is a recovery and that it will eventually be over.
be patient, think about the near future, and know that this surgery had to happen.
Good luck to all
Lauren-5 months post op says:March 23, 2010 at 1:35 pm
***Get a variety of soft foods when you are stocking up pre- tonsillectomy (not just frozen) Different temps soothe diff people. Many love frozen things but for me, I could only handle room temp or warm drinks/foods immediately following surgery..
***Be aware of the side effects from this surgery and make sure that you can live with them if it happens to you– I have (what seems to be permanent) taste loss. It is a miserable & indescribable side effect that was not even mentioned to me beforehand. Make sure that your condition is so bad that the benefits will outweigh serious complications (mine was not)
ABeverage says:March 16, 2010 at 6:50 pm
Get a snow cone or ice shaver if you can afford it the ice is so small but cold and feels good! Also Dentyne ice oddly enough numbed my throat a bit and kept the pain out of my ears! Stay positive, rent comedies and watch funny shows!
CHEERS GREG! AND THANKS AGAIN!
P.S.
Told my ENT about the site and highly recommended it, he is a bit of net geek and said if like what he saw, he would recommend it to his patients!
Allison says:March 16, 2010 at 2:44 pm
I prepared myself well for this surgery, but here is the one thing I wish I had been told beforehand:
“After surgery, the simple act of drinking water may make you feel like you are choking. Relax. You’re not actually choking. It may take a few gulps at first to get the water down, but that will ease up as the swelling subsides. Don’t worry, you’ll get used to this new way of swallowing ”
Lavell says:March 15, 2010 at 10:52 pm
Just 2 tips. 1 is drink lots and lots of water, even set alarms to wake up and drink water. 2 is to get hold of Voltaren D tablets and gargle with them. This numbs the area for a couple of hours, this was like gold for me. Cheers
William – 3 months post-op says:March 15, 2010 at 7:22 pm
Get the liquid pain meds. Threaten to cancel the surgery if your doctor won’t do it. Gargle them. Seriously.
When you take the Liquid Vicodin, gently gargle it, or let it trickle down your throat. This way it absorbs directly into what hurts.
I got relief in minutes instead of half an hour.
You can also control exactly how much medicine you take and how often. You’re not locked into any specific dose.
My second piece of advice is to find this website! Thanks Greg! The advice was very useful.
Erin says:March 15, 2010 at 6:22 pm
Snow Cone machine was a great investment. It seemed ridiculous to spend $30 on a snow cone maker in the winter, but to have shaved ice whenever you want, it was grand. It really was good to have the last hour when meds were wearing off.
I got mine at Bed, Bath, and Beyond.
peggy – Day 7 post op says:March 15, 2010 at 6:18 pm
For the patient: MOTION SICKNESS PATCH— talk to your anesthesiologist—definteily a god send. Also, Bed wedge! So much more comfortable for sleeping in a reclined position than stacking pillows behind you. For your caretakers/family : Don’t take anything that comes out of the patient’s mouth personally!
MaryGrace says:March 15, 2010 at 6:03 pm
Keep track of the meds you take and the times that you take them. This is especially helpful when you are up at three am and can’t figure when you are due for your next round of happy pills! Ditto on the movies! If you have ever wanted to watch a whole season of something or catch a movie that you never got to see when it was out, this is the time…..
Elizabeth says:March 15, 2010 at 6:03 pm
Ice from Sonic. I went and bought 2 bags of it for 2 dollars. It was a GREAT pain reliever for me.
pat says:March 15, 2010 at 6:00 pm
Ice packs. I don’t think I wouldve thougt to put ice packs on my throat when it hurt so bad, but it definitely helped!
Greg says:March 15, 2010 at 5:58 pm
Ok- I’ll start this off. NETFLIX UNLIMTED 3 AT A TIME. I watched all of HBO’s Carnival and a whole season of The Wire.
