I had a Tonsillectomy & Adenoidectomy Surgery (T&A Surgery) on April 7, 2016. I am sharing my experience with recovery. I know everyone’s recovery is different my sister recently had one and she has MS and it was hard on her. They also said it’s harder on adult then it is a child. It’s harder on you the older you are. At the time of surgery I was 39 yeas old.
I am going to use several blog post to talk about my experience. This blog post is the introduction blog post. I will also share my first week of recovery and then my second week of recovery. Any any more aspects of the recovery. I plan to share tips for recovery from Tonsillectomy & Adenoidectomy Surgery.
Day of Surgery
Before my surgery they gave me a surgery cap to put on my head, they said this is for your hair. With me having a bald head I said. “What hair?” My ENT Doctor Adams laughed and said you need it for your goatee instead.
After my surgery I awoke from the anesthesia . I woke up with a dry mouth and sore throat. I noticed my taste is off too. My throat is scratchy sounding. It does hurt some to talk and it’s a quiet soft voice too.
Also after surgery they gave me a cup of grape Popsicle with a spoon and a coke. I ate the Popsicle but tried the coke and the coke burned my throat, so they gave me another Popsicle.
I looked at my throat, later that night. It looked swollen and full of pus, know as eschar, a scabbed like tissue. Might be why it’s hard to swallow.
I know my voice sounds soft and scratchy right now. I’ve read that a (T&A) can effect your voice especially if you have over enlarged tonsils and adenoids such as I had.
I was give numbing suckers (Novacain) and liquid pain medicine (Hydrocodone Bitartrate with Acetaminophen). That liquid pain medicine burned the back of my throat as I took it as first. I think the suckers affect your taste buds since they numb your throat with Novacain.
My throat does hurt. Feels like a bad sore throat. It also feels like I have drainage too. Might be puss and stuff where my tonsils were cut out. Plus I can tell they are swollen. That’s why cold foods help, it helps to reduce swelling. It also feels like drainage in the back of my throat.
I did keep sleeping off and on my first night. Unlike with the Septoplasty surgery where I couldn’t use my CPAP, Dr. Adams said to try it, but I should be able to still use it. I did use my CPAP and it didn’t seem to affect anything with the Tonsillectomy & Adenoidectomy Surgery. I did notice after several days it did hurt my jaw some, might be from the swelling.
I do have humidity type CPAP, if you do too, you’ll want to make sure to keep plenty of distilled water in it. You won’t want to run out and dry yourself out. You need to keep your throat moist.
If you get too dehydrated, you may need to go to the ER to get liquid IV pumped into you.
What is a Tonsillectomy & Adenoidectomy Surgery
Tonsillectomy remove your tonsils and an adenoidectomy removes your adenoids. The root of these two is -ectomy or meaning surgical removal of a body part.
I had both so that means they removed both my tonsils and my adenoids. When they combine a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy they often call it tonsilloadenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy some will say (T&A Surgery).
Pre-Op & Post-Op
I know from the beginning with prep work I could not take any kind a aspirin or Tylenol etc. 10 days prior to my Tonsillectomy & Adenoidectomy Surgery. This is what another paper I have that give me my date and time says about that.
“Avoid all aspirin products and anti-inflammatory medication such as Motrin, ibuprofen, Naprosyn, Advil, Indocin, Relafen, Day Pro, etc. for at least 10 days prior to surgery unless otherwise specified.”
I know that afterword I had to be on a special diet like soft cold foods. I was told up to two weeks on the soft cold foods. I was told foods that work better are ice cream, Popsicles and such. I did some prep work before surgery, so you aren’t trying to do it after. With the pain and medicine I’m sure it will not help to do. Prepare before hand!
I froze a bunch of fruit juices (non-citrus), applesauce, yogurt and pudding. I bought some Popsicle molds that I bought at Dollar General. I couldn’t find any at Walmart. I used those molds to make my own Popsicles. One of the main things I’ve noticed is hydrating yourself with plenty of fluids. I’m sure being dehydrated doesn’t help with healing process of your throat. The Popsicle molds don’t work well the lid comes off easily and leaves the Popsicle contents in the tray. I was told to run molds under hot water and that should loosen them up. That worked but that is a lot of work when you are in recovery. I got oval shaped ones, maybe circle ones would do better, because you can twist the circled ones.
I did set cash aside so that my daughter can be taken to the store to get stuff as needed. I do think it is a bit costly in the stuff you buy to eat as you are limited to what you can or cannot eat.
I even bought some Go-Gurt sticks and frozen to have them like frozen yogurt. These were yummy! I even got ice cream too! What I’ve been told cold foods help best and cold liquids! To stay hydrated by drinking a lot. Cold drinks help out big time.
According to my paperwork I got when I registered for surgery it tells you about your dietary instructions and general instruction. (see below)
Tonsillectomy dietary instructions
- Encourage lots of fluids the more the better. This helps reduce throat soreness and prevents dehydration.
- Usually avoid citrus (like orange juice) because they often “burn”.
- Soft foods like ice cream, oatmeal, putting, scrambled eggs, etc. can be started when The throat is less sore. Diet will usually take care of itself. For about two weeks, avoid sharp food like potato chips, crackers and pretzels.
I was told that you could eat mashed potatoes as well. But from what I’ve heard y’all want to eat the colder foods. The colder foods help with swelling and pain.
According to that sheet as well the general instructions include:
Tonsillectomy general instructions
- Cold compresses on the neck maybe helpful.
- Earache is common after tonsillectomy. This is simply the irritation in the throat being felt in the ear. It does not mean an ear infection is present.
- Yellow/white coating in the throw is common.
- The tongue and uvula will feel sore and swollen.
- Avoid coughing hard, hawking or harsh throat clearing.
- Bad breath may occur for several days. This is helped by drinking lots of fluids.
- Avoid hot, sweaty activity for one week. Children can often return to school in 4 to 7 days, but teacher should be advised about limited activities.
- You can use over-the-counter throat spray such as Chloraseptic. Do not gargle, but hold in the back of your throat to numb the area.
Also on my paperwork I was given says if you have a fever that persist or goes over 102° to give them a call. It also states that if persistent bleeding occurs to give them a call however, a small amount (such as A tablespoon) maybe seen and is normal.
Follow Courageous Christian Father so you won’t miss an update on the recovery process. I will share Week 1 and Week 2 and Tips.
Introduction | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 | Day 11 | Day 12 | Day 13 | Day 14 | Extended Recovery | Recovery Tips
About the Author
Sharing is Caring! Please Share!
Discover more from Courageous Christian Father
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
praying
Thank you Kennedy
you are welcome
Prayers
Thank you Kim
Prayers Steve I hope you are able to only need a week but the truth is its harder to heal the older you are
It is harder on an adult they say.