February 8, 2011
Post Op – Tonsillectomy Days 1-7
Having my tonsils out at 41 wasn’t something that I’d ever planned on doing but it was time. I had been dealing with small, pockety tonsils all my life. It wasn’t bad all the time, but in the recent years as my allergies became worse they became more and more high maintenance and quite frankly I was tired of dealing with them.
If you have pockety tonsils, then you feel my pain. If you don’t have pocket tonsils then you are VERY lucky. All the crap that normally goes down your throat with normal tonsils collects in the tonsil pockets and let’s just say that this isn’t so pleasant. The smell is horrible. Discharging the “gunk” from the pockets isn’t pleasant either, especially if you have a gag reflex. The constant gargling, mouthwash, breathmints, etc. becomes part of the daily routine, but it is a HUGE pain in the ass and quite frankly can be a major embarrassment.
Several months ago I started researching these tonsil pockets what could be done about them….the answer. Nothing. There is no fix. The only cure is having the tonsils removed. One visit to the ENT and mentioning the tonsil “crypts” as they are called and that was it. The doctor agreed that I was a candidate for tonsillectomy. I asked some questions and then came home to think about it.
The thing that I found hardest to believe was that I would need a 10 day recovery – 10 days off from work. For tonsils. What ever happened to ice cream and popsicles? I guess those days are gone.
Today, as I type this I am 7 days post op. I am eating soft foods but there is still a lot of major throat discomfort. It isn’t really pain at this point. The closest thing I can liken it to is major strep throat….the kind where it hurts to swallow your own spit. Of course this feels good compared to what it felt like a few days ago. Here’s a little recap of the previous post op days.
Day 1 – surgery at 8:15, home by 12:30. Hubby went to get prescriptions filled. Was drinking ginger ale with crushed iced immediately after surgery. Pain meds round the clock – every 6 hours, with antibiotic at night. Clear liquids for dinner – jello and chicken broth for dinner. Hydration is key. Pains meds on an empty stomach caused nausea, but there was no vomiting. Waking up every two hours throughout the night to drink something. Pain well controlled with pain meds but the time between hours 5 and 6 was rough. Clear liquid nutrition supplements 2 times per day – Resource Fruit Beverage. Surgical site raw with scabs formed at cauterization sites.
Day 2 – I actually felt pretty good. I was talking with no problem. The pain was there but tolerable with the pain meds. Used magic mouthwash after eating as this was the most painful time. Clear liquids for most of the day. Chicken and Stars for lunch. Pudding and mac/cheese for dinner. Still drinking LOTS of liquids. Clear liquid nutrition supplements 2 times per day – Resource Fruit Beverage. White scab forming and covering surgical site. epiglottis is inflamed. This feels strange when I swallow. Magic mouthwash will hopefully help reduce the swelling.
Day 3 – Feeling a bit worse. Pain is a little more severe. Pain meds still helping. Magic mouthwash still immediately following meals. Clears and full liquids work best. Had some mashed potatoes with gravy for lunch. Tried a scrambled egg for dinner….the small bits got stuck at the back of my throat. This wasn’t so pleasant. Sent hubby for ice cream sundae and milkshake. AHHHH. Pain in both ears. This in normal but I think this hurts worse than the throat.
Day 4 – Pain meds round the clock. Diet pretty much the same. Soup for dinner. Made a grilled cheese sandwich too…wishful thinking….gave it to hubby. The nights are the hardest. I started sleeping on the couch midway through the night. Sleeping too long lets the throat get too dry. It’s best to wake up every 2 hours (by alarm) and drink something. Any longer than this is uncomfortable and you risk getting dried out and bleeding. Ear pain is still there. Uncomfortable. Doesn’t go away with pain meds.
Day 5 – Feeling a lot better but really tired from getting up every 2 hours for the past several days. Sister and nephew came over bearing Root beer float fixings! Good stuff. I had 3 that day. Superbowl Sunday – meatballs…ate three of them. Regretted it later. Magic mouthwash came in very handy. Made cabbage rolls. Nice and soft, served with mashed potatoes. Still drinking lots of fluids. Goal 2 liters daily. Scabs are still there. epiglottis isn’t as swollen. Kind of looks normal. Back of tongue is a little swollen still.
Day 6 – I needed food. Made bread pudding which was AWESOME. Nice and soft. Weaning off pain meds. Tapering down to every 8 hours instead of every . Still drinking but probably not enough. Feeling kind of dry. Saliva is thick and hard to swallow. Drinking more should help to thin this down and make it easier to swallow.
Day 7 – Trying to drink more liquids today. Bread pudding for lunch. Plan to have cabbage rolls for dinner. Walked the dog today. Pain meds every 12 hours today. Tolerable pain. Ear pain is lessening.
So far, it really hasn’t been so bad and I should be on the upswing now. The ear pain has been the hardest for me. I don’t do well with pain that can’t be controlled. This isn’t really PAINFUL either, it’s more annoying because it doesn’t go away. Heat feels good. Drinking plenty of liquids is definitely the key to lessen throat pain. I requested magic mouthwash from my MD. She usually doesn’t give it but was willing to try it. I think it helps most if you take it after eating. The throat is raw and aggravated at that point. It’s a lifesaver as far as it works immediately and keeps you numb for a while. In combination with the pain meds I think it helped my recovery.
Ginger said,
February 8, 2011 at 6:22 pm
I feel so bad for you. Glad its almost over and you’ll be done with your tonsils and all the years of trouble they have brought you for good. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Wooohoooo~!
Thanks so much Ginger. I am looking forward to the light at the end of the tunnel and hope there is a glass of red wine there waiting for me next week!
Jen D said,
February 8, 2011 at 6:33 pm
My goodness Jenn…what a time of it. I am so glad you are on the upswing. Who would have known this procedure was so painful as an adult!? You’ll be drinking something Chilean, or Napa soon!
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February 9, 2011 at 6:43 am
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courtney said,
March 10, 2011 at 2:23 am
Could you give an update of how it all went for you? I am 10 days post op myself and still have some scabs that are lingering on both sides.
The scabs will linger for another week or so….at least mine did. I was back to work and off all pain meds by day 10. I did get a really dry throat during the day. I do a lot of talking at work so in the evenings I was a little sore but it was not painful. The scabs were completely gone by Monday the following week.
Courtney said,
March 13, 2011 at 1:52 am
Thank you for your reply! I now on day 12 (night 12 actually) and still have what looks like thin layers of white on both sides. I do still have some pain, but it is quite minimal at present time. If I talk a lot though, it aggravates it. I have not really pushed myself to talk a great deal at this point, but noticed this morning, my voice was starting to sound more like myself. One problem I seem to be having is with what I feel is thrush. I have had a few little splotches on my inner cheeks and roof of mouth that appear to be thrush, but when I inquired with the ENT’s nurse, she told me to eat yogurt for the pro-biotics. I have been doing that, but it really hasn’t helped just yet. I think I will call back on Monday to ask if I need to do anything else.