Comments on: How To: Quickly Recover from a Tonsillectomy as an Adult http://www.karlkatzke.com/how-to-quickly-recover-from-a-tonsillectomy-as-an-adult/ Geek of the Week Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:39:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: karlkatzke http://www.karlkatzke.com/how-to-quickly-recover-from-a-tonsillectomy-as-an-adult/comment-page-17/#comment-1210 karlkatzke Tue, 23 Sep 2008 01:45:48 +0000 http://www.karlkatzke.com/2007/06/22/how-to-quickly-recover-from-a-tonsillectomy-as-an-adult/#comment-1210 Due to the whopping 840 comments that have been left here in the last year, I created a forum to handle your advice and stories about your own tonsils. <p><font color="red"><b>Comments on this page are closed -- please <a href="http://www.karlkatzke.com/forum/?CategoryID=2" rel="nofollow">go to the forums to share your stories and tips</a>.</b></font></p> Due to the whopping 840 comments that have been left here in the last year, I created a forum to handle your advice and stories about your own tonsils.

Comments on this page are closed — please go to the forums to share your stories and tips.

]]> By: Kelly http://www.karlkatzke.com/how-to-quickly-recover-from-a-tonsillectomy-as-an-adult/comment-page-17/#comment-1209 Kelly Tue, 23 Sep 2008 01:30:52 +0000 http://www.karlkatzke.com/2007/06/22/how-to-quickly-recover-from-a-tonsillectomy-as-an-adult/#comment-1209 I'm on Day 4 after my Tonsillectomy. Day 1 was okay. I was in quite the daze after the surgery from the anesthesia and morphine. Day 2 was horrible, and it's just getting worse. They gave me codeine which did not even TOUCH the pain. So hubby called for something stronger and they gave me Lortab. It's working a bit better. I've been eating pudding, popsicles, smoothies, and lots of soup. I try to drink ice water but it HURTS. My whole neck and throat area hurts, and my ears are pounding. I would take child birth over this any day. I didn't think it would be this bad, but yeah it is. So far, it's not worth it. I just can't wait till this is over. And I generally tolerate pain pretty well! I can't wait to eat some real food! I've lost 6 lbs so far, so I guess that isn't a bad thing :) Good luck to everyone! I’m on Day 4 after my Tonsillectomy. Day 1 was okay. I was in quite the daze after the surgery from the anesthesia and morphine. Day 2 was horrible, and it’s just getting worse. They gave me codeine which did not even TOUCH the pain. So hubby called for something stronger and they gave me Lortab. It’s working a bit better. I’ve been eating pudding, popsicles, smoothies, and lots of soup. I try to drink ice water but it HURTS. My whole neck and throat area hurts, and my ears are pounding. I would take child birth over this any day. I didn’t think it would be this bad, but yeah it is. So far, it’s not worth it. I just can’t wait till this is over. And I generally tolerate pain pretty well! I can’t wait to eat some real food! I’ve lost 6 lbs so far, so I guess that isn’t a bad thing :)
Good luck to everyone!

]]> By: Stef http://www.karlkatzke.com/how-to-quickly-recover-from-a-tonsillectomy-as-an-adult/comment-page-17/#comment-1208 Stef Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:38:19 +0000 http://www.karlkatzke.com/2007/06/22/how-to-quickly-recover-from-a-tonsillectomy-as-an-adult/#comment-1208 Theresa, First of all, you can do it! Have faith in yourself. Everyone tried to tell me the same thing but I wouldn't listen to them. I had to prove it to myself. And I did: I was just fine :) I did take my pain meds for 10 days, but I think it was mostly unnecessary. (No, this is not a brag or an exaggeration.) Yes it took the edge off and I would have been a lot more miserable without them, but I think I only *really* needed them for 3-5 days. The rest of the time all they did was make me spaced out and sick to my stomach. The hospital did offer me morphine but I declined. Honestly, the only reason I started taking my vicodin was because I was afraid that I wouldn't "stay ahead of the pain" if I didn't. It wasn't like I was screaming for it or anything ;) The whole time I spaced out my doses farther than the normal 4 hours (I think I waited 5 hours on a bad day and 8 hours on a good day / when I slept through the night.) The doctor was very surprised and recommended I take it every 4 hours "just in case." I did for a few doses and then disregarded his advice :) I know it's scary, but try to stay strong. You CAN do it. Sounds like you've lived through hell already! For *me,* it wasn't nearly as bad as anything you've described here. Alan, Tell your boss to go...well, use your imagination. You just had surgery and need the time off to rest and recover. Especially if you are having complications! Your health comes first. Theresa,

First of all, you can do it! Have faith in yourself. Everyone tried to tell me the same thing but I wouldn’t listen to them. I had to prove it to myself. And I did: I was just fine :)

I did take my pain meds for 10 days, but I think it was mostly unnecessary. (No, this is not a brag or an exaggeration.) Yes it took the edge off and I would have been a lot more miserable without them, but I think I only *really* needed them for 3-5 days. The rest of the time all they did was make me spaced out and sick to my stomach.

The hospital did offer me morphine but I declined. Honestly, the only reason I started taking my vicodin was because I was afraid that I wouldn’t “stay ahead of the pain” if I didn’t. It wasn’t like I was screaming for it or anything ;) The whole time I spaced out my doses farther than the normal 4 hours (I think I waited 5 hours on a bad day and 8 hours on a good day / when I slept through the night.) The doctor was very surprised and recommended I take it every 4 hours “just in case.” I did for a few doses and then disregarded his advice :)

I know it’s scary, but try to stay strong. You CAN do it. Sounds like you’ve lived through hell already! For *me,* it wasn’t nearly as bad as anything you’ve described here.

Alan,

Tell your boss to go…well, use your imagination. You just had surgery and need the time off to rest and recover. Especially if you are having complications! Your health comes first.

]]> By: Alan http://www.karlkatzke.com/how-to-quickly-recover-from-a-tonsillectomy-as-an-adult/comment-page-17/#comment-1207 Alan Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:37:54 +0000 http://www.karlkatzke.com/2007/06/22/how-to-quickly-recover-from-a-tonsillectomy-as-an-adult/#comment-1207 I'm on day 6 and the pain is at its worst. I had a tonsillectomy and septoplasty (and decided to use this opportunity to quit smoking, as well!)Everything these accounts have mentioned is true... the scabs, the pain, the sore ears, the swelling, etc. Worst pain EVER! I have one question, though: ALL LIQUIDS IMMEDIATELY SHOOT OUT OF MY NOSE EVERY TIME I DRINK ANYTHING!!! I haven't read anything about that. I even dipped some bread into tomato soup, hoping that would help get the liquids down... THE BREAD CRUMBS CAME OUT OF MY NOSE!!!! Unbelievable. Is this happening to anyone else? If I take medicine, I have to stand over the sink, because it shoots out of my nostrils... Gatorade, water, meds, EVERYTHING! So, I'm becoming dehydrated and thinking about going back to the hospital for an I.V. except my boss won't let me out of work tomorrow. Help! I’m on day 6 and the pain is at its worst. I had a tonsillectomy and septoplasty (and decided to use this opportunity to quit smoking, as well!)Everything these accounts have mentioned is true… the scabs, the pain, the sore ears, the swelling, etc. Worst pain EVER!

I have one question, though:

ALL LIQUIDS IMMEDIATELY SHOOT OUT OF MY NOSE EVERY TIME I DRINK ANYTHING!!! I haven’t read anything about that. I even dipped some bread into tomato soup, hoping that would help get the liquids down… THE BREAD CRUMBS CAME OUT OF MY NOSE!!!! Unbelievable. Is this happening to anyone else? If I take medicine, I have to stand over the sink, because it shoots out of my nostrils… Gatorade, water, meds, EVERYTHING! So, I’m becoming dehydrated and thinking about going back to the hospital for an I.V. except my boss won’t let me out of work tomorrow. Help!

]]> By: michelle http://www.karlkatzke.com/how-to-quickly-recover-from-a-tonsillectomy-as-an-adult/comment-page-17/#comment-1206 michelle Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:56:13 +0000 http://www.karlkatzke.com/2007/06/22/how-to-quickly-recover-from-a-tonsillectomy-as-an-adult/#comment-1206 woohoo i feel so much better now i actually slept in my bed last and i woke up feeling refreshed i am still a little sore but nothing i cant handle i am eating full solid food i lend this advice it may hurt but i kept pushing to keep on back tomy solid food faster maybe that was waht helped me out i dunno or the fact that my son keeps me so busy either way i wish you all the best of luck ill stop back in and give an update when i see the doctor for my next check up woohoo i feel so much better now i actually slept in my bed last and i woke up feeling refreshed i am still a little sore but nothing i cant handle i am eating full solid food i lend this advice it may hurt but i kept pushing to keep on back tomy solid food faster maybe that was waht helped me out i dunno or the fact that my son keeps me so busy either way i wish you all the best of luck ill stop back in and give an update when i see the doctor for my next check up

]]> By: Lisa http://www.karlkatzke.com/how-to-quickly-recover-from-a-tonsillectomy-as-an-adult/comment-page-17/#comment-1202 Lisa Mon, 22 Sep 2008 04:01:25 +0000 http://www.karlkatzke.com/2007/06/22/how-to-quickly-recover-from-a-tonsillectomy-as-an-adult/#comment-1202 Theresa: I am on my 6th day after surgery (had mine done last Tues) and I hate how the pain meds make me feel, so beginning today, I am weening myself off of it (Liquid Vicodin w/Codeine - not off the antibiotic though by any means) and I'm starting to take a prescription of 800 mg of Ibuprofin - it is an Anti-inflammatory among other things. If you have a high tolerance to pain this might work for you. First thing I asked my doc when I saw him before surgery is if there was a liquid morphine. I had that after a surgery too and it worked perfectly. But, no such luck in a liquid form :( or so he says. I am sucking on a throat lozenger as we speak and it feels good on my throat...just another tip. And, don't let all these horror stories frighten you, I did too and no doubt...it's not a picnic but I didn't experience a lot of the horror story stuff...thank God! Best of Luck To You! Theresa: I am on my 6th day after surgery (had mine done last Tues) and I hate how the pain meds make me feel, so beginning today, I am weening myself off of it (Liquid Vicodin w/Codeine – not off the antibiotic though by any means) and I’m starting to take a prescription of 800 mg of Ibuprofin – it is an Anti-inflammatory among other things. If you have a high tolerance to pain this might work for you. First thing I asked my doc when I saw him before surgery is if there was a liquid morphine. I had that after a surgery too and it worked perfectly. But, no such luck in a liquid form :( or so he says. I am sucking on a throat lozenger as we speak and it feels good on my throat…just another tip. And, don’t let all these horror stories frighten you, I did too and no doubt…it’s not a picnic but I didn’t experience a lot of the horror story stuff…thank God! Best of Luck To You!

]]> By: Theresa http://www.karlkatzke.com/how-to-quickly-recover-from-a-tonsillectomy-as-an-adult/comment-page-17/#comment-1201 Theresa Mon, 22 Sep 2008 03:21:49 +0000 http://www.karlkatzke.com/2007/06/22/how-to-quickly-recover-from-a-tonsillectomy-as-an-adult/#comment-1201 Well, I've spent the last 3 hours reading these responses. I am 45 years old and on October 10 I am scheduled to have a tonsillectomy and have my diviated septum repaired. My main complaint is constant sinus infections, but my tonsils become enlarged quite regularly. My ENT says if he's going to correct my nose, he won't do it without taking my tonsils, too. I knew it would be pretty bad, after all, I almost died from a kidney infection. I was in bed for two months and and I burned my throat and the roof of my mouth from vomiting so much. It took 3 months for me to be able to eat solid food again, so I thought I could surely make it through the tonsillectomy. After reading this, I don't think I can do it. My biggest problem is that I am horribly allergic to Tylenol, and almost every pain medication contains tylenol. I was in a bad accident and had several surgeries, and they never found a pain medication that worked, except a morphine drip in the hospital. I think the pain from the tonsillectomy sounds worse that having my ankle mangled, so how on earth am I going to survive this recovery on Motrin alone? Can any of you who have been through this say you cpuld do it without the prescription pain medications? This step seems to be heavily emphasized! Also - I am impervious to lidocaine - it has no effect whatsoever. Sucks to be me. Well, I’ve spent the last 3 hours reading these responses. I am 45 years old and on October 10 I am scheduled to have a tonsillectomy and have my diviated septum repaired. My main complaint is constant sinus infections, but my tonsils become enlarged quite regularly. My ENT says if he’s going to correct my nose, he won’t do it without taking my tonsils, too. I knew it would be pretty bad, after all, I almost died from a kidney infection. I was in bed for two months and and I burned my throat and the roof of my mouth from vomiting so much. It took 3 months for me to be able to eat solid food again, so I thought I could surely make it through the tonsillectomy.

After reading this, I don’t think I can do it. My biggest problem is that I am horribly allergic to Tylenol, and almost every pain medication contains tylenol. I was in a bad accident and had several surgeries, and they never found a pain medication that worked, except a morphine drip in the hospital. I think the pain from the tonsillectomy sounds worse that having my ankle mangled, so how on earth am I going to survive this recovery on Motrin alone?

Can any of you who have been through this say you cpuld do it without the prescription pain medications? This step seems to be heavily emphasized! Also – I am impervious to lidocaine – it has no effect whatsoever.

Sucks to be me.

]]> By: Erica http://www.karlkatzke.com/how-to-quickly-recover-from-a-tonsillectomy-as-an-adult/comment-page-17/#comment-1200 Erica Sun, 21 Sep 2008 21:56:03 +0000 http://www.karlkatzke.com/2007/06/22/how-to-quickly-recover-from-a-tonsillectomy-as-an-adult/#comment-1200 Aarti, I had headaches for about 5-6 days after I stopped taking my pain meds. I think there were two things that caused them. The first thing was that I had to stop my pain meds cold turkey. I was so out of it and so sick to my stomach from my meds that I couldn't even sip water. I think there were some withdrawal issues that caused some of the trouble. Also, once I stopped taking the pain meds, I was able to eat and sleep a little better. I was only able to sleep on one side with my head tipped back so that I could breathe. I kept waking up with really bad tension pain in my neck which I think was also causing the headaches. I found that really cold or hot washcloths(depending on the day) felt really good on my forehead. Aarti,
I had headaches for about 5-6 days after I stopped taking my pain meds. I think there were two things that caused them. The first thing was that I had to stop my pain meds cold turkey. I was so out of it and so sick to my stomach from my meds that I couldn’t even sip water. I think there were some withdrawal issues that caused some of the trouble. Also, once I stopped taking the pain meds, I was able to eat and sleep a little better. I was only able to sleep on one side with my head tipped back so that I could breathe. I kept waking up with really bad tension pain in my neck which I think was also causing the headaches. I found that really cold or hot washcloths(depending on the day) felt really good on my forehead.

]]> By: amber2 http://www.karlkatzke.com/how-to-quickly-recover-from-a-tonsillectomy-as-an-adult/comment-page-17/#comment-1199 amber2 Sun, 21 Sep 2008 20:45:41 +0000 http://www.karlkatzke.com/2007/06/22/how-to-quickly-recover-from-a-tonsillectomy-as-an-adult/#comment-1199 @All, Hi everyone, Just wanted to give an update. It has been 6 weeks since I had my T&A done. The road has been tough. I have had thrush 3 times! My doc said that was why food did not taste right. Also, thrush can be hard to get rid off and it is very important to finish all the meds. I would stil do it again if i had to. For those of you just getting started, DRINK, DRINK, DRINK, TIL YOUR EYEBALLS FLOAT!Also, if your mouth taste and smells like crap, I mean REALLY BAD call your doc, you could have a secondary infection that can be easily fixed with a change in antibiotics. If your tongue is white, it is probably thrush. Call your doc for this too. Finally, if it has been a month or so and food still doesn't taste right, then call your doc. I hope everyone takes it slow. I KNOW THAT IT IS A BITCH AT FIRST! But eventually, it does get better. @All,
Hi everyone,
Just wanted to give an update. It has been 6 weeks since I had my T&A done. The road has been tough. I have had thrush 3 times!
My doc said that was why food did not taste right. Also, thrush can be hard to get rid off and it is very important to finish all the meds. I would stil do it again if i had to. For those of you just getting started, DRINK, DRINK, DRINK, TIL YOUR EYEBALLS FLOAT!Also, if your mouth taste and smells like crap, I mean REALLY BAD
call your doc, you could have a secondary infection that can be easily fixed with a change in antibiotics. If your tongue is white, it is probably thrush. Call your doc for this too. Finally, if it has been a month or so and food still doesn’t taste right, then call your doc. I hope everyone takes it slow. I KNOW THAT IT IS A BITCH AT FIRST! But eventually, it does get better.

]]> By: Aarti http://www.karlkatzke.com/how-to-quickly-recover-from-a-tonsillectomy-as-an-adult/comment-page-17/#comment-1198 Aarti Sun, 21 Sep 2008 18:05:15 +0000 http://www.karlkatzke.com/2007/06/22/how-to-quickly-recover-from-a-tonsillectomy-as-an-adult/#comment-1198 Hi Paula Yes I remember you saying about the headaches on the earlier posts. Today has been really bad, like my head is going to rip/explode. It's a bit like a migraine. Yes, I am also getting very tired and have had emotional outburts. Sounds similar to you. Maybe time will sort it, if not a trip down to the GP maybe due. The problem with that is they make you feel really silly for going and don't really care. Hi Paula

Yes I remember you saying about the headaches on the earlier posts. Today has been really bad, like my head is going to rip/explode. It’s a bit like a migraine. Yes, I am also getting very tired and have had emotional outburts. Sounds similar to you. Maybe time will sort it, if not a trip down to the GP maybe due. The problem with that is they make you feel really silly for going and don’t really care.

]]>