Hey all,

I had a tonsillectomy and UPPP on December 20 and I'm still exhausted. I'm a med student so I don't really have time to nap, but I'm finding that's it is almost impossible to get up in the morning. I'm like a zombie! I used to function pretty well on 5-6 hrs a sleep a day or less, and now I barely can get up after 6 hrs. My ENT wanted me to take some time off school to recover, but that's really not an option. I'm still on pain meds as need (ultracet a non-narcotic).
I understand the UPPP extends the recovery time a little compared to a tonsillectomy alone, but still it's been so long.

Any other vetrans out there, how long until you are completely back to normal?
How long until you didn't need extra sleep?

I'm sorry I dont have an answer, but what is UPPP

UPPP is a uvulectomy with partial soft pallet removal as well. This opens up the back of the throat and supposedly helps with sleep apnea. The jury is still out on the pro's and con's of UPPP.

I passed on my UPPP because of the side effects and documented cases of some necessary physical therapy requirements for up to two years to insure proper recovery. My ENT said it would be 3-6 months for the complete recovery if I had been given a UPPP. This is just one source and he like to give me the worse case scenario. As a med student you have access to many MD's and refences, check with your staff ENT's and ENT residents.. that is how I got most of my information. (via OB sis)

MG

I went to 3 ENTs and my surgical and internal med professors and they all agreed that I am a unique case where a UPPP is actually a good surgical option because I had the anatomic defect of an extremely long soft palate and I had a completely obstructive apnea process that turned into a hyponea as I lost weight. I also chronically had a positive strep test seperatly on my tonsils.

According to my professors the reason that most people need physical therapy is because they had the surgery for sleep apnea only and not because severe abnormal anatomy like mine. Well the surgery was done rather well because not my soft palate looks about the same length as a normal palate (just no uvula) and I only had 1 of nasal regurgitation the day of the surgery and nothing since then.

Anyways I was told that my recovery would be about 2-4 weeks until I could go to school. So I went back to school in 2 weeks after the surgery and boy do I regret that! The last 4 weeks have been exhausting. I'm still doing ok on my tests, but I look like a zombie. My surgeon thinks the stress of the 12+ hours days is stunting my healing and wants me to take some time off, but I can't do that. No one told me it would be 3-6 months!

It's so strange too because my uncle had this surgery last year and he was eating sandwhiches and off meds on day 8 and completely back to normal in 2weeks. I still can't eat anything but soft food and I take a non-narcotic pain med every day!

If anyone else has been through this, it would be great to hear from you, or any other words of encouragement, advise, etc.

Multivitamins, zinc 50mg and vitamin c 500mg per day with food

Aren't you the one who had an unexpected bleed somewhere in the day 20s? I don't remember if you said you had to go back to the ER? Whenever you have a bleed after the surgery, then you essentially go back to day 1 post op in terms of recovery, more or less. It's not surprising that you're still feeling crappy.

Hopefully you'll start feeling better soon. But don't be frustrated, it's a big surgery and you've been pushing yourself a lot, so it's not really all that surprising that you feel this way. Just go easy on yourself and don't push yourself too much.

I did have a bleed on day 23! That makes so much more sense. I just didn't put 2 and 2 together. I was told to go back to day one in terms of food, but I didn't even think about in terms of tiredness. I guess I'm not superwomen! I'm going to try the vitamins though! Thanks a bunch guys!

I am on day 16 post-op and I am still pooped. My energy level just isn't what it was pre-op. I am feeling better, dont have any pain anymore, but I still find I am completely exhausted by the end of the day. I was told it could be 3-4 weeks post-op to feel completely "normal" again.