I've been reading these posts for weeks (probably a bad idea). My anxiety level probably rose with every post I read, befor my operation.

I am a 38 year old, male. I had my tonsils removed on Tuesday, 1-16-07. The reason for this post is to inform people, in the adult catagory, of one man's experience of the first week and a half of recovery. I am on my 11th day, and feeling pretty good. I will copy/paste my daily notes, but first, a few bullet points of interest.

- There is a very good chance that your uvula will swell to the point you are calling the Dr., begging for Prednisone, to reduce the discomfort
- I was prescribed Tylenol 3 with codeine, and Percocet. I never used the Percocet.
- Except for the middle of the night, and mornings, my pain level never exceded a 3, on the 1-10 scale. When I would wake up the pain was a 6 or 7, but the Tylenol w/ codeine kicks in within about 10 minutes.
- You will not have an appetite. Maybe a craving for flavors, but no appetite.
- I was never seen without a glass of water in hand. I think this helped with the pain and scabs not falling off, prematurely. Stay super hydrated.
- At day 11, I still have most of my scabs.
- My scabs never "fell off". They only slowly receded from the edges. My Dr. daid that they will probably take a month to totally disappear.
- Stay on the Tylenol w/ codeine, and you will not have a problem
- My T3 w/ codeine was prescribed for 2-3 teaspoons every 4 hours. I found that it was wearing off at about 3 1/2 hours, so I changed the amount and frequency to 1 1/2 teaspoons every 2 hours. This was based on a recommendation from this web site, and it worked great.
- At day 11, I am now eating anything. Spicy foods are not a problem. Any foods with sharp edges are OK for me, as long as I chew them well.
- Taste has changed a little. The sugars in foods have a strange taste. Any food with a higher sugar content seems to have a "sugar free", "diet" taste to it.

OK, many of those comments, above, differ from posts I've read. That's why I decided to make this post. Here is my journal from Day 1.




Dave’s Tonsillectomy Notes

Day 1 Tuesday, 1-16-07

Weight before surgery 172 lb., unclothed
Food consumed 8 oz. Jell-O
Pain Level 2 or 3
Surgery site Dark gray at cauterizing site, getting much lighter and developing a white film.

- Told Anesthesiologist about past experiences with nausea.
- No nausea after surgery.
- Went to Hershey Pharmacy with Mom to fill prescriptions (1 pint Tylenol w/ codeine, 1 pint amoxicillin, 30 percoset). We ran into Lorraine Reese.
- Came home and took 1st dose of Tylenol 3 w/ codeine (3tsp. per 4hr.) and liquid amoxicillin (2tsp per 8hr.)
- Felt fine. Throat is just a little scratchy.
- Tongue is slightly swollen with wavy sides.
- Drinking water. Tried Jell-O, seemed to burn a little. No food all day
- Around 5:00PM my uvula began to swell and deform. It was about the diameter of a nickel, and over an inch long. I’m having trouble finding a good place to "flop" it to. I’m gagging constantly.
- Went to bed at 1:30AM



Day 2 Wednesday, 1-17-07

Weight (unclothed) 164 lb. (- 8 lb., big drop in weight, may be dehydrated from the anesthesia)
Food Consumed 1 Ensure, 8 oz. Jell-O
Pain Level 1
Surgery site Looks like coffee grinds covered with a thick film of yogurt
Total sleep 6 hours (including afternoon nap)

- Got up at 4:30AM for T3.
- Did not sleep last night. Each time I would doze off, air would move the uvula, and I would wake up gagging.
- Called Fornadley’s office, spoke with Syd. Prednisone was prescribed to reduce the swelling of the uvula.
- Today pain is a 1 or 2 at the most on the 1-10 scale.
- 12:00 Noon, still haven’t eaten anything yet.
- Drank 1 Ensure shake (Homemade vanilla shake flavor), tasted good but covered mouth and throat with slimy film.
- Christine picked up the prednisone (3 tablets). The first tablet got stuck in one of the holes where a tonsil used to be, but got washed down. The second (2 today, 1 tomorrow) I crushed into powder in a shot glass and mixed with apple juice. Went down well.
- The prednisone did not appear to reduce the swelling too much. However, I did manage to sleep (about 3 hr.) without gagging on my uvula.
- Water is going down much easier than yesterday. I’m never without a glass in-hand or close by.
- 9:00PM, ate about 8 oz. of Jell-O
- Still taking T3 every 4 hr., and amoxicillin every 8 hr.
- Fell asleep at 1:30AM after taking T3



Day 3 Thursday, 1-18-07

- Woke up at 5:00AM. Pain was around a 6. The alcohol based, T3, went down very hard. Gums ached. But, the pain subsided to a 2-3 within 30 minutes.

Weight (unclothed) 162 lb. ( -10 lb.)
Food Consumed 1 Ensure, 24 oz. Jell-O, 1 8-oz. Flan
Pain Level 2 (not including 1st 30 minutes of morning)
Surgery site Unchanged, except for some redness through white scabs.
Total sleep 3 hours

- The uvula is still swollen but tolerable. Drove to library and K-mart with Christine and David.
- Irene Youngman brought me a get well card and a pint of Haagen Dasz Raspberry Sorbet.
- Beth Elliot sent a gift bag of baked stuff over. Too bad I can’t eat it.
- It’s been an uneventful day.
- Had a difficult time falling asleep; the uvula continuously blocked airflow. Fell asleep at about 2:00AM



Day 4 Friday, 1-19-07

- Woke up at 5:15AM. Pain was around a 7. My lower jaw and gums reminded me of getting braces tightened when I was 14. Pain subsided to a 1-2 within 15-20 minutes of Tylenol 3 w/ Codeine.

Weight (unclothed) 163 lb. ( -9 lb.)
Food Consumed 12 oz. Jell-O, 1 Ensure shake, 6 oz. chicken broth
Pain Level 3-4
Surgery site Thick white scabbing with some red mixed through
Total sleep 5 hours, 15 minutes

- The uvula is still swollen but tolerable.
- Starting to “feel” scabs on surgery area. It is not scratchy or uncomfortable, just noticeable.
- So far, today, water is slightly painful to swallow.
- 9:15AM- Tylenol 3 burned and caused instant, severe pain in lower jaw and gums. Pain subsided within 10 minutes.
- I basically passed out at 10:00AM from lack of sleep. When I woke up (12:00) my jaw, gums, and throat rated at least an 8. I was 15 minutes away from my next dose of T3; I took it immediately. The pain subsided within 15 minutes. It’s amazing how fast the liquid medicine kicks in.
- 3:00PM- Started feeling very tired and nauseous. Fell asleep for 2 hours. Had no problems with uvula.
- 10:00PM- Drank a small cup of ******* chicken broth.
- Fell asleep at 2:00AM



Day 5 Saturday, 1-20-07

- Woke up at 4:00AM. No change in pain. Scabs look like they might be receding from the outside. No scabs are falling off yet.

Weight (unclothed) 163 lb. ( -9 lb.)
Food Consumed 1 Ensure shake, 8 oz. ******* chicken broth, 12 oz. Jell-O
Pain Level 2-3
Surgery site Morning- Scabs receding from outside, Red blood in very back of each hole
Total sleep 4 hours

- Took a 1.5 hour nap.
- Woke up at 12:00PM. Went to K-mart, CVS, and Giant with Kaitlin, David, and Christine.
- Christine picked up a T3 refill from Hershey Pharmacy.
- Nap 4-6
- Started taking 1.5 teaspoon of T3 every 2 hours, to manage pain better. Same volume, just different frequency.
- Went to sleep at 10:30PM



Day 6 Sunday, 1-21-07

- Got 7 hours of sleep last night. Feel much better. Woke up at 4 hours for T3, and fell asleep for 3 more. In the morning I had the same bad pain, as expected whenever I first wake up. But, it diminished after the first dose of T3.

Weight (unclothed) 160 lb. ( -12 lb.)
Food Consumed 1 Ensure shake, 2- 6 oz. Jell-O, 2- 6 oz. Swiss Miss banana pudding
Pain Level 1-2
Surgery site Scabs receding from edges, clot of blood deep in left side.
Total sleep 7 hours

- Scabs definitely receding, not “falling off”. Scabs are healing similar to that of a scab on your knee; after days of healing, the edges just start crumbling off with new skin underneath. Painless.
- Clot of blood noticed deep in left side where tonsil used to be
- Nap 2:30-4:30
- Fell asleep at 1:00AM



Day 7 Monday, 1-22-07

- Woke up at 5 for T3, fell back asleep, woke up at 7. Total speep last night = 7 hours

Weight (unclothed) 160 lb. ( -12 lb.)
Food Consumed 1 Ensure shake, 1 cup instant noodle soup, 2- 4oz. Jell-O, 3- 4oz. pudding
Pain Level 2-3
Surgery site No change
Total sleep 7hr. + 3hr.

- Nap 10:30-1:30 (3 hr.)



Day 8 Tuesday, 1-23-07


Weight (unclothed) 161 lb. ( -11 lb.)
Food Consumed 2 pieces of corn bread, 1 chicken nugget,
Pain Level 2-3
Surgery site Scabs receding more, some small pieced falling off (no increase in pain)
Total sleep 5.5 hours

- Had snack at Costco



Day 9 Wednesday, 1-24-07


Weight (unclothed) 160 lb. ( -12 lb.)
Food Consumed Eating freely
Pain Level 2-3
Surgery site same
Total sleep 6 hours

- Pooped for the first time since the day before surgery.
- Called Dr. Fornadley for new T3 prescription
- Picked up T3 and Amoxicillin refill.
- It looks like I will not have to use the prescribed Percoset. The pain was never bad enough.



Day 10 Friday, 1-25-07


Weight (unclothed) 161 lb. ( -11 lb.)
Food Consumed Eating freely
Pain Level 1-2 It now just feels like a mild soar throat. T3 with codeine in only used before sleep and upon waking in the morning.
Surgery site same
Total sleep 8 hours



Day 11 Thursday, 1-26-07


Weight (unclothed) 158 lb. ( -14 lb.)
Food Consumed Eating freely
Pain Level 1-2
Surgery site same
Total sleep 6 hours

Oh, I forgot to mension, I never had any real bleeding.

Dave.. I am SO, SO, SO grateful for your detailed post!! ...cause.. I am a 38 yo male, and I am about to have my tonsils out on Feb 5th. I, too, have been freaked out - in high-anxiety drive - by all the posts here the past few weeks... so it was good to read yours... obviously very specifically geared towards my age and gender. What's also interesting is... my doctor specifically says ... of all the pain meds.. he finds Tylenol 3 with coedine the most effective as well. The other things he was kinda emphatic about was... all cold stuff the first 10 days... AND.. even though I'm, obviously, gonna need to rest... he said he wanted me to walk daily... AND...when I sleep.. sleep propped up. So.. there you have it. Any feed back on that stuff? Thanks again, Dave!! :)

Your throat will tell you what temp to drink your drinks.

Take the T3 w/ codeine, as prescribed. Make sure you set your alarm at night to wake up. You don't want to go an hour over, and wake up to significant pain.

Sleep position
1) If your uvula is not swollen, and you don't snore, just keep your head above your heart.
2) If your uvual is swollen, you will know how high to prop yourself up. If your in the wrong position, the uvula will block the airflow, and you will wake up every time you start to doze off. For me it was almost completely upright the first 3 days.
3) If your uvual is not swollen, and you do snore, find the best position to reduce or prevent the snoring. Your throat will be much happier without the snoring. Keep in mind, your head should still be above your heart.

Remember, everybody's different. Maybe I just lucked out.

Good luck Matt,

djc430

Hey Dave...

Thanks... are you set to go back to work after 14 days? .. and if so... do you think you'll be ready to? Also.. how's your voice feeling? ... and -last question... I noticed in your original post ... you did seem to step out of the house a few times for little trips... but for the most part... have you been pretty much home-bound the whole time? Thanks! -Matt

Matt,

I go back to work on Wednesday. That will be the 15th day from surgery. I don't think I'll have a problem. I could have gone back to work yesterday (day 10). By the time I go back to work, I'm guessing it will feel like a mild soar throat. But, you never know.

To tell you the truth, I havn't had any problems with my voice. The first few days I didn't do much talking. However, I did notice that if I talked a lot, it would start to get soar. Day 2, I called into work and actully had to make my voice sound worse than it really was.

I wasn't homebound at all. The first time I went out to the store, I didn't feel that great, but I think that was from not sleeping. I was just totally run down. I also noticed that when I did go out, I would naturally talk more. When you're sitting next to someone in a car, or walking around right beside them, what else is there to do but talk?

Going into this, I imagined myself lying in bed like Cindy and Carol Brady, but it turned out to be opposite. I spent zero time "sick in bed." Well, I shouldn't say zero... more like 5 or 10%. I watched TV in bed.

I sure hope you have the same (or better) experience I had. Let me know if you have any more questions.

Dave

Hey Dave,

much appreciated! I'm hoping for the best.. and it does seem... staying hydrated with lots of water... and waking up out of sleep to take the pain meds is key.

again ... thanks!!

-Matt

wow.

i'm a 38YO woman thinking about having this done, and yours is the most encouraging story i've heard. i see my ENT on tuesday to discuss the situation.

sooo jealous you had it so good hahaha glad you are well and gl to the rest of you xx

Wow that's a comprehensive log you kept.

I had mine out last August, let me try run you through my experience. (I was 39)

First 5 days post surgery was fine (uncomfortable) but bearable with some codeine. My misery started when the scabbing started. Seems a scab started forming right on the nerve and when aggravated, it would send 8/10 pain shooting from my throat causing referred pain into my ear. I know what pain is all about. (I've been shot and stabbed in the line of work)

It was so painful I'd ground my teeth so hard I damaged them.

At about day 8 I had a bleed. A scab must have fallen off and I woke up with a mouth full of blood. I grabbed a 500ml water bottle and just about 1/2 filled it in the taxi on the way back to hospital. In the ER room they did nothing but observe me and gave me some plasma and extra antibiotics in a drip.

After that I started improving quickly, particularly after about day 15. Make sure you are careful with the pain meds. I took codeine every day for about 3 week, combined with the operation and inadequate diet the constipation was terrible.