I am on day 8 of my tonsillectomy and what hell it has been! I did allot of research online before hand to get as much info as I could. I felt I was pretty prepared (and terrified) from all I had read.
I am 33 years old and have had problems with chronic tonsilitis and cryptic tonsils so we decided it was best to get them out. The day of my surgery I was nervous! I went into the operating room at about 9am and I left the recovery room at about 11:30 am. I was admitted for observation and at about 3pm I decided I would be more comfortable at home. That was my first mistake! If they want to keep you, let them! They will make you comfortable and they will give you the IV fluids you need.
The rest of that day wasn't too bad, sore throat and tired, and even the next day wasn't too bad. I remember thinking that I had prepared for the worst and was plesantly surprised. Well, the 3rd day hit me like a ton of bricks. I was SOOOO sore, everything hurt. My tongue, my teeth my throat my ears. Every sip I took was like a knife stabbing me in the tongue. Therefor I wasn't drinking much and forget about eating. BIG MISTAKE!!! Day 5 I felt so crappy and lethargic and just not right. I went to the ER with dehydration. After a few hours of IV fluids I was sent home. It was short lived and 2 days later I landed back in the hospital, admitted for 2 days for severe dehydration. I just wasnt drinking enough. (ok, I'll come clean, I only drank when I took pain meds, I cant explain it, I knew I needed to, but physically I couldnt) It made my throat so dry and stiff and the white junk inside was so hard. It was hell. I cried and cried. In the hospital I was on IV fluids and antibiotics and I had a mask like an oxygen mask hooked up to a humudifer. I am back home from the hosptial today and its MUCH better. My throat looks 1,000 times better and isnt nearly as sore and I didnt take any pain meds today.
I must stress to anyone who has this surgery coming up, DRINK, DRINK and DRINK no matter how bad it hurts. Keeping your throat moist makes the pain hurt less. Also, chew allot of gum. I didnt do this until yesterday when I was in the hospital and it really works to move your muscles around in your mouth and it produces saliva to help keep it moist in there. I am chewing just plain bubble gum flavor. I have lost 10lbs this week from not eating and just began to eat yesterday. I'm still just eating soft things, but am feeling better. Oh, and no milk products for several days afterward..it produces too much mucus. I wish I had MADE myself drink non-stop and I think it could have avoided allot of the pain and suffering I went thru.
I finally feel like I have turned the corner and am on my way to healing now. I dont have scabs yet. I had allot of thick thick mucus build up that is now all gone since I am well hydrated. So I do still have to go thru the scabs and them falling off. Oh, I had no bleeding after surgery at all. My breath doesnt seem bad. I had heard that people wouldnt even go in the same room with you that its that bad. I have asked friends and they say it isnt that bad at all. I do have some taste issues..things do taste differently now and I do have allot of pain in my tongue. It hurts allot to yawn. My uvula was SO swollen, but today it is back to normal size. Hmmm.. what else am I forgetting?? It was just a really horrible, horrible expierience for me and I am glad I am now starting to feel better. Just remember to get those fluids down, its the best advise I can give!!:D

So glad you are once again feeling human.i know surgery in itself anywhere can be rough and you most definitely DO need those extra fluids,but can totally see why you had a hard time with that.i am sure drinking anything was pretty excruciating.but you live and learn right?did you ever try something like chloroseptic that has an actual numbing agent?glad your okay now,hopefully all of this is now behind you.good luck,FB

Hi FB,

No, I did not try chloraseptic. The doctor said not to use it or any kind of mouthwash. Many people actually suggested it, but the doc said no. I am feeling human again, although still very weak and tired. It will take time to build up my strength after a week like that! Another thing I advise when having this surgery is have someone with you at all times that first week! My husband is overseas right now and although family and friends were great about visiting, they didnt stay long thinking it might be too much for me. Perhaps if I had someone here to "make" me drink, I might have had an easier time. I also had problems with the pain meds. They gave Roxicet which is liquid percoset and oooooh does my tummy not like that. I ended up on Vicoden and it was much easier to tollerate. But phew, I made it thru and its over!!!!!!:)

That's the most important advice that I give to people getting a tonsillectomy....water, water and more water. When you think you have had enough drink some more. When I got mine out, I forced myself to drink. I had a pretty easy recovery (at age 36) and I credit it to the water and staying hydrated. It really does help and the more you swallow the less it hurts. I made sure mine was as icy as could be and it numbed my throat at the same time.

I have also heard not to use things like Chloroseptic.

I had a terrible time with the pain meds also. I ended up getting some liquid extra strength Tylenol and I felt so much better after that.

Sorry you had a rough time. Hope you are on the mend now!

Just wanted to say that I'm sorry you went through all that pain and I hope you feel better!

Hi,
I was just wondering by what method your tonsils were removed? I am scheduled for coblation tonsillectomy on Feb 19 and am trying to get an idea of what to expect. Thanks, Christy

Honestly, I have no idea how they were removed. All I know is that they are gone!! I am at day 12 now and feeling allot better. All the gunk in my mouth is gone, just a thin white coating in the holes where the tonsils were. I have no pain when swallowing, but it just feels sorta tight to swallow. The only pain I have now is to yawn. Man does that kill! I still am having issues with eating. Everything tastes funny. Really salty for some reason. I make something, take 2 bites and don't want it anymore. I pretty much just eat chicken noodle soup. It goes down so easy. Other foods dont hurt to eat anymore, but afterwards it always feels like stuff is stuck in there and I dont like it, so I am just not eating a whole lot. I am able to drink lots now and its not uncomfortable, so I have been drinking lots of fluids. Mornings are still uncomfortable, but definitaly better. You are so dry and stiff in the morning. I keep a drink right by my bed to sip thru the night as I wake as well as first thing in the morning. The only other thing I find is that my mouth gets fatigued right now from too much talking. My jaw starts to get sore. But overall I am sooooo much better than I was just 4 days ago. Good Luck to you and please, please take my advise and DRINK contantly no matter how bad it hurts. It will hurt so much more if you are dehydrated. :)