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We’re on the downhill slope!
By Kate | March 17, 2008
The tonsillectomy diet is over! Well, nearly over. I am on day 10 of recovery & on Saturday I took my first departure from an all-baby food diet and ate solid food for the first time. It was glorious, gloriously painful, of course. I have also switched from my delirium-inducing prescribed narcotic to Tylenol as a painkiller, which makes me much less groggy & queasy.
Here are some Pros & Cons of an adult tonsillectomy:
Pros:
- You lose 10 lbs. without any exercise
- You get to watch an entire season of Lost and lots of movies because you are too out-of-it to read or do really anything else
- You get to have your nurse/husband make you fried eggs, and mashed potatoes and anything else you think you can swallow
- You get to stay in your PJs all day long
- You figure out that laying in bed all day isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and that maybe you really do like having a job after all
Cons:
- Eating feels like you are scraping food over an open flesh-wound (oh, wait… you are!)
- You can’t talk to anyone for in-excess of 10 days (this may be a Pro for them)
- You inevitably have the universe’s worst breath that smells like a combination of: rotting garlic, a pre-columbian duck egg cracked in your throat and a small, bloated animal went into your mouth and died of the bubonic plauge.
- Babyfood tastes really bad
- It is very difficult to stave off boredom while immobilized for over a week. After (re)watching the 20th episode of Lost, you start to feel like you are going insane.
I am still recovering, but I am confident that this surgery will be worth it. No more tonsillitis, ever! Unless of course the unlikely event occurs in which my tonsils grow back. Yes, it’s true. They can grow back. There is a lady in my ward who swears up & down that hers grew back twice. How’s that for hideous torture? But, for now, I am tonsil-free!
In case you have transgressed in your past life & ever have the awful fate of recovering from an adult tonsillectomy in your lifetime here are some tips:
Do:
- Take AT LEAST a week off from work. You’ll need it. And, you won’t be able to talk.
- Stock up on plenty of baby food, the fruit variety is best. Sometimes it’s all that you can get down.
- Have a full-time nurse. (A husband is best, from my experience… but, a friend, sibling etc. will do)
- Eat Ramen. I also liked fried eggs. Anything that is lukewarm is good. Too hot, or even too cold is bad. (I didn’t like popsicles)
- Get off your prescription painkiller as soon as you can. Tylenol doesn’t take away the bite quite as well, but I was able to eat & move around a lot more when Hydrocodone wasn’t coursing through my veins.
- Have plenty of movies on standby. You can forget about that stack of books you checked out. Reading is futile.
Don’t:
- Try and go back to work with less than a week off. It’s not going to happen. Trust me.
- Eat any tomato soup or garlicky stuff. Anything where one of the ingredients ends in acid is a bad idea.
- Have a lot of visitors over. It’s very tempting to talk a lot, and you’ll pay for that. Or rather, your throat will pay.
- Plan any big events during your week of recovery. You’ll just be sad when you can’t go.
- Feel lazy. Your throat has been sliced and cauderized (some would consider this a human rights violation). Don’t rush yourself.
Good Luck!
Tagged with: Adult tonsillectomy recovery • Lost • tonsillectomy pros and cons • tonsils growing back
March 17th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
I’m glad you’re coming around. That first pict looks like you mixed up a pot of glue to eat.. yuumm..
March 17th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Sounds like my spring break.
Get Well!
March 18th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
So thankful you’re getting better; those prayers really work, I found. I was certainly grateful for those on my behalf.
Actually (you might not be ready to hear this) your great grandmother, the famous Grandma Blan, did have her tonsils grow back a couple of times, but I’m sure the odds are overwhelmingly against that happening.
To quote Chief Inspector Dryfuss, “Every day in every way [keep] getting better and better.”
Much love,
Grandma Hicks
March 18th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
kate, i feel guilty for coming over prematurely and encouraging you to talk (you’re just fun to talk to, is all…). i’m glad that things are on the up-swing. good luck with the final stages of recovery and when we get back we should all get together…and eat solid food
March 18th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Ha! I forgot to mention that it’s also good to have people over to stave off the mind-boggling boredom that accompanies lying in bed for 7 days straight. The damage to the throat did not outweigh the uplift to my spirits!
March 18th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
^^ Next time, make each visit into a round of charades! Fun AND pain-avoidy.
March 18th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
So I googled ‘adult tonsillectomy’ to see if your website comes up. It came up on the fourth page of results. Not too bad, I’d say. The little description underneath the result quotes: “In case you have transgressed in your past life & ever have the awful fate of recovering from an adult tonsillectomy in your lifetime here are some tips: …”
I think that’d grab anyone’s attention that had had an adult tonsillectomy or planned on getting one.
Don’t worry Kate, mine haven’t grown back in 22 years. Hope you feel better!
April 21st, 2008 at 6:58 am
Hello! I just wanted to thank you for posting this. I was googling around trying to find some info as I am having a tonsillectomy on May 7th. I am absolutely, 100% completely terrified! All I have come across is absolute horror stories! But reading yours made me feel better. You don’t say that it’s a walk in the park, but you don’t make me feel like I am going to absolutely die! Thanks!
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:41 pm
I was so glad I found your blog! It gave more helpful information other than it hurts, don’t do it, or non-constructive help. I am fortunate to have a higher tolerance for pain so I your advice aided me in a speedy recovery. I read your blog before my tonsillectomy, but felt I should comment after taking your advice. Honestly, I wanted to make sure it what you said worked before sending my praise. In regards of tonsils coming back, it does happen. I was told by my ENT the electrocuatery procedure doesn’t normally have tonsil re-growth, this is the method I had done. When it came to my recovery, I added a few personal touches to what you have already listed. I also included a constant ice pack on the neck, and drank till my eyeballs floated. By forcing myself to continually drink actually made things easier in the long run. I was also able to eat soft solid foods following day of surgery. I had surgery on April 16th; I was driving and ready to go to work on the 19th. I didn’t go back to work till the 21st just for extra recovery time. I only take my pain medicine for sleep at night, because this indeed is a painful surgery. Today is 22nd, my ears and jaw is quite bothersome but I am doing well.
April 29th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Hey! I’m so glad I’m not the only one lying in bed miserable. I got mine out on the 23rd of April and its quite possibly the worst thing ever.
When I woke up my mom asked me how I was doing and I croaked ‘Feels exactly like someone cut my throat and burned it’ and then the nice nurse said ‘Honey, thats what he did!’.
Can’t wait until I get better. Hope you’re doing well.
May 8th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
I stumbled upon your blog while I was looking for some validation for my very painful recent tonsillectomy. I’m 26 years old also, and had my tonsils out April 25th. So tomorrow it will be 2 weeks post surgery. I can finally same I’m doing pretty well, and I can definitely relate to everthing you said about your recovery being tough. Plenty of my co-workers have dubbed me a “wimp” for complaining like I have been this past week, mentioning that their 5 year old daughter just had her tonsils out and bounced back 2 days later. It infuriates me so, because having them out as an adult is completely different!
Thanks for providing me some comfort in knowing that I am, in fact, not a wimp! I just had my throat sliced, diced, and cauterized!
May 8th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
I am 27 yrs. old and am scheduled for a Tonsillectomy on May 29th…
Of course, I am terrified! My best friend had a Tonsillectomy in October of 2007 and had a horrible experience. Of course, she will be there with me to make sure I am calm and collected before going under.
Your website has helped ease the fear tremendously.
Thanks.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Hi: Just wanted to know how you are doing today. I had a tonsillectomy five weeks ago and still have residual pain on the right side. When did your throat start looking normal? Mine still has a bumpy look to it on the sides. I hope you are doing well by now, it gives others who are recovering hope.
June 8th, 2008 at 1:43 am
Hi, I am 23 and had my tonsils taken out about 9 days ago. Since I can’t sleep, I was browsing through blogs that could help me. I just wanted to say “thank- you” for posting your blog because it helps me to know that I’m not the only one that has felt like this.
July 18th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
ahh. just had mine on the 15th of july….im so hungry
LOL. only thing i can get down is popsicles and apple juice.. & a mid cough or yawning is the worse part…im 22. so recovery is harder. blah. thx for the post <33
August 12th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
I just had a tonsillectomy and my adenoids were also removed I really feel your pain. Correct me though if I am wrong but the hospital where I had my surgery suggested that I talk and swallow as often as possible since, despite the pain, these activities will encourage the use of the muscles necessary for a quick recovery. I had my surgery on Friday, today is Tuesday and I was able to have about 1/4 of a cup of lo mien, 1 piece of sesame chicken (cut into a ton of pieces) and some wonton soup for dinner. It did feel awesome to be able to eat solid food again, even if it was limited because it does still hurt!
September 7th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
I am over 40 and not overweight and have sleep apnea that includes the obnoxious snoring. They are planning on taking out my tonsils and uvula in the near future. My boyfriend states that I walk around like a zombie because I do not get any sleep and that I wake myself up during the nite and stop breathing. After the numerous days of pain do you feel any better and is it all worth it? Kate or anyone do you have a response for me?
September 7th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
I would say it is worth it. I no longer get routine strep throat. I traded a few days of intense pain for a lingering mild infection.
Worth it.
But, stay away from the Hydrocodone. That stuff is nasty.
September 12th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
I am 32 and had my tonsils out about 3 weeks ago. At first (after a painful recovery similar to those described above) I was very happy with the results. I used to get tonsil stones all the time. About 3 months ago, I got a fennel seed stuck in my tonsils, which is what prompted me to get them removed in the first place. So, not having them for a few weeks was great. Now, toward the base of my tongue, I am starting to feel things (tonsils?) just like it used to feel. I could see a tonsil stone protruding from my “non-existent tonsils” yesterday. I am starting to think that I am one of the unlucky regenerators!
For all of you, as long as they stay gone for good, it will be totally worth the pain. If they grow back, well, I’m not so sure.
September 15th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
I so enjoyed reading your account of your tonsillectomy. My daughter is waiting for insurance approval to have hers removed. You made the best out of a painful procedure. Stay strong, healthy and powerful.
October 17th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
42 years young and having tosils removed
on oct 22nd very scared.
November 1st, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I’m getting mine removed on 11/5/2008 and I’m 41. Here’s my question, please e-mail me with the answer……… how long until you could drive again? I’m going in at 630am, under the knife at 730am and home by about 1030am and noon. Do you think that you could drive by 7pm that same night? or would it be best to have hubby drive me? (which I’m thinking)
November 19th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
I had my tonisill removed this summer.
It was not as bad as people make it out to be, may be i expected it to be worse, i may also have a high pain threshold…it is not easy. but then it is definitely worth it. i was so frustrated of been getting strep infection almost on weekly basis, no doctor ever told me about my tonsilitis been the cause of my unbearable misery with catching strep infection. i thanked God for the doctor who diagnosed me as having tonsilitis. every doctor told me to just exercise, eat right, and increase my immune system. i did all of that and it never helped. so finally one smart doctor told me that i had tonsilitis and that i need to remove it. that was a miracle in my book and felt relieved that there is hope for me to live with out been sick every week. i was so grateful, that i was willing to take any pain.
the first week of surgery was hard, but starting about day 8 or day 9, i didn’t even need the pain medicine as much. just once in a while. at day 14, i was feeling normal, no pain. still eating softer foods, normal and can function.
My advice to you is do it at any cost. so what is sleeping away one week compared to constant strep infection which impacted my life greatly because i was too weak to do anything. the pain medicine you take makes you sleepy anyway, so sleep away all day..
best wishes.