10 Tips For Surviving Adult Tonsillectomy

I recently chronicled my experience having my tonsils out at age 41. Here's a handy guide for the rest of you. If you are an adult planning your own or your child's tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy, these are the best tips I found and used:

Source: http://jessreyn90.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/sore-throat-acid-reflux.jpg

1. Coblation: Find a doctor that uses this method or another equally promising, newer technique. 
2. Ice packs: starting as soon as you get home, hold ice packs to your neck for 20 minutes on and then 10-20 off, all day and night, for at least the first 2 days (I ended up doing it every day for two weeks at least some of the time. It is VERY helpful with pain and with swelling and bleeding.)
3. Help: For the first two or three days at least, you will need someone to fill your ice water and ice packs, and to fetch food/drinks for you. The best thing you can do is get a family member to help you. Though it is manageable alone, if your meds are making you dizzy and wobbly, the less you have to do on your own, the better. It would be nice if you have some help clear through the first 2 weeks, if possible.
4. Ice water: begin by chewing (pebble) ice and sipping ice water and other cold drinks, and don't stop! Keep asking for it to be refilled and keep drinking. Even if it hurts, force yourself to drink. Cold ice water is especially soothing because it numbs the pain.
5. Pain meds: take your prescription regularly and don't miss a dose. I set a timer on my iPad, which woke me up throughout the night, and I kept a notebook log of what I took and when. My prescription was for Norco (like Percocet) which was Hydrocodone and Acetaminophen. With the okay of my doctor, I began alternating it with 800 mg. of Ibuprofen, which was even more effective. I stayed on them (including a small refill) until day 12, and then I switched to Tylenol alternated with Ibuprofen. Whatever works!
6. Buy a stool softener! If you end up not needing it, good for you. Alternative to something from the pharmacy would be to add fiber to your drinks (Metamucil, etc.). Trust me, you'll be glad you got it.
7. Gum: When you aren't eating or sleeping, chewing gum serves two purposes- it keeps the jaw from tightening up (I don't know about you, but when I swallow and it's painful, I clench my teeth tightly) and generates saliva, which supposedly can speed healing of mouth sores.
8. Rinse with warm salt water. I waited until the second day, just to be sure I wasn't going to irritate the tender tissues back there, but then I started using 1/4 cup warm water and 1/8 tsp. salt and gargling and spitting 3-4 times a day. Supposed to help with healing.
9. Keep a humidifier running at all times!
10. Sleep in a recliner, if you can, or otherwise propped up. Gravity can make swelling worse, so laying flat sucks when you're sore.
11. Eat soft foods as directed by your doctor. I will list my favorite suggestions below. You will be weak and you will need calories-- eat when you're hungry. Even if it's painful, it will be worth it.
12. Try not to talk during the first two weeks. At least, talk as little as necessary. Let your throat rest.
13. REST: No matter how great you feel on days 2, 3, or 4, stay down, relax and take it very easy. If you don't have someone to help out, your children can survive on cold cereal and toast for a couple of days-- don't push yourself to do housework or cook meals. Don't go back to work until you absolutely must-- try to take off at least 2 weeks (preferably 3) of work for recuperation. I was lucky that I work for a school and have my summers off, so I was able to rest as long as my body required.
• My doctor recommended that I get up the second and third day and take a short walk-- to "open up my lungs" and speed up my body's healing process. My meds and lack of sleep made me feel too weak, however, so I wasn't able to do this right away, but if you can, it makes sense that a short walk around the yard might be good for you. Listen to your body and do what it needs.

Foods:

• applesauce
• yogurt
• jello
• sorbet or sherbet
• scrambled eggs
• oatmeal (I ate lots of oatmeal)
• soups (drink warm, not hot)
• slurpees/slushees/shaved ice, etc.
• orange ice cream bars
• smoothies
• popsicles
• Ensure drinks are helpful to get some calories-- I couldn't do chocolate (hurt too much) but the vanilla ones are good, too.
• milkshakes (unless they generate mucus...)
• pancakes or soft waffles
• cheesecake
• mashed potatoes
• non-tomato pastas (I got some frozen entrees of fettucine alfredo; you could also eat mac & cheese, etc.)
• I actually ate Ritz crackers, I just chewed them until they were mushy enough to swallow.
• super soft breads (in the second week, I ate muffins, mini donuts, and a tuna sandwich without crusts)

Good luck!!