Recovery suggestions for tonsils removed / tonsillectomy in older teen

[Fortysix]

Pretty sure this is about to happen over the summer holidays just waiting on formal appointment confirmation.
Looking for tips and advice to make recovery process go as well as possible. Holiday booked for post operative Day 12 if it does all confirm as expected.

I'm sure you'll get more up to date advice, but posting will keep your post visible anyway! Ten years ago, when my then-4-y-o DS had his done, the advice was that normal food is better, and some rough food is advisable to ensure that the throat doesn't have a coating of debris which can lead to infection - sounds a bit horrid, but they encouraged the types of food that would sort of slough off any build-up of crap on the area. Specifically, don't have foods like ice cream or yogurt, that type of thing, my recollection is that the nurse said they just coat and create a haven for infection. I believe it's worse when you're older, so hopefully you might get some good advice from people who've had it done as teens or adults.

Why not ask the ENT surgeon what they suggest?
Tonsillectomy is a bigger operation the older you get. We certainly tell adults to expect to feel rough for a couple of weeks post-op.

Personally I'd probably try and postpone until after the holiday.

I don't attend DC's appointments as student now..
Dolores I read somewhere food should be textured not smooth but not necessarily abrasive. You are confirming this I think . But I have no idea what ''abrasive' foods I should be trying eliminate from food shop. Walking Plan to ask the nursing staff myself but just trying to get ahead of the game as DC rotten patient.

Get a humidifier. We only realised that dryness was really an issue for our son when he'd nearly recovered - he had his out when he was 14. It took a good 2 weeks for him to recover and be fit to go back to school. Make sure you have a good stock of painkillers - son needed an injection of morphine the night after the op as the pain then was severe.

Had tonsils out as a late teen as did my sibling. Neither of us recommend it. Your tonsils get inflammed as they get the germs. Remove tonsils and the germs go elsewhere.
Seriously think long and hard about it.

My son had his out at 14 and husband mid 30s. Neither have suffered any ill effects and have been fit and well since.

My ds had his out when he was in yr 12 , unfortunately he had a post op bleed during the night post op and had to be readmitted for it antibiotics for 3 days . He ate yoghurts and soft stuff for a few days as he was worried about another bleed .

My DD had hers out at 20.
First 10 days a bit gruelling. Lots of painkillers and lignocaine throat spray. Back at university at 12 days.

Averages four bouts of tonsillitis every year and now has hideous tonsil stones so action required. Silver was the dryness because of central heating etc? Hoping that 11 days of bed / house rest and then a very low key start to holiday will be OK? Has full five weeks before needs to go back to uni. Sounds very gruelling though.
At this rate I'm thinking of getting a mouth and nose mask for DC for the flight.

The best painkillers you get your hands on. It's really rough, flat lucozade. Any ice-cream. Lots of TV and rest. Cuddles, something to cuddle, neck cooler, and loads of TLC. I had mine out took me a month or longer to recover. As you get older your tonsils shrink and it gets better. I wish I'd kept going with the tonsillitis.
A good ENT will be able to advise. But it's a seriously rough surgery in my opinion. If it was me wait until he/she is much much older -well into adulthood. I was told 7 times a year or more.
I am very prone to it and all throat infections -I still suffer and wish I'd kept them!

I had mine out as an adult, it wasn't great but not as bad as I expected. I definitely couldn't have eaten anything really rough but managed fruit, eggs, avocados, salad etc. I first went out on day 9 and was pretty much fine in two weeks. Research shows that you're no more likely to get infections when they're taken out.

I do agree with lots of painkillers though!

I had mine out at 17. I would gargle with the dissolvable aspirin tablets before swallowing them- seemed to help a lot going straight to the area

Had to have toast before leaving hospital . Was told it's because soft food eg ice cream builds up in the new cavity and then can break off taking the new scar/stitches with it and causing a bleed. You need to be using the throat to avoid this as the bleeding risk is higher if you're older.
I was told two week quarantine due to being really vulnerable to other people's germs and not to get an infection . My sister had the same rule.

My ds was back to normal after 10 days even with the issues and he’s frankly a bit of a wuss with pain . He had tonsillitis literally constantly prior to the operation , finished a course of ABs was off them for a week and then got it again and that had been going on for over a year .

Will she be allowed to fly at that stage due to possible post op bleeds?

I had mine out in January and it was pretty horrendous, I ended up off work for 5 weeks 😩
I got two infections post op
The first three weeks were the worst.

Just googled flying after surgery and it says 14 days or with consultant permission. Fairly long flight at that so will need to see if DC can contact hospital.... Ugh this is a concern

Had mine removed at 17, was given toast. Having wisdom teeth removed was much more painful !

your DD should still be at the age where the procedure won't be too bad to recover from.
I had mine out age 30 and I wont lie, it is very painful.
Was told by surgeon post op bleed was rare. At day 8 I ended up back in hospital for 2 days with bleeding, and the nurses on my ENT ward said this was actually common.
Recovery feels very very slow - I recommend as much sleep as possible, keep on top of painkillers, be aware that codeine can make you feel weird if you aren't used to it. I felt 95% recovered after around 20 days.
Your DD may be fine at day 12 but I personally wouldn't be going on holiday until 3 weeks post op x

My sons was a three stage recovery. Two days in hospital as he has a postoperative bleed. Day 3- 7 pretty good improving all time then 8-10 had a dip which we were warned of. Was it the scar falling off? Something anyway, then improved all the time

I had mine out age 39 and it was horrific, took 3 weeks to fully recover. Soft foods, lots and lots of fluids and rest. My recovery was worse because i was old I’m sure, your teen should bounce back pretty quick I’m sure, salt water gargling helped me a lot. Sending luck and hugs to your dc

You are all v kind. Presently spits blood every day so tonsils really need attention. Have been checking up on rules of DC's flight being amended. It's £150 to change. We're there for 17 days so potential that DC stays at home for another week and I call on a big favour from my sister to supervise. Also having problem with wisdom teeth which are being monitored by dentist.

You’re going to leave your recovering from surgery child to go on holiday without them?

This is a nasty op. He’ll feel awful for a few weeks and like others have said can’t fly for 2 weeks. This is the best case scenario. Worst case could have post op bleed or get an infection from the hospital (which my dc did) and have an even longer recovery.

Sorry but when you have a child that needs an op that comes first not your holiday.

Hardly nasty apples.
My DC would be with my sis full time so not abandoned. My sis is coming to my home to dog sit while we are away so DC is not going to be uprooted . DC will not bat an eyelid as they get on very well but don't spend as much time together as DC is normally 300 miles away at uni.

Mine got infected about 9 days after which was like a really severe case of tonsillitis. I would not advise going on holiday at day 12. You need at least two weeks if not three for a full recovery.