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Original poster

Tonsillectomy

29 replies

Dinks90 · 28/06/2021 21:11

I had my tonsils removed privately on Friday, I'm 30 and they were removed due to having really bad tonsillitis and various throat infections.

The consultant said my tonsils were very badly scarred which made them tough to remove and advised this puts me at higher risk of infection.

I can't eat at all, I managed to eat in the hospital but since coming home the pain has gotten worse. I was prescribed paracetamol, ibuprofen and dihydrocodine which I am taking every 4 hours. I sip water all day but even this is difficult.

I've heard it's better for recovery if you eat solid foods, but this is just impossible for me. I have quite bad earache as well and I can barely speak.

Has anyone has their tonsils removed as an adult? I don't know if I just need to get on with it and let the healing run it's course or if I should be calling my GP.

OP posts:
delilahbucket · 28/06/2021 21:17

I did and had the same issue, hard to remove due to scarring. It took me two weeks and a final round of antibiotics before I felt better. If you are not feeling better after a week get to the docs for a check in case you have an infection. Don't worry about eating, just keep hydrated and keep taking the painkillers, soluble versions if you have them.
The end is in sight, just a few more weeks and you will be free of tonsil problems forever Flowers

delilahbucket · 28/06/2021 21:19

Forgot to add, whenever I had tonsillitis and couldn't swallow water, I found really thick milkshake easier to swallow. The fresh supermarket own ones. It coated my throat a bit.

UnsureOfNC · 28/06/2021 21:19

I had mine removed at 18. I was horrifically sore for the first week and then improved dramatically.
I got told to eat rough solids like toast but did i hell, like you i could only drink water, even flavoured water burned! Honestly that pain is something i hope i never have to go through again.
I went to a&e once as my scabs had somehow ripped off causing me to bleed but all was okay in the end. Try to ride it out if you can, but if not definitely see the GP. You have my sympathies

GU24Mum · 28/06/2021 21:20

I was about 14 but it was soon after they'd changed from ice cream as a recovery food to dry toast. I remember it taking from one meal to the next to get through half a slice. It will get better but it's horrid for now.

itbemay1 · 28/06/2021 21:21

Yes I did, it was horrendous! I know exactly how you are feeling, I lost a stone and half, had constant headaches due to dehydration, 2 courses of antibiotics after and was in pain for at least 3 weeks. Sorry to be so negative. Difflam spray was my lifesaver for a small bit of relief and gargling with hot salt water too.

Looking back I wished I had tried to eat more to help with the healing but it was so painful. I slept on and off and barely left my bed the first week.

On the positive in 6 years I have not had one sore throat.

itbemay1 · 28/06/2021 21:21

Fell better soon! ThanksThanks

itbemay1 · 28/06/2021 21:24

Try and stagger your meds as well so you have a constant stream of analgesia. E.g paracetamol at 8, ibuprofen at 10, dihydrocodiene at 11 or similar this will help. I made the mistake of everything at once so by 3.5 hours I was in pain just waiting to take more meds

Cocolapew · 28/06/2021 21:28

I did in my 40s, it was hideous. I did get an infection so just be careful.
The Dr told me day 5 and day 10 would be the worse during recovery and he was right.
Best thing ever though I've never had a sore throat since.

Original poster
Dinks90 · 28/06/2021 21:36

@delilahbucket

I did and had the same issue, hard to remove due to scarring. It took me two weeks and a final round of antibiotics before I felt better. If you are not feeling better after a week get to the docs for a check in case you have an infection. Don't worry about eating, just keep hydrated and keep taking the painkillers, soluble versions if you have them. The end is in sight, just a few more weeks and you will be free of tonsil problems forever Flowers
I've ordered soluble paracetamol from Amazon which comes tomorrow, I find paracetamol the hardest to swallow so hopefully this stuff helps! Thank you
OP posts:
Original poster
Dinks90 · 28/06/2021 21:40

@itbemay1

Yes I did, it was horrendous! I know exactly how you are feeling, I lost a stone and half, had constant headaches due to dehydration, 2 courses of antibiotics after and was in pain for at least 3 weeks. Sorry to be so negative. Difflam spray was my lifesaver for a small bit of relief and gargling with hot salt water too.

Looking back I wished I had tried to eat more to help with the healing but it was so painful. I slept on and off and barely left my bed the first week.

On the positive in 6 years I have not had one sore throat.

I've tried so many times to eat toast or something more solid but it's just agony. I managed some jelly this morning and then sipped on a fruit smoothie for about 3 hours this afternoon. Had a little bit of porridge earlier on but it just feels pointless. I'm so hungry as well so it's annoying!

I just keep reminding myself that it will be worth it

OP posts:
MyNameForToday1980 · 28/06/2021 21:41

Oh God, having my tonsils out (age 37) was the worst thing that has ever happened to me (vs. things like a broken leg, a broken wrist and an EMCS).

The worst.

You are not alone.

I found almost all food excruciating. The first thing I could eat in any comfort was Knorr powered chicken noodle soup (twice as diluted as recommended).

From memory, cold is best for the first few days (when healing) so ice lollies and the like, then warm/tepid food once it's scabbed over.

Despite it being the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I haven't had tonsilitis for FIVE YEARS NOW!! From having it at least quarterly.

It is worth it. And it will get better. But it takes time.

MyNameForToday1980 · 28/06/2021 21:42

*powdered chicken soup

BeBraveAndBeKind · 28/06/2021 21:45

I had mine out at 30 and it's in my top 3 most painful experiences (and I have two DC and have had two other major surgeries and all four wisdom teeth out). Just horrendous pain. It does get better though and, as others have said, it's absolutely worth it to never have tonsillitis again.

llynnnn · 28/06/2021 21:47

My dh had his tonsils removed earlier this year and it was horrendous for him...the first 6 days were by far the worst then gradually he started to see tiny improvements. He lived on ice cubes for a good few days, then progressed to plain vanilla ice cream, mashed potato and super noodles, but it took a while.

He hasn't looked back since though, feels better than he has for years and says it was worth it.
Stagger your meds as much as you can and try to sleep sitting up if you can, and take it hour by hour he found this helped. Sending get well wishes to you!

MyNameForToday1980 · 28/06/2021 22:02

Another benefit...zero snoring!!

When the pre op doctor checked out my tonsils he said something like "...and you won't snore any more".

And responded that I didn't snore.

And he said "hmmm with tonsils like those... You do".

According to DH I've slept silently every night since.

Maria1982 · 28/06/2021 22:04

I had mine out last November , age 36!

Yes to horrific pain the first week. I took liquid versions of paracetamol and ibuprofen as swallowing tablets just seemed too horrific to contemplate.
Lived off cool soup, yogurt and melted ice cream for days.
The worst was upon waking - somehow after being asleep my throat seemed to have dried up and it was sore to swallow, but if I could make myself do it , it actually helped.

Much sympathy - it is horrible - but as you’ll know if you’ve had tonsillitis many times, absolutely worth it.

Maria1982 · 28/06/2021 22:06

PS toast haha no way.
Actually, hilariously, in hospital I was told I had to eat something and was brought toast.
And managed to eat nearly a slice.
Realised days later that at the time I was riding the post op morphine they had given me. At any time in the following 10 days toast would have been a big no.
When I realised this I was quite impressed by the power of morphine!

Seriously though, Having said all this OP, if you are in agony despite taking medication at regular intervals (alternate paracetamol and ibuprofen ) then do call your GP and ask for better pain relief.

Maria1982 · 28/06/2021 22:08

Oh and I second whoever said difflam spray upthread! I would get my OH to spray me 30
Mins before trying to eat liquid food…

Maria1982 · 28/06/2021 22:10

If someone can go to pharmacy for you, they do proper liquid (not just soluble) paracetamol and ibuprofen.
It’s generally for children but they will sell it to you if you explain why!

grandmashotdoodlebugs · 28/06/2021 22:13

Ask GP for suppository pain relief
Dicolfenic and paracetamol

Difflam spray is a must.

I also lost well over a Stone Age 24. Yes you probably need antibiotics.

Pester the GP.

OkSpiritualknot · 28/06/2021 22:33

I found gargling with warm salt water helpful. It loosened things up and helped the pain. Day 6 was the worst day for pain. Worth it in the end though.. Sweet breath, no throat infections and no snoring...

OkSpiritualknot · 28/06/2021 22:35

Pain was worst first thing in the morning, waking up with a dry throat. I stayed up all night several times just to avoid the morning pain..

Ronnii · 28/06/2021 22:36

I did it private as an adult too. Main thing is pain relief. I had codine, not sure how different that's is from what you've got.

I was able to eat and drink fine but when I lowered the pain meds that was a mistake too early. I would defo talk the the gp for pain management

Original poster
Dinks90 · 29/06/2021 09:36

@OkSpiritualknot

Pain was worst first thing in the morning, waking up with a dry throat. I stayed up all night several times just to avoid the morning pain..
Definitely agree waking up in the morning is the worst part, I'm up every few hours during the night needing the loo due to how much water I'm drinking but the fear when you wake up and have to swallow is unreal.

Do you count the day of surgery as day 1 or is day 1 the day after?

I'm really struggling today, had some ice cream this morning and have just been sick so can't even eat that, which was the only thing that was slightly helping. I think it's a mixture of the codeine medicine and the dairy after a quick google.

My partner went to the supermarket yesterday and bought a fair few tubs of jelly so might have one of them later on.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dinks90 · 29/06/2021 17:40

Do you count the day of surgery as day 1 or is day 1 the day after?

OP posts:
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