Tonsillectomy - hints and tips ( adult )

[MumOfHals]

Hey all..

My hubby is going through a tonsillectomy tomorrow ( I'm 34 weeks pregnant... timing isn't great )

He is suffering bad from sleep apnea due to his throats airways being chronically blocked by 75%!

He also gets bad tonsil stones and pain regularly, so it's a no brainer. Tomorrow is the earliest date he could get!

He is super nervous for the general anaesthetic, but I'm more worried about the recovery for him as I've heard it is honestly BRUTAL.

He's been signed off work for 2 weeks!

Can anyone provide hints / tips / anything that helped them... what I can do to help him ☹️

I've ordered him a face ice pack that wraps round and also some throat spray bottles that I can fill with water so he can constantly keep his throat damp even if it's too sore to swallow

[MaloneMeadow]

DD had hers out last year aged 19.. we were warned in no uncertain terms by the consultant that it’s a really painful and rough recovery at that age. To be honest although it certainly wasn’t pleasant it was manageable with the right painkillers and eating + drinking as normally as possible which is really the key to a good recovery

The face ice pack was our best investment by far! Loads of ice lollies too. Strangely enough ice cold apple juice was the only liquid that she felt didn’t burn her throat (even water did at one point!) so definitely stock up on that. DD’s consultant advised bringing chewing gum into hospital to have as soon as she woke up - apparently exercising the throat + jaw muscles reduces pain

[AlwaysFreezing]

It is brutal. My sister had hers out and she needed the whole 2 weeks recovery. Even in the third week she struggled, I'll be honest.

Swallowing painkillers can be difficult, so some dissolvable Cocodamol in wouldn't hurt.

She found eating hellish. Really soft pasta was the best thing she found, better than ice cream. Lots of icy drinks and a straw helped a lot too.

I think it's one of those things you have to resign yourself to. Be prepared for tears.

On the upside she is so pleased to not have had tonsillitis (or quinsy) since. She would say it was hellish, but worth it in the end. Good luck!

[Oneearringlost]

@AlwaysFreezing

It is brutal. My sister had hers out and she needed the whole 2 weeks recovery. Even in the third week she struggled, I'll be honest.

Swallowing painkillers can be difficult, so some dissolvable Cocodamol in wouldn't hurt.

She found eating hellish. Really soft pasta was the best thing she found, better than ice cream. Lots of icy drinks and a straw helped a lot too.

I think it's one of those things you have to resign yourself to. Be prepared for tears.

On the upside she is so pleased to not have had tonsillitis (or quinsy) since. She would say it was hellish, but worth it in the end. Good luck!

All so true.

My DD had hers out aged 22, after dreadful bouts and hospitalizations for Quinsey.
I don't think I've ever seen her cry since she was about 4-5years old. She's very resilient.
But there were tears...silent, as it was too painful to even make a noise.

Get in plenty of soluble Cocodamol Max ( highest dose you can get otc) but no more than 4 ( 2 tablet) doses a day as it contains paracetamol. Also get ibuprofen syrup ( you can take cocodamol and ibuprofen together or alternate it, be sure to give it with some milk or ice cream to line the stomach.

Get some Movicol or lactulose ( also available otc) for possible/probable constipation from the codeine in the cocodamol.

As PPs have advised, lollies/ice packs and lots of TLC.

It WILL get better; she has never looked back. One of the best things she's ever done, but recovery is grim, there's no sugar-coating it.
All the best of luck to him and to you both for a safe delivery.

[pashmina696]

I had mine out age 27, it was a full 3 week recovery- partly due to the side effects of my painkillers (Tramadol) and also as it took a while to eat anything solid - get him some nice ice cream.

[MaloneMeadow]

@pashmina696

I had mine out age 27, it was a full 3 week recovery- partly due to the side effects of my painkillers (Tramadol) and also as it took a while to eat anything solid - get him some nice ice cream.

Ice cream or dairy in general isn’t recommended anymore - creates too much excess mucous and just makes things even more uncomfortable. Ice lollies and cold drinks are the way go to

[pashmina696]

It was a while ago!! but I remember the whole episode pretty well - plenty plant based ice cream options or sorbet though now - I also had sorbet, iced drinks and lollies anything cold!