You generally need to wait 10 to 14 days (or up to 2-3 weeks for adults) before using a straw after a tonsillectomy, as the suction can dislodge blood clots and cause bleeding, but some doctors might say it's okay sooner for thin liquids, so always follow your surgeon's specific instructions, as advice varies. The key is to avoid the negative pressure from sucking, especially with thicker liquids like milkshakes, and stick to sipping from a cup or spoon for the first week or two.
They should drink at least 3-4 ounces per hour (or a half cup) of any fluid (except red liquids) to stay hydrated. It will be uncomfortable, so you will need to work with your child to get them to drink. Your child should not use straws for 10-14 days after surgery.
There will be white scabs where the tonsils were. These usually fall off in 5 to 10 days. You may see some blood in your child's saliva at this time. Your child may snore or breathe through the mouth at night.
You can brush your teeth after the first night. You may have bad smelling breath as you heal. Avoid mouthwash for 1 week. You may gargle gently with a solution made of 1 teaspoon of baking soda mixed with 250 ml (1 cup) of water.
The 7-5-3 Rule, also known as the Paradise Criteria, is a guideline for deciding if a tonsillectomy is needed for recurrent tonsillitis, indicating surgery if a patient has: 7 or more episodes in the past year, 5 or more episodes in each of the past two years, or 3 or more episodes in each of the past three years, with each episode being significant (e.g., fever, exudates, missed school/work). This rule helps determine if infections are frequent and severe enough to warrant surgery, though individual factors can also influence the decision.
Anecdotal evidence from several ENT departments suggests that pain following tonsillectomy is worst on the second and/or third days after surgery.
Another common side effect of a tonsillectomy is feeling like something is stuck in your throat. This feeling can occur because of the expected inflammation and the scabs in your throat after surgery, but nothing besides your own tissue is really there.
How to Ensure a Smooth Tonsillectomy Recovery
Avoid chips, crackers, hard pizza crust, hard crusted breads, etc. These items can scratch the scabs off the back of your throat and cause you to start bleeding before you are healed and necessitate a trip back to surgery. Otherwise may eat whatever you can tolerate as long as it is soft.
Unfortunately you or your child will be badly sore for quite a few days, but almost all are back to near normal by day 14. This is usually much quicker in kids (5-7 days), worse in teenagers/young adults (7-14).
Tonsillectomy scabs typically last between 5 and 10 days after surgery. The scabs usually fall off in small pieces. There may also be a small amount of bleeding. Most people swallow the scabs, often without realizing.
For 1 week: Keep your head elevated when resting or sleeping. Use a few pillows, or sleep in a recliner. For 10 days: Avoid doing any activity that makes you breathe hard, sweat, or strain.
Parents and teachers commonly report behavior changes including aggression, impulsivity, hyperactivity, or decreased attention [2].
It is normal for your child to have a sore throat, ear pain, bad breath, voice changes and white patches in the throat after their surgery. These problems can happen for up to two weeks after tonsils and adenoids are removed. These things do not mean that there is an infection.
These foods can scrape the scabs in the back of the throat and make them bleed. Avoid red popsicles or foods with red dye that can look like blood in the mouth or throat.
Are cold-like symptoms after a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy (such as a cough and congestion) normal? Yes. Cold and congestion symptoms are normal due to recovering from anesthesia/intubation as well as increased production of secretions when recovering from surgery.
Patients rest at home for several days after surgery. Generally, patients can return to school or work in about a week. No strenuous activities (bending, straining, lifting heavier than a phonebook, gym, physical education) for 2 weeks after surgery.
DAYS 4-6: ▪ Continue Tylenol or prescription pain medication, if needed. Continue to keep diet soft, you may introduce new foods such as hamburger, fish, and chicken. However, continue significant cool fluid intake.
Tonsillectomy can affect the voice by enlarging the resonating chamber and altering the formant frequencies or by altering the conformation of the tonsillar fossae. Potentially, part of the soft palate musculature can be removed or disturbed.
This looks like two separate scabs or sometimes the whole back of the throat is scabbed. The scabs are thick and white and cause bad breath. This is normal. The scabs usually fall off a little at a time five to 10 days after surgery and are swallowed.
This will improve over 3 to 4 days after an adenoidectomy and 10 to 14 days after a tonsillectomy. Recovery from an adenoidectomy alone is easier than recovery from a tonsillectomy. It is quite common for you to feel progressively worse during the first 5 to 6 days after surgery.
Suggested liquids: Apple juice, grape juice, Hi-C, Gator Aid, sodas (you may want to let the "fizz" out first), popsicles, sherbet, apple sauce, Jell-O, pudding. Not Recommended: Solids, orange juice (any citric drink), spicy foods.
Go straight to your nearest A&E department if your child has any of the following: Spitting out bright red blood or clots. Difficulty breathing. Vomiting bright red, black or brown vomit.
They form fast and appear as thick, yellow-white patches on each side where the tonsils were removed and tend to cause bad breath. Minor bleeding is normal as the scabs fall off. They fall out in tiny pieces between 5 to 10 days after tonsillectomy, and your child will likely swallow the scabs without realizing it.
A sore throat is the main side effect of a tonsillectomy, and the pain from this part of the body is transmitted through a shared nerve pathway to the ears. This is the main cause of earache after this type of surgery.