You should avoid any vigorous activity during this period. HYGIENE • You should continue brushing your teeth morning and night and have regular baths / showers. Kalish's rooms or your Local Doctor – antibiotics may be needed. Often you will be on your way to recovery only to have a slight relapse around day 7.
Teeth may be brushed after the first day. Tub bath or shower may be taken after the second day and hair may be washed after the second day. Avoid becoming overheated or fatigued for a period of two weeks.
Your child may have bad breath, “stuffy nose” and drainage for 7 to 10 days after surgery. This is normal and will go away as he or she heals. Your child may have ear pain up to a week after surgery and it may be worse at night. This is normal and is coming from the tonsil area.
You may gargle with a mild salt water solution to improve the bad breath (1/2 teaspoon table salt to 8 oz. of warm tap water). You may also chew gum. Most patients breathe through the mouth and snore during the recovery period due to swelling.
Ice is one of the best things to have during a tonsillectomy recovery. Ice keeps the incision site moist during recovery and this is very important for speedy healing. The cold temperature of ice also helps to numb pain and reduce swelling.
Swelling and Bruising.
Tissue injury, whether accidental or intentional (e.g. surgery), is followed by localized swelling. After surgery, swelling increases progressively, reaching its peak by the third day. It is generally worse when you first arise in the morning and decreases throughout the day.
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. These are only guides. The important thing is to have your child swallow liquids.
You can brush your teeth after the first night. You may have bad smelling breath as you heal. Avoid mouthwash for 1 week.
Doctors will encourage consumption of ice cream, yogurt, popsicles, and other soft foods after the procedure. These foods may even reduce the need for pain medication. A recent study revealed that ice cream significantly reduced pain after tonsillectomy. Soups and other warm foods can also help.
The pain may be the worst for 3-4 days after surgery. One to two weeks after surgery, pain may worsen because the scabs are falling off. It is important to control your child's pain after surgery. This helps your child drink and eat.
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. Recovery from a tonsillectomy can take 10–14 days.
The pain is usually tolerable in the first 3 days and then worsens to a crescendo around day 6 to 9 after the operation. Once this peak is reached then the pain gradually decreases daily until you can comfortably eat around day 14 after the operation.
Do not eat sharp foods such as chips and avoid using straws which might hit the back of the throat and cause bleeding. You may brush the front of your teeth but do not brush at the back, as this may promote bleeding.
How long do tonsillectomy scabs last? Most scabs only last 5-10 days. Then, they naturally flake off. Tonsillectomy scabs may last longer on larger wounds created when large tonsils are removed.
It is the surgical removal of the tonsils (two structures at the back of the throat). Your throat is likely to be sore for up to two weeks after your operation, though you should still be able to talk. The first week may be the most painful – this is normal.
Temporary nausea, vomiting, swallowing problems and loss of taste might occur. There may also be complications such as bleeding. Some people are afraid that removing their tonsils will weaken their immune system and increase the likelihood of getting things like coughs and colds.
Sorbet, popsicles, gelatin, apple sauce, mashed potatoes, and bananas are just a few common recommendations for what to eat after a tonsillectomy. These and other soft and cooling foods can not only make you more comfortable during recovery, but help you heal faster.
For children over age 5, chewing sugar free gum speeds help by reducing the muscle spasm after surgery and can be started anytime after surgery. Chewing gum should not be given to any child under the age of 5.
Most people find that they have the most pain in the first 8 days. You probably will feel tired for 1 to 2 weeks. You may have bad breath for up to 2 weeks. You may be able to go back to work or your usual routine in 1 to 2 weeks.
Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy. 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.
Throat pain builds up for the first few days and is usually at its the worst around the fifth day after surgery. Pain and discomfort will usually then ease until the seventh or ninth day after surgery when some of the scab covering the tonsillectomy site falls off. After this there is a steady reduction in pain.
Milk drinks can be consumed once your child can toler- ate clear fluids. Avoid hot fluids and acidic or citrus fluids (orange, lemon, pineapple and tomato juice) as these may sting your child's throat. Regular pain-relief medication will make your child more comfortable and able to swallow fluids more easily.
Conclusions: Intraoperative application of cold water after tonsillectomy significantly reduced postoperative pain. We recommend cooling the tonsillar fossa and pharyngeal mucosa with cold water during tonsillectomy to easily and effectively reduce post-tonsillectomy pain.
As you feel better, add soft bland items that are easy to chew and swallow (pasta, puddings, mashed potatoes, tuna or chicken salad, macaroni and cheese). Avoid foods that are sharp, hot, or spicy. Lollipops and hard candies may be sucked, not chewed. return to normal activity as soon as possible.