What to expect after having a tonsil removed?

[Sterla]

My DH is going in to have an enlarged tonsil removed tomorrow. We've been told bits and pieces about what to expect, but not much.

I was wondering if anyone else (or their partners or children) has had a tonsil removed, and what to expect. What will DH be able to eat? How much pain will he be in? How long will it take to recover? Anything else you can think of?

TIA

[crumpet]

i had mine taken out when i was 13 and have herd its a bit worse the older you are.

but basically i had to sit and rest for 2 weeks so i didnt split the stitches, didnt obviously sit still for long enough coz i split them wasnt a major issue my mouth filled with blood for a hour and finally it stopped.

but i found i couldnt open my mounth the while way for about a week
i had to have small soft meals so i didnt irritate things
lots of jelly, custard, mashed veg etc, but ive herd now they give u toast and stuff in hospital so not sure what the deal is these days.

it did hurt so tell him to keep up his pain killers

hope it goes well!

[MummaSue]

My friend just had hers out and she is still sore 6 weeks later. It is worse for adults, not really sure why though.

xxxx

[Mother Goose]

they usually encourage eating normally. It can be more painful for adults but that is usually because we are more aware of pain. How much pain he is in will largely depend on his pain threshold. He will probably stay in hospital over night.

[luna moth]

I got mine out when I was 20, one was severly abcessed and collapsed during the procedure. Gross.

For a week I was on jelly and frozen fruit purees. Couldn't stand anything dairy- related. I was quite sleepy in the first 3 or 4 days, and still a bit floppy for the rest of the first week.

The second week I had lots of energy and was up to doing stuff, but still not eating properly. Lots of jelly and the odd bit of soup.

Good luck! I'm sure he'll be fine!

[Michelle71]

Current post op management is to eat normally. Pain should be managed with regular pain relief. You are at most risk of bleeding 7-10 days post op due to infection - supposed to be minimised with normal eating.

[Shanti]

ouch. Hope your DH doesn't find it too painful and recovers well. My DH might be needing this done soon too....

[Sterla]

Thanks for your replies - it's good to try and get some idea of what to expect, though I guess we won't really know till it happens. I have heard that about regular eating, but I still have ice cream and jelly stashed away too!

[thepixie]

Had mine out when I was eighteen... was very fragile for a week or so, and still a bit weak, sore and sorry for myself the week after. I could talk the day after - but only because a stupid nurse SHOUTED at me 'what's your name' about ten times without looking at the chart to see I had had tonsils removed the day before. This was in the days when they gave you soft foods for the first few days, I would do that even if the hospital has other ideas, because it really hurts, and why should you aggravate it, it will heal in a week or so and diet will be back to normal. Lots of painkillers, lots of rest, lots of fluids and lots of TLC.
Wish him all the best with it.

[Feijoa Mum]

I had mine out about 10 years ago now when I was 25 and although the actual procedure was fairly standard the thing I do remember the most is my ears.

I got wicked inner ear pains for about a week afterwards and was told this sometimes happens.

Be prepared but it may not happen to him