You should rest at home for the first 48 hours. Activity may increase as strength returns. Generally, you may return to work approximately 10 days following a tonsillectomy, and about 3 days after an adenoidectomy. You should avoid vigorous activity for 14 days after surgery.
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.
The 4th or 5th day after the surgery is a common time for the pain to get temporarily worse. Signs of pain in younger children may be crying more often, or refusal to eat or drink.
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.
For some children, the sore throat gets worse 5 to 8 days after surgery. Gray or white film will appear where the tonsils used to be. About a week after surgery, this film will come off and your child may have a sore throat again for a day. Drinking plenty of fluids will help to decrease the discomfort.
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.
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.
Some patients find that small sips of ginger ale or a cola drink may help to relieve nausea. Small portions of bananas, applesauce, moistened graham crackers or soda crackers may be helpful prior to taking medications. You may wish to avoid acidic products such as orange juice.
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.
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.
Activity Level: Light activity and adequate rest are recommended for the first few days. Sleeping with the head elevated 30 to 45 degrees or in a recliner for 3-4 days will reduce the swelling in the throat.
You should rest at home for the first 48 hours. Activity may increase as strength returns. Generally, you may return to work approximately 10 days following a tonsillectomy, and about 3 days after an adenoidectomy. You should avoid vigorous activity for 14 days after surgery.
Limit to quiet activities for 3 days. Children may return to school after one week. Adults may return to work after 3 days if it does not involve strenuous physical activity. No gym, sports, heavy lifting or brass/woodwind instruments for two weeks.
Recovery time for a tonsillectomy is usually at least 10 days to two 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.
Pain is often worse at night and may prompt the need for more pain medication. A single dose of Tylenol or Motrin in the middle of the night the day of the procedure can help significantly to reduce pain the morning after surgery.
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.
Sore Throat.
The pain will be most severe for the first week after surgery and will usually be gone in 2-3 weeks.
Your child should not drink through a straw after surgery until his throat is completely healed. Using a straw may increase the risk of bleeding. Give frequent small feedings of soft foods and cool liquids.
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.
The pain was evaluated using visual analogue scale (VAS) on a scale of 0–10, with 0 representing no pain at all and 10 worst possible pain. Postoperative pain was consider mild if EVA ranges between 0.00 and 2.99; moderate when ranges between 3.00 and 6.99, and severe pain when it was greater than 7.00.
Sensation of Mucous in Throat
The throat normally produces 1-2 liters of saliva a day, which is reflexively swallowed every few seconds, while awake or sleeping. Due to the pain and swelling after tonsillectomy, this swallow reflex is inhibited, which produces a sensation of constant mucous in the throat.
Is sleep after surgery important? The importance of rest after surgery is stressed by doctors because your body is going to do a lot of healing while sleeping. After all, your body does the majority of its healing while you're asleep. It's important that you're able to take a nap whenever you need to.
There may be a significant correlation between worst pain at 48 hours and return to normal activity within seven days. There may be a risk that patients can not return to normal activities within seven days because of worst pain experience at 48 hours after day surgery.