Surgery Recovery Tips for a Tonsillectomy

I haven't been posting lately due to a tonsillectomy five days ago. The procedure itself was not so bad, but the nausea from medications is the worst thing I've ever felt. Hopefully the tips below will help you before your surgery or procedure.

1. If you are prone to nausea, let the anesthesiologist or doctor know. I have a weak stomach when it comes to medications, but I never had anesthesia before my procedure so I didn't think to let them know. As soon as I woke up in the recovery room, I vomited every 15 minutes which was horrible combined with the throat pain.

2. Do not take pain medications on an empty stomach. This sounds simple enough, but when your throat is in pain the last thing you want to do is swallow food. If it's too painful to eat, I would suggest drinking Ensure Clear and to avoid products with milk or dairy. This will thicken your mucus, which will make you want to gag. Mashed potatoes and sliced peaches worked for me. Popsicles are also a great treat.

3. Do not sleep on a flat surface; stack 2-3 pillows. This has helped with breathing and since I have acid reflux, I generally use 2 pillows at night.

4. Be creative with fluid intake. The most important thing is to keep yourself hydrated, but after 4-5 days you will be tired of water. Try drinks with vitamins and minerals, and non-acidic liquids that won't upset your stomach, like apple juice (Gatorade, Ensure). Smoothies are also great for your throat, but make sure you don't use acidic ingredients such as orange juice or strawberries.

5. Brush teeth and tongue gently and maintain daily oral hygiene habits. The horrible taste in your mouth will make you want to brush all the time, but be careful. The bubbles from the toothpaste can slide down your throat, causing you to choke or cough. Try not to cough and if you need to, cough gently.

So far, the throat pain isn't so bad. It's the nausea and constant vomiting feeling that feels worse for me. For the first 3 days, take your medication every 4 hours, and then reduce it to as needed if possible.

Good luck with your recovery and I hope these tips help.