That title is kind of funny, because as the ENT doctor said, and the nurses said, and all of you with experience with tonsillectomies said, the experience varies WIDELY. But that’s the search term I was using when I was anxiously looking for more information, so that’s what I’m using as the title.
Day One (day of surgery): We had to be at the hospital at 6:30; the surgery was at 7:30; the doctor was coming out to tell me everything went fine at 8:10; they called me back to see her at 8:25; we were headed to our car at 11:00. Between the surgery and the time we went home, Elizabeth mostly dozed. When she did wake up a little, she was cranky and wasn’t interested in the little stuffed hamster I’d bought at the gift shop, but didn’t seem to be in much pain. When she woke around 10:20, though, she was saying “Ow ow ow” and crying, so the nurse brought her a dose of tylenol/codeine, and by the time we were leaving the hospital she was even CHEERY, and was able to walk to the car, and sang along hoarsely with a few songs from the Phineas & Ferb CD on the way home.
At home she had some popsicles and watched some TV and everything was going way better than expected. They’d told us she’d likely nap on and off all day, but she didn’t. Then she got kind of blank-faced and slumpy. Then she started throwing up. She had three sessions of it: afternoon, early evening, later evening. She was miserable. I was highly fretful and lay awake that night worried that I should have called the doctor about the throwing up, worried that she wasn’t holding down either the antibiotic or the painkiller, worried that she would have to go back to the hospital. I felt hugely under-qualified to be handling post-surgical care.
Day Two: She was much better. In my fretful lyings-awake, I’d thought “She HAS to be improved in the morning, or else I’ll call the doctor.” I woke her around 4:00 to take pain medicine, which was a gamble: it could let her absorb it while asleep and non-barfy—or it could make her throw up all over our mattress and herself. Gamble paid off: she woke up better and held down her antibiotic too, and then I kept right on top of giving her the pain medicine every 4 hours exactly. She still felt crummy all day, but NO BARFING, and a couple of times got off the couch and wandered around for a minute before going back. Refused to nap. No smiling. Wouldn’t talk, and would barely shake/nod her head (said her jaw hurt when she moved her head). Ate a little applesauce with flax seed meal stirred in, and maybe 1/4 cup of a non-dairy smoothie I made with banana, strawberries, blueberries, spinach, rolled oats. Also ate popsicles and ice cream. Some interest in Tonsillectomy Presents.
Days Three and Four: Doing prematurely better: up and around, doing some talking, seeming to feel much better, very interested in tonsillectomy presents. Then on the evening of Day 4, two more episodes of throwing up.
Day Five: She woke up crying from the pain but wouldn’t take her pain medicine. She is SIX, but she has been acting THREE. When I put a little medicine in her mouth, she let it dribble out; I tried not to be angry at the sick child; when that failed, I tried to at least mostly HIDE being angry at the sick child. I gave her a Sucrets (numbing cough drop) and then she took the medicine—I think because the cough drop let her back down graciously from the stand-off, rather than because it helped, but maybe some of each. She barely ate anything all day, just a few popsicles. At dinner she wanted to try pizza, so Paul cooked it a little less (normally he makes the crust crispy and the cheese chewy, but he went with a soft crust and melty cheese) and she did eat a few bites. At 8:00 she put herself to bed.
Day Six: For lunch she asked for and ate half a peanut butter and honey sandwich and a cup of milk. But it’s so back and forth: for even a few hours she’ll seem almost normal, but then she’ll be weepy and crabby and saying she has a headache, and she’ll sit still for hours watching a movie. Her voice is different: a little lower, and she’s saying vowels differently, like “hev” instead of “have.” Her jaw/throat still look a little swollen. She’s very nervous about Day Ten, which is when the ENT doctor said there’s usually a setback (because of the scab, and that’s probably all you want to know about it).
Day Seven: She woke up crying in the middle of the night but wouldn’t say why. We’ve been using a system for measuring pain: I hold up my hand, fingers splayed, and I point to whatever finger is farthest to her left and I say “no pain,” and I point to whatever finger is farthest to her right and I say “the worst it’s been so far with this,” and she chooses a finger. It’s always finger 1 (no pain) or 2 (small amount of pain) now, but she complains of headaches, and she says in calmer moments that when she’s crying and won’t tell me why, it’s because she Feels Terrible—not pain really, not queasiness really, but just feeling really really bad all over. So now when she cries and I can’t figure out why, I hold her hand and I tell her to squeeze once for yes, and I ask is it pain? (no squeeze) Nightmare? (no squeeze) Feeling terrible? (squeeze) The squeezing system isn’t because it hurts her too much to talk but because she gets in these stubborn mute phases when she’s upset, and this is a way around that; we use it when she’s not post-surgery, too. This afternoon she went into her room and closed the door, and when I looked in on her later she was asleep.
Day Eight: She doesn’t seem to need the tylenol/codeine for throat pain, exactly, but when I skip a dose she gets crumply and weepy and doesn’t eat or drink. I’m glad the doctor was generous with the prescription so I can keep giving it to her. (But I am feeling some renewed resentment with my OBs, who have always given me a prescription for 1.5 days’ worth of painkiller after c-sections. Thanks, OBs! Obviously it’s exactly the right time to apply Just Say No!) I haven’t been waking her to take it or keeping her on a rigorous every-four-hours schedule—but I’m giving it to her first thing in the morning, two doses during the day, and one more before bed (she’s been sleeping in our room every night, and usually doesn’t go to sleep until we do).
Day Nine (today): Today she has a follow-up appointment with the ENT doctor, and she desperately DOES and desperately DOESN’T want to ask him about the status of the scab. The ENT doctor warned us, by the way, that her breath would likely be “like a chain-smoking alcoholic’s”—but it hasn’t been bad at all. I notice mostly that she smells a little fruity and medicinal.
So! That’s how it’s been going. I’m feeling a little worn out, mostly I think from being cooped up in the house and from trying to get her to eat something nutritious. I had such a good list of soft/pureed foods, and it seems like she’ll eat each one once and then never again. I’m not fretful, because the ENT doctor said he didn’t care if she ate nothing but ice cream for two weeks—but on the other hand I think she’s a lot crankier when she’s subsisting on ice cream. Look, isn’t this a good list of liquid and soft food possibilities?
scrambled eggs
applesauce (with or without flax seed meal)
yogurt
mashed potatoes
peanut butter stirred into ice cream
pudding
Jello
macaroni and cheese
canned fruits
shakes
smoothies of various sorts
bananas
ice cream
popsicles
juice boxes
Pediasure/Ensure
But here is the list she is actually eating:
ice cream
I just love the way you wrote about this. I feel like this post is going to save many mothers a lot of fretting in terms of knowing to expect. Because even when individual experiences vary widely, it’s still useful and good and comforting to read about what someone else went through.
I hope Elizabeth is feeling better very soon. And I am trying to resist Googling to learn more about the scab, because I suspect it might make me faint.
You’re such a good mom, Swistle. There would be a lot more yelling if this were my kid. Your kids are lucky (make sure you tell them that, in a stern voice).
You are so lucky you got the tylenol with codeine prescription! Where I live they won’t give it for you g kids (like my 5 year old who just had a T/A). We just had Tylenol and occasional advil (they said avoid advil because it increases the risk of bleeding) and his pain at night was really bad and I felt it basically increased from day 1 until day 10 when the scabs fell off. Talk about textbook!
And he had bait of post-op infection because they only gave two doses of IV antibiotics at the hospital and then none to use at home. I was annoyed by that. Infection only increases pain and though his pain was well managed during the day I was beside myself at night when his throat was so much more dried out evenwith waking him every four hours for meds and water. But as soon as the scabs came off his pain was totally gone. It was amazing. Glad it went well for you though!
So I NEED to know about the scab. I’m glad she’s doing well and just have one question. Sometimes you get into something and come out on the other side thinking, “Man, that was way easier than I was expecting.” or “That wasn’t what I was expecting at all.” or “that Wasn’t easier, or hard, just different than I thought”. Oh, you get the drift. I’m anxious to know what your take will be at the very end.
Wow, this is really informative (even for me who does not currently need info on tonsillectomy recovery). I really appreciate you talking about trying to keep your anger at the sick child repressed. I find the need to do that to when my child is not well. Glad to know I’m not alone. Also, I applaud your caregiving efforts. When my twin brother had his tonsils out when we were 5, he actually stayed in the hospital for a few days. Granted, that was many years ago but still…I’m amazed that you can have surery and then just whip on home like it’s no big deal.
I think your menu options sound wonderful. I would personally love to have the peanut butter mixed with ice cream. I may have that tonight just because. I don’t know why this wonderful combination never occurred to me before. Lastly, you reference flax seed many times. Although I have heard of it, I am not familiar with its particular benefits. Is it something specific to the tonsillectomy recovery or a general supplement you use?
Best wishes for continued recovery for Elizabeth!
Thanks for the update! I was wondering how she was doing!
You’re checking the ice cream each time before you give it to her, right? Just to make sure it tastes OK? Nothing makes me grumpy like funny-tasting ice cream! So, REALLY, it’s almost your DUTY to make sure it tastes right, EVERY TIME, before you give it to Elizabeth. ;-)
Did the doctor give her any kind of stool softener? Because when I had my tonsils out, after two weeks of eating pain pills and little else, when it came time for THAT activity…hoo boy. Hurt WAY worse than post childbirth. Like crying and blood bad.
So, you might ask about that. Narcotics, which codeine is, are constipating, so part of her “feeling terrible” might be due to that and she just doesn’t know how to explain it. In any case, it can’t hurt.
I’m glad she’s heading for mending but I know how hard it is. My youngest had hers out at 8 and it was a solid 2 weeks before she was even close to herself again. Hang in there- both of you.
Man, that does not sound fun at all. Hope Elizabeth is fully mended soon. I have no patience for sick people (just ask my husband :) so I too am impressed by your calmness/kindness many days out from surgery.
Here’s to everything being back to normal soon!
This sounds kinda awful. (Sorry) I feel so bad for you and Elizabeth! At first I was wondering if the codeine was making her feel a little wonky/out of it, but then you said that she got more crabby when she missed a dose.
Mystery. Poor you guys! I will be keeping that listing of soft foods in mind. I think it is finally time to start contemplating braces for Brother and those son of a guns HURT. And you starve, because you can’t eat. *Sigh*
Okay, so I had my tonsils out when I was 22 and I just have to chime in and say recovering is SO AWFUL. I lived on canned slim fast (very cold) and percocet. I lost like 15 lbs in 2 weeks (don’t worry, I gained it all back as soon as I was better.)
What I remember about eating (besides that it hurt to eat) was that everything tasted HORRIBLE. Something about the operation left this terrible after taste in my mouth and literally everything I ate tasted like that. It was so bad that I remember it vividly almost 7 years later.
Is it possible the codine is making her barfy? I know that’s some people’s reaction to it. I only had one incident of barfing and it was caused by percocet on an empty stomach.
Also, about the general “feeling terrible” I remember that my ears hurt really bad. Like earaches. It was one of the side effects listed, but it surprised me how much it bothered me.
Anyway, worlds longest comment. Sorry!
Nik-Nak– Oh, good question! I’d say it’s been easier than expected. The surgery itself was easier (I’d been prepared for the surgery starting later or going longer than expected, for her to wake up crying and crazy, and for her to be in a ton of pain, but none of those happened) (and also I didn’t break down into sobs at inappropriate times as expected, so that was good). The recovery was harder than I expected the first day (almost entirely because I wasn’t prepared for the barfing and didn’t know what to do about it—the rest of it was easier than I’d expected the first day to be), but it’s been easier than expected since then.
oof, i’m glad to hear this is still easier than expected for you, because it SOUNDS very… not fun. i do find it’s almost always best to expect something dreadful, so that you can always be pleasantly surprised if/when the worst case scenario doesn’t happen. :)
I had my wisdom teeth out when I was 15, had a bad reaction to the anesthesia and an infection, and because of the complications, ate nothing but ice cream for a month. Mostly chocolate and banana milkshakes three meals a day for month. I lost 20 lbs. I gained it all back when I was better–it all turned out alright in the end.
I hope Elizabeth feels better soon. And you too.
Therese– Flax seed meal is one of those things I think of as being Magic, without really knowing WHY I think of it as magic. Like when the doctor asked why I took fish oil, and I was like “…”—because I don’t really know EXACTLY why, except that I believe it to be MAGIC.
I do know flax seed meal has the (magical) omega-3s in it, plus fiber of course, plus protein. And it has to be the meal, not the seeds: the seeds don’t get digested. (But you can buy the seeds and then turn them into meal with a coffee grinder or blender.) It adds really easily to muffins or pizza dough: I take a couple of tablespoons of flour out of each cup, and put flax seed meal in instead. I also put a couple of tablespoons in a smoothie. (FEEL THE MAGIC.)
Not really related to your post, but my OB has given me 2-3 weeks worth of painkillers after my c-section. Your OB is way too stingy!!! (One exclamation point was not enough to express my feelings.)
It seems to me like you are being very patient because 9 or 10 days of sick kid seems like A LOT. Hopefully it goes without saying that it seems like a lot for the kid too. I hope she gets good news about the scab.
Doing My Best– OH INDEED. And in fact, ask me how I know that a person subsisting almost entirely on ice cream might feel cranky.
Kate– He did mention that narcotics have an, um, SIDE EFFECT of that sort. Oh, I should have mentioned in my comment to Therese, above, that flax seed meal also helps with that!
ssm, Melissa, Therese– I MIGHT be taking it out a little bit on the OTHER kids. MIGHT.
This is exactly what should be in the Parenting Handbook you’re given upon the birth of your child.
You know, if there were such a thing.
This seems like a side issue, but thank you so much for the squeezing-hand thing. My daughter gets mute when she’s upset, too, and this seems like GENIUS.
I hope E. feels all better in the next couple of days. I think you are Florence Nightingale, Swistle.
I second the hand squeezing idea, that is genius. I am going to start using it on my two year old.
I hope the recovery period is over soon and she’s back to normal. I’m glad you shared this, in case we ever go through something similar.
That’s a REALLY GOOD pain scale. Did you come up with it or did they teach it to you at the hospital? (Or is this something that everyone knows and I’m somehow in the dark?) I’m just curious because pain scales can be so tricky.
Hope she feels all better soon!
“and also I didn’t break down into sobs at inappropriate times as expected, so that was good” YAY!!!! I hope you are getting copious amounts of E’s ice cream as a reward. That was no small feat!
Also, I googled the scab thing *ick* and now I am upset that although I have heard of many of these procedures you never hear about that. What IS that? It’s like when I went in for child birth and no one told me I’d need catherized. Or about the big hurty poo when I got home. These details are too important to be leaving out medical people!
Poor baby. Sometimes all that medicine and no food can cause the nausea and icky feeling. It doesn’t sound like she is eating enough. Can you push more food? Also, there can be drainage into the stomach from the throat that can cause the nausea and icky feeling as well as too much acid from not eating.
Oh and I hide flax seed meal in everything – Mac & Cheese, pudding, sandwiches, bread. It’s good stuff.
I hope she feels human soon. :)
I’ve been wondering how you guys have been doing. First I have to say that I’m blown away by your squeeze for yes, don’t squeeze for no, non-verbal communication thing. I am stealing that immediately. Like, before immediately.
I can only imagine how hard this recovery has been. I am sending big hugs to both of you. And while I am decidedly curious about the scab, I am also decidedly NOT curious as well.
Good luck at your appointment!
Flax seed meal does sound like magic. Thanks for all the info, I’ll definitely try incorporating it into some foods for my family. Continued patience for you and a speedy recovery for Elizabeth!
Swistle,
I don’t know if you have considered that sudden illness/disease/health related pain often comes with a hearty dose of depression. Even in kids as young as she is. Depression can manifest as being uncommunicative, not wanting to eat, sleeping issues, pain, loss of interest. I don’t mean to imply that your child is depressed! I don’t know her and would never guess that. But it can be a very real issue that she would have no ides how to explain. I hope not though!
Much love and happy thoughts for her and you! :)
OH GOD, the breath. THE BREATH. My son had his adenoids out a few years ago and they warned us about The Breath. For the first several days he was fine and we were all “Oh! We have escaped it!” And then one morning he woke up with the most horrendous-smelling breath I have ever experienced in my life. It smelled like something had crawled into his mouth AND DIED. You are welcome for THAT image. No amount of brushing or cough drops or anything masked it, either. HOLY GOD. Ahem.
I hope that Elizabeth continues to improve quickly! Best of luck!
I wish I had been able to read something like this before my two boys had theirs out! I just wanted to add the my boys loved pancakes while recovering. :)
Poor kiddo. My sister had her tonsils and part of her thyroid removed at the same time when she was 12? 11? and I think it took about two weeks for her to get back to normal. But I don’t think she threw up, which maybe helps…
Hope Elizabeth feels better soon! I’m voting for an ice cream milk shake with peanut butter, for some added protein. That’s totally healthy right?
Good luck!
If one of my kids ever needs a tonsillectomy, I’m going to be very grateful you wrote this!
Superjules– Now I am bursting with happiness to be able to tell you I came up with it my OWN SELF!
I had so much trouble with pain scales (after my c-sections) because they seemed to be based on ALL PAIN EVER, and I didn’t feel like I could compare the pain I was feeling to the pain of someone who had just been mangled. And also, I’m so aware of people exaggerating (not even on purpose), so that when I might honestly evaluate and say “3,” that means I really really need pain killers right away—whereas someone else with the same level of pain would be like “NINE!!”
SO. I first reduced the number of levels, just because she’s a child. And then I used my hand, so she could squeeze if she didn’t want to talk. And then I had her compare it only to the pain of this particular procedure.
I’m sure you know this, but in addition to the constipation, the codeine can also cause general stomach upset and appetite suppression. No one told me this when my son broke his leg and they gave us a huge Tylenol with codeine prescription. Then he didn’t eat for a week and when we finally saw the orthopedist, he was like “It’s the codeine. Give it a few days to get out of his system and he should be back to normal.”
So, there’s your unsolicited assvice for the day. Also, should my kid ever have his/her tonsils removed, I’m starting here.
We lived through a “scab thing” with our tonsil-less one. He was 4. It was very scary!! 5 hours in the ER and they talked about admitting him. I always hope that never happens to anyone I know who is having tonsils out :(
I love the hand squeezing idea. It’s brilliant. Now, I just need to remember to use it when my son is being an uncommunicative grouch.
There was some discussion at my son’s last dentist and doctor’s appointments about his tonsils, and I think I’m going to root for no surgery as long as they’re not causing too many problems (some teeth crowding and mouth breathing are it for now).
This sounds pretty rough for you and Elizabeth. I hope she’s feeling better soon!
You are awesome and that is all I have to say.
The and squeezing is brilliant and I am going to try it with my 5 year old, she clams up when she is upset and this sound like a great solution. I had my tonsils out at 9 years ago and remember the recovery well. Aside from my throat hurting, my ears hurt really bad and my tongue was the worst pain. They clamp the tongue down during the surgery and my teeth pressed into my tongue leaving sores similar to canker sores all over it. The demerol (awesome ENT) didn’t help my ear or tongue at all. Hope scab day is successful for you!
I know it’s a different surgery, but when I was a freshman in college, I had to have my gallbladder taken out. As in if-I-didn’t-it-was-going-to-explode. I literally couldn’t keep anything down for weeks… except orange hi-c. I can’t stand the stuff now, but…
Wow, this brought back memories of when I had mine out…way more years ago then I am going to say. I went through most of these stages too! My poor Mom. And my and her problem was I wasn’t fon of jello or vanilla ice cream and still won’t eat them to this day! You are a good, patient Mom. This too shall pass! I’m still thankful though that my tonsils are gone. I haven’t had sore throats in that many years I won’t mention.
Not sure if this will make you feel better or not:
I had my tonsils out when I was young. I have a very good memory but have very little recollection of the recovery (beyond jello and icecream). It may be traumatic now (to both of you) but in the bigger picture it won’t even register as a blip for her.
I am glad to have these updates – and I hope that things are even better now.
The hand pain scale is GENIUS though I hope never to use it!!!
Dearest Swistle, I owe you SUCH a smooch right now, I can’t even tell you.
Well, actually I can tell you. My daughter, who is six (as of 2 weeks ago) is going to have her tonsils & adenoid out tomorrow morning.
I have never had this particular surgery (and hope to not have my 6-year-old need her gallbladder out, a bunion repaired or a c-section any time in the near future, for which I have actual experience) and so I had basically zero idea what to expect.
I watched my nephew while he recovered from his tonsil/adenoid/tube surgery, but I still am feeling nervous and uncertain.
This post? Has made me feel SO MUCH BETTER. So, THANK YOU. So Much.
Erin- Oh HOORAY! Not hooray for tonsillectomy/adendoidectomy, but hooray because I thought “_I_ wanted this info…but would anyone ELSE want it?” I hope her surgery and recovery go the best that can be hoped for!