WHEN THE TONSILLECTOMY PATIENT COMES HOME
Most children take seven to ten days to recover from the surgery. Some may recover more quickly; others can take up to two weeks for a full recovery. The following guidelines are recommended.
Drinking
The most important requirement for recovery is for the patient to drink plenty of fluids. Starting immediately after surgery, children may have fluids such as water or apple juice. Some patients experience nausea and vomiting after the surgery. This usually occurs within the first 24 hours and resolves on its own after the effects of anesthesia wear off. Contact your physician if there are signs of dehydration (urination less than 2-3 times a day or crying without tears).
Eating
Generally, there are no food restrictions after surgery, but a soft diet during the recovery period is easier to swallow. Foods and drinks that are very sour (or spicy) may cause discomfort. The sooner the child eats and chews, the quicker the recovery. Tonsillectomy patients may be reluctant to eat because of throat pain; consequently, some weight loss may occur, which is gained back after a normal diet is resumed.
Fever
A low-grade fever may be observed the night of the surgery and for a day or two afterward. Contact your physician if the fever is greater than 38.5ºC (102ºF).
Activity
Activity may be increased slowly, with a return to school after normal eating and drinking resumes, pain medication is no longer required, and the child sleeps through the night. Most children will be off school for 1 to 2 weeks. Travel on airplanes or far away from a medical facility is not recommended for two weeks following surgery.
Breathing
The parent may notice snoring and mouth breathing due to swelling in the throat. Breathing should return to normal when swelling subsides, 10-14 days after surgery.
Scabs
A scab will form where the tonsils and adenoids were removed. These scabs are thick, white, and cause bad breath. This is normal. Most scabs fall off in small pieces five to ten days after surgery.
Bleeding
With the exception of small specks of blood from the nose or in the saliva, bright red blood should not be seen. If your child is very young, you may want to sleep in the same room, so you're alerted to any bleeding right away. If such bleeding occurs, immediately take your child to the emergency room.
Pain
Nearly all children undergoing a tonsillectomy will have mild to severe pain in the throat after surgery. The pain may get worse 5 to 7 days after surgery. Some may complain of an earache (so called referred pain) and a few may have pain in the jaw and neck.
Pain control
Dr. Mostachfi will prescribe pain medication for the young patient usually liquid morphine. Please give your child liquid Tylenol as well, as the combination of morphine + Tylenol works best. You may also give ibuprofen (Advil). Although it is a blood thinner, it has not been shown to increase post operative bleeding. Pain medication should be given as prescribed. An excessive amount of morphine will result in your child becoming very groggy. If more morphine is given, your child's breathing may slow down, to the point of being life threatening. Contact your physician if side effects are suspected or if pain is not well-controlled. If you are troubled about any phase of your childs recovery, contact your physician immediately.