Tonsillectomy or Adenotonsillectomy

How You Will Feel

Most people will have some discomfort in the throat that initially is manageable although it is likely to get worse before it gets better again. You may also feel nausea related to anaesthesia or swallowed blood from your surgery. This will improve over the first couple of days after surgery.

It is also quite common to get ear pain after tonsil surgery, and food can also taste different (either a reduced sense of taste or a different metallic taste, or a combination of both) during the healing process. Try not to let this affect you adhering to a good, balanced diet.

Please do not drive, operate machinery, sign any legal documents or drink alcohol for 24-48 hours after the operation.

Activity Level

You should not plan to travel for two weeks following surgery, including no flying. Try not to do any excessive bending, lifting or straining for at least one week after surgery as these activities can cause bleeding. Also please try to avoid participating in any rigorous activity until permitted.

Diet

It is important to resume as normal a diet as possible, as soon after the operation as you can. If you are feeling nauseous, limit your intake to fluids and small amounts of food, increasing gradually as tolerated.

The type of food you eat is less important than eating regularly. Having a small amount regularly, even four or five meals a day, is better than trying to eat one or two large meals. Try to maintain a balanced, healthy diet with good hydration and plenty of iron, vitamin C and other vitamins, which can boost your immune system and contribute to a smoother and faster recovery. You should aim to eat a wide range of foods that require you to chew and swallow, rather than just living on soft foods, although it is perfectly OK to eat soft foods as well.

Also try to avoid alcohol in the days after your surgery.

Bleeding

Most people do not get any bleeding at all. It is more likely to occur if an infection develops, and an infection is more likely to develop if you do not eat and drink regularly. The commonest reason for this is significant pain, hence why it is so important to take your painkillers on a regular basis.

If you get just one or two spots of blood and no more then you do not need to worry, however if the bleeding continues we would advise you attend your local A&E where there is round-the-clock on site ENT expertise available 24 hours a day (and paediatricians in the case of children surgery). You can at any time ring the ward where the surgery took place or contact Professor

Medications and pain relief

Some people will be given an antibiotic and everyone will be given pain medication. The painkillers should be taken regularly and not only if you feel you need them. This is because this will make it easier for you to eat properly, which reduces the risk of infection and therefore bleeding. You will need to continue your antibiotics as instructed, usually for just a few days to a week. Diarrhoea from antibiotic usage can occur and can lead to a serious health problem. If diarrhoea should occur, you should discontinue the use of the antibiotic. If the diarrhoea is severe or persistent, you should contact your GP.

Complications

Monitor your temperature for elevations above 38oC (100°F); look for bleeding from the throat; note any neck swellings or stiffness. Report any of these findings either directly to the hospital ward from where you were discharged, or to Professor Chatrath’s office as soon as possible.

Please write down any non-urgent questions that may arise, so that we may answer them at your next visit.

Adenoidectomy (as the only procedure)

The above advice applies equally well to patients undergoing adenoidectomy alone, however the recovery is usually faster than when tonsillectomy is also undertaken. Typically one week off school is sufficient following adenoidectomy.

It is still important to maintain a good diet, take your painkillers regularly and look out for the points listed above to ensure as smooth a recovery as possible.

Further information

Please contact
Maria, Secretary to Professor Paul Chatrath
Tel: 020 3865 7225
Email: contact@london-ent.co.uk

Or visit the website for further information:
www.london-ent.co.uk