Tonsillectomy as an Adult Week One

The last cappuccino I had before my operation.

I started writing this after surgery, slowly, it has take me about four weeks to finish this. Recovery has been harder than I thought and I’m still not 100% pain-free and I’m still low on enragy and exhausted. I want to post this in hopes of helping someone prepare for this surgery.

I wrote about sleep and how I discovered I have obstructive sleep apnea. The solution for my sleep apnea was surgery.

It’s been exactly one week since I had my tonsils removed, a turbinate reduction and palatal surgery. I was supposed to have a uvula palatoplasty, but thankfully I didn’t need one. Apparently, it is a very painful procedure.

I have yet to see results for my sleep apnea. I will tell you honestly how this week went. I want to be honest and tell you what I went through in hopes that if someone needs this surgery they will be prepared.

First of all, I have to tell you, I am blessed with a great surgeon. He is very dedicated. He was very clear and explained everything and he didn’t take surgery as the first option but in my case, it was the best option.

He explained the operation, risks and complications. He told me how painful it was going to be. I was told by multiple doctors how painful a tonsillectomy is as an adult. I never imagined it would be this bad.

Let me start with how I prepared before the operation, I didn’t know what to expect but since everyone emphasized how painful it would be I decided to do anything I could to make my life easier post op. If you remember, we have been renovating the house and the last room to be completed was my kitchen, when I found out I needed surgery, I knew I needed to wait for my kitchen to be installed and organize everything before the operation. I worked very hard to unpack my kitchen with the help of our two full time helpers and my kids. I finished organizing everything the Thursday before the operation. The week before, I did all the laundry and literally did two final loads the night before the surgery before I went to bed. I bought lots of fresh chicken breasts and ground lamb and cooked and seasoned them. Them, divided them in containers and put them in the freezer. I bought fresh chicken, cut and seasoned it and froze them individually for a quick and easy roasted chicken in the oven. I stalked up on easy dinner ideas like prebaked pizza crusts, chicken nuggets, precut fries. I bought plenty of frozen vegetables for easy sides. I stalked up on things my kids especially my two youngest could eat as healthy snacks. Plenty of cereals, their favorite yoghurts, snack sized peanuts and cashew…  I even preordered everything we would need for Eid. Which isn’t for another month. But, I’m glad I did, because now I don’t have to worry about that either. I took my daughter shopping and made sure she had everything for her middle school graduation which I attended 6 days PO. I bought lots of ice cube trays that have covers because I think uncovered ice tastes funny. I wasn’t sure if I’d need ice but I’m so glad I bought so many! I practically lived on ice and water the first week. I also stocked up on frozen fruit for smoothies and bought plenty of chocolate pudding and cream caramel (another type of pudding with a burnt sugar caramel sauce) I bought Greek yoghurt drink to eat and drink thinking it would be great source of protein but I was unable to eat dairy for the first week, I’ll write about that later.

I bought a white board and marker that I took with me to the hospital which was a great idea because I was unable talk at all the first week.

I bought my youngest a new extension to his IKEA train set, and my ten year old two new books and a new puzzle he had been asking for, I bought my 12 year old a fun active game that he could play with his siblings. (Mom guilt had kicked in and I wanted something fun to keep them busy Friday morning while my husband was at the hospital with me.)

I am very grateful for my pre-op self for everything I did! It has helped a lot.

I went in on Friday morning. We arrived at 6 am as instructed. They prepped me and I was in at around 11:30 am. The nurses and anesthetist were all reassuring and great. I remember saying a prayer as I dosed off. I woke up in my room with my husband by my side waiting for me to wake up. I was in pain even though I was given something for the pain. My tears were rolling down my cheeks and I couldn’t open my eyes. I kept dozing off and waking up again. They gave me something else for the pain which helped but I ended up asking for something stronger. My husband and sister in law (a doctor) were there to advocate for me and make sure I got stronger pain meds. I recommend if you are doing this procedure in particular, have someone with you because you will be in too much pain and unable to talk.

My doctor is amazing, he had already given me his personal number if I had any questions pre or post operation. He met my husband post operation, reassured him that the operation went better than expected and everything was good. He also gave him his number too just in case.

Later in the afternoon, they brought me vanilla ice cream and my husband encouraged me to try to eat some to ease the pain. A little later I vomited, it was after she gave me the steroids (every time I took it via IV it would make me nauseous) Later that evening I vomited again after having some yoghurt. The doctor said sometimes there is a reaction between the anesthesia and lactose so I stopped dairy products for about a week, even today two weeks later some dairy doesn’t sit well in my stomach.

Later that evening my other sister in law came with my daughter and youngest son. My husband left to take our boys to his nephews wedding. (We do men’s and women’s parties separately and tonight was only men)

It was nice seeing my daughter and son, my daughter cried a little, I reassured her I was ok, made her laugh telling her it looked like I got a nose job! My nose is now a little smaller because my turbinates were so large when they made them smaller it effected the size of my nose!  My SIL was great making sure I was comfortable and encouraging me to eat some frozen açaí ice cream. (since it’s dairy free)

Later my other sister in laws and nieces came to visit. They sat in the dark because I couldn’t stand the light and were very sympathetic. I wrote my thanks on my trusty white board, best thing I bought!

They didn’t stay long and their visit was greatly appreciated.

Later my husband came back with my boys. It was nice seeing them all and reassuring them I was ok.

The first night was terrible. I had convinced my husband and other sister in law that I was going to sleep and I didn’t need someone with me throughout the night. That was a mistake. I was in so much pain I couldn’t sleep and it didn’t occur to me to call the doctor and ask him about the pain medicine dosage. The nurses for some reason had decreased the dose and it wasn’t covering it at all. The next day the doctor came and checked on me, he said everything looked great but he increased the dose and asked them not to discharge me until after noon so he could check on me one more time.

He came back, checked on me and discharged me. I went home in pain but grateful to be out of the hospital.

For the next week I used my white board and hand gestures to communicate with everyone, my daughter said; it’s like were living in a charades game. haha. She was the best at it, sometimes I made hand gesture that made no sense but some how she understood what I meant.

I used google translate to speak with my youngest since he can’t read, I’d type something then let google pronounce it for me. I think the first time I did that he was relieved that we could communicate. It was hard not being able to speak to them!

My husband was very supportive, he did dinner, bedtimes, mornings before school, and checked on me while he was at work. The first week I literally did not move from the sofa where I slept sitting up with a travel pillow to keep my head upright while I was sleeping.

Saturday, Sunday and Monday were the same, I slept as much as I could. I waited by the minute for pain meds. I couldn’t eat anything. I barely could manage ice water. I would barely finish 330 ml of water a day. I slowly started eating things like pudding and jello. I could not chew at all. If the food was a little thick in consistency I couldn’t swallow it. Everything felt like it was stuck in my mouth and throat.

Sunday my aunt sent us lunch, Monday my sister in law sent us enough food for three days! I really appricated this, because I really had zero energy even think about what to feed the kids.

Monday night I was in so much pain I couldn’t sleep. I messaged my doctor at 5 am and he answers 5 minutes later. He told me the next two day would be the worst and I could increase my dose of opioids from every 12 hours to every 6 hours. That only took the edge away. I was never pain free. But I was exhausted so, I would dose off as soon as the medicine worked.  I basically slept all day Tuesday which lead to dehydration because I was barely awake long enough to manage a few small sips which were still painful. I didn’t sleep much Tuesday night; my heart rate was elevated and I couldn’t sleep. I woke up feeling awful and my urine was very dark. I knew I was dehydrated. I messaged my doctor who told me to head to the ER. My husband took me and called my doctor who gave the ER doctor’s instructions to give me steroids to decrease the swelling so I could swallow better, pain meds and fluids via IV. They also did some blood tests to make sure my liver and kidneys were ok. Thankfully everything looked ok and my surgery was healing well. As soon as the meds kicked in a fell asleep on the uncomfortable ER bed. I spent about two hours at the ER then I was discharged. I went home and back to bed.

In the afternoon I asked my son to boil some potatoes for me, he suggested adding carrots, so I thought why not pumpkin too? He puréed them for me and only added salt. It was delicious and lasted three days. I’d eat it at room temperature but at least I was eating something with more nutrients than pudding! Up until Wednesday I was barely eating a little pudding, a small amount of Greek yoghurt and water.

That day I woke up at 2 in the afternoon and made sure I stayed awake so I could drink enough water. I managed 500 mil of water which was a slight improvement, but not sleeping led to me being exhausted and very cranky.

Wednesday evening, my oldest cooked lunch for the next day. it was as simple pea lamb stew. it was super simple to cook because I had precooked and frozen the lamb.

Wednesday night I slept a little better. Thursday was my daughter’s graduation from middle school. (They grow up so fast!) I couldn’t miss the graduation of course. Luckily this year they let the graduates buy extra tickets and we were able to invite her three aunts. It was great having them and it really helped me since I wasn’t feeling well. The graduation was great. I printed a paper explaining that I had just gotten a tonsillectomy and couldn’t speak to greet teachers and mothers with. People all were very sympathetic. By the end of the graduation I was exhausted and couldn’t wait to go home. I went home ate some jello and pudding, took my pain meds and went to sleep. I was exhausted the rest of the day and knew that going to the wedding later that evening later was not an option. Though I did send my daughter with her aunts and she had a great time.

One of my younger brothers came to visit me later that evening. (He came from out of town just to see me! The sweetest brother ever!) When he came I found that I could talk a little! What an achievement! Though the next day I woke up so sore I regretted it. I decided to try not to talk so much.

My older brother and his family came to visit me later Friday after noon. I tried not to talk too much and really enjoyed their company. Friday night I ordered mushroom soup from one of my favorite restaurants, I was ambitious and ordered the Chicken Corden Blu, which I could not eat and my son happily enjoyed. I also had a mango, Greek yoghurt smoothie. I figured smoothies were the way to go for nutrients since I can’t eat. The chicken came with mashed potatoes and gravy, the gravy helped the mashed potatoes not be too sticky so I could swallow it easier. Eating is very difficult, I still can’t chew and swallowing is very difficult and painful, I follow every small mouthful with a drink of water. I feels like I’m not swallowing the food it just sticks to my throat, so I wash it down with water.

Saturday, I had my second bowl movement. It was exhausting but I was relieved to finally have one. Since I haven’t been eating or drinking enough water it’s understandable. In the instructions the doctor gave for post op care he suggested laxatives but I’m hoping I can avoid them. After going to the ER for dehydration I have been trying to finish a liter and a half of water a day. I don’t always succeed but I’m doing much better.

I decide I want to eat and I can’t decide between two soups, I’m afraid they’ll be too spicy and I can’t eat them. My husband suggests I get both, he reminds me that my kids will happily eat anything I don’t. I order from one of our favorite Italian restaurants; lobster soup, mushroom soup, pumpkin risotto and their amazing truffle mashed potatoes I had last week. The lobster soup is great, there is a piece of lobster in it that my husband happily eats. I manage to eat some of the mashed potatoes, some of the risotto and the lobster soup. I leave the rest for tomorrow. Eating was difficult but I was determined to eat. I needed to get better. I can’t believe it’s been a week since I had the surgery and I still feel awful. I never imagined it would be this bad. I never imagined the pain would be even when taking opioids, I would be in pain. He doctors did tell me but I thought I had a high tolerance to pain, which I do, but this is something no one can tolerate. They weren’t kidding.

To Be Continued…