Tonsillectomy with UPPP is not an easy operation to recover from, but somehow everybody gets through it. The important thing to remember is that you will get a little better every day.
Important thing to do to speed your healing:
- Drink plenty of fluids - 2 quarts a day for adults, 1 quart a day for children
- Take your pain medication; it will help you get the fluids down better
- Avoid hot foods
- Avoid scratchy foods (chips, pretzels)
What to expect:
- Your worst sore throat
- Pain or numbness in the tongue (this is related to the instrument we used to open your mouth, squeezing the tongue during surgery)
- Ear pain - sometimes it’s only one side, sometimes both. It usually pops up just as the throat seems to be getting better. It’s because of irritation of the nerves that go from the throat to the ear, and from there to the brain.
- White, gray, or yellow coating in the throat where the tonsils were
If you had a UPPP:
- There are some sutures on your palate that will bother you. They will be removed at your 2-week post-op visit.
- You may have some liquids getting up your nose when you swallow. This will gradually get better.
- You may not stop snoring right away. The post-op scarring comes over time and should help with that.
Diet and activities:
- You may eat anything you can get down, within reason. This will be no more than liquids for a few days.
- Avoid intense exercise, sex or heavy lifting for TEN FULL DAYS
- Walking, being outside and driving are OK
When to call us:
- For any bleeding that does not respond quickly to drinking ice water and taking pain medication.
- If you are unable to swallow liquids.
You will have prescriptions for:
Roxicet liquid: #24oz - take_________ every 4 hours for pain
Carafate suspension # 4oz. - mix one teaspoon in one ounce of water and gargle, then swallow, twice a day
Viscous Xylocaine - swallow one teaspoon every 2 hours as needed for pain
Follow-up: about 1 week. Call for an appointment
Please call me if you have any questions or concerns at (508)-540-0900.
