The most common side effect is a sore throat, which may last up to 10 days after surgery. While recovery from a tonsillectomy can be painful, once fully healed you should see an improvement in your breathing or fewer recurring infections, depending on the reason for your surgery.
Call your doctor or pediatrician if you notice excess bleeding, inability to take in or keep down fluids, worsening sore throat, or high fever. Learn about what foods are good to eat and what foods to avoid if you have a sore throat.
Use this guide to help decide whether or not your child should take a sick day from school. Is it possible for tonsils to grow back after a tonsillectomy? Find out. You can still get strep throat without tonsils, but you may be at a lower risk for this infection following a tonsillectomy.
Adenoiditis is an infection in the throat. While bleeding after tonsillectomy can be normal, there are some instances when you should be concerned. Seek immediate care if you or your child has…. Uvula removal surgery is sometimes done to treat snoring or obstructive sleep apnea.
Learn what to expect from the procedure and how long recovery…. Researchers say children who undergo tonsillectomies have a higher risk of asthma and respiratory infections as adults. Your parathyroid glands regulate the amount of calcium in your blood. They sometimes need to be removed if your body is producing too much calcium….
Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. What to expect after surgery. What should you do if your scabs bleed.
When do your scabs fall off? Caring for yourself or your child after a tonsillectomy. An overnight stay is possible if complications arise, if the surgery is done on a young child or if you have a complex medical condition.
A nurse may use a pre-surgery checklist of questions, such as asking you to say your name and the reason for your surgery. This is a standard procedure to ensure the safety of patients. Because a tonsillectomy is performed under general anesthesia, you or your child won't be aware of the procedure or experience pain during the surgery.
The surgeon may cut out the tonsils using a blade scalpel or a specialized surgical tool that uses heat or high-energy heat or sound waves to remove or destroy tissues and stop bleeding. Tonsillectomies to treat recurring bacterial tonsillitis reduce the frequency and severity of strep throat and other bacterial infections.
Tonsillectomies to treat viral tonsillitis have a smaller benefit. Tonsillectomies to treat obstructive sleep apnea and other conditions not related to infections can improve outcomes when other treatment strategies have not been beneficial. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version.
Overview Inflamed tonsils Open pop-up dialog box Close. Inflamed tonsils Tonsils are fleshy pads located at each side of the back of the throat. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. While you were under anesthesia, your surgical team used various tools to work within the small space of your mouth.
They suctioned blood and saliva so you could breathe. They used other devices to move your tongue around. This prevented your tongue from getting hurt and kept it out of your surgeon's way. All that bumping and moving around is why your tongue feels sore and swollen. You might even have a thick white film on it. Inflammation can also spread from the area where your tonsils were to other parts of the throat.
You don't need to call a healthcare provider unless tongue swelling becomes severe enough that you have difficulty talking, swallowing, or breathing, or if the swelling does not get better on its own.
Your healthcare provider will likely prescribe pain medication. Follow the instructions carefully. To make your tongue feel better, try:. Your uvula is the flap of tissue that hangs in the back of your throat. It helps you swallow and speak. It will likely be sore and look red. After you have your tonsils taken out, swelling of your uvula happens for the same reasons your tongue hurts: It got bumped during the surgery, or inflammation spread to it.
Drinking cool fluids and eating ice chips can help. Start with easy-to-swallow, soft, cold foods like yogurt, pudding, and scrambled eggs, once you can eat.
Avoid anything hot, spicy, or crunchy that could irritate your uvula and throat. Eating foods like chips and crackers could increase your swelling or cause bleeding. Call your healthcare provider if you start:. These might be signs that the swelling is blocking your airway. After surgery, you may see white scabs or a yellow film on the site where your tonsils were. Don't worry. The scabs usually go away within five to 10 days. However, call your healthcare provider if you notice bright red streaks of blood coming from where your tonsils were or if there's a green tint.
These symptoms could be signs of bleeding or an infection. Unfortunately, bad breath is common after a tonsillectomy. This symptom usually goes away as your throat heals. The causes of your bad breath include:. Several adverse effects are associated with having your tonsils removed. They include:. The most significant risk, though, is bleeding from your surgical site. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Important Phone Numbers.
Topic Contents Your Recovery How can you care for yourself at home? When should you call for help? Where can you learn more? Top of the page. Your Recovery A tonsillectomy is surgery to remove the tonsils. How can you care for yourself at home? Rest when you feel tired. Getting enough sleep will help you recover. Try to walk each day. Start by walking a little more than you did the day before. Bit by bit, increase the amount you walk.
Walking boosts blood flow and helps prevent pneumonia and constipation. Avoid strenuous activities, such as bicycle riding, jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise, for 2 weeks or until your doctor says it is okay. For 2 weeks, avoid lifting anything that would make you strain. This may include a child, heavy grocery bags and milk containers, a heavy briefcase or backpack, cat litter or dog food bags, or a vacuum cleaner. Avoid dirt, dust, and heat for 2 weeks after surgery.
These things can irritate your throat. For about 1 week, try to avoid crowds or people who you know have a cold or influenza flu. This can help prevent you from getting an infection.
You may bathe as usual. Ask your doctor when you can drive again. You will probably need to take 1 to 2 weeks off from work. It depends on the type of work you do and how you feel. Drink plenty of fluids to avoid becoming dehydrated.
0コメント