TONSILLECTOMY & ADENOIDECTOMY
REMEMBER: No food or drink after midnight on the night before surgery.
After a tonsillectomy, yellow or white patches will form in the throat. These are like moist scabs and will fall off in 7-10 days. Expect bad breath for up to 1-2 weeks after surgery. Your child can perform normal mouth care, except NO GARGLING.
Some of the physicians do not have diet restrictions and allow their patients to have anything that they would like to eat. The Surgery Nurse will go over the restrictions that your physician has for you.
Drink PLENTY of liquids to avoid dehydration. Signs of dehydration include; decrease in urine output, dark colored urine, increasing weakness, dry mouth, lack of tears when crying.
Your child should not return to school for at least 10 days.
PAIN OUR PHYSICIANS RECOMMEND ALTERNATING TYLENOL AND IBUPROFEN EVERY 3 HOURS DUE TO FDA REGULATIONS, CODEINE IS NO LONGER PRESCRIBED OUR SURGERY NURSE WILL INSTRUCT YOU ACCORDING TO YOUR SPECIFIC PHYSICIAN RECOMMENDATIONS.
Pain is common for up to 7-10 days after surgery. Your child may also complain of pain in their ears or a stiff neck. Give Tylenol (acetaminophen), ibuprofen as directed by your doctor.
Bleeding after surgery may occur in up to 1-2% of patients. This usually occurs 5-10 days after surgery if the moist scabs fall off before the throat has healed. You may notice blood in the mouth or in the nose.
If you notice only a few drops of blood or blood-tinged saliva, have your child lie down, apply a cold pack to the neck and/or drink cold water, and call the clinic. If there is more than a tablespoon of blood or it is after clinic hours, GO TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM.
It is common to have fever up to 102F after surgery for up to 5 days. Give Tylenol, ibuprofen, or prescribed pain medicine as directed. If fever is greater than 102F, or lasts longer than 5 days, call the clinic.
It is common to see nausea or vomiting for 1-2 days after surgery. You may see a small amount of old, dark blood. Use the nausea medicine prescribed by your doctor as directed. If bright red blood is seen in the vomit, please follow instructions above for bleeding.
A follow up clinic visit will be 1-2 weeks after surgery. The Surgery Nurse will make this post op appointment for you. This is an important visit to monitor how the throat has healed.
If you have other questions or problems, please call:
Nurse Link: 662-377-3007 Tupelo Office: 662-844-6513
Nurse Link: 1-800-882-6274
Ear, Nose and Throat Physicians of North MS PA