HOME CARE AFTER TONSILLECTOMY & ADENOIDECTOMY

ACTIVITIES: Bed rest and quiet activities are advised.  No running, lifting, yelling, driving, swimming, school, or work for the first two weeks.  Slowly return to regular activities during the third week.

DIET:             1.  Water, tea , sprite, apple juice, Gatorade, milk, popsicles, Jell-O, and ice cream, advancing to soft foods such as mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, applesauce, grits, noodles, pasta, soft chicken, and meatloaf as tolerated.  Emphasis should be placed on hydration rather than nutrition.  Weight loss is expected.

                       2.  Avoid foods that are sharp, scratchy, fried, hot, spicy, or acidic, including no orange juice, grapefruit juice, tomato juice, lemonade, tomato based products, fried chicken, French fries, pizza or chili throughout the entire recovery period.

                       3.  Fluids must be strongly encouraged to prevent dehydration.

MEDICATION:1. Throat pain is usually followed several days later by referred ear and jaw pain.  For the best pain control, the pain medication should be given regularly as prescribed while awake, then taking the pain medication less frequently and in smaller doses as the pain decreases.  Wait longer to give medication if over sedation occurs.  Narcotic pain medication may cause constipation, nausea, vomiting, fever, itching, and rash and may only be given to children over 5 years old.

                       2.  DO NOT take aspirin since this medication may cause bleeding.  Advil, Motrin, or Ibuprofen, may be given alternating with plain Tylenol or Tylenol with narcortics, if prescribed. 

                       3.  Take the antibiotics, if prescribed by your doctor, until they are gone.

                       4.  Carefully follow instructions for nausea medicine and numbing lollipops.

FEVER:           Low-grade fever often occurs in the first few days, relieved by Tylenol and drinking fluids. Call your doctor for a temperature remains greater than 102 degrees after giving Tylenol.

SPEECH:         Nasal speech may occur temporarily after surgery. Nasal regurgitation can sometimes occur when drinking fluids.

ICE PACK:     An ice pack should be applied to the neck for the first few days.

VAPORIZER:  Use a cool mist vaporizer at the bedside during the recovery period.

SWELLING:   Swelling usually occurs in the tongue, uvula, and throat, slowly resolving over the first 7-10 days, with a foul odor often present during the healing process. A gray or white membrane will be present in the throat and mouth during the healing process, but is usually not thrush.

BLEEDING:     1.  Bleeding may occur anytime after surgery, more likely the seventh to tenth day, often due to dehydration, coughing, eating the wrong foods, or overexertion.

                       2.  If ANY BLEEDING occurs from the nose or throat, remain calm, lie flat on the abdomen, turning the face to the right side, applying ice to the nose or neck, and call your doctor immediately at 355-2335 or 356-5330.

RECOVERY:     A routine postoperative appointment should be made after surgery.  Office staff will call you periodically after surgery. If any postoperative problems occur, call as soon as recognized, so evaluation can be arranged.