How to Prepare for a Tonsillectomy

I got my tonsils out almost six months ago. It was an interesting experience, to say the least. Everyone told me ahead of time that it would be the most painful surgery ever, as an adult. They were right, it was painful. I would say it was on par with my other surgeries but it did take a longer recovery time. There are a lot of different things you can do to prepare for this type of surgery so I thought I’d lay them out in a list.

• Calories That Count

In general, after your surgery, you won’t be up for anything more than liquids. It’s important to stay hydrated and get protein during this time. I preferred cold liquids over hot. Do your best to get protein. I kept drinking my usual smoothies but added extra protein powder to compensate. I also enjoyed apple sauce and the occasional mashed potatoes.

• Keep Drinking

Everyone will tell this to you a million times. It’s important to keep drinking both mentally and physically. From my own experience, the longer you take between drinking the harder it is to start again. Swallowing will hurt, there’s no way around it but the more you do, the easier it gets.

• Get Snack You Like

Fill your pantry with whatever soft and liquid-like snack you like. It’s best to stay away from dairy because of the phlegm it creates. If you’re like me and get dairy-free that’s the best way to go. I had vegan ice cream and popsicles. As I mentioned, I love smoothies and stuck with those as well. Nothing will sound good at the moment but try a little bit of everything and stick with what works.

• Schedule Pain Medicine

It’s important to keep on a pain management schedule. Waking up in the middle of the night from the crazy amount of pain is pretty brutal. Stay on top of things, even if that means waking up from naps or nightly to take medicine. You will thank me.

• Stay Present

This will hurt. I wish I could tell you it was a cakewalk but there are moments that will bring you to tears. Try to keep from crying though, it will only make the pain worse. Keep yourself in the present moment. It’s important to endure. This too shall pass.

• Give Yourself Grace

Out of all my surgeries, being motivated, and getting stuff done was the hardest during this recovery. I would recommend putting your ducks in a row for at least a week so you can relax and focus on healing.

Preparing for surgery is difficult. If it’s your first surgery, it can be daunting. Especially, if people keep reminding you how painful it’s going to be. The reality is, I would rather know about pain ahead of time. You are going to have to endure. Keep reminding yourself that you are strong enough to get through this pain. You will come out on the other end unscathed. If you feel you need more preparation for surgery, you can check out my article “What I wish I knew before surgery.” It will give you more pointers about what to expect. I hope your surgery goes well!