POSTOPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS TONSILLECTOMY AND/OR ADENOIDECTOMY
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
- Household confinement and light activities are required for one full week.
- Discuss return to school/work with your doctor. No physical education or exercise until the doctor checks you after surgery and gives you a date on which these activities can be safely resumed.
- Tylenol, not aspirin, may be used for pain or fever 2 weeks prior to and after surgery.
- Do not use gargles or throat sprays.
- Call if persistent cough or clearing of the throat develops.
- Ear pain is a common postop symptom. Chewing gum 15 minutes 4 times a day beginning on the day after surgery and continued thereafter may help to relieve this.
- Avoid large groups of people for 10-14 days after surgery.
- The pain medication prescribed for you contains Tylenol. Additional plain Tylenol should not be needed. However, for elevated temperature, contact our office for instructions.
- Plain Tylenol should be used as soon as the patient feels he/she no longer needs the prescription pain reliever.
- Eating postop can sometimes be challenging, especially in small children. Planning meals 30-45 minutes after a dose of pain medication will often result in better compliance with food intake.
- If decreased fluid intake occurs, contact our office and monitor for signs and symptoms of dehydration:
• Decreased or dark concentrated urinary output
• Elevated temperature
• Lethargy
• Skin which feels "dry" to the touch
DIET - Avoid all crusty or scratchy foods for a full 2 weeks at least.
- Avoid hot and highly seasoned foods and beverages.
- Avoid citrus juices (orange, lemon, etc.)
- Avoid foods/drinks which are red in color.
- Avoid food of a very hot or "high temperature".
- PUSH FLUIDS. This is very important as sufficient fluid intake is crucial to a prompt recovery. Inadequate fluid intake may result in:
• Dehydration requiring hospitalization
• Increased risk of bleeding and infection
• Increased bad breath
DIET PROGRESSION:
- Day of Surgery:
Clear liquids (apple juice, tea, jello, popsicles, broth, etc.)
- Day 1 through Day 7:
Any soft foods (ice cream, cereal, mashed potato, eggs, vegetables, meatloaf, boiled chicken, bananas, pasta, soup, etc.)
- Day 7 through Day 10:
Gradually resume regular diet without scratchy foods.
CALL OUR OFFICE IF THE FOLLOWING OCCURS:
If calling the office, identify yourself as a postop patient to receptionist so a nurse may promptly return your call.
- Any sign of bleeding
- Persistent nausea and any vomiting
- Persistent cough
- Ear pain unrelieved by gum or pain medicine
- Fever greater than 101° and persistent
- Symptoms of dehydration
- Any other questions that arise concerning the patient
POSTOP APPOINTMENT
A postop appointment may or may not be made after your procedure. At a minimum, someone from our office will contact you within 7-10 days of your surgery.
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