Tonsillectomy: 10 Terms to Know

A tonsillectomy is a fairly common surgical procedure. If you or your child is scheduled to undergo a tonsillectomy, here are some of the most important terms you should be familiar with. 

1. Tonsils: Your tonsils are the two oval-shaped pads of tissue that are located at the back of your throat. There is one tonsil on each side of the throat. Tonsils are believed to be part of the immune system as the first line of defense against viruses and bacteria, since they produce certain types of disease-fighting white blood cells. Tonsillectomies are performed to remove tonsils if they have started to become particularly vulnerable to infection and inflammation.
2. Tonsillitis: Tonsillectomies are performed for a variety of reasons, but one of the most common is for recurring, chronic, or severe tonsillitis. Tonsillitis is characterized by infection or inflammation of the tonsils, and it is a problem that is especially common in children, since the immune system is much more active before puberty. A tonsillectomy will likely be recommended to treat frequent and recurring episodes of tonsillitis or if an infection caused by tonsillitis does not improve with treatment.
3. Sleep apnea: A tonsillectomy may also be recommended if your tonsils are enlarged and are causing problems with breathing while you are sleeping.
4. Anesthesia: Tonsillectomy procedures are always performed under general anesthesia, so you will be completely unaware of the procedure and unable to experience any pain during the surgery. However, you may experience some side effects from the anesthesia after you wake up from surgery. It is common to experience minor, short-term problems such as headaches, nausea, vomiting, and muscle soreness. It is very rare to experience any serious, long-term complications from anesthesia.
5. Outpatient procedure: Tonsillectomies are outpatient procedures, which means that you will be able to go home the day of the procedure. The only reason you would need to stay overnight is if there was a complication during the surgery. It is also possible for young children or people with certain medical conditions to require a prolonged hospital stay after undergoing a tonsillectomy.
6. Dehydration: One of the possible complications of a tonsillectomy is dehydration. The symptoms of dehydration may include reduced urination, excessive thirst, weakness, headaches, dizziness, and lightheadedness. In children, signs of dehydration could include crying with no tears and urinating less than two or three times per day. If you start to notice any of these signs in yourself or your child after a tonsillectomy procedure, contact your doctor as soon as possible.
7. Pain medications: After undergoing a tonsillectomy, it is common to experience pain. This is usually the worst in your throat and ears, but it can also occur in your neck and jaw as well. For this reason, your doctor will likely prescribe pain medications to help manage the pain during recovery. However, if you are still experiencing intense pain for longer than ten days, you should talk to your doctor about the stage of your healing process.
8. Bed rest: It is important to remain in bed after a tonsillectomy for at least a few days and to avoid strenuous activities for at least two weeks. This will ensure that your recovery goes smoothly and that you don’t run into any unexpected complications.
9. Bleeding: It is normal to see small specks of dark blood in the nose or in the saliva after a tonsillectomy. However, if you see any bright red blood, you will need to go to the emergency room immediately to assess what may be causing the problem. If the scab has dislodged from the wound prematurely, this could mean being readmitted to the hospital for additional treatment to prevent infection.
10. Fever: If you or your child begins to experience a fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit or higher during the recovery process after a tonsillectomy, you should call your doctor immediately.