From: anonymous@aol.com
Subject: JUST HAD MY TONSILS REMOVED
Posted-By: xx108 (ENT Clinic Moderator)
Organization: Organization For Community Networks
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 1997 18:56:25 -0500 (EST)
Newsgroups: ofcn.clinic.ent

I JUST HAD MY TONSILS REMOVED WED AND IM 28- AND I WANTED TO KNOW HOW LONG TILL THE SCARS COME OFF AND IS IT NORMAL TO STILL NOT BEABLE TO SOLLOW WATER STILL-- I CAN GET SOME DOWN BUT IT STILL HURTS-- IM USEING CHLORASEPTIC TO EASE SOME OF THE PAIN- REALLY WHAT IMWORRIED ABOUT IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE SCABS FALL OFF AND I START TO BLEED??
HOW MUCH BLOOD SHOULD I EXPECT??
THANK YOU

Reply: ---------------------------

Recovery from tonsillectomy in adults is usually considerably longer than that in children because of the poorer tolerance to pain in adults. It may take 2 weeks to completely resolve pain from a tonsillectomy in an adult and therefore the swallowing difficulty you describe at this point would be considered a normal expectation following surgery. The eschar over the tonsil bed that you are describing usually takes 7-10 days to dissolve. Finally I would emphasize the importance of staying well hydrated - dehydration can lead to serious complications and/or significant delay in recovery.

--

Steve Dankle, MD
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Milwaukee, Wis

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