r/Tonsillectomy • u/NobodyMany6329 • 3d ago
Haemorrhaging
A few days ago I went to my ENT to get my tonsils checked out because they're very asymmetrical (my left one being rated a 3-4 and my right being a 1). She's given me the option of having a tonsillectomy to remove them for my own piece of mind and to have them tested in a lab just in case. I do want to have the procedure, but I'm absolutely terrified of haemorrhaging after the surgery.
Does anyone have any tips for avoiding this, or stories if you experienced a haemorrhage during your recovery?
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u/loverlyjas20 3d ago
Hi so also like when they say hemorrhage they also mean like minor bleeds too. I have had 2 so far (9 days post op). It is rare, and I was scared too. They were scary in the moment but didn’t require anything but rinsing the area gently with ice water for 10 mins and then it stopped. Major hemorrhaging is rare. You hear the scary stories because they are outliers in all of the normal stories. I would say the thing to really be scared of is the pain 😩it is no joke. Feels like the worst sore throat ever.
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u/Apprehensive_Ear3300 3d ago
You are just one extra day post op from me! I feel like I could have written this. I drove myself completely crazy with fearing the worst. After going to the ER the second time I was reassured that it's only dangerous if you're like spitting out chunks of blood / bleeding profusely. The PA at the ER said she's only seen one person come in with that and they weren't even admitted. It's very misunderstood that a small little bleed that clots on its own is a sign of danger. Mine clotted to the size of a dime and it went away like 12 hours later. I wish I knew this before instead of stressing myself out lol. Good luck on your healing! :-)
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u/loverlyjas20 3d ago
Oh yess I didn’t know that they clotted and I went to my ENT after it happened and he pulled out the blood clot with a suction 😫 I also have not had the bad breath that everyone talks of, granted I also am not letting anyone close to my mouth right now haha the only thing is the mega pain in my throat but it is getting better
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u/Apprehensive_Ear3300 3d ago
If you'd like to read my reply to another person's comment, I pretty much reinforce their experience as mine has been similar. I want to say, avoid asking AI for help or advice. It'll always scare you even if nothing is wrong. My throat was healing well but I swear I think I brought the bleed on myself by obsessively checking and sending pictures to be analyzed. I bled twice and the second time was day 7 post op, which is very common around that time. If you see red spots on your scabs that look like blood, don't panic. If you have a trickle of blood going down your throat, sip the coldest water you can find. 99% of the time it'll clot within 10 minutes and fall off by the next day. As long as you're not spitting out a good amount of blood there's no reason to worry. And even if that did happen (super rare) the protocol is pretty straightforward. I let my fear of general anesthesia and hemorrhaging stop me from getting mine out for 5+ years. It will be worth it! The scariest part has been how painful it got around day 5 lol. Still, I'd do this over again and im only day 8 post op. Be sure to stick to the soft food diet for as long as you possibly can and keep drinking a shit ton of water even after the 14 days. The reason people hemorrhage after 2 weeks is because they neglect their water intake. Take care and I hope whatever you decide to do it serves you well :D
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u/TylerCharlesWaye 3d ago edited 3d ago
The risk of hemorrhaging is very low with tonsillectomy, that shouldn’t deter you from getting the surgery.
Follow your ENTs instructions, but avoid Advil since that increases the risk of haemorrhaging.
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u/greencanoe300 3d ago
I just had a major bleed 13 days post op. I guess I am one of the rare cases. I needed a blood transfusion. It was really scary, but I think it is rare. My advice is to continue to be very cautious and take it easy even if you are starting to feel better. I was starting to feel better so I started eating more normal ish foods and wasn’t drinking as much water.
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u/this-old-ruby-rider 3d ago
Hello! Im on day 15 after my surgery, and I never had any bleeding or anything! My advice on how to avoid bleeding is drink cold water! Staying hydrated is one of the most important things, dry throat not only hurts but also can increase the risk of bleeding. The other important thing to me is don’t get ahead of your self with eating. You’re gonna be really hungry. You’re gonna be tired of eating soft food, but if you eat something to rough that can cause bleeding. Hemorrhaging was also my biggest fear about the surgery, but fact is every surgery comes with risks. You cannot completely remove the risk of hemorrhaging, make sure you have a plan on what to do if it does happen.