In the immediate post-operative recovery period, a liquid diet should be maintained. You may feel temporarily drowsy and nauseated from the anesthesia. Medication is available for nausea.
Diet: When liquids are tolerated satisfactorily, the diet may be advanced to a regular diet with no restriction on types of food. It should subside without difficulty.
Fever: A low-grade fever is common during the first several days after the operation. It is often associated with inadequate fluid intake and should be treated by increasing fluids and using Tylenol or Motrin type products. Should the temperature rise above 102 degrees, you should contact the physician.
Pain: There should be minimal discomfort on swallowing due to an adenoidectomy. Ear pain can occur after adenoidectomy. This is usually referred pain and not related to the ears at all. Both Tylenol and Motrin can be used after adenoidectomy.
Bleeding: A little bleeding the day after surgery is normal. The most common times for bleeding are the initial 24 hours and up to 5 days after surgery. Often, bleeding stops spontaneously or by gargling gently with ice water. If these measures do not control bleeding, or if you are concerned at all, please call Dr. Bankaci or go to the nearest Emergency Room.
Bad Breath: It is very common for children to develop bad breath after an adenoidectomy. This is not a sign of infection. It is part of the body's normal healing process. The bad breath can last seven to fourteen days.
Activity: Your child may return to normal activity the following day in most cases. Some children need a day or two more to recover from the surgery and the anesthetic. This is not atypical: "Every body is different."
Follow-up: A post-operative checkup should be scheduled for approximately two weeks after surgery.
If you have further questions, please contact us at 724-547-4575, 724-832-9688, or 724-863-5679.