Myringotomy with Tube Placement and Adenoidectomy
Post Op Instructions
Ear tubes are inserted to allow air to enter behind the eardrum, not to drain the fluid (which was removed when the tubes were inserted). Drainage is common for several days after surgery. If there is still drainage after 2- 3 days, notify your doctor. During the first six weeks, the middle ear is still in the process of healing. Notify your doctor if infection and drainage develop.
Slight ear pain can be expected for a day or two after surgery. Taking Motrin can relieve this. If severe pain occurs, call your doctor.
Antibiotic eye or ear drops may be prescribed for use in the ears. Keep the drops at room temperature for greater comfort on administration.
Your doctor may want your child to use earplugs to keep water from getting into the middle ear. If so, earplugs are to be used while swimming, bathing or playing in the water.
In children, the tubes are allowed to remain in place until the healing of the eardrum beneath them pushes them out. This may be several months, or more than a year. In adults with acute ear blockage, the tubes may be removed several weeks after the problem has cleared.
Immediately after surgery, we suggest clear liquids such as water, Jell-O, apple juice or pedialyte. If these do not cause vomiting, progress to regular foods. To promote healing and to prevent dehydration, DRINK, DRINK, DRINK.
Anesthetics may cause nausea and vomiting, especially when combined with the motion of the car ride home. If vomiting continues more than 3 – 4 times, call your doctor. Small children can become dehydrated very quickly.
Medication should be taken as ordered if needed for pain. Antibiotics and pain medications are less apt to cause nausea if taken with food.
A mild fever is normal after surgery. Motrin and fluids usually bring a fever down. Notify your doctor if fever does not respond to Motrin or is greater that 102. Do not take medications containing aspirin.
Bad breath and an unpleasant taste in the mouth can be expected. Brush and rinse mouth as usual. Your child may also complain of a headache and have a clear runny nose. These complaints are normal and should resolve in a few days. If your child is on narcotic pain medication, he or she may have constipation. It is OK to use an over-the-counter laxative.
Rhinoplasty Post Op Instructions
Items to have on hand:
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Cotton tip applicators (i.e. Q-Tips)
- Neosporin ointment
The day of surgery, go immediately to bed and rest with your head elevated on two pillows. You may be up to the restroom and for meals with assistance. The following day, rest as often as necessary, but do not stay in bed. Pace yourself; light activity will help reduce swelling.
Start with a light diet. 7-Up, crackers, clear soup, etc. If tolerated, progress to a soft diet the following day.
No straining, lifting, or bending over for at least two weeks. If you bend, keep your head up and bend with your knees. This will reduce swelling.
Take medications as directed. Pain medication should not be taken more frequently than three hours apart, unless instructed by our office. Medication taken with small amounts of food is better tolerated.
No aspirin for two weeks (including ibuprofen and naproxen). Regular Tylenol or acetaminophen is ok for mild pain.
No alcohol for at least 48 hours. Remember not to drink while using pain medications or antibiotics. It is recommended that you do not drive while using pain medication or Valium.
Use ice packs on the forehead and cheeks the day of surgery. This is for comfort and will reduce swelling.
Septoplasty Post Op Instructions
The day of surgery, go immediately to bed and rest with your head elevated on two pillows. You may be up to the restroom and for meals with assistance. The following day, rest as often as necessary, but do not stay in bed. Pace yourself; light activity will help reduce swelling.
Start with a light diet. 7-Up, crackers, clear soup, etc. If tolerated, progress to a soft diet the following day.
No straining, lifting, or bending over for at least 2 weeks. If you bend, keep your head up and bend with your knees. This will reduce swelling.
Take pain medication as directed. Pain medication should not be taken more frequently than every 3 hours apart unless instructed by our office. Medication taken with small amounts of food is better tolerated.
No aspirin for 2 weeks (including ibuprofen or naproxen). Regular Tylenol or acetaminophen is ok for mild pain.
No alcohol for at least 48 hours. Remember not to drink while using pain medication or antibiotics. It is recommended that you do not drive while using pain medication or Valium.
Obtain 2 x 2 gauze pads. These are to be used as a drip pad under the nose. Change as often as necessary. This may be left off when you are no longer having drainage. In case of persistent bleeding, soak a small amount of cotton in hydrogen peroxide and insert into nostril. Repeat if necessary (it may be left in place for several hours or even overnight). Clean the tip of the nostril with a Q-tip dipped in hydrogen peroxide (the more debris you are able to remove, the more comfortable you feel). For comfort, lubricating the inside tip of your nose with a small amount of Neosporin ointment applied with a Q-tip is helpful.
Do not blow your nose for 10 days after surgery (remember to gradually work up to your previous level). If your nose begins to swell or ache, you are overdoing it and need to stop.
Do not injure your nose. This is especially important the first 6 weeks following surgery. Be careful around large pets and small children. Avoid any balls or rackets. We will gladly provide you with a written medical excuse from physical education classes. Avoid any sport that may cause injury, such as diving, skiing, etc.
Best results cannot be determined immediately. It sometimes takes weeks to months before your healing process is completed. Try not to compare results immediately after your surgery.
Sinus Surgery Post Op Instructions
The day of surgery go immediately to bed and rest with your head elevated on two pillows. Elevation helps reduce swelling. After the first day you may resume light activity, but pace yourself.
Start with a bland diet on the first day. After 24 hours you may advance your diet as desired.
No straining, lifting, or bending over for at least two weeks. If you bend, keep your head up and bend with your knees. This will help reduce swelling.
No aspirin, aspirin containing medications, or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) for two weeks.
Smoking inhibits healing and may cause bleeding. For best results, it is strongly recommended you not smoke for at least 2 weeks following surgery.
No alcohol for at least 48 hours. Remember not to drink while taking pain medications. It is recommended that you do not drive wile using pain medications.
Take medications as prescribed.
Use saline nasal spray, (Ayr, Ocean, etc.). Spray each nostril with 2 sprays every 2 hours while you are awake. Do this at least until your first post op visit.
Clean the nostrils with hydrogen peroxide to remove crusts. Apply Neosporin ointment to nostrils twice a day.
Use ice packs to the cheeks and forehead as tolerated for the first 48 -72 hours. This will help prevent swelling and bruising.
Change the 2 x 2 gauze as needed. It is not uncommon to change it a dozen times over the first 24 hours.
Light exercise may be resumed 7 – 10 days after surgery. Remember to gradually work-up to your previous level. If your nose begins to swell or ache, you are overdoing it and need to stop.
Your recovery time will vary greatly depending on your response to anesthetic agents, extent of surgery, etc. It may take several weeks before you can resume full activity.
Tonsillectomy & Adenoidectomy Post Op Instructions
Please save these instructions for review at home. They will answer most post-operative questions and concerns.
ACTIVITY: After discharge quiet activity indoors is permitted (watching TV, reading, etc.). Children should not go to school for the first 4 to 7 days; adults should not return to work for the first week following surgery. Gradual resumption of activity is normal beginning one week after surgery, with return to full activity by 12 to 14 days following surgery.
BLEEDING: Teeth may be brushed at any time after surgery. Routine gargling is not permitted. Avoid excessive coughing, clearing the throat, or strenuous activity. The throat area from whence the tonsils were removed develops a white membrane. This is a normal post-operative “scab” and should not cause alarm. An odor from the mouth is common after tonsillectomy. This is due to scabs that are present in the back of the throat after surgery. These come off about 7 to 10 days after surgery. Some bleeding may accompany this, but should be small in amount and of brief duration. Gargling ice water and expectorating clots from the throat can be used to assist control of such bleeding. If bleeding lasts longer than 15 minutes, or is of large amounts, more than 2 or 3 tablespoons full of bright blood at one time, call the “on call” number 918-492-3636.
DIET: Liquids for the first day after surgery, then liquids and soft food as tolerated. Tea, apple juice, kool-aid, liquid gelatin, and soft drinks, when allowed to stand until “flat”, are acceptable beverages. Soft food may include custard, soft eggs, meat and vegetables, etc. Avoid very hot food, salt, spices, and acid food or juices. Many children prefer only liquids for a week or more after surgery and in such cases, give instant breakfast in milk, etc., but do not force food on the child. It is not uncommon for children to lose weight during the first 10 days.
VOMITING: If vomiting occurs, stop all food and give only small amounts of cola, ginger ale, seven-up (allowed to stand until “flat”), after nausea has subsided. Omit medications for 12 to 29 hours, until nausea and vomiting cease. Thereafter, re-start the medications and advance diet very slowly. If vomiting persists despite these measures, let us know and medication will be phoned to your pharmacy.
MEDICATIONS: An antibiotic and a pain reliever have been prescribed. They should be taken as directed. Do not use Aspirin, Advil, Aleve, Motrin, etc., or Aspirin containing compounds, as these increase bleeding tendency. **If you are running low on pain medication please call the office during office hours so that more pain medication can be phoned to your pharmacy. It is difficult to obtain more pain medication after office hours or on weekends.
FEVER: A slight temperature (101 to 102) is common. If temperature over 102 develops, increase the fluid intake and use Tylenol, Panadol or other acetaminophen containing compound to control the temperature. If there is no response in 24 hours, contact our office.
INCREASED PAIN DURING WEEK #2: Ear and throat pain commonly become severe 5 to 7 days following surgery. This requires repeated use of pain medication, but is not unusual.
EAR PAIN: Ear pain beginning 4-8 days after surgery is very common. The pain is referred from the irritation of nerves in the throat and does not mean that an ear infection has developed.
EMERGENCY NUMBER TO CALL
OFFICE (Answered 24 hours): 918-492-3636. If you reach the answering service, inform them you are a surgery patient.