Tonsillectomy Adult – What to Expect
Tonsillectomy as an adult is quite different than tonsillectomy for children. The methods employed for tonsillectomy in adults and children are generally the same, (See Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy Methods page), and the risks for adults are similar to the risks for children, (See The Tonsillectomy Risks
Tonsillectomy – Adult Recovery and Risks
Most studies indicate a two to four percent risk of delayed hemorrhage [severe bleeding]. Where tonsillectomy in adults differs most from tonsillectomy in children is in the recovery. Recovery from childhood tonsillectomy generally takes five to seven days. Recovery from tonsillectomy in adults usually requires at least ten days and more often two weeks.
Before deciding to get an adult tonsillectomy, it’s important to choose a time frame in which you have the time and the support. Recovering over your favorite Holiday might be a good choice in terms of time, (eg holiday leave from work or school), but it may not be a time that people will be available to help you.
The pain associated with adult tonsillectomy recovery, by almost all accounts, is more intense than that experienced by children. Some theorize that children haven’t had as much time without pain as adults and thus their frame of reference is different than adult tonsillectomy patients. Others assume that children may be less able to articulate their discomfort. Having read the accounts of THOUSANDS of adult tonsillectomies in the forum,(See Tonsillectomy Forum page), I can say with some confidence that generally, the younger the patient, the easier the tonsillectomy recovery. There are of course exceptions. I’ve read from many middle aged adults who had a fairly smooth recovery. Perhaps they read up on this website and prepared well. Perhaps they had good genes. In any case, many time an adult tonsillectomy recovery is better than the horror stories we hear about.
“If I could recommend one item to buy before tonsillectomy, it would be a humidifier. My readers know how important moist air is to a healing throat. I bought one of these years ago and still use it daily” -Greg
I’d like to take a moment here to make a suggestion. As you read through the people’s accounts in the various chat rooms, message boards, and adult tonsillectomy forums, consider this: People having a harder time, may be more prone to seek out information and share their experience in these venues. Adults experiencing milder tonsillectomy recoveries, might be less apt to be posting. I don’t want to drag Richard Nixon into my website, but this silent majority may be quietly recovering and you’ll never hear from them.
My advice is to research as much as you can, talk with your doctor, talk with your family and friends, and talk with your employer before scheduling your adult tonsillectomy. I wish you all the best.
I’ve put together a collection of items that I think would be helpful, if not essential, to making tonsillectomy recovery a little more pleasant. Check out the Tonsillectomy General Store.
This tonsillectomy has been total and complete HELL. Please please make sure you have someone to take care of you. Get a dry erase board or pick up sign language. I am being so serious. Sleep as much as you can. Do not lift anyting over 5lbs and do not strain your neck. Get your netflix list loaded. I hate IV’s and that freaked me out. I had to get her to wrap my IV with decorate spongy tape. I woke up and was wheeled to this little half room thing. I was crying so hard and wheezing. I was moaning like you imagine an old person does when they wake up in the morning. My mom wasn’t even there when I woke up. I felt so so so sad. It was a very short procedure. The first day wasn’t bad. We left the hospital and we got a huge family meal from KFC. I ate so much ice cream.Popsicles helped, but there’s only so much one can do. Opening my mouth hurts Day 3 was absolutely terribbllllleeeee!! Days 4 and 5 were awful filled with excruciating pain. My surgeon allowed me to run out of liquid pain medicine and his nurse will NOT (AT ALL) get him to call us to call in something else. I’m writhing in pain most nights. Yawning is so scary. I began to hack up the scabs and it’s like mass amounts of phlegm. The base of my ears feel like they are going to implode. Maybe it’s from being a talker. I STRONGLY advise you take a tleast 10 days off. I’m a healthy 21 yo female and I have never been through this much pain in my life. Be thankful if you have health insurance and decent family members. I’ve had to take care of myself and it has left me crying many many nights. (Which hurts my throat even more) Today is barely day 7 and the pain is easing off. It really has to because I need to return to work so I can begin to pay these things off. I really don’t know what to do. I have had fever symptoms, I don’t have much to look forward to. No one has taken any time to take care of me. Please also thank those who consider you and what you are going through. i am just being real here.
Hi get yourself a bible. Listen to some podcasts- matt chandler a great inspirational preaching. Im sorry you were alone through this. God never leaves us. Spend time talking to him & u will see. ?
In response to April!
Im 22y/o had my op 5 days ago and i felt the exact same as you! I had read for weeks all these horror story’s which cover the net on how painful the recovery is ! I stocked up on everything anyone had suggested might help, cancelled my diary for 3 weeks and even advised people i wouldn’t be able to pick up the phone ! My first 3 days were pain level 3, i kept waiting for things to get really painful , but it stayed pretty constant. Iv been eating normal solid food , sleeping 10 hours in a row and been able to go on short walks ! I find as long as i keep on top of my pain meds i can pretty much carry out day to day activities , although im not going to push it !! Today’s my fifth day and i have had the most pain in the last 12 hours … I did read this is the stage where the membrane loosens off the tonsil beds so i was expecting a change about now but pain level is no more than 4, and when pain killers peak it goes right back down to a 1/2…. Everyone is different but i hope people who are due to get it done can find comfort in my experience ! I wish i had read a post like mine before hand !!!
Thank you. I’m getting mine removed on Thursday and absolutely dreading it.
I am a 27 year old male, with a high pain tolerance, I even had kidney stones at 24.
This tonsilectamy that I had last Thursday. Oh my, I’m on day 6 today and I’m still in pain. I take acetometophene/codeine every 6 hours and a double dose of children’s liquid motrin every 3 hours. The pain on day 4 and 5 has been the worst. I have been in tears a few times. Waking up is when I experience the worst pain, and at some points of drinking. Makes my ears hurt so bad. I wondered the other day if I were better of with multiple cases of sore throat and fever from infected tonsils lol.
Prayer is what helps me the most. Without God I prolly would of jumped from the balcony yesterday. I encourage people to prep before the surgery and get someone that’s going to help you for about a week and half. I assume because I’m only on my 6th day.
In response to gregtooke…I would allow coconut oil to melt in the back of my throat. It would soothe and help speed up recovery. And lots of water. If youre able to swallow oatmeal then add the oil to oatmeal. It’s been 2 years now but I remember that’s what help me alot.b
I’m so happy I’ve found something from 2016 as every other post I find seems to be from years ago! I am 19 years old and I had my tonsillectomy 3 days ago now and I can honestly say my pain level has been about 1-2 near enough the whole time. I keep reading all the horrific experiences people are having and keep thinking I must have it to come? I can’t be this lucky surely? I took all the precautions that people have told me: I bought a humidifier, stocked up on lots of ice, ice packs, ice pops, icecream etc. Well first of all, after about 5 minutes of turning my humidifier on I can’t breathe, and my uvula got a drip of water on it that wouldn’t go away for ages and was so uncomfortable so I’ve not used it again once and I’ve been sleeping perfectly fine! Got about 8/9 hours sleep both nights. I have only been taking paracetamol – every 4 hours, and ibruprofen- only when I eat something maybe 3 times a day and this is fine. This morning my pain was about a level 3 so I made myself a co-codamol dissolvable tablet drink and slowly sipped on that and I think I’m having a bad reaction to it because I feel really spacey and sickly and everything’s abit blurry. I think I’ll just stick to standard paracetamol from now on. Also I haven’t used an ice pack on my neck once as I’ve been too cold!! I’ve managed to eat normal, had pasta and meatballs lastnight and 3 pieces of garlic bread! The worst part so far has been the day of the op. Being put under anestetic was the worst feeling I’ve had in my life. And after the op I threw up everywhere as I could tell my body was rejecting it. It also hurts when I’m coughing up phlegm. I’m just worried about having more pain when my scabs come off and hope they come off soonish as I have to go backy to university in 10 days as I’ve already missed so much important work! But yeah, I wanted to make this post for those of you that are reading all the horror story’s and s***ing yourself before like i did, everyone is clearly different and who knows I may have the worst yet to come, but so far it’s not as bad as everyone makes out.
I’m 34 years old and this has been the longest 8 days of my life. On day 8 of my recovery and really trying to wean myself off of the initial medication hydrocodone. Makes me feel miserable and depressed. I asked for another medication and was given Tylenol 3. It did absolutely nothing for my pain so here I am at four in the morning trying to sleep. Just took a dose of the hydrocodone, well what’s left of it. Was not prescribed antibiotics for the recovery doctor said they antibiotics lead to infection? Confused in that? Completely freaked out at the size of the holes in the back of my mouth. When do those heal? Any Advice is appreciated. Deciding to take the full two weeks off instead of only ten days. I am a 8th grade teacher and know I cannot go back to school next week.