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.
Hey
I go in for my opp on Friday 5 May 17 I’m
49yrs and a bit scared to say the least ?
My op was delayed by 6 hours and I very nearly walked out, I got more and more nervous! Now recovering well and so glad I did it!
Good luck, I’m sure you’ll fine too!
How did it go, and how are you feeling?
Hi,
I am booked in to get a tonsillectomy this Saturday and I’m so nervous I feel like cancelling it! Does anyone know if there are long term effects from having your tonsils removed? I’m worried in case it will affect my health in the future.
Megan there is no way I can see it affecting your health in future, I had mine out 5 days ago , the pain is not unbearable in my case. Mine where removed because of a possible malignancy so I am glad to see the back of them.I think the most important thing is rest you cannot get to much. You have my best wishes. Regards Jim
I had a Tonsillectomy and a Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) done on the 25th. I am 31 years old. So the UPPP was done because I have sleep apnea and the ENT said that it would improve that. I had the Tonsillectomy done because ever since I was a child I’ve hard very large tonsils and would always get strep. Even just the flu ended with me in the hospital because my tonsils would swell and close off my airway. The weeks that followed up to the surgery I was nervous. The day of surgery I was terrified. So I checked in and they out in an IV. The nurse came to talk to me as well as the anesthesiologist and then finally my doc. The bed they put me in to begin with I stayed on and thank his to because if I would had woke up after the surgery and was asked to moved I would have fainted. Anyways the procedure lasted about 1 hour and 45 minutes. A normal Tonsillectomy should only be 1 hour but I had other stuff done as well. The UPPP is a procedure where they remove a portion of the soft pallet and the dangly ball in the back of your throat and tuck them up and sew it closed again. I think I was more scared about that then anything. Now after surgery I woke up sleepy as heck and just kept dosing off when they would try to talk to me. Finally I kept my eyes open long enough for them to ask me what my pain level was which was a 4. They said once I moved on to the 2nd faze of recovery I could have some pain pills. 39 minutes later I was sitting in a chair with them trying to get me to eat jello which I HATE lol but I wanted those pain pills so I endured it. Once I wasn’t in the 2nd fase of recovery and didn’t vomit or anything I was able to go home. Now in the way home I don’t remember anything! I just remember pulling in the driveway. Thank god a friend drove me over and back haha. I didn’t eat much the first day except maybe some broth so I could take my pills. Other then that I drank as much water as I could and slept. I was prescribed Percocet. So every 4-6 hours I take one Percocet along with one Benadryl, one Aleve. I developed tons of phlegm so the Benadryl helped with that as well as making me sleep better. Day one and two we okay. I slept a lot! Tried to drink tons of water and even put a little prune juice in with a glass of water in case of constipation. The pain level was about a 4. Day three was the same but woke up with bad pain so I took two percs then. I finally moved up from broth to chicken noodle soup. I also tried applesauce but it always got suck in my throat. I sleep with a cpap machine and even though it has a built in humidifier in it my mouth would still be dry so I always made sure I had a bottle of water with me. Yesterday and today have been the most painful days so far. My scabs are looking really dark like black or brown and some white. My ears do hurt but nothing bad. My jaws kills me as does my tongue. I was worried about thrush so I do gargle with salt water twice a day and brush my teeth and tounge. I use my daughters mouthwash to dip my brush in and gargle because it doesn’t have alcohol and it doesn’t hurt. The worst pain has been about 8. I think some scabs have fallen off so I’m hoping that this is as bad as it gets. Do not eat dairy or scratchy foods or acidic foods. Even if you feel better by day 4, it’s not over and will only make it worse for yourself. WATER, WATER, WATER! I know it hurts to swallows but if you don’t keep hydrated then the part where it’s the worst will be 10x worse if your dehydrated. I’m knocking on wood because I haven’t had any bleeding yet. I do clear my throat offer but softly and do cough but only because there’s so much phlegm in your throats that it feels like you’ll drown if you don’t. I wasn’t able to have two weeks off from work and I’m praying that it is long enough. I’m really hoping that the next couple of days will be the end of the pain for the most part. Today is day 5 for me so I’m crossing my fingers that by day 10 I’ll be off the percocets and just taking some Aleve. I can’t wait to eat again lol. I have alongside list of foods I’m devouring within the weeks that follow my healing. As a result of not eating I’ve lost weight and definitely don’t want to gain it all back plus some.
I had my Tonsilectomy yesterday. I have just turned 22. I have never had an operation before until now. I have suffered with Septic Tonsilitis since I was 15. 7 times a year, I think I had mine lazered. I was absolutley petrified of the thought of the needle but it was fine. The worst part was coming round the Anesthetic made me feel so sick and dizzy the pain was unbareable. I knew I had them out straight away just from the pain.They sent me to the ward I had to move to the other bed next to me I thought I was going to be sick. I then lay there why the nurse kept coming over to check my blood pressure. I had to eat a ham, cheese & pickle sandwhich which was hard! I managed to eat half and left the other sandwhich in the packet. It is like swallowing golf balls and razors. It kills me when talking and I have bad earache. I got sent down around 4.20pm and I was back on the ward at 5.30pm. They let me go home at 9.30pm. I managed to drink alot of water no matter what pain because it’s important to keep well hydrated. Iv’e slept on and off all night. I wasn’t given any medication. They told me to just have paracetamol & ibuprofen. I’m in that much pain I rang the doctor to see if I can be put on something stronger if possible. Just waiting now for the answer. The best thing that’s working at the minuet is Popsicles. I’m going to try and eat some Pea soup today if possible to see how I get on as i’m really hungry. Hope you all have a speedy recovery. Just thought i’d let people know how I got on. Take Care 🙂
Put me out of my misery please!! I am a 53 yr old female and I had surgery this past Wednesday the 19th of April, the Doctor had to cut deeper on the right side and then put stitches in. Doc said it was going to be a,rough week. That is underestimating the story. So I have Cefalexin, Liquid Hydrocodone, numbing spray and I am in major pain. I am having throat pain on the right side only and ear pain. I also take Oxymorphone for my back pain. I am sucking on Cepacol lozenges, sipping water.
Did I mention I am very hungry, have only been able to have broth and some spaghetti O’s. I have a heating pad on my ear, ice packs on my throat
And I still want to be put out of my misery.