Tonsillectomy and beyond…
In 2008, at the age of 44, I underwent tonsillectomy surgery. As I struggled to prepare for the surgery and recover from it, I was frustrated by the lack of quality content available on the internet for tonsillectomy patients. I was also frustrated by the general public’s assumptions about adult tonsillectomy surgery, and the lack of compassion from my health care providers. I was ill-prepared and struggled through recovery with minimal support. For this reason, I created a website to provide information to adults considering or recovering from tonsillectomy. It was called, “My Big Fat Tonsillectomy.” I later added a forum where other patients could share their experiences, questions, pain, and compassion.
Since then I’ve learned a great deal about tonsillectomy, and also about web design and search engine optimization. After reading thousands and thousands of posts to the forum, I have amassed a fortune in knowledge and insight into the experience of adult tonsillectomy. I’ve learned even more about the beauty and resilience of the human spirit.
This new site is intended to be a place where people considering or recovering from tonsillectomy can arm themselves with information and become their own best advocates. But it’s also a community. Every page allows comments and questions. The tonsillectomy forum is pure, free form venting, asking, crying, sharing, and mingling.
I read every single comment left on the site. (over 20,000 so far!) Responding to each one has become increasing difficult. My goal is to respond to EVERY comment on THIS page.
Keeping the site going is a labor of love to be sure. In addition to time, it does cost money. If you’d like to help keep the site going for others, please consider making a donation of any amount.
Thank you!
Greg Tooke
Author, advocate, webmaster
My Profile
I am a 50 year old female who had a tonsillectomy 11 day ago. I am still in a great deal of pain and thought by now that it would be feeling much better than it actually is. I have no idea what to expect and I keep reading and the one thing I have learned is that no two people heal the same. I am envious of the people who wrote that they healed in 4 days and wonder what did they do that I am not doing. Thanks for allowing people like me to vent. This has not been fun.
Hi Gina! You are right: no two recoveries are alike. Your recovery sounds similar to mine. If I’m right, the next couple days will easier.
Take care and stay hydrated.
Hi on day 6 post op and pain bad a night getting some food down but the food does tast hobble and I just need sleep
Hi Carol. Hang in there. You’re in the worst of it right now. Things WILL get better!!
Hi Greg, I’m a 45 year old male and I have had chronic tonsil stones for years. I am tired of using a water pik-type irrigator several times a week to get rid of them — not to mention never being sure if there are some I didn’t get, and consequently feeling I may have bad breath — so I have made an appointment to get laser tonsil ablation, which will not remove the tonsils completely but will shave them down and remove the pockets so stones won’t form. I’m too scared of getting the full-on tonsillectomy based on everything I’ve read online about the pain and also the risk of bleeding. What do you know about the laser procedure? Have you talked to many people who’ve gotten it done? Any advice or knowledge you have on the subject would be appreciated. Thanks.
Hi Jim- Best of luck to you! I don’t know a whole lot about laser tonsil surgery- Here’s a bit though: https://tonsillectomyrecovery.com/laser-tonsillectomy/
One concern with not getting all the tonsil is regeneration- they can grow back. I’m not a doctor and don’t want to give medical advice- You may want to ask your doctor about the pro’s and cons.
Hi on day 12 of my recovery , I’m 61, and I was also shocked by the lack of follow up care, my tonsil was removed due to a small cancer being spotted , so I had no choice really , IV managed my pain with over the counter meds, the pain was relentless, especially in mornings , IV had quite a few people, to chat to and text , which was lovely , but I still felt a little abandoned by medics, I was act, in shock with the pain level , but felt too ill to do anything for first 5days except pop pills and pray for sleep , I am now at other end , I hope , and go for scan results this we’d am , so a bit apprehensive,, but optimistic , looking forward to get back to work , all this thinking , time isn’t good, IV got a brief window of relatively pain freeness, so going to pop to local shop, fresh air, and change of scenery, so good luck to anyone else, in same place , everything passes with time , , that’s how I think , and often count my blessings, family , friends , budgie,,,’Tootsy” is a little cheer er upper , as is my mum , I shall follow your posts with interest, bye for now??J,M,CL…
Sounds rough Jane- thanks for sharing. I think you have a great attitude. Best of health to you!
Hi Jane my name is Carol and my had to come out because it had gone to big and need to make sure all ok 3 weeks till I now had the op 12 4 2016 arrowpark hospital and was all ok am on day 3 post op had to stay in the night for pain meds as I had a gromment done as well
Can’t sleep as I fell like cant breath very good keeping my meds up every frew hours had some toast , and bits of other food lots of water
Any one up out there
i just wanna say this website has helped me threw my po tonsillectomy, im on day ten still in afair mount of pain never felt this sorta pain ever ive had 2 children one natural and a ceserian, like others have said i was not prepared, ive been drained physically and mentally ,ive cryed almost everyday wishing the pain would lightin up, but reading others experiences has realy helped god bless you all thank you.
Thanks Danie- remember- this is temporary- It WILL get better!