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
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Thank you for doing this site! It’s the best one out there. I’m 44 and had my tonsils out on 6/30/17 so far recovery is what I thought it would be. Hopefully it doesn’t get worse.
Hi Sandra. Thanks for the kind words! Glad you like the site. You’re in the thick of it Hang in there! Stay hydrated
Hi Greg, how is life after your tonsillectomy? Do you still have sleep apnea? How’s your energy, sleep quality? Was getting a tonsillectomy the answer to your problems? I have mine scheduled for 7/31/17 and I will be using your website to help with surgery and post surgery, but I want to know if it was really worth it.
Hi Naomi! Thanks for reaching out. I no longer have sleep apnea. I can’t tell you how much that surgery improved my quality of life- it’s been great! (Well, the 1st two weeks were horrible)
I rarely get sick. I used to get tonsillitis and strep several times per year. My ENT, and others, have said that tonsillectomy is generally not indicated for sleep apnea- the CPAP machine seems to be the go-to treatment. I think that, in my case, there were several factors that all added up to the opinion that surgery was best. It was.
oops- that was a reply to Naomi. 😉
I’m Emily and I’m 22 years old. Currently on day 4 from having tonsils and adenoids removed. I can hardly swallow anything (water,soup,jello, etc) because it hurts so bad. I have tmj so they told I would have a little jaw pain but it has turned inro a lot of pain. Yesterday was probably the worst day so far. I don’t usually cry if I’m in pain unless it hurts like hell, well let me tell you what, it hurt like hell yesterday. Crying only made it worse. Has anyone experienced pain on the sides of your tongue or kind of like a snotty feeling in the back of your throat?
Hi, I’m on day 3 post tonsillectomy. Wow. I’ve never experienced pain like it. I’ve never had tonsilitis & only had them out because I had a (hopefully) benign skin-tag-type lump on one, it’s been sent for tests!! Tramadol takes the edge off but I cannot wait to feel better. My ears are so bad!! Having 3 young boys I’m pretending I’m okay in front of them but obvs not okay lol! There should be some tonsillectomy recovery hotel here in the U.K. Lol!! I much prefer childbirth.
January 10th 2017
My name is Andrea I live in the UK and perhaps am one of the older people to have this op. I’m 61 and healthy, a bit overweight but it heist OK. for the past two years I have had persistent sore throats, especially down one side which culminated in the summer in a cyst appearing on the left tonsil. This caused discomfort and a lump in the throat feeling, of course it was a lump in the throat! Having had other ops before I knew the pre he op procedures, and although concerned knew it had to be done. My consultant warned me that it would be the worst pain (didn’t believe him fully as he hasn’t given birth) but that it would be temporary and I wouldn’t have these problems again.
Now on day 8. The op want without complications, although I have more area of tissue scarring because if the cyst, the day after the op was fairly easy, I even sent off a few work e mails and was congratulating myself on miraculous healing powers. How wrong I was. day 3 the pain kicked in ( as I understand it, we may still be protected by anaesthetic and morphine fir a while hence the false sense of security). For the next 4 days life was difficult, constant pain relief needed and I got maybe 4 hours average per night sleep in bursts, half propped up. As far as eating goes, the U.K. guidance is to try and eat as normally as possible clearly avoiding spicy foods. Of course, it’s like eating knives at first, but I found that there were some things that were much easier to eat. Digestive biscuits dipped in hot tea or coffee we’re really good, toast with cream cheese again dunked in liquid at first, usual things like ice pops and cold iced drinks etc, and my dear husband made me turkey stew with plenty of soft vegetables not much meat, with a Yorkshire pudding. Like everyone I couldn’t eat much but it was tasty, and onw approaching day 8 the horrible but necessary scabs are falling off, and yes it’s painful but does go away. I am almost at the stage where I can drastically reduce pain relief and have been taking cocodomal tablets (I was given tramadol but they made me nauseous after only a day so had to stop) other friends recommend Solpadeine.
Anyway folks, light at the end if the tunnel and beginning to feel human again, the advice I was given was to take things easy and rest which has been good advice, I know if people live alone they don’t have the support of a partner so it will make it harder, it’s no fun being ill and in pain alone.
I Hope this helps xxx
Andrea
I am now on day 8 of Septoplasty and Tonsillectomysurgery ! My Dr was right, It would be the hardest thing I will go thru as an adult. I am 49 and was beggining to have signs of sleep apnea and severe sinus infections along with snoring and hallitosis. Which I daily flossed, used tongue scrapper etc. I knew that I had to do something! I found an awesome ENT. Like others, I believe the Drs want you to do whats best for you! Some like warm Tea, others ice or cold clear liquids. I had been afraid to drink thinking the scabs would heal faster if dry… Please do not make this mistake! Very important to drink as much as you can, and to stay hydrated. Heating pad helped as well since I was not used to lying in bed for Numerous days. Humidifer also helped and has been running non stop. I did get the numbing lollipops but numbed my tongue and not throat… Powdered potatos are great “meals”, beef broth and chicken broth. Do not rush to eat solids as you dont want to eat scratchy foods like breads etc.
I hope this helps someone. Wish I had known more prior to surgery but take meds. I dont like to take them either but necessary! Good luck and we will be glad we had the surgery ! Just keep repeating this … Lol