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.
4 days until the big day. I am going shopping for supplies for recovery today. Got the humidifier and ice shaver listed as 1&2 on the list. Thank you for all the info to help me prepare for procedure and recovery.
The countdown! Best of luck to you! And thanks for shopping through the site. A small portion of sales (anything on Amazon when reached through this site) goes to support us. So thank you! Stay in touch!
Tomorrow is the big day, and I’m a little nervous, but I guess I’m as ready as I ever will be. Thanks for all the information available on your site.
Best of luck. it’ll be ok. Relax and rest. We’ll be here for ya!
March 7 – day 8. I am a ok. I thought I had been on the meds too long so I tried to reduce the number of times I took it yesterday. Not a good idea. I was unable to tolerate the pain well. Today though I am. The pain is apparent but not constant. It is only when I swallow or need to quietly clear my throat. So I will take meds approx every 4 hrs now instead of 3-3/12. I am still only eating eggs, apple sauce, watermelon. I’n not pushing the food envelope. I haven’s had hunger pains yet. I think it’s psychological. Becz I know I can’t eat every and anything, my body doesn’t tease me with hunger pains. I’m not sure about the smelly breath. Everyone around me said it isn’t bad yet. I brush twice a day including my tongue. Mainly because my juices, food and water feel like they are cake up on my tongue. Brushing does make it feel better. I don’t gargle per the doctor. My ears (other than that one time) don’t hurt. But all pain is apparent. Sitting and waiting for me to make a move or turn. (Yarning, uncontrolled cough, eating, etc) I have not iced today (day 8), but I am still drinking plenty off water , slushings and ice chip. I experienced dryness in my sleep last night and immediately drank water. So I did not get the dry mouth pain. Every so often I use Cepacol Hydra lozenges. very very mild and soothing. No mint at all. You forget they are in your mouth. I tried a fourth of a spoon of luke warm mash potatoes. Sent all kinds of bells, whistles and alarms off in my head. Pain radiated everywhere it could on my face. And I do mean radiated. Weird because I had barely warm mash a couple of days ago with no problem. So warm is out for me right now. Last night, different story. That’s all I have. Hope it helps.
Brilliant forum guys. I’m day 7 now and hope the worst is over. I was lulled into a false sense of security as my first few days were surprisingly easy, then the pain intensified day 3-6. I got a little worried day 4 when I woke with a mouthful of blood. I then vomitted a fair amount too. I eventually flushed it all out – looked like chopped liver, very gross. Had another small bleed in the arvo but nothing since (cross fingers). I’m constantly drinking chilled water (keep plenty of bottles in the fridge) and even take them to bed. Sleeping is difficult some times, I often gag awake or drool.
Keep up the meds – you get reminded pretty quickly when they’re due. One of the worst things is Melbourne is enjoying beautiful autumn weather but I can’t head out and enjoy it. I venture to my hammock some arvos and daydream that this will all be over soon. Hang in there all. Thanks to everyone that has posted and help me be more optimistic.
Glad you are doing better. You are so right. No matter what stay on your schedule. When the pain does kick in, if would probably be worse if you didn’t medicate and ice regularly
Thanks for posting some of the positive feedback.. I am 34 and scheduled for my tonsillectomy in a couple weeks… i like the advice and the tips… i am so nervous…
Try not to be nervous. It will be over before you know it.But since you have a head start, get everything ahead of time. Water, bags of ice (my fridge makes ice but it was not enough), humidifier, power surge, pillows, pre-made ice bags for throat,sip cups (I use Cool Gear has a hard straw and is double walled), spoons and napkins for your sorbet, apple sauce, meds, etc. Don’t worry about eating. I still do no have an appetite. Except for today, I have had it easy and I really believe it was the icing. Good Luck and God Speed. (P.S., I took my meds every 3 hours not every 4. Close to the 4th hour, I could fell the pain creeping up)
NO MILK products. I forgot mention that.
Alicia–I am also 34 and had my tonsillectomy 2 weeks ago today. It generally wasn’t as bad as I’d heard. It was painful, but no worse than a bad sore throat. My biggest problem was from nausea, which was intermittent through the first 4 or 5 days. I don’t know if it was from the pain meds, the constant cold drinks/foods I was intaking, hunger, or lack of activity. As far as food goes, everybody recommended ice cream, popsickles, fruit smooties, and plenty of other sweet things, but after day 2 I couldn’t handle any more sugar–could’ve been a cause for nausea? Make sure you have a plan in place for some non-sweet foods too–broths, soups, eggs, mashed potatoes, etc. That’s the advice I was missing! Try not to be nervous, just stick to the plan the doctor gives you and the advice you read here and you’ll be fine! I had one bout with bleeding but called the doc, gargled ice water and sprayed Affrin (the doc gave me some to take home with me) directly into my throat and it stopped shortly afterward. The time passes pretty quickly on the meds and it won’t seem like you’re down for that long. 2 weeks in, there is still some pain when swallowing, sneezing, yawning, but overall, it’s not a big deal. I’m only taking occasional tylenol now. Good luck! You’ll be fine!
First and foremost THANK GOD. I had adult Tonsillectomy (I’m 60). and I have very little pain. I had a growth that could not be removed without removing my tonsils. I read all the blogs I could find and the number one post was pain. I have kept an ice pack on my neck, sipped on water every 10 minutes an taken the pain med religiously. I have stayed over hydrated. This is day 2 for me. I have eaten popcycles and apple sauce. but II really haven’t been hungry. So the best advice I can give is to keep an ice pack on your neck, stay hydrated and stay on the medicine. I take it every 2 1/2 3 hours. Thank you Jesus. I am literally pain free.
Ok. This is now day 4 for me. And I am doing fine. I run a humidifier 24/7. 1 take my meds every 2 1/2-3 hours. I drink plenty of water, even at night. Because. Of this regiment, I hardly sleep,but I’d rather be sleep deprived think in the pain everyone talks of. Today I had mashed potatoes, boiled chicken and broccoli. Everyone take meds every 3 hrs. Run that humidifiers and drink every time yu think abt it. I also eat a lo of pop cycles and sorbet
Oh yeah bi keep an ice pack on too
Day 5. No severe pain. I have Been careful to stay very hydrated and keeping the ice pack on. If I don’t there is a low dull pain. I have a couple of cool gear cups been keeping them filled. I have stayed away from milk. Make my mouth feel full of something. When I use milk products. Still on mash potatoes overcook broccoli and carrots and chicken. Had company last night. Felt pretty good. Loopy but good
March 6 day 7. ok. Here we go. The pain is now a seven if I don’t breath. And that’s all I want to do at a minimum. I did not ice at around 3a and my throat let me know it. There is no going back. you can’t make up what you didn’t do. I am now a true believer in ice and ice water. It does’ keep the swelling down and the cold keeps your throat numb. So no matter how craze it looks, how lazy you may feel, keep ice on it, all the time. A big blob of matter fell off and I swallowed it last nite. I am going to assume that is what everyone called a scab. It finally turned coffee stained brown (it was yellow). Anyway I swallowed it and the pain is greater on that side than the right. My left side had the growth on it. I have blogged twice and texted twice and have no idea were any of it landed. Hopefully it will get better as the day wears on. BUT I CANNOT STRESS ICE,ICE, ICE. Run a humidifier, Sip on cold water, not room temperate, ice cold. If you fell better,still take your medicine. It takes triple long to get it back in your system than to just stay on your schedule. That’s all. After 6 1/2 days 1 slip up and I fell like hell. But trust me, I m on ice and water triple time.
I’m back. I’m back. I’m back. Took meds twice. I iced nonstop. No more pain. Whoa. Whoa. Won’t do that again. Eating watermelon now with band of ice on my throat. If I could duck tape it there I would. I’m back. I’m back. I’m back. No joke. Ice ice and ice stay super hydrated. I’m convinced that’s why my “scab” fell off with ease and no aggregation. You r probably tired of me by now. Have a pain free surgery.
Do you continue doing fine? For me it’s day one, and so far I have been doing the same things you are doin and I feel fine. Than you for posting your comments. Please reply.