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.
Sandy,
thank your input, I really appreciate it, I will take all if your advise and specially will ask my anesthesiologist for anti nausea meds! God bless ?
You’re so welcome, Claudia!
This website and its members really helped me. I learned so much that my doctor didn’t tell me! The most important thing was to have someone stay with me because the nurse said I’d be fine alone. I know now, that I would not have been. So read all the advice and plan ahead for your success! God Bless you too!
Sandy
I’m having my tonsils remove in two weeks and at this stage in my life I been told by my own daughter that will be very painful, I am so scare! I heard it will be very difficult to swallow my own saliva, is this true? I’m disable and must take a lot of medications with food, so I’m not sure how I’m going to accomplish this, I’m thinking about not having this procedure, any input will help, thanks!
Hi Claudia,
Being forewarned is forearmed. Read all the helpful tips such as having these things on hand: humidifier, ice chips, Popsicles, sorbets, pain meds. I knew that I vomit due to anesthesia, so I told the anesthesiologist and he added anti nausea drug to the mix. I also requested Zoltar for taking with pain meds. I still had some vomiting, but it was over by the third day. I was surprised, but was able to swallow pills. Food was nearly impossible until day 3 and then, only cream of wheat, etc. I told my doctor that even macaroni and cheese felt like gravel!
The first week is really hard. Sleep propped up because the swelling makes you feel you can’t breathe.
Drink tons of fluids, it really helps. Rest a lot and refrain from talking as much as possible.
Your doctor will likely give you plenty of pain meds and expects you to use them. They are sympathetic in most cases as they are aware of how painful this process is and will give you all you need. Ask for the type of pain med that works for your system.
I am 59 and it was hard for weeks, but gradually got better. I had mine done in June and had ear tubes at the same time, so I had ear pain too. At first waking from anesthesia, I regretted the surgery, but now, 2 months later, I am very happy my nasty, troublesome tonsils are gone forever!
So, I suggest having someone help you the first 3 days, so you don’t OD on pain meds or dehydrate.
Having a compassionate caregiver makes the recovery easier.
Follow through and have it done. You can make it!
Wishing you well!
Sandy
I am on day 12 of my recovery and am 52 years old. My experience wasn’t as bad as some of the previous posts. All the posts I read scared me, but I was getting food stuck in my one tonsil for years as they were very pitted. As a result, my tonsils were healthly and not as large as some who have had lots of infections. My doctor gave me an anti-nausea patch on the back on one ear that I left on for two days. That was key and helped me both take my meds and eat – highly recommend it. She also gave me anti-nausea suppostories – they absorb and therefore act faster. I had lots of soft food ready and started eating them right away as a “cushion” – not just icy things. I had eggs and pureed soups and tapioca. Pudding I left coated my throat and I didn’t like that feeling. My main pain initally was my tongue – bruised and sore from the clamps. I drank tons and tons of water and slept propped up. Eventhough the nurse told me not to wake myself up to take my pain meds, I did. I set an alarm and took them every 4 hours. I think that helped give me a thresold I could anticipate. I had pain, but it was manageable until day 8 (pain meds done at this point). That is when the scabs started coming off and I have one spot that was very painful – a burning sensation when I drank or ate – large spike in the pain and cold irritated it. Doctor prescribed prescription tylenol at this point which didn’t help much more than regular tylenol. Nights were tougher than days, so I made sure to eat and drink alot during the day and took naps when I felt best and always had water by my side day and night. This gave my body some better healing time. When the pain hit, I would take a break, gnetly rinse with room temperature water and apply an ice pack to my throat. That still hurt, but eased the pain a bit after a few minutes. Ice packs on my throat were very effective – also helped when the pain would occassional move into my ears. I am back to work, but starting with short days. I think the pain is manageable once you know what to expect. An interesting discovery is that the pain is worse when you swallow (or eat or drink) – no surprise there, but you don’t swallow nearly as much as you think you do. Also you will be constipated (adds to the discomfort), start taking miralax early on. You still may not have a daily bowel movement, but you will as soon as your meds stop. I also occassionally had a metal-like taste to my water which I believe was from the surgery. Aim to manage the pain, but not eliminate it. I had pain throughout, but if I knew what to expect each day, I could get through it.
Hi Aimee
I had my tonsils taken out last year and also had coblation done on my lingual tonsils at the same time and when I read your post it was like going back a year with the little bursts of sleep and swallowing. Even getting to sleep was scary knowing I would wake up in more pain due to not having fluid during that time. As you can see, everyone has different experiences and recoveries. Get an appointment with your GP who can prescribe stronger (if needed) and keep your medication up so you won’t run out through the recovery process. I had gone to mine on day 3 as the tablets I had received from the hospital were not enough to control the pain since you can only take so many in a day. My GP was great and also prescribed me a numbing throat spray – Benzydamine (didn’t taste nice) but anything that eases is always a help. I think when I hit day 7 I tried the dissolvable Co-Codamol and this seemed to help greatly. It was one of the worst experiences of my life and every day dragged until I hit a corner on about day 12. I lost 1 stone within 2 weeks due to like you say even struggling to swallow your own saliva.
A glass full of ice and water makes it that bit easier to swallow, so keep this to hand too.
I wish you a speedy recovery and seek help from your GP if needed as they are very understanding to people in distress from this type of surgery.
Take care : )
I am only on day 2, but I have been totally shocked at the pain. The first night I didn’t sleep at all because I couldn’t swallow my saliva no matter how hard I tried. Every time I drifted off I would immediately wake up choking. I still can’t swallow and am more less pouring water down my throat at the risk of aspirating. I did sleep for a couple of hours in 15 minute intervals so that’s an improvement. After all the reading I’ve done post-procedure, I am feeling angry at my surgeon for not telling me the truth about the reccuperation. Every site online says 10 days (minimum), and that it gets worse over the first week. My doctor only gave me 5 days worth of pain medicine and I’m terrified about what this will be like in 4 more days with no pain relief. Also have not been able to eat more than a bite or two because of the swallowing issue.
I’m 29 and just had the tonsillectomy done due to chronic tonsillitis which induced OSA. Unfortunately I fell into the dreaded %3 that had post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage and had to be taken back to the OR for more cauterization, not once but twice on post-op days 3 and 7. Currently I’m at day 8 from the 3rd visit to the OR and have finally turned the corner. Definitely one of the most painful procedures I’ve been through. Found out so many things I would have done different.