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.
I am 3 days out of surgery and have already been able to eat a cheeseburger! I’m sore but no real pain. Right when I woke up from surgery I have been drinking sprite with crushed ice non stop. The cold drink helps with the swelling. I’ve also been sleeping a lot and not talking. I take my medicine as prescribed and eat chocolate milkshakes, ice pops, and puddin. The cheeseburger took a lot of slow chewing and swallowing but it was well worth it! I think my recovery is going fairly quick because scabs are already coming off… No horror stories here 🙂
Ok, tomorrow is the day for my tonsillectomy. I can’t believe it’s already here! I’m about as ready as I’ll ever be and am stocked on cold treats, ice, ensure, etc. I knw I’ll be better off in the long run, but I am really dreading getting ths done!
Anxiety is running very high tonight…..
I’ll post more in a few days. Good luck to all of you.
I’m 22 and just had my tonsils removed on December 11th and the pain has been intense even with the obscene amount of percocets I’ve been prescribed. The pain has gotten better though over the last day or two. Honestly some of the worst pain was the ear aches that often accompany a tonsillectomy but hot compresses really do wonders for that! Also make sure you drink as much fluid as you can, drink until you’re full and it hurts your throat and then keep drinking. It really helps in the long run. It just really sucks when you fall asleep because your throat dries out and the pain becomes really sharp. But seriously people HOT COMPRESSES FOR EAR ACHES! For me they were the only things that could cut through that pain!
I am 50 years old and had a tonsillectomy and turbinate reduction just 12 hours ago. As I expected no pain yet but very nervous about the days to come….my daughter comes home from college tonight for Christmas break and she is going to PA school next year so maybe she will learn something about this by watching me.
I’m doing everything recommended and am doing all I can to manage the future pain that I know is coming. My goal is to make it to Christmas events with tolerable pain and be totally healed by the time I leave for Aruba 4 weeks from today for 10 days. Please pray for me!
How was your progress
After a year of pain, I’m finally getting my tonsils out on December 19th! I’m looking foward to having this all behind me, but after looking at some of the horror stories on here I’m a little concerned about the recovery. Any more advice?
I had my tonsils removed, uvula reduced and deviated septum repaired last week on thursday. The pain has been like my doctor said, a roller coaster. Some days its not so bad, some days its bad. Overall, if I keep up on my meds it is manageable. Tomorrow I go back in to have the stents in my nose removed so that will improve my breathing hopefully. The hardest part is not eating and forcing yourself to drink plenty of fluids. I’ve already lost 10 pounds and its only been 4 days.
The fluids help healing, but hurts at the same time. I hope the next couple weeks go by quickly and without problems….i’ll come back to update