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.
RECOMMENDATION:
My doctor prescribed a Tetracaine cherry lollipop that has been wonderful. It is a compound prescription, so you have to find a pharmacy that does compounds (independently owned pharmacies are often a good bet – just call and ask) and insurance doesn’t cover it, but it was only something like $12 and he prescribed two – I still have a lot left on the second one. It is WAY more effective than any of the OTC lozenges!!
Here is the label:
Tetracaine (Cherry) 0.5% Lollipop
Place lollipop in mouth for 10-15 seconds every four as needed. Do not bite lollipop. May take 5 minutes to feel full numbing effect.
Hope this helps!!
@Lauryn,
Ohhh – warm cinnamon tea sounds wonderful!! I do drink lukewarm liquids – my husband makes me homemade broth right now and it’s like a warm hug for my throat :). I’ll have him pick me up some cinnamon tea in the morning…not only could it help with the mucus, but it just sounds really good!!! I am feeling pretty good right at this moment – my meds are kicked in and I can actually TALK today…it’s really nice to not have to make my annoying whisper understood by three kids, three dogs, and a husband!
I am liking that I have not been taking in empty calories during this recuperation period…I’m going to try to keep some of these new, lower calorie, healthier snacks in my arsenal when my throat is healed and that box of Little Debbies begins calling me. The Special K Vanilla Protein Shakes rock, broth is really satisfying in between meals, and orange sherbert is just as tasty as regular ice cream. I’ve also lost a few much unwanted pounds. {{I am just trying to look for the silver lining at this point in my recovery}}
BTW – I am not able to reply directly under Lauryn’s post because nothing happens when I click “Respond to this”. Am I doing something wrong?
Hi Stacie- Sorry you’re having trouble responding to comments. I’ve heard the same problem from someone else, but I’m never able to reproduce the problem. (It works for me) Sorry. The only time that should happen is if there have been more than 5 responses to a comment. (that wasn’t the case, was it?)
I’ll do a little research and make sure my WordPress application is up to date.
Take care!
Greg
Hey Stacy, I thought of one more thing you can try without too much trauma to the forming scabs. I don’t know if you are up for hot beverages yet, but cinnamon is a known phlem-breaker-upper, so I’d like to recomend some cinnamon hot tea! Celestial Seasonings makes a great one in Apple Cinnamon flavor and in a pinch, you could probably brew some and then put it on ice if you are still stuck on cold beverages. The cinnamon tea will break up any mucous without attacking the wet scabs, AND its not acidic so you don’t have to sweat the acid burn factor that can happen with foods and open mouth wounds. Give it a try. I got a box of bags at Albertsons the other day. Good luck!
Hi Lauryn,
Thank you for your advice! I didn’t really get to talk to my doctor following the surgery and appreciate your expertise :).
The problem is I do have a lot of actual mucus in the very back of my throat (way behind the scabbed area wear the tonsils were). I had a balloon sinuplasty and turbinate reduction and have mucus draining from that surgery. I gag on it and it will make me stop breathing when I am sleeping (I don’t have apnea – it’s just from this surgery). When I was in the hospital it freaked the night nurse out so much that she kept waking me up because she thought I was choking. When I am awake I can just feel it coating the back of my windpipe. BLECH!!! I know not to gargle with salt water as my doc wants the scabs to stay on as long as possible to give the new skin time to get firmly established. But I hate this goobery crap – I’ve had to cough mucus up a few times, but I really try not to because it makes me feel like my throat is being ripped out!
Anyway, I think I’ll just have to live with it…I am drinking ice water constantly and will try the Sprite idea from Mirisha (thank you!).
Do not seek to remove what you are discribing as mucus at the surgery site! I am a nurse and a fellow tonsilectomy recoverer (Jan 15, 2013). The mucus that is where your tonsils once were is what is called a “wet scab”. You need to leave it alone. Over the course of the next week, the mucous lining will get thinner and thinner, even disapear in spots as the skin behind the wound forms. Leave it alone. And gargling is a no-no too. Let your body heal. If its a matter of tasting the wet scab, then suck on flavored icechips, or sugar free gum, keep hydrated to keep the scab wet and not foul smelling…But please, leave it alone!