Tonsillectomy Recovery Time
After a lifetime of tonsillitis, it was time. I made the appointment. Was I scared? Yes. Was I prepared for tonsillectomy recovery? NO. Can you be? YES!
Planning for and recovering from a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy procedure, (often referred to as T & A Surgery), can be daunting experiences. The days leading up to your surgery can be frightening. If you haven’t read up yet, you can find information on tonsillectomy methods, risks, costs, adult tonsillectomy, sleep apnea, and numerous tips for tonsillectomy recovery on the other pages of this site. I’ve even added pictures of a post tonsillectomy throat by each day. Study, talk with your doctor and consult with your friends about the decision to undergo tonsillectomy and adenoid surgery. Explore the pages created here to aid in your journey.
If you should decide to have tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, let us help you through the entire process. Whether due to problems with sleep apnea, chronic tonsillitis and strep throat, tonsil stones, trouble swallowing, or a combination thereof, you can benefit from the experience of others. My own experience taught me that, as patients, we need to advocate for ourselves. Ear, nose, and throat doctors are, by and large, extremely talented individuals. However, very few of them have experienced an adult tonsillectomy, and the subsequent recovery. I have. Many others have too. We share our experiences here at the adult tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy recovery resource center. As you’ll read in the tonsillectomy recovery forum, everyone’s experience is unique. There are many factors that influence the level of pain you experience, as well as the length of time required during recovery. The method, and skill of your surgeon can have an affect, but there are also many things within your control that will reduce pain and recovery time. I’ve tried to include as many helpful tips as possible within the pages of this online resource. Tonsillectomy recovery can be pretty rough, especially if you are unlucky enough to be an adult! It takes longer for an adult to recover from most things. Tonsillectomy is no exception. There are many things you can do to make it go more smoothly. I’ve published numerous tips here on various pages. I encourage you to read up BEFORE you are in the throws of tonsillectomy recovery.
Talk with your doctor, friends, family, and work as you prepare. You are not alone in this. Like you and like me, many others are facing or have faced a tonsillectomy recovery. I created this forum for you. The community of adults or parents of patients will amaze you and warm your heart. I read these comments every day and every day I am humbled by everyone’s story and their compassion for others in the midst of recovery, or the anxiety that often precedes a tonsillectomy. Please join in. Hundreds of other people, perhaps in your same situation, have shared their wisdom, concerns, tips, and questions about tonsillectomy, as well as their tonsillectomy recovery.
-Greg My short bio
Trisha, so sorry you are having such a hard time! Wow, you are certainly having a challenging recovery. I hope you can keep up your spirits knowing that this will be time limited. Our bodies have an amazing healing capacity, yours just as much as anyone else’s. Maybe some use of visual imagery for healing might help? I did this after a severe car accident while I was recuperating in a halo.
I hope today is a better day for you. What did CT show? Thinking of you….hang in there! 🙂
Beth, The Dr. Hasn’t been in yet today do I don’t know what the CT showed. I am watching women having babies. Making my pain seem a whole lot less. At least my kids are grown and don’t have to worry about them. I’m feeling better with the fluids, steroids and antibiotics…oh and the pain meds.
Hi Greg.
I am so grateful to have come across this website. I had my tonsils taken out 3 days ago. So far everything seems to be going smoothly, but I am very concerned still about post operative bleeding. I have been reading horror stories online about people who experienced severe bleeding 5-7 days after surgery.
Did you experience any bleeding? Do you have any tricks to reduce the risk of bleeding? any advice?
Tara I am so sorry I just saw your post Are you doing ok? number one on my list is drinking LOTS of cold liquids
I’m a 45 year old woman and about to undergo tonsillectomy. Of course I’m terrified after the horror stories I’ve read on the web. But I can’t imagine going into my 50’s, 60’s and beyond with these cryptic tonsils filled with stones (that hurt) and getting infection that seem more severe as years go by. I don’t have the requisite 5-7 infections/yr that most feel justifies tonsillectomy but when I get tonsillitis (about once a year) it’s really, really bad. I thought this last time that my tonsil was going to explode! I have had tonsil stones for decades and nothing gets rid of them. I think they keep the tonsils in a perpetual low-grade state of inflammation/infection. I have finally decided to do this and my ENT (who I’ve been seeing for over 15 yrs) is on board. Your guide, though I haven’t finished reading all of it, is very, very helpful. I’m sorry you had to go into it so unprepared. 🙁 Thanks for paving the way for the rest of us, especially we ‘mature’ adults. 🙂 I’m scared but I need to do this!
Beth, what day is your surgery scheduled for?
I shouldn’t say Everything I learned came from this website. I also have a great ENT Dr. with a great staff. One of his nurses went through this at 32 and she gave me some helpful hints right before my surgery.
Thank-you for this great web-site. I’m forty-one years old and on day seven post-surgery. I’m kind of down because it still feels like someone just had a camp-fire at the back of my throat. I had a peritonsillar abscess last summer that set me back for two weeks (it was undiagnosed for awhile… over-night hospital stay, IV anti-biotics at home for a week, frequent use of steroids to reduce inflammation, etc. before the ENT was called in to drain the abscess). The abscess returned twice in the fall and was successfully treated with anti-biotics. After the abscess and years of recurrent strep and tonsillitis, I had my tonsils removed. I’ve read every word of your web-site and REALLY appreciate the information and support.
Susan- I’m sorry I missed your comment until now. Thank you so much for the kind words. I hope you are well!
Been 18 months since my tonsilectomy – I use to get sinus infections all the time and colds and flu – it was if I used to catch everything that passed by me. The process was not much fun nor was the healing – but I am happy to report that I have been so much healthier since those demons were removed! 🙂 I wish you all a healthy journey ahead as well! Hang in there – I know it is a rough road but It is temporary – ramen noodles mixed with butter and parmesean cheese were my staple for a while – but the results – its nice to not be sick all the time!
Thank you Melin- I love a story with a happy ending!
Hi Greg, Just checking in. I am again admitted to the hospital. I had my 2 week post op appt. The Dr. Then admitted me to the hospita for IV fluids, Antibiotics, Steroids, Anti emetics oh and a CT Scan. I still am unable to swallow without aspirating or having it go up my nose from the back of my mouth. I just got to my room, am looking forward to another dose of pain med and hopefully more than 2 hours of sleep. As a quick update, for the last two days I have been choking in what appears to be pus! Don’t really want to scare anyone, Having your tonsils removed as an adult is a pretty serious surgery that can have some pretty bad effects on you. Every night I had hoped I would feel better in the morning. Well tonight I am hoping I WILL feel better in the morning. Good Night All.
Correction…1 week followup appt! (feels like much longer)