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
I just had surgery yesterday and feel horrible. I was given tylenol with codeine for the pain. I can’t swallow without an abundance of pain following. What am I doing wrong?
Nothing at all! It’s gonna be a process that’s for sure. Day 2 for me, been home for 1 day. Still not able to swallow pain meds/antibiotics whole. We bought a pill crusher and I take everything crushed with either applesauce or pudding.
On day 6 still trying to make it without really eating anything still got scabbs galore and I barely have slept. Just turned 22 a few days before my surgery and this is my present. Hopefully I can make it
I’m on day 6. It’s pretty bad from 2 until now im not sure if I have hit the good curve yet but I really hope so I’m starving
Susan, I’m so happy for you – what wonderful news!
@Susan…that’s terrible! I love reading your posts though. so keep us updated. I told my friend that’s been visiting and helping that I want to be tough like you during this recovery. I’m on day 8. we’re going on a walk around a local lake today. I’ve GOT to get out and clear my head. I’m going to try to stop my tylenol today too. I’m already weaned down to child’s tylenol. I plan to keep taking it in the evenings. I start school back up full-time next week and a new job doing pool therapy with a young woman…gosh, that’s what I’m most afraid of…not being ready fir that full load only 6 days from now :/ so, Susan, I’ll be thinking about all you do and hope that helps me get through.
Best to you Leslie. Drink and keep up on your rx. Luck. Thank you. My kids say mom is tough. Hey raised on a ranch without electricity. Single twenty years after two marriages. Lots of injuries. Broken ankle three times pelvis broke n in 22 places had to ride in on that one broken femur two shoulder surgeries recently. Dr said after surgery that they only get cowboys and weight lifters with shoulders like that so I said weight lifter of course. I am little by the way Lets see cataracts recently But ready for fall cowboying and skiing this winter. Oh broke l arm while on crutches feeding 17head of horses. That was tricky driving in. Crutches for surgery of removal of pins in ankle. Sorry. Rx making me loose tongued. Company coming. By
On knees. Eyes lifted. Thank you lord. No cancer!!!!!!! Actually wasnt awfully worried but it’s wonderful to hear. Thank you for your prayers. They work. I pray for all of us. Humble thanks. The most grateful person you folks know. Susan
Susan, you are TRULY a soldier!
Gosh with all my broken bones that result from seventy yrs of cowboying and skiing I always felt better on a few days. Not so wiwith this Had a incident with my horrible neighbors yesterday and they accused me of some stuff including yelling at their kids. Their dog jumped my dog and I went out with a stick because I couldn’t yell. So they called the cops saying I had attacted their kids and yelled. I just handed the. Cop my discharge instruction Talk about being able to prove what you say. Especially because this is the third tiime that dog has injured a dog here. Time for cowboy justice. Or my motto don’t get mad get even. Real sore today. Got to get some more cepacol lozenges soon.
Good Morning Beth, Haley, Matt & Susan:
BETH :I am glad you also had a great support group on this site when you were at your worst. It really helps that the people you are conversing with REALLY know what you are going through. As for the Percocet, I had my initial prescription and then two refills, and this time he said he was only giving me 20, so I don’t think he will give me anymore! But I sure wish he would! 🙂 I am trying to save the Percocet for night time, and taking X-tra strength Tylenol during the day. Tomorrow will be 2 weeks post-op, so I am hoping the pain will decrease from here. And yes, I will treat myself to something very special – looking at a Coach bag I have been wanting! 🙂
HALEY: I too had that burning, stinging feeling, and it is not fun. It will pass as well. I just keep drinking water and more water, and got some natural fruit ice pops, and they really helped. I just eat them over and over again until the pain stopped, ususally about 2 at a time. Mashed potatoes felt good going down, and really filled me up. I also did nose rinses with salt and baking soday (recommended by my doctor) and gargled with the same 3 times a day, and that cut back on the phlegm. I am still sleeping with several pillows behind my head, almost upright, to keep the phlegm from settling at the back of my throat during the night. And the cool mist humidifier is a God-send.
MATT; You are brave, trying the steak. Trust me I have a craving for some pizza, and every night my husband asks me what I want to eat, and I say “pizza”. And if it wasn’t for the tomatoe sauce scaring me to death, I would have tried to eat it. Take care – it sounds like you and me had our surgeries about the same time. Mine was 8/1/12.
SUSAN: UMMMM, cream cheese on bread sounds good. Glad you are still hanging in there. I hope you will be feeling up to a pack-trip soon. Just don’t over do it, just enjoy the nature that surrounds you. I don’t know how to post pictures on this site, I was thinking about that too. BETH: How did you post your picture? Maybe we could do that, that would be fun.
Well, take care everyone, and I will check back on you guys later on. Phyllis
I am an hour away from being discharged from tonsillectomy/septoplasty surgeries. I have a LOT to catch up on!
Oh Phyllis get that coach bag. Living by Jackson hole I have gotten a couple of wonderful bags at the thrift store. Prada coach. Dunne b. etc. actually am not a purse gal. More horse trailer type of gal. Someone just dropped a big gooseneck here this morning. I never know what will show up here. I actually got flowers from some horses that just appeared here for a couple of weeks a while back. I thought that was neat.