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
Hello, i am due to have my tonsils out on the 23rd August, i am 45 yrs young, i have never had an operation and am slightly nervous…reading everyones comments does help…Thank you ..i will let you know how i get on…
Susan, good luck tomorrow! Hang in there – there are so many wonderful people on this site that will be able to offer info and advice. I think sometimes the worst part is just waiting for the surgery. Hope all goes smoothly.
Thanku Beth….well what can i say…painful just dosn’t do it, day 2 after surgrey and its more painful today than it was yesterday, i managed some soup yesterday but it hurts just to drink water today….ice pops here i come….x
I am 65 and I had my tonsils out almost 6 months ago. Although my energy is getting better, I still feel like crap. Is that a function of being out of shape, having really infected tonsils for years or surgery aftermath? I think I was only under for an hour. I drink a lot of water but my throat still gets sore and I have headaches which I did not get much before. I almost feel like when I had Mono in college.
Day 11 and I feel like I can make it. Boy what a horriable experience. I have always tried to just be positive and get through things day to day and I truly can’t think of anything that even equals a day of this. To u newbies. Drink lots. Take your rx. Drink more. There’s a light somewhere out there. Gargling. Listerine. Cloraseptic. Wwe will make it. Will make it. Will make it. I keep telling myself. Have a good morning folks.
I’m on day five now and I woke up this morning experiencing the worst pain I have had since surgery. It’s a stabbing pain in my throat… Did anyone else experience this? How long until swallowing becomes easier? I couldn’t even swallow melted ice cream this morning , the only thing I can eat is ice chips and I’m feeling very nauseous probably from not having anything in my stomach. Help please 🙁
Hi, Day 5 also and I’ve experienced some of the same today. Maybe it’s the ‘funky’ middle days of recovery. I found a can of chicken and rice soup and it was heaven!! I was starving. I’m drinking nearly a gallon of water today, I notice that the more hydration I get the better I feel. Trying to take 1 Percocet per dosage instead of 2….Stay encouraged all! 🙂
Hope this middle part ends soon then! I thought I was drinking enough but maybe I should try more. Just managed to eat some very liquidy cream of wheat and same- felt so good to get something in my stomach. The doctor just actually upped my dosage of pain meds though… Hopefully your day five is feeling better!
I am on day 12. My recovery went really well. The only complaint is that I feel like something is lodged down in my throat. This is the only “pain” I have had for the last 4 days. What is that?
Hello I am on day 4 after my tonsillectomy..I must say the pain is slowly starting to ease away now, the day of my op I was told to eat a meal by the hospital before they could discharge me and OMG I would rather go through child birth again..I ate about 3 fork fulls of what I could but it wasnt a pleasent experience..I felt like complete shit after the op and was sick quite bad and was very dizzy but I put this down to the anaesthetic..Im on dissolveable aspirin which I have to take every 4 hours along with liquid Ibuprofen which I have to take every 8 hours..without sounding big headed I feel I have quite a high pain barrier so I went into this operation thinking I would be sore but would handle the pain ok after, I now realise my pain barrier maybe isnt as good as I thought..It hurt like hell and drinking water was bad enough but being told I have to eat roughage like toast etc to remove all the gunk at the back of my throat just sounded ridiculous, I tried it but the half a slice I ate was way to much..Im probably not doing a good job of putting peoples mind at ease who havnt had this done yet but Im only being truthful. They say its 10x worse as you get older, well im 27 and yeah its painful..Plus side ive lost 5lbs in 4 days, so a very good diet plan if nothing else..Ive found sucking boiled sweets helps and ice cold water and ice-cream..I am now starting to eat dinners more comfortably but only mash, pasta etc..Im told it will be worth it in the end, I just hope their right..Good luck to those having this done and to those who are still recovering, one thing I will say if you have Children is get someone to help you, I have a 5 year old and I dont know what I would of done if it wasnt for my parents letting me stop at their house and them look after my son..they have been a god send..x