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
Day fifteen. Feeling much better. This is just a long healing process. Essentially we have all had the back of our throats skinned and still have to breath. Eat. Swallow. Which is irritating the big open wound. Lots. If we break something it’s stabilized and we are kept off it so it can heal. We have an operation it’s stitched up to heal. Betcetera. And the area is very rich in vessels nerves taste buds etc. so. We are all just healing from the inside. And it’s neither fun or easy. But it’s going to heal I keep telling myself and I am trying to be patient. Good luck friends.
Hi again, everyone!
I just wanted the experience that I had to endure this week- bleeding, being rushed to the hospital (on day 9 after my tonsillectomy), and having to undergo cauterization. All of it was terrible, and it sucked away all of my hope of getting better soon. I was very miserable and scared, and there were many moments when I was sorry that I had even gone ahead with the whole process.
Now, after 3 days of my unexpected emergency surgery, I was able to go home, and I am hoping desperately that everything will FINALLY be alright.
*wanted to share (sorry, I’m still tired and not that focused)
Hi Miss T-
I was rushed to the ER last night due to severe bleeding and had to be re-cauterized as well. Can you give me an idea what to expect the next few days? I’m paranoid that everything I feel in my throat is blood (I lost a lot-1/2 gallon minimum). I’m very sad as I felt like I had just turned a corner yesterday.
I took ibuprofen for the first time yesterday and was blissfully pain free (or at least not an 8/10), but then I started bleeding. The ENT said that it was unrelated and that this is the time period when if you’re going to bleed, you’re going to bleed.
Thanks for you insight-
* I was on day 6 of recovery
Hello Josi!
First of all, I’m so sorry to hear about what happened to you! 🙁 I know what a traumatizing experience it is and I’m sorry for everyone who has to go through it….Stay strong (even though I know it’s hard 🙁 )!!!
Ok, what to expect….The days following my re-cauterization, I was very down, scared, and also paranoid that it would happen again, because the experience was really bad. Apart from this, I felt a severe pain in the left side of my throat (that was the source of the bleeding and the area that had to be re-cauterized), a pain similar to after the tonsillectomy. My tongue was really swollen, and everything on the left side of my face and head hurt. Also, I was extremely sore, due to the anesthesia…probably the result of having two procedures done in a short period of time. I absolutely could not move AT ALL, and every muscle in my body was sore.
I was admitted on Wednesday (day 9 post tonsillectomy), and they released me on Saturday. I pretty much felt like total shit for the following week and a half, with only very slight improvident.
Today is day 21 after my tonsillectomy and day 12 after my re-cauterization, and only now am I beginning to feel better.
I hope you feel better ASAP, and if you need anything, I’m here for you!
Good luck!!!
Ashley, that is exactly what I’ve been feeling. I’ll be interested to hear what your doctor says. I have considered going to my primary care doctor for the same reason…my ENT has been very difficult. Mine, too, was a complicated case…tons of tonsillar tissue according to the doc, and I also had a bleed after. But they ENT would never see me when I had concerns and pretty much blew me off when I’d call. The only visit I’ve had with them was the 3 week post op, and when I brought it up he said “Well you do still have some swelling by your uvula yet, that will go away.” So I was reassured for then…but it’s still going on. Let me know what your doc says! I’ve read about nasopharyngeal stenosis after tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy. Seems to fit to some extent.
Had my surgery yesterday morning. Tonsils, adenoids and septoplasty. I’m at the point where I can’t imagine that I’m going to have to deal with this pain and discomfort for another 12 or more days. Feels like swallowing glass and my nose is burning. Percs aren’t providing much relief at all. What day will I start to turn the corner?
Hi all. I had my tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy on July 10. Today is August 23. I felt pretty well after 3 weeks, but I’m still struggling with what feels like swelling in my adenoid area. Has anyone else experienced this? I can only describe it as a feeling of “fullness” in the back by my uvula. At my 3 week postop visit I was still visibly swollen there, but it doesn’t look like it now. When I drink something, it almost feels like it heads up my nose before going down, if that makes any sense. I’m also having difficulty with losing my voice and being unable to form words correctly due to this feeling that something is “pushing down”. I am a singer, but have as yet been unable to sing with any sort of quality since my surgery. 🙁 It makes me sad! Please tell me someone else has experienced this and I just have to be patient?
Sara, I am 8 weeks post op and I’m so glad to log in and see your post. Not glad that we are having some of the same side effects though. The best way I can describe it is that the roof of my mouth by my Uvula is lazy. If I don’t pay attention to lifting and opening my throat it feels like it’s laying down on my tongue. If I’m not chewing gum or drinking water it gets really really dry and I’ve lost my voice several times. Also, I can’t stick out my tongue much at all. I’m a singer as well and it’s just not right. I have an appointment with my regular doctor tomorrow as my ENT is being very difficult. So Frustrating! I was a really complicated case apparently but haven’t had much support after surgery from my Doctor. I had to get loud with my ENT’s office insisting that it wasn’t Heart burn and a simple TUms was not helping. I will let you know what my Family Doctor says tomorrow morning and hope it’s something a little throat exercise will fix.