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
Hi everyone I’m on day six my procedure went well day one and day two were really rough for me though
I’m now on day six and i have been having excruciating ear pain
It’s almost unbearable i tried taking ear drops for pain but that seems.
to make it worse.. nothing I drink taste good to me but I force down
Water if its to cold it will hurt my ears so bad I can’t seem to get anything down and
Just yesturday I have been getting sick off my pain meds somebody pleaae
Tell me when I can expect a break I’m in so much pain over here :/
im in the same boat, and if your sick of the pain meds you could try to get a replacement. Like i was supposed to be perscribed LORTAB but instead the prescribed me a replacement of some sort i can’t remember the name. My “narcotics” was basically a lortab (generic brand) infused with tylenol. Maybe the pharmacy or doctor will prescribe you a different and higher caliber pain medication. its funny cuz i thought i was the only other person with ear pain but after i posted mine i saw that you posted yours as i was typing mine =p
Wierdly i am on day 3 and i am coping fine. Wednesday night, after my operation and when i was released i had a mcdonalds cheeseburger.. Lol i was so wprried after reading up about the tonsilectomy pain before my op but its not as bad as everyone makes out! Im 23 and this was my first every op. The worst pain ive had is a sore lip where the clamp must of cut it 🙁 the pain killers knock me out though and like everyone i swear by water, ive never drunk so much! Ive eaten all normal foods though and i just want to get better asap! Im missing my life and hate being stuck at home away from my boyfriend and work! Grrr
Day 1 down… Not as bad as I was expecting. Drinking water and ice chips nonstop. Talked way too much yesterday and regretting it a bit today. Haagen Das Mango Sorbet is great! Thank you everyone for all the advice. Did anyone else have a pretty swollen tongue with I guess like a bubble where I assume the clamp was towards the tip on the sides? Do they go away eventually? It’s quite uncomfortable.
Yes, I had a very swollen tongue…For almost a week after both my tonsillectomy and cauterization surgeries. It is very unpleasant and annoying, and took a pretty long time to go away…:/
I got my tonsils out on the 28th, and then had to go back in for severe bleeding and re-cauterizing on the 29th and my tongue is still very swollen and hurts!!
Day 9 I feel like there is finally light at the end of the tunnel. Talking too much will cause the throat to dry so I still try to limit myself. I have been able to get down some mac and cheese the last couple nights for dinner which has been a welcome treat, solid food definitely gets the energy level up.
I’ve only been waking up once a night to take some medicine and get hydrated where as before it was at least every hour due to the pain. Last night I went almost 10 hours with no medicine and woke up in pain but it definitely was not excruciating as it was on days 5-7 when I thought this would never end.
My advice, water water water, and ice packs on the throat and neck every couple hours. I usually put one on after I eat and when I go to bed and it has helped greatly. Alternating Ibuprofen and tylenol every 5-6 hours has kept the pain level manageable.
I wonder is anyone else having trouble chewing? I feel like my whole jaw is out of alignment since the surgery. It doesn’t hurt but the concept of chewing isn’t registering and I find it difficult.
Good luck everyone, you’ll get there!
Hi Miss T, I am so sorry to hear that. But you will be okay as days go by. Anyway, you are right about what you said. Yea, everybody respond differently to surgery, medications, treatments etc because of our uniqueness. However, there is one thing that everyone has, needs, and has to have as humans. That thing is WATER. Water does everything. Even, one would not die if he/she did not eat for forty days. But guess what, a person cannot survive for ten days without water. So please, drink a lot of water at least two cups per hour. Also, put ice in your mouth and drink when it turns water. I know it is hard to swallow, but it worth the pain. Please, keep you throat moist as much as possible, and continue eating your cold food. I hope you will be okay. Just keep the faith.
Thank you for your reply and support, Charles! I appreciate it! 🙂
You’re absolutely right about the water…When I was in my most painful stage, I at least tried to drink a lot of water, even if I couldn’t get anything else down! It’s very, very important!!!
Now, I’m on day 17 after my tonsillectomy and day 8 after the cauterization, and even though I’m able to eat a lot more than a week ago or so, getting enough water is what I watch the most.
Thanks for your advice and good luck with your recovery!!!