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
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I had,tonsilectomy on October 16th 2012. The most helpfull thing a found is to keep a bottle of cool water close by and start drinking it from day 1 to keep throat moist. (dry throat/scabs = worse pain and increased bleeding risk) I siped in once and hour and at night every 2 hours. Also water is great for keeping you hydrated. The doctor is gonna precribe you pain medication, which is gonna constipate you. My remeder for this is prune juice or by box of pitted prunes and blend them in blender with little water untill they can be easily swallowed. The other medication you need is an antibiotic to be started immediately after surgery to prevent infection. The throat numbing spray also helps, but be careful with it you may be able to eat normal with it, but if you do you can eat foods that can pull away scabs and cause servere bleeding. So stick to soft mushey foods atleast untill scabs come off. I recommend 14 days. Frozen yogurt pops and mashed potatoes were my friends. Use as little salt in food as possible will burn you up. Lol Also avoid citrius juices same effect. Ive used this for survival last 8 days no bleeding, no complications thus far, but its still sore. Pain meds and throat numbing stuff gonna be your friend. To keep your nutrition up drink atleast one can of ensure or something of that nature. Very important to keep your strength up. Good luck, if you take care of yourself its not that bad. Ive been out and about every day since my surgery. Oh and if your religious wont hurt to say a prayer before and after surgery. No matter which god you woreship he is same being we all call him something different, but his presence for me has made this surgery go so well. Hope this helps.
So it would be day 11 after my original tonsillectomy and day 5 after my emergency hemorrhage surgery lol but im doing well! Managed to force down some actual food yesterday which tasted so amazing after having consumed boost meal replacements and pudding for so long. But i think im at that corner also, feels a little tender like the new skin is exposed but i shouldn’t have a problem toughening it up 😉
Hello Edith . I’m 56 and have had probably the BEST experience of anyone. [Tonsillectomy on 11 Oct.]. Please read my posts, and ‘older’ posts. Just make sure the hospital prescribes [for after your Op.], antibiotics, pain meds, and especially some form of lidocaine. [in my case Xylocaine viscous], which let me eat normally virtually from Day 2. It works and you will recover quicker. ♥ Pat
Thank you Pat I’ve found your posts very helpful. I had my tonsillectomy yesterday 10/23/2012. Even though I work for Ear, Nose and Throat of Nevada, I was shaking like a leaf as they took me into the OR. I have never needed surgery in my life so that was my number one fear. I didn’t know what to expect. I was afraid of being put under. I now see that is the easiest stage. I have all my meds and are helping me 🙂
For anyone about to go through this. You have to drink, drink, drink. The goal is to keep your throat as moist as possible. Please drink a half a gallon to a gallon of Powerade, water, anything like thats not red in color. Do not drink soda it doesn’t hydrate you or help your throat in my opinio. My otolargyngologist (Dr Schroeder) can’t stress this enough. Even though it’s uncomfortable you have to drink half a gallon to a gallon a day. If you start doing this right after surgery it’s so much easier and just continue every waking moment. Today is day 2 for me and my uvula is huge. There’s discomfort but nothing unbearable. I would compare it to chronic strep throat pain I’ve had in the past. So far this is what I imagined it to be like. Try to keep in mind that everyone’s pain tolerance is different. What I think is moderate pain others will think mild or severe.
I decided to get this surgery at the age of 31 because there was a growth on my left tonsil and it’s being tested for cancer. I will find out soon, but I know it will be benign. In addition I had cryptic tonsils (huge craters) and they where very enlarged pretty much taking over my throat, and must I add nasty stones. So I guess I had no choice in the matter. I will continue to update with my progress. I’m so sorry to all of you out there with bad experiences. It’s actually pretty rare to bleed out. I thought I’d share because many blogs that I read really scared me. I think mine is one of the positive ones. Remember drink up every waking moment and stay strong. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences. God bless you.
I am due to have a tonsillectomy tomorrow morning. I am nervous and just want it over with. I will update after with my experience.