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
Recovery Day 12 – Each morning I wake up there is less and less pain and virtually no ear pain at this point. That is a relief! I would still rate mornings and very late afternoons as the times of day with the most pain. Late afternoon I can only chalk up to having talked and done things (eating, chewing/swallowing, drinking) all day and my throat maybe just gets tired/irritated. I would say the middle of the day or from later morning through middle day are the times when I have the least pain which I would rate around a 2-3. Mornings are about a 4 and sometimes late afternoon is around a 4 as well.
I have not eaten any toast or anything really rough but…I did eat potato chips and they were fine! I know it sounds crazy but they actually chew down really quickly and easily and by the time I swallow them, they are just mush and don’t hurt at all. I had them with a tuna sandwich for lunch and the combo tasted great!
One interesting thing….I had severe tongue pain the first 5 days or so and even had vertical matching marks on either side of the midline of my tongue (that looked like cuts) from whatever they use to hold the tongue down or out of place. The tongue pain is gone but I do notice that if I’m chewing food for a significant length of time, those areas of my tongue get numb! Almost like I had a tiny shot of novicaine in each of those spots. So strange! It is not bothersome and I only notice it if I eat for an extended period of time. I am going to mention it at my 2 week follow up. I think the doctor needs to know that whatever they are using to hold the tongue in place is kind of harsh!
I have been looking at the back of my throat every day, and the swelling is way down and I think almost ‘normal’ looking in terms of the tissue not looking swelled up. The redness is almost entirely gone as well around the rims of the tonsil beds. The area where my tonsils were excised still has some white but is primarily pink. I do find that food still gets sort of stuck in the open pits sometimes, depending on what I eat – eggs are the worst for this!
I hope everyone is having a good weekend!!
Marla-thank you. I’m reading of people pain free at day 12 or so and thinking, is there something wrong with me?? I would think a solid month makes sense.
I can’t believe it has been so long since my tonsillectomy (39 days) and I still wake up in pain after mouth breathing! I wish I could tie my mouth shut!! I am still on antibiotics, and I am still only able to swallow liquids. I see the doctor on May 1st , we will see then, what he has to say!
Trish, how are you keeping from not losing too much weight?? I cannot believe that you are only able to still take just liquids…that is just not right…..I hope you get to the bottom of this soon. Excuse my forth rightness, but I’m feeling outraged on your behalf. 🙁
Thanks Greg…I couldn’t find where we were all chatting last night. I was getting scared I would never find you all again.
Noooooooooooooooooooo!
How are ya?
YOU FOUND US! Welcome! Remember to subscribe to this new Thread to stay up to date on the latest comments. Thank you, I hope that you are well. -Greg Tooke