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
I had my surgery earlier today. This sucks bad. Is anyone else having trouble sleeping because of the flem in their throat? I normally fall asleep for ten-twenty minutes and then wake up choking. Any recommendations?
Sleep with your head elevated- or whole upper torso elevated—just not level……and on a side note—wife bought me some cans of potted meat-IT’S A TRAP…don’t do it…didn’t read label, just dove in with a spoon…paprika and mustard–lit me up!!!–so that is a definate no go…better is chicken broth/noodles or canned (chopped) ham. Also good is scrambled eggs….good luck all.
Edit: garlic and mustard—–sorry.
My mom put pepper on my eggs without thinking. I almost died. THAT alone was horrible!
I had my surgery 2 days ago, and the plegm is probably my biggest problem as well. Couging hurts like hell and my uvula is so swollen and scabbed I can’t just hack it up. I’ve been learning how to get it up with a little finess, but it’s still very difficult. And it makes swallowing water even tougher. Just do your best to push through it I guess.
Any diary product will create a huge mucus issue. I saw someone on here suggest it for removing mucus, but that isn’t medically or scientifically accurate lol. Milk products just create a ton of mucus. Just a fact. I couldn’t have any of the ice cream my dad got me without drowning in it. Tea can cause it, surprisingly enough, super sweet sugary drinks and foods can thicken mucus. Honey feels good on the throat, but that can do it too due to the sugar. Diary, anything that is an allergen to your body, and sugars are the big causes. Of course water will help thin it and clear it out. Just another annoying reason for the water insistence. lol
Yes Melanie, but if it works for one– it might for another— that’s why we are here….
I have asthma & used my inhaler& saline solution down my nose really helped to make the phlem viscous. Adding milk to what I felt was spicy soup also helped. After the third day when it was advised. Watermelon & watermelon juice for constipation & canned plums &
Canned peaches are my absolute favavorite. Room temperature.
I’m 62 and had mine out on the 3rd. Days 4-7 are the worst. Have a doc who gave
Me liquid oxycodme HCL. Thought I’d die and afraid i wouldn’t .
Peaches they are the best, do sometimes with jello.
Any suggestions for drinking more water. Yes my taste buds are whacked also.
Love my peaches and pears in light syrup..
I have had my humidifer going since the night before my surgery. I finally feel a little better… managed to eat some eggs with cheese and drink some gatorade. Apparently when i switched myself from the loratab to pills, I was not taking enough pills…dummy me no wonder the pain got intense. I have been icing my neck and eating ice chips plus I have the throat numbing lozengers.. Thank you for the encouragment.. trying to explaine to someone who has not had it done is useless, they just do not get it.. Keep strong everybody we will all get through this 🙂
Congrats on switching from the liquid to the pills Marisa. Mandy I like the phrase, ” eye on the prize.” Nice in this context . 🙂 Erin, no clue if we get it all back—but after opiate use is it memory or side effects….Cause I doubt if I could tell you the difference….focus on wellness and oneness, not the Internet, and the chips will fall whether your ready or not…on the bright side—wife brought me 3 moolattes..2 dead 1 failing fast…
Marisa,
Have you tried icing your neck and eating ice chips? Have you tried the cepocol drops and spray? During my first 10 days the drops and spray was a godsend for me. They helped to numb the pain while I was icing and taking pain meds. I pretty much didnt even eat for the first 7 days, and only have very little for about another week. Also make sure you have your humidifier going, it will help keep you from getting dried out.
Since you did have a bleed already, and you arent drinking anything, I would call your doc and at least see what he has to say.
Keep strong, you CAN do this. I had more than one meltdown on my poor husband during those first 10 days. Keep your eye on the prize, for every miserable minute you spend, you are 1 minute closer to recovery!
On day 21. Still can’t taste everything. It is depressing. I don’t want to eat. It is like I don’t get all of the flavor. I can taste what it is but then it disappears at the back of my tongue. It is like listening to a familiar song but the guitar is missing. parts of the flavor are missing. No real pain anymore and holes are filling in. Swallowing is 90% back to normal. (Find my previous posts for all of my complications with swallowing.) Occasionally the deep inside muscle of my tongue aches (from them smashing my tongue and the intubation tube down during surgery.) I think this is what messed up my taste. Interwebs is saying it could be nerve damage. Anyone else have this? Does this nerve damage repair itself or am I doomed?
Still feeling like crap.. the bleeding stopped but I am pretty sure that dehydration has set in. My stomach is cramping pretty much all the time and I am not able to swallow anything, not even my own saliva right now. Tyring really hard not to breakdown at this moment but its really hard. I was not sure if I should contact my Dr about getting an IV..