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
Almost completely out of the woods now. Slight swelling, of my throat , tongue is perfect working order with almost no pain. When to a cafe today and had a huge cheeseburger and fries. Was sweet. Almost no pain eating. Still eating slow and chewing like hell to be cautious, but no real issues. No real scabs left , so I’m gonna crack a beer. Telling you guys this to say , ” Hey guys— you can be here soon.” Just be cautious and stay really hydrated. I had bad times— just read back, but I never let it get me down. Remember that this is just a small time in your long life. Be happy and take it light. Ask us questions here, as we will help. P.S. Dentine Ice rocks. Wish I had it 7 days ago 🙂
Chewing on Dentine Ice right now and it is the best 3 dollars I have EVER spent
Glad it works for you 🙂
Hey all one week after recovery today exactly around the time I came home I went back to work on day 5 and I regretted it I haven’t had as much pain as 5-6 my ears were killing me today a part of the scab fell off I’m really hoping one falls off soon a specific scab I feel and it’s so annoying I have pic from day to day if anyone wants to see lol moemoe611@yahoo.com I encourage anyone to take off work for longer than I did although I can still speak (I sound like I’m a British deaf person) does anyone else sound weird also today I’m itchy and sore at the same time my tounge is still to this day swollen swallowing still hurts sneezing and coughing are the worst but I’ve been pretty much eatin anything I can swallow from Chinese rice soup to pasta with sauce lol today I was also able to finally drink coffee that was really exciting!!! Oh how I’ve missed coffee ok well now I’m rambling feel free to email me any questions or concerns!!
I posted on here a few days ago but have been in too poor of shape to comment again. On my 4th night I started experiencing pain that was so bad it made me start crying. I had felt great that day, was on my feet and talking alot before the pain and bleeding occured. It could have been from the crying, could have been from eating warm food too soon, from coughing, talking to much, or throwing up or a number of other reasons but anyways I started bleeding, alot of blood soon after this new pain set in. I begged and begged my parents to take me to the hospital, them trying to calm me down was just making me more frustrated and making me bleed more. At 2am I finally got in. Hooked up to an iv, morphine and my surgeon was headed there at around 5am Sunday morning, god bless him. He recautarized my tonsil wound on one side where it seemed to be hemorrhaging. I was warned by him and the nurse that if you see more than a teaspoon of fresh blood it is nescessary for a tonsillectomy patient to come in right away. This is my warning to all of you. After staying that night in the hospital I went home and finally slept only to wake up at about 3pm yesterday covered in blood coming out of my mouth and then having to cough up about half a cup more after that. Back to the ER I went and my doctor recautarized again, and again I was hooked up to an iv and morphine for the pain. I’m back to day one on recover but feeling like day 3 pain wise. If I bleed again I require immediate surgery. This is my warning to all of you! I felt fine that day then the trauma was so sudden. Be very careful. Don’t push yourself, rest your voice, stay relaxed, don’t let any person upset you, and if you see more than a teaspoon of fresh blood you must go to the ER. My nurse had known two patients that waited or tried to not go to the ER for the same situation and they ended up calling 911 hours later and it was too late and they died at the hospital. I’m not trying to scare anyone but yesterday was the worst day of my life, both mentally and physically so painful and so exhausting. I would never want anyone to experience the same. Please be gentle on your tonsillectomy.
Day 5, I think the scabs are starting to fall off. I can finally see what people mean by the pain. It isn’t always constant, but when it’s there I can barely stand it. Last night I ended up doubling my dose of percocet 3 times in a row so I could sleep. I still cant believe that all (and yes, I mean ALL) of my pain is focused and centered in 1 little area on the left side of my throat. I plan to call my doctor about it tomorrow. When the pain does spike, nothing seems to help it. When I drink ice water it doesn’t just hurt going down, it /burns/. The pain lingers on that one little spot. I’m just hoping this is the final hill I have to climb and then the real healing can begin. Still on my mind are the scabs that seem to be stuck to the side of my uvula. They have yet to change at all since day 1 and I’m still wondering how they even got there. They aren’t necessarily causing pain, but they’re helping block even more of my throat when I swallow on top of the uvula itself being extremely swollen (which no ammount of ice has helped). My brother suggested gargling with warm salt water a few times a day, so I’m going to start that to see if it helps with anything. Lastly, after 13 stool softener pills in 4 days (I started them on day 2), I have yet to hit the toilet. It’s starting to worry me slightly, but I’m staying positive that it’ll work itself out in the next couple days. Sorry to ramble a bit, but I’ve definately hit the low point in this whole process and posting and reading other posts simply makes me feel better. Thanks for all the help and encouragement people 🙂 we can do this!
I am on day 5 as well and today was dreadful. I try not to think about the scabs forming because that sends me right over the edge when I imagine myself swallowing them, disgusting. Salt and warm water does help loosen the mucus I’ve been told, I started doing that yesterday but I haven’t notices a change as of yet. Today I became so nauseated that I threw up several times, which caused a tremendous amount of pain near one of the stitches I have. I am just curious as to when I will start to feel normal again, or when I won’t be in as much pain? I go back to school in 8 days and I am worried that I won’t be recovered by then!
Hey MJ 🙂
So sorry you feel like that. I can relate.
It’s been 1 month and almost a week since my surgery. I had problems with nausea from day 4 to 9. Day 10 was the turning point for me. Day 9 I thought it would never get better (“It will never eeeeend!”, “i think i’m dying!”) but then, day 10 came, and i was soooo much better. So hang in there. A few more days and you’ll feel so much better.
On the bright side – about throwing up – it “cleans” a bit your throat – at least that’s what happened to me.
A few bad days ahead but it’s almost over and it’ll be worth it!
Hi Jess and MJ,
Was the throwing up from medication? My daughter is 19 and had her surgery 1 week ago tomorrow. She had a patch for nausea until last Fri, then on Sat became sick to her stomach but I gave her anti nausea med (Emetrol-over the counter). She did not throw up but came so close she didn’t want the prescription pain medicine and just took Tylonal. She was in too much pain tonight so I got another anti-nausea med so she tried the prescription again.
Thank you for your posts. I was ready to get her to a dr. tomorrow if possible but it sounds like her recovery is right on track from all of these posts.Judy
Hello Judy.
I had nausea because of the scabs so the anti-nausea meds didn’t really help. I didn’t take that much painkillers because i was able to deal with the pain without meds (i didn’t had too much pain) so i didn’t really have nausea related to that. But i did throw up a lot.
It really sucks for your daughter, but if her surgery was almost 1 week ago, she’s probably going to feel better soon. As I said, day 10 – not unlike some people who shared their experience here – was my turning point. The next few days will probably suck, but she’s almost there.
She’s not alone and soon it’ll be over!
x
Judy,
I am 19 as well and I got my surgery a week ago just like your daughter. I was able to switch my medication from oxycodone to hydrocodone and get a stronger anti-nausea. Since then, which was two days ago, I have been feeling much better. I no longer have felt sick to my stomach; however, the pain in my throat is still present and will continue to be I’m sure for quite some time. Night times are definitely the worst, as well as mornings due to the phlegm and mucus build up. Good luck to your daughter!
Kody, are you really eating much? Because while the stool softeners do help, if you’re not really eating that makes the constipation. I myself had trouble for near a week until I reached a point to where I had started eating more than maybe half a can of soup a day. And the scabs on your uvula may be there because they might’ve accidentally hit it during the procedure. Also, try drinking something warm to see if that helps the pain. Not hot, but maybe lukewarm like tea or something. I noticed with me that unlike a lot of people on here, a warm shower actually made me feel a lot better and helped with the pain. It’s worth a shot! I hope things start to get better soon. 🙂
Ok if stool softeners are not helping then yes , go to suppositories . It’s the anal approach 🙂 if your above 21 Kody , then reverse my decision — drink 1 beer as it will partially dissolve the scabs…. Which will help . Good luck…
Day 9- finally starting to feel like myself. However, sleeping is horrendous with dry throat. I wish my parents knew how bad this is. Can anyone help describe?
show them this web site—tell them they need to read back 1 month through the posts…
I would describe it as swallowing hot lava then it come running out your ears that have a steak knife plunged in them 🙁
It feels like you have a sock shoved in the back of your throat but its made of steel wool and covered in glass. When you swallow or talk, it feels like someone might as well be in there with a butcher knife slicing back and forth. If your ears feel like mine it feels like someone has a fire poker that’s burning orange hot, starting from inside my mouth then being shoved out through my ears. It’s so painful that every swallow can produce tears or a prayer. Every breathe is suffocated with pain.
I’m on Day 10 and there’s no more pain. I was fortunate enough not to go through what some you guys went through. I never bled or felt nausseous because I tried to take the pain medicine as needed only. One thing I’ll recommend is to drink a lot of cold stuff, hence, popsticles, Nutriment or Sport Shake, and Isopure, which is a liquid protein that will help you get some calories.