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
Hey everyone! So, I haven’t been on here for awhile… but I would like all of you who are just starting out your recovery that this gets WAY easier! I am over a month out since my surgery now and it was well worth it let me tell you! I have completely recovered… AND no more strep or tonsil stones. ick! I know it seems like forever till the healing process will be done with so ya’ll can eat normal foods but it goes by so fast.:) This website was a tremendous help to me and reassured me when I thought I was going to die. Just remember… DRINK cold liquids, EAT soft foods, be PUNCTUAL with medications, SLEEP, and keep a humidifier close by.:D ya’ll will be just fine. Sending out good vibes to everyone out there recovering!
Hi guys!
So I need some advice. I had my tonsils out on Feb. 29th I had an active infection when they took them out and they had to double carterize (sp?) and do a hemastatic coating. It was a very tough 3 weeks after my surgery. Vomiting, ER visits, crazy high liver enzymes and like 10 blood tests later I was feeling back to “normal.” So, I had not sneezed since the surgery, because I was afraid of the pain…until last week. When the sneezes catch me off guard they were fine…no pain. But when I feel a sneeze coming on and let it happen I am in a lot of pain!! Its a weird pain in like my sinuses/throat. It brings tears to my eyes..kind of like when you get hit in the nose. I wanted to find out if anyone else has had or is having these issues and if it is normal? Im freaking out and with my allergies being bad right now its hard to hold sneezes back…lol and I just want to make sure everything is ok. I have called my ENT but he isnt the greatest when it comes to things like this…horrible bedside manner :/ wish I had known this before the surgery.
Thanks!!!
-Jessy
(Not sure if it matters but I am 25yrs old)
Well, I’m getting ready to head to the hospital for my surgery. It’s hard to stay positive and think about the future when you have to go through 2 weeks of pain and misery. I’m just hoping that my story will be one with no complications and minimal pain. Wish me Luck.
Good Luck!! Sonic ice-chips are now my new best friends. Have your family stock up on them for you. Go ahead and ask for nausea meds. They help. They gave me phenagrin (sp?) that can be rubbed on your wrist. So helpful! Good luck. We can recover together.
In recovery. All went well. Now the fun begins…
Just got home from surgery. In bed with Sonic ice chips. The nurse suggested we go there too. If the pain stays like this for 10 days, I can sail though the recovery. My fingers are crossed!
I forgot to sign my name for the last post. Must be the drugs.
glad to see surgery went well for you. Ill tell you the truth, the third or fourth days may be the worst, Main thing is to stay calm. Hope all is well for you.
Hello all! I have been visiting here for a while in my preperation for tonsil surgery but have never posted. I had my tonsils out yesterday due to repeated strep (11 times last year, 3 since January) and this is pretty horrible. I can keeping my meds every 4 hours -liquid loratab – and am drinking like crazy when I can. If day one and 2 are the easy days I am not sure if I can make it! My husband and mom have been wonderful. However, this really hurts! When can I eat or sip something? I am so hungry but can barely swallow the meds. Any suggestions? Brighten my spirits please!!
Stacy, My heart goes out to you. I know its easier said than done but suck on ice chips. I’ve told me husband that he needs to be my cheerleader when I don’t have the energy to drink water or eat. He has been told to force me to stay hydrated in case I can’t motivate my self.
Just remember that this is a recovery phase. It will be over soon.
36 yr old Male, Final update for me for a bit, but I wanted to give those who are in the thick of things now, some hope. I am 30 days post op and things continue to get better every day…I had a 3 week post op check up last week and it was a bit sad, as my Doctor told me to have a great life and that I didn’t need to see him again…But not that sad! I am glad those tonsils are gone!
I still have a little soreness at times on one side, the side where my doctor told me I had serius tonsil stone issues (“the worst he has ever seen”) and major crevises…There is still a little white film on both sides, but it gets less and less every day. My taste is still off a bit, but improving. In my 3 week post op appt I asked if there was still a chance of a major bleed and my doctor told me no, that the chance drastically diminishes at Day 14. Quick recap for the newer people on here: After the surgery, I was put on Steriods for 7 days, Antibiotics (Augmentin), Hydrocodone and beta blockers to keep me from freaking out…All worked great for me. The pain was horrific through Day 9, and on day 2 my doctor told me to cut the time between my taking hydrocodone down by a half hour to 3.5 hours instead of 4. The last hour before the medication was always the worst, so that loss of 30 minutes really helped. I slept with a neck pillow and humidifier (thanks for the advice, Greg). I set my alarm for every 3.5 hours, even in the middle of the night, to not miss a dosage of my Hydrocodone. I drank GALLONS of ice water a day until day 14. Things turned the corner on day 10 for sure…I went back to work on Day 14, which was too early for me…I should have waited until Day 21 or at least a few more days past 14…I was exhausted and still sore…I didnt eat anything solid until Day 18 though, and I rapidly increased the food I ate through Day 25 and now I am eating everything normally. Best advice my doctor gave me was not to worry about eating anything until Day 5 or 6 and to just focus on staying hydrated with Ice water or any other liquid I could take (besides dairy). At about day 7 I had a blood clot that didnt bleed, but it dissapeared in one day as I drank ice water and avoided anything solid to eat, my doctor saw it on the 1 week follow up and said to watch it, but there was nothing to do unless it started to bleed…I felt nauseated from the meds and on day 4 I almost threw up but was saved when I was prescribed a Promethazine supository (couldnt swallow anything hard)…it worked immediately. I am off to Florida for vacation tomorrow and 4 weeks ago I didnt think I was going to make it to this day! Everyone who is going through it now, know that it does get better and by day 10 you will see the light…Don’t over do it…Don’t try to eat too much, focus on Jello and Cream of wheat (cooled) and things like that until Day 10…Take this time to watch some bad TV or read a book, you may never get time to do nothing again! Good luck and thanks again, Greg, for setting this site up.
Hooray Kerry!!!
What a great post. Thank you and please stay in touch.
Hi Kerry,
Thanks for your input. I go in for my tonsilectomy tomorrow and I’m a little nervous about it. I have never had surgery before or pain meds of any kind. I’m 47 years old and wondering why I have scheduled this surgery. Well, it’s not like I had a choice. Sore throats and ear infections are out of control. Your input and Greg’s website gives me hope. I’m preparing for PAIN but hoping for an easy recovery. I’ll keep you posted with my recovery.