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
hi, had operation on the 5th, now can’t eat at all, i feel to vomit and scared alone at home
Get somebody to stay with you – and if not stay, at least pay you a visit, bring you some anti-nausea meds and bring your spirits up. Also, a visitor will be likely to make you eat something no matter how much it hurts (i had my mum force me eat mashed potatoes that kept coming out of my nose. Gross, but helped eventually).
Don’t force your way through it alone 🙂
Fingers crossed for less pain soon. Keep hudrated. We all can do it:-)
You need synthetic opioids…
Hi,
I’m a female aged 20 on day 2 post op and the pain is going from bad to worse. I try to drink as much as I can yet it hurts me to tears. As I am still in the hospital, i keep getting IV pain relief but it only makes the pain more bearable for no longer than two hours. I will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow and I fear what’s going to happen as soon as I stop getting the hardcore pain killers. I also fear day 5.
Do you have any tips that could spare me some of the pain? (I did try being less of a sissy but it’s not working). Also, what are the effective chemicals that are most pain relieving? I don’t know your meds as I’m Czech.
Thank for any help from my fellowmen in despair
Rozalie
On day 11 and found drinking LOADS of ice cold water helped before the scabs came off and warm water helped when the scabs were off. Try to eat toast as this keeps the wounds clean. I also found that after I had had some toast the pain had eased a little. Keep on top of your pain meds and sounds silly but keep brushing your teeth as this will keep all the germs and food away from the healing wounds. Main thing is to stay hydrated and keep positive! Good luck!
Thanks a lot. I believe you didn’t actually toast the toast bread, right?:-)
So far it is manageable. Keep fingers crossed for my days 5/6. Hope you’ll be back to normal in no time!
Rozalie
Ahoj, tady Karolina, napíšu ti česky- já byla na mandlích 14.1., ano, je to hnus 🙂 ráda ti s čímkoliv pomůžu. já měla den po propuštění komplikace, musela jsem na pohotovost kvůli zánětu a na bolest mi dali Tramal. Ten je děsně silnej, byla jsem zfetovaná, ale nebolelo. Jinak v nemocnici nám dávali kapky Algifen, ten jsem pak brala i doma a stačil. IV jsem si nechala vyndat druhý den, protože mě nebavilo, Algifen stačil… Dej si ho vážně tolik, kolik můžeš, nešiď se- funguje to dobře. Bohužel, bolest stejně bude pořád, jenom ne nesnesitelná. Na noc doporučuji zvlhčovač nebo mokré hadry přes topení:) Přeju hodně síly a rychlé zotavení 🙂
Díky moc, Češku jsem tu nečekala 🙂
Tak to jsem dostala stejny medikamenty, nejdriv tramal a ted algifen. Peklo je to porad… Snad uz to nebude trvat dlouho.
Muzu se zeptat, kdyz uz v tom jsme, jestli jsi taky naprosto ztratila schopnost verbální komunikace? Uz týden nemluvím… Vůbec. A uz me to nebaví…
Díky a doufám, ze po tak dlouhý době uz odeznely opravdu všechny pooperační nepříjemnosti 🙂
My procedure will be April 18th. Had to delay bc of work requirements. I’m 35 with 3 kids – 2, 7, & 12. I don’t know how I’ll get thru this. Really scared. More scared than labor, lasik, or foot surgery. But I can’t go through being sick and fatigued all the time. I’ve felt horrible with throat infections and stones since before Christmas. Quality of life has sucked for too long.
My advice is to line up lots of help, some for you but mostly for your children. I am on day 6 with a 9 month old (who is still breastfeeding). I wish more than anything I could take this surgery back right now. I have had chronic strep and sinus problems so I wholly believe it will be worth it in the end but it is way harder than I expected. My husband has had his hands full with our son and me but my mom has really saved our lives. If someone can stay with you or your kids can go stay with relatives that would be a big help. I do not mean to scare you but please do not think you can do it all right away. I had high expectations to be back to normal life by day 5 and the disappointment is tough. Good luck to you!
I am having my surgery at the beginning of June. I am very scared also! But like you, I am so tired of being sick and not being able to live my life the way I should be! I am a teacher, so I will have the summer to heal, but I am so worried. I am so relieved to read these stories, because it makes me know that I am not alone!
Good luck as i chickened out twice already and am awaiting surgery july 22 now. Im a mom of two tonsil stones and infections im tired of this and scared good luck. Hope all goes well
Thanks for the tips! I met with the ENT, he is great and has calmed my nerves! I am so ready to have this done, I am sick of being sick and being on antibiotics. I am on the last one as i now have strep again, the ENT said I have kissing tonsils! I am ready for him to get them out! Not a great way to start summer vacation, but at this point i can deal with the pain for a few then being sick over andf over. I do have a strong stomach and have someone that is staying with me, getting smoothie and other things i can eat from the ENT on my pre op visit. Sadly i have to wait til june when i am off my school job for the summer, I am sure if i have any questions i will be posting again! The tips are great , makes this a little less scary!!!
I am 46 and am scheduled on3/12. Pretty neurvouse at the moment but ready to get this show on the road
Hi i am 54 years old & i am on day 6 with my tonsils coming out ..I am not gonna lie & tell you its a piece of cake because its not but it really so far hasn’t been as bad as i was expecting either.. I have been sticking to ice pops the good ones like starbursts , jello, applesauce lots & lots of ice chips & ice water .. That was the first three days since then i now have like eggs , soft pancakes, baby food , lots of ice cold juices & things like soft packed fruit cups that i can chew down pretty soft … The most important thing is to make sure you take the medicine set your alarm clocks for the time specified for each one & take them on time ….The most important thing that i found is the medicine makes you very sick feeling so i picked up this medicine emetrol for nasuea it works great i would definately put this on the to do list of picking up things its over the counter in any drug store…