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 am looking into having a T & A done.
I am 40 years old and I am sick and tired of being SICK AND TIRED!!!
I guess my main question is, For all of you that say the pain brings you to tears…..
What is your normal level of pain tolerance?
I have a high threshold of pain so…I was wondering if the ones with massive pain can take normal pain or not!!!
Okay, that avatar is SO me!!! LOL
I am 28 and im a mechanic. I often cut, scrap burn and smash my hand. I like to think i have a pretty high pain tolerance. I had my tonsils out on the 11th. I still am taking percocet EVERY 4 hours, the pain is unbelivable. Plan to loose 10 to 15 lbs as well.
I have a decent threshold for pain, and I will say it was pretty rough, but if you stay hydrated, throat moist and take your meds as prescribed you can make it through it. Somedays I felt decent, someways I felt like crying and sometimes hour by hour I felt good to bad. I had to have refills called in on the meds, and was on them every 4 to 6 hours for the first 2 weeks, once I returned to work I started cutting back and within 3 weeks was able to stop taking them. Some people I’ve read we’re able to quit taking a few days into the surgery, but I was not that person, and I didnt see the point in being in pain, when i had soething to help, but to each his own. Hot tea, homemade slushies and pedialyte popsycles were my savior and as painful as it was I forced myself to drink and stay hydrated. Honestly I was eating bread by day 2, might not have been the best idea, but I was starving! Tomato based soup is not your friend though! First 4 wks or so stay away from high acid it feels like swallowing broken glass!
Hi Zita. I am also 42 and thinking about having this surgery this summer. As I sit here and type this, my throat feels like I have another case of something coming on. I am so sick of being sick! But I am so scared to do it! I think I’m ready and then I have second thoughts. I would love to hear more positive stories also, but I’m thinking there aren’t many! 🙁 But if I could be guaranteed great results for the future, I think I would do it in a heartbeat. Wish I could see into the future and know that I will be healthier! Hope you find your answers and make the decision that is best for you!
Beth, there are a lot of great stories on this forum. I am one of them. I had my surgery a year ago and I had a very easy recovery and a positive experience all the way around. I was scared to death to have it done at the time since I am 47 and had never had surgery in my life. It was well worth it. No more sore throats, ear infections or tonsil stones.
Just do it!
I hope this helps.
I am 50 and on day 12. I stopped pain killers on day 8. It was very painful but bearable. I forced myself to eat and drink right from day one, and I think that helped. Just be smart and only eat soon after you pop your pills, iced water for first few days then room temp. Day 5 was the peak pain day but I was amazed how much better day 6 was. I would do it again! Good luck!
Yes! Very worth it. I went back to work on day 10. Day 22 right now and my holes have mostly filled in and the only pain I have is a little when I yawn. It’s not fun, but was worth it for chronic tonsil stones, in my case.
Hi everyone. I am contemplating having surgery myself, and find this website quite helpful…. I think! It seems that most are in lots of pain, and many are having difficulties. My question is: is there anyone out there that is pleased that they’ve have the tonsillectomy? Has it been a good thing for you? I need validation for this, because it is an elective surgery. Seems not many post if there have been few problems. Need to know if everyone has great challenges, or if it just so happens to be those that post that need an outlet. I am a 42 yr old female, so I do know that being older is not a positive in this case. Please respond if you have answers. Thanks!
Zits, I think most people will tell you it’s worth it. I’m coming up on 1 year from having my surgery and I had a great experience with recovery and it was well worth it. I should have done it a long time ago. You didn’t mention why you are having the surgery. I would highly recommend it. As long as you do everything you’re supposed to do, ie; drink tons of water, take pain meds on time, etc… You will get through it.
those with only few problems after the surgery don’t have many reasons to post here, whereas those with complications will seek support, so it makes sense there’s more comments about post-op troubles.
To me, it feels that people underestimate tonsillectomy and think it’s just a breeze because kids recover from it quickly. Well, it’s not – I did have a piece of my body taken out and that was never going to be pain-free. My dad wouldn’t go for a hip knuckle removal expecting he would go for a run a week afterwards, yet people seem to assume that having tonsils removed would just somehow be alright (maybe a bit of an extreme example but i didn’t want to give an example of a surgery i know nothing about 🙂
So, if you have a good reason to do it, go for it. I’m still recovering but I’m convinced it will be worth it on the long run as the surgery was a necessity for me. If your tonsils are making your life suck, this is the way out 🙂
My tonsilis were removed 2 days back and currently i am not taking any painkillers. I am discharge from hospital 12 hrs after the surgery. I was so wondering how i will feel home, because i can’t take the pain killer tablets (not able take because of pain 🙁 ) but after 2 days now i am feeling quite good. I am able to drink cold water, Ice cream, papaya, Dalia and soft fruit. I am requesting don’t use too much of pain killers. I am still feeling pain but hope this will finish by 1-2 days.
Had my removed on 3-5-13….and here it is 10 days later and I can’t taste a darn thing! I took all my painkillers as I was told, and drink 3qty if 32oz of water a day and then some! Scabs are coming off slow…at 2 day was put back in hopsital b/c of bleeding…then just home feeling worse after the dictor had his tools and hand all up in my mouth trying to locate the bleeding…2 storid shots later…swallowing is still painful!
Sleeping at night is hard b/c inside of mouth now always feels dry…even with having a deink of water afterwards…I dont know if thats b/c scans are coming off or what??? I hate this but I had to have them removed b/c of something growing on one of them, and they were very inlarged. Only good thing is that I found out I dont have cancer!! Which I’m greatful for but this has really been a huge issue!
Believe me when I say what you are going through is normal. My 23 year old daughter still is unable to revive her taste buds. They say this was due to the anesthesia. Not sure how true that is, but her appetite is coming back, but she said nothing tastes right. She has lost 15lbs and she is on day 13. Hang in there and keep hydrating. I have never had this type of surgery, but glad I could see my daughter through hers. I could not have done it without this forum! You all were such a great resource!