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
So day one post tonsillectomy. Had a bit of a bleed so ended up going back to theatre twice in one day. Having taken all the advice from this website pain is very manageable but my mouth, throat and nose are so dry. I have been chewing gum, drinking iced water constantly but it’s getting worse and worse. Any tips?
I wet washcloth, wrung it out, and wore a surgical mask to hold the washcloth in place over my nose and mouth. Plus, I drank a 16oz bottle of water every hour for the first three days, and used a mask nebulizer type machine I found on Amazon four or more times a day. Try not to sleep or breathe through your mouth, just your nose. I also was taking a tablespoon of Honey and an ounce of aloe Vera gel four times a day and Shea butter for my lips.
Thanks Michelle, I have drunk a little slush ice water every hour but I think I’ll increase it substantially if I can reading this. My surgeon said chewing gum and even better chewing meat would really help. I have chewed gum continuously but surprisingly tried some lasagne and garlic bread last night which was impossible to chew without water.. It really helped. Slept through meds this morning do I’m a bit sore but going to try a little chicken Kiev this evening….garlic is a good antiseptic and garlic butter really helps get the saliva gland on the go.
Debra – Google search Thermal Welding Tonsillectomy. About a 5 day recovery on average. Usually no need for narcotics. Recovery is more like a bad sore throat. It has been around for awhile and although none o these are ever “painless” it has been said to be a much easier recovery. JRR
I am 57, we are now 95% sure I don’t have throat cancer (I presented with unilateral tonsillitis over many months), my surgeon says I cannot keep my tonsils. I am neutropenic, surgery is a bit scary but I have an excellent surgeon. My surgery was cancelled and Im glad I found this. I had prepared with 8 paracetamol and thinking id be able to do my xmas shopping about day 7. So my first question is does anyone have a recommendation on de-humidifyers? and my second does anyone have a recommendation on pain control. Pain is debilitating and while i almost never take painkillers i believe getting the right ones is important.
De-humidifyers ? Surely you mean humidifier ??? Honeywell HCM-350, Sunpentown SU-9210, SPT SU-4010 or the Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier are all nice, all available on Amazon.
Painkillers –> ask your doctor, but paracetamol won’t cut it, you need real painkillers… Prescription only.
I’m a twenty one year old female, and I am going on my fourth bout of tonsillitis in 8 weeks. It comes, lasts between 6 days and 2 weeks, disappears, and sure enough it returns! I have an appointment booked with an ENT for one month from now, and I assuming I will need my tonsils removed. I’ve suffered from strep, so severe it turned into scarlett fever, and this time around I have had a sore throat since July 27, (September 10th today), at times also affecting my lingual tonsils. I have had tonsils stones since I can remember. The doctor a few weeks ago told me I have extremely cryptic tonsils, which I do. So filled with holes it is gross. With my tonsillitis they don’t tend to swell as much, instead the holes get bigger and there are more. The doc said because of this the infection will keep coming back. Unfortunately, I, at times, get health anxiety and only the worst thoughts fill my head. P.S. to anyone else who gets health anxiety, the internet is an inaccurate and terrible place. Basically I have AIDS or cancer or something that will kill me. I have been handling the anxiety pretty well, I am young and very healthy, and I know that this is chronic tonsillitis. It is not my inability to fight the infection, it is the tonsils themselves. I am very happy to have found this site because the thought of surgery is a bit nerve racking, after hearing the stories. At the end of the day though I would much rather have them removed. Thanks for the support.
My story sounds a lot like yours. I’m now 2 months post op and so happy I did it. One great thing is you’ll have more energy everyday since your body won’t be worn down from chronic infections anymore. People keep commenting on how i look healthier and seem more energetic and happy. Tonsil free life is great 🙂 good luck!
From day 1-5 after my tonsillectomy I was doing great, eating a little, dealing with the pain but the night of day 5 I started to have some light bleeding for about an hour, and when I woke up about 6 am it was the worst pain in the world so bad that I couldn’t take a sip of water. About 7am I went to the hospital where they gave me pain meds through a needle after that I was givin saline and anti Nausea meds. I strongly advise that if you need to go to the hospital that you do so. When I got home I was able to being drinking again