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
Deide, thank you for your kind words! I’m so very happy for you that things are going so well so far! Have you felt like the pain meds are keeping things manageable? What did they give you? I have a prescription for liquid Percocet (no Tylenol component just straight Percocet) and I can add liquid Tylenol as needed.
How has sleeping been for you? Are you sleeping upright? Are you waking a lot to drink?
Again, so glad you’re doing well. 🙂
I haven’t posted in a couple of days. Forgive any misspellings — i just took my meds. I am a 32 yr. old female/teacher. I had my tonsils out on Monday and am now 3 days post-op. The pain is still pretty bad but is beginning to be manageable with the meds. I actually ate something other than a popsicle last night (mushed up rice) and it never tasted so good! I could not chew it but something not sweet tasted so good. Do you have any suggestions other than jello and pudding? I have heard people posting about scabs starting to form, etc. How do you know if you don’t look? I have begun to cough a lot too — is this normal? Anyway… the pain seems to be getting better. Is this the calm before the storm or should I expect a setback? This website is amazing. Thanks everyone.
Stacy, I had my surgery Tuesday morning and so far I feel great. I had mashed potatoes last night and some scrambled egg whites. Today I made pancakes made from protein powder and eggs whites. I cut them up into baby pieces and ate them with maple syrup. I also stocked up on organic baby food. My favorite one is the oatmeal with banana or blueberry. I hope this gives you more food ideas.
Deide – I’m scheduled for April 10th.
Beth, it’s much easier than than I thought it was going to be. I was prepared for the worst and hoping for better than the worst. I highly recommend icing your neck on the way home from your surgery. I think that helped me a lot and I’m still icing it throughout the day.
I was so scared to have this surgery and go through 2 weeks of hell that I wanted to cancel it. My husband wouldn’t let me. I went into it with ear and tonsil pain. My ear pain has been a constant since Thanksgiving. So far I’ve had minimal ear pain and I’m hoping the constant infection in my tonsil will be gone soon.
If you have any questions before or after, ask away. I know I’m only on my 3 rd day post op but everything I learned came from this website. My girlfriend came by today and she was surprised I could talk. good luck. Praying for an easy recovery for you.
I also wanted to add that although the recovery can have it’s hard moments, it’s totally worth it. After reading the posts here I was scared half to death but it didn’t turn out to be as bad as I anticipated. My first week was pretty easy. Had some ear pain, etc. during days 8-14 but simply called the dr. and got stronger pain meds. Tomorrow will be day 21 and I am completely recovered and loving my new mouth! 🙂 Stay strong.
I had my tonsils out on march 22nd. this really sucks. Ill be honest. I had one of the best surgeons in iowa for tonsillectomy. But being a red head, I had to go from recovery back into OR to get coterized after vomiting 2 quarts of blood and ripping off the scab. They all told me that red heads had a bleeding issues and it been 3 years since this surgeon had had to send someone back to OR. By day 6 pudding and jello have become my best friend. Waking up every morning not able to move my mouth and feeling like a swallowed a lit match, I am ready for this to be over. I’m about out of antibiotics and pain meds. I have a fallow up appointment tomorrow and a little nervous. I dread coughing or sneezing, because of the pain it would cause. Just looking for some tip and dealing with the pain if anyone has some.
Thanks
Jason