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
My Dr. said ibuprofen was fine and I could alternate it with Aleve if I wanted to.
I meant does not dies.
Two weeks out, I am sleeping upright on the couch. I woke up to what I thought was saliva collecting in my throat, well if course it wasn’t, it was blood! What is next!!!!! I’m sitting here with ice packs to my throat, trying to drink ice water which if you all remember, I am having difficulty with my swallowing. It seems to be slowing a bit! Scary though! I don’t want to wake my husband, this will maker him freak out!!! What is going to happen next!!!!!
Well it seems as though the bleeding has finally stopped! I am exhausted but afraid to go to sleep. Ugh!
Beth, I forgot to answer your question about sleeping upright. I’m sleeping on a little bit of an angle. I just have two pillows that I use. I cannot sleep in an upright position all night & I only had to do this for the first 3 nights.
Beth, my prescription is Oxycodone and some anti nausea pills that are tiny and you take a half every 8 hours. I take the pain meds every 4 hours. It come in a bottle with a dropper and I’m taking the minimal amount which is .25. I can take up to .50 but I haven’t needed to. I’m also taking children’s ibuprofen in between my pain meds so I’m taking something every 2 hours and drinking water as much as i can get down . I’m getting some sleep at night. Not a lot because I have my alarm set for every 2 hours. I typed out my schedule for 24hours and that way I or my husband will know what to take at the appropriate hour. It has helped a lot. The other morning I woke up at 4 and didn’t know what I was supposed to take. I was able to check my print out and take the right thing. Yes, the pain medicine is keeping the pain to a minimal. This morning I took less than I should have and I could feel the difference.
Everything I’ve read and been told says no ibuprofen for at least two weeks after surgery as it heightens the risk or bleeding. Just be careful Deide!
Christy, I just googled ibuprofen after a tonsilectomy and everything I read said that it dies not contribute to heavy bleeding. I think I’ll call my Dr. today and see what he has to say. I went with my nurse’s recommendation and never checked with the Dr. It has helped in between my pain medicine. I’ve skipped a few doses and end up in pain with an hour left before I can take my pain meds.
Deide – let us know what your doctor says. I am really curious. I was told Tylenol afterwards (and the prescrip med) but from what I’ve read (like yourself), the risk of Advil/Motrin causing additional bleeding is very, very small and it seems like there are others who have been told it’s okay to take it. I’m planning on just the Tylenol unless I get the okay. I can’t help but think, though, that if I end up
having significant swelling, it would be better to take Advil since Tylenol does zero for inflammation. Let us know what you find out!
Take the ibuprofen! My ENT and pharmacist suggested it for me and it was honestly the best thing that I ever did during my recovery. I realize everyone heals differently, so it might not be the best for everyone, but it took down the swelling so I could actually take a drink of water, not just tiny sips.