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
This is good to hear about the ibuprofen. I’m having my surgery 4/10 and was told Tylenol but I’m planning to take ibuprofen along with the Percocet if need be for swelling. It seems doctors are telling everyone different things about whether it’s ok or not, but I can’t find anything that definitively says its an absolute no go.To me, dealing with the swelling seems crucial.
Beth, I hope your prescription is for Liquid Percocet? You do not want to swallow any pills. I’m on day 5/6 and I’m still taking the ibuprofen and icing my neck. I thought I was able to taper off of everything but I think the hard part is coming up, days 6-10. Yes, I’m going a bit stir crazy but I know it’s worth it and I’m in the final stretch of recovery, I hope.:)
Hey Deide! Like you, I am hoping that I am on the home stretch. The pain is easing up some, but I am so weak from not eating. I thought I could take care of my daughter on my own yesterday but had to call in reinforcements since I was just so exhausted. For those of you who have been through this, when does it start to REALLY get better. I mean when do you start to feel like you eat, drive, talk, etc.like a normal person? I am supposed to go back to work in a week and am beginning to get worried. I am a first grade teacher and will have to talk. Any advice from those of you who have been throught this before?
Stacey,
I had my surgery on March 27th and yesterday was the first time I drove on my own and did some minimal shopping. I am still a bit weak and get tired easily, but it improves everyday. As for talking, I can on talk about a half hour or do nonstop and my throat gets dry and painful. Hope the rest of your recovery goes smoothly!
Hi everyone-
I am almost 4 months post-op and my throat still feels weird. It doesn’t hurt but I can definitely still tell that things are not back to normal in there. How long does it take before you don’t notice that you had surgery? Maybe because I sing/talk for 5+ hours per day as a music teacher it is taking longer to fully heal, but no one ever said it would take this long! I was in about a month ago for bronchitis and the doctor said things are healing nicely but I feel like everything should be healed by now! Is this normal? Anyone else having the same issues this long after surgery?
Stacy, I called my Dr. On Friday about taking ibuprofen(children’s liquid). He said it was fine. When I had my surgery the nurse told me to take ibuprofen in between the pain meds. She said it saved her after her tonsilectomy. I went ahead and did that all week and then after a few emails on here I became concerned that maybeI shouldn’t be taking it so so that’s when I called my Dr. I also googled “ibuprofen after a tonsilectomy” and the information said it does not cause bleeding. It has defiantly helped keep my swelling down.
I have found that today is my most painful day. I have been pain free all week and now I’m feeling a bit of pain. Thank god it’s not excruciating.
I am more than two weeks out from surgery and still find it comforting to apply a freezer gel pack (wrapped in a bandit wipe) to my neck for comfort. I bought two gel packs, about 4 inches by 10 inches, at a medical supply store. I hold it in place with a soft collar, like for whiplash. I think it helps me not to mouth breathe. This morning I woke up all dried out and in pain again. Tincture of Time I guess!
Hello all. I really need your help! I am a 32 yr. old female and I had my tonsils out on Monday of last week. I am starting to get really down. I am still in pain and can’t swallow or eat without it being a test of the wills. I thought I was getting better and yesterday I even ate part of a jr. breakfast burrito from Sonic, but then last night the pain got really severe. I feel like my throat is closing up and I am coughing too. I also feel alot of congestion in my head. Is this normal? Could I be getting a sinus infection too? I am drinking a lot and have a humidifier running. I down popsicles like they are going out of style and am taking my meds. Is there anything else I can do? My daughter who normally goes to pre-school is on Spring Break next week and I am so worried about being able to take care of her and still being on pain meds. I just want this all to be over! Those of you who have been through this, when does it get better? I want to talk to my child again! I am supposed to go back to teaching next Monday (in 1 more week) and am getting nervous about it. Teachers who have had this done– when did you go back? I am sorry to unload, but no one else understands. My family has been terrific but I know they are working overtime to take care of my workload as well. I am so thankful for this site and the ability to vent.
Hi Stacy,
Are you icing your neck? How often are you taking your pain meds? What did they give you? My Dr. said to take ibuprofen or Aleve in between taking the pain meds. It has helped me a lot. I also have ice packs on my neck through out the day. You might want to blend some ice cubes and suck on those for a while. I’m so sorry you’re not doing well. I had my tonsils out Tues. after you. I’ve been eating baby food everyday and that has been easy to get down.
You need to take it one day at a time. I would see about calling in a sitter to help you while your daughter is on spring break. You need to focus on healing and resting.
You can vent all you want. I hope someone else can chime in and give you advice too.
Good luck!
Thanks! After my intial vent this morning things seemed to ease up a bit. I even at 2 popsicles an some pudding. Maybe I just needed to get up and get going some. Can I take ibprofren? I am worried about the bleeding. Also, do you have the cough too?
Hi Stacey-
I am a 33 year old music teacher and had mine out in December. I took 2 weeks off plus Christmas break (3 weeks total) and still only did half days my first week back…I didn’t have the energy to keep up with the little kiddos and my throat hurt after talking/singing for one hour! It got better each day, but was a hard transition to go back. Ibuprofen definitely helped me IMMENSELY, it takes the swelling down and makes it so much easier to eat and drink. I had problems taking the pain meds, so I did a tylenol/ibuprofen rotation only (no pain meds) starting on day 3. A lot of people worry about taking ibuprofen, but my ENT suggested it, as did the pharmacist, so I trusted them. My throat hurt a lot without the pain meds, but at least I felt human. That and eating soft-boiled eggs…gives you protein so you aren’t starving and tired. Good luck!