Tonsillectomy Recovery Day 11 and Beyond

Tonsillectomy Recovery after Day Eleven

 

At some point I hope to add pages for day 12, day 13, day 14, day 15, day 16, and another page for days 17,18,19, and 20.  For now, please share your tonsillectomy recovery experiences here.  I wish you the very best of health!



  1. ty
    Hey. Its me again. Had the surgery last week and OMG! The worst days of my life. I will make it but geeze!! This sucks bad. I had to read your comments again because I began to get depressed, lol. Im driving my husband and doctor crazy by keep asking them how long will this last. Its good hearing from someone that understands the process and pain. Your experiences are helping me through girl. Thanks again:)

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    1. Kate
      Horrible flashbacks reading your message Ty! I have just returned from a business trip, meeting lots of new people, and I didn’t have to worry about my breath: so liberating and confidence building. I discovered that one of my colleagues had her tonsils removed 2 years ago – when I happened to mention that I was just a few weeks on from my operation, she gave me a big bear hug because she could empathise with my more recent experience. You WILL eat, sleep and enjoy life again – I promise! Stay positive: you made the right decision.

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  2. Kate
    I am now four weeks post surgery (in the UK), and life is good! I had a tonsillectomy due to tonsil stones (I had small, pitted tonsils, and was unable to remove the stones myself, whatever method I tried) – private medical insurance and a past history of throat infections helped get me the surgery. I knew it was a drastic option, but I was prepared to do ANYTHING to solve my bad breath problems. I did nearly cancel when I read this forum the day before surgery though! But I didn’t, and I survived, and my tonsil stones and bad breath are finally GONE!Having found this forum so much help during the dark days post-surgery, I wanted to share my experience/what helped me. If you are about to have surgery, or are still in recovery, I can promise you it will get SO much better in a few days – hang in there!1. Don’t plan ANYTHING for the two weeks post surgery – and make sure you book at least two weeks off work. Days 5 – 8 were the worst for me, although in total I had about 10 days of constant pain/medication and sleep deprivation.
    2. I cried A LOT on day one – a mixture of the anesthesia/trauma, relief at getting through surgery, and pain! I had one night in hospital.
    3. Sucking on crushed ice helps a lot – make sure you have some in stock. I did not use a humidifier – we didn’t want to pump damp air into our bedroom!
    4. Take as much pain medication as you can – I used Tramadol, ibuprofen and paracetamol – you will not get addicted, and you WILL need them. But keep a drug diary so you can recall what drugs you took and when – you will not remember!
    5. Sleeping with my face/throat on a hot water bottle helped me a lot in days 5+: your throat muscles tighten up in response to the surgery, and I think this helped relax me a little
    6. The nights were the worst, as I would wake up in a lot of pain and then struggle to swallow more medication/get back to sleep. Listening to the radio really helped get me through the dark, lonely hours. My husband moved into the spare bed for the first 10 days, to ensure he could get some sleep and I could thrash around the bed as much as I needed to get comfortable!
    7. In the UK we are advised to eat rough food e.g. toast when we can. I did manage this a couple of times, but I mostly lived on soup (no bread!), fish in sauce (you can buy this frozen in handy microwaveable pouches), yogurt, porridge and hot chocolate. I tried making smoothies but the fruit was too acidic and hurt my throat. There were a couple of days when I could not face eating anything due to the pain. I did not get constipated, and I did not lose much weight – because I spent two weeks resting, and most of what I DID eat was high calorie!
    8. You will be too tired to read much – have a good set of DVDs on standby
    9. I did not have any bleeding. I felt so ill that completely resting in the first week was an easy option – and I made sure I had someone on call in the first few days, just in case
    10. I was able to speak on all days, although about half an hour of conversation was enough
    11. I went for my first short walk one week after surgery. Four weeks on, I am now exercising as normal – running, swimming and pilates.
    12. I stopped regular pain relief on about day 15, having gradually cut down on what I was taking.
    13. I gradually re-introduced different types of food after two weeks. I still have a sticky feeling in the back of my throat, which I expect to disappear over the coming weeks.My tonsillectomy recovery was the worst 10 days of my life. But ridding myself of tonsil stones is one of the best things I ever did!

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    1. Ty
      Thank you for sharing. I also have tonsil stones and thought I may be going to far getting surgery to remove them. I’m a married woman and nothing’s is more damaging to a marriage than insecurity. TMI, I know just wanted to say thanks for sharing your experience. I’m going forwadr with the surgery.

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      1. Kate
        I am also married (and 47 – forgot that bit!) and would not even discuss the problem with my husband. So I feel your insecurity! It will hurt a lot – stay focused on the goal and remember that in a few days you will be much better, and also liberated!

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  3. Ellen Howard
    Day 9 of my recovery.I’m not sure how relevant this will be to anyone because I’m not entirely sure how common it is. I’m just turned 18 and have been having a lot of problems with my tonsils for the best part of three years. One thing I always found when digging out those god awful tonsil stones was that my tonsils were extremely prone to bleeding – something my ENT surgeon also found out on the day of the op!He said no one in his experience had bled that much in a tonsillectomy procedure in years. I had to be stitched right up on my right side and let me tell you, we all know how sore recovery is without stitches right? Imagine being wheeled out of theatre with those bad boys in you. It’s been sore, for the first few days it was the actual space at the top of the back of my throat that was painful and white and scabby. I was throwing up old blood so frequently (and a lot of it might I add) that I couldnt keep anything down; not food, not painkillers. It was awful.But I powered through and ate as much as I could, despite the pain, because I thought ‘you know what I’ve put up with enough sh*t from my tonsils this time I’m gonna show ‘em what I’m made of!’ And after about day three or four the pain subsided from my tonsil bed area and is now a horrible stingy/achy feeling further down my throat, which apparently is due to the whole stitching procedure, I guess a lot of tubes were bumped around in this process and it’s seriously bruised me inside. I find the pain really hits me at night and I’m starting to get severe earaches to accompany that, which is nice! My co-codamol painkillers ran out days ago so I’m going strong on paracetamol and Diclofenac.

    I hope everyone else is managing to power through! Just think of all the tonsillitus and nasty tonsil stones that you’re gonna get to avoid for the rest of your life! Remember, at most this recovery process is going to take 17-20 days, which in perspective, is more than worth it to be tonsil free!

    Stay safe xxx

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  4. Lindsey
    I am a 24 year old female, I had my tonsils removed on July 23. I had my tonsils removed due to horrid tonsil stones. Let me start off by saying DRINK WATER NO MATTER HOW BAD IT HURTS!!!! Day 1: after procedure you’re so loopy from meds it flys by. I was offered a blue slushing and teddy Graham’s. 8 bags of teddy Graham’s later I am ready to keave!! After surgery I even had McDonald’s I don’t even remember eating it. Throat was numb all day long. I received percocet 5mg. All you will want to do is sleep. Have someone wake you up to drink and take meds!!Day 2: pain was still tolerable I started taking the pain medication every 4 hours so the pain doesn’t get out of control. I was eating mash potatoes ( the pre made bob Evans kind was the smoothest), I noticed ice cold water stung my throat so room temperature worked. I was drinking every 20 mins to keep the throat moist. Sleeping was horrible, I ended up sleeping on couch so my head would be propped up. Waking up every 45 mins to sip water, you get no sleep at all. I didn’t want my throat to dry out because it is so painful. I set my alarm every 4 hours so I would take my medicine.Day 3,4,5: Worst days ever! Extreme pain 10/10, that pain medicine didn’t help! Ear pain started kicking in. I had ice constantly on my throat to keep swelling down. Scabs were formed in back of throat very thick. Drinking water was a task. Everytime I swallowed felt like razorblades. I had to force myself to eat. Ended up getting a blood clot on my left tonsil on day5 and started bleeding. On call dr told me to drink ice cold water and it helped. Woke up after and blood clot resolved on its own. I was having mini hot flashes all day.Day 6: I felt like a new person. Pain was a 6/10. I was eating drinking taking my neds around the clock

    Day 7,8,9: scabs started falling off day 7. It feels like something is caught in back of throat when them fall off. Throat is very sensitive after they fall off that any liquid or food stings the throat. I have bumped my meds down to 1 pill every 4 hours instead of 2 pills. Sleeping longer through the night.

    Day 10 and on: pain has started to be controlled with Motrin. I feel 100% better!! I am starting to eat solid foods. I had PBJ sandwhich and it was easy to go down. I feel back to my normal self. Throat still hurts but just like it would as a sore throat.

    I think keeping myself hydrated non stopped helped with my speedy recovery. I go back to wk in a few days and feel comfortable going back. I still have to drink water so throat doesn’t get dry. My scabs are 75% gone. I’ve had someone with me the whole time and you DO need that. Milk never seemed to cause the phlegm in my throat as others posted. It soothed the burning. I lived off mash potatoes and chick n star soup mix for the first days. Keep taking medication when it’s due so pain stays under control!! Take the full two weeks off dr reccomends because you will need it. I would do this surgery again knowing it is going to cure my tonsil stones and stinky breath! Sorry this blog is all over the place my mind is going crazy! I hope everyone as a good recovery as well as I’ve had!

Check out our new tonsillectomy recovery video- Caution: Not always pretty

A collection of various experiences of adult tonsillectomy patients after their tenth day of tonsillectomy recovery
From thousands of post comments to the tonsillectomy recovery forum, I am assembling a sampling of various accounts and impressions of tonsillectomy recovery for each day. Below I share comments about tonsillectomy recovery after day 11. These comments are from tonsillectomy patients who were kind enough to share their experiences to help others as they navigate the bumpy road of tonsillectomy recovery.

 

Many will experience depression toward the end of of their tonsillectomy recovery.

Depression after tonsillectomy
Depression After Tonsillectomy?

-Greg Tooke 

343 comments

  1. I am 24 years old and wow what a experience this has been ( HELL!) hahaha. However it has been worth it. From day 7 till day 10. I have felt so much better and feel like me again. I don’t have the pain anymore. The only time I get the pain is in the morning but very slightly ( which is understandable) Reading how people are still in pain from day 7 till now does surprise me. I think what has helped me is eat SOLID foods for starters as soon you have you’re op ! so yourself and you’re body can get used to the discomfort instead leaving till day 5. Drink plenty of WATER !!! water is you’re best friend. When you get that horrible burning sensation back of you’re throat keep drinking water it does help in time ! From day 2 I had a roast it took me a while but again sooner you eat solids soon you’re getting them scabs away ! Chewing gum is also you’re best-friend chew that when you’re in pain, I also used a frozen ice packet to lay on my throat and neck to ease the pain which help a lot. I am on my 10 day and I feel so much better Not feeling I’m in hell anymore and I can breath, cough and sneeze ! hahaha. Hope this help 🙂 p.s Swallow swallow and swallow

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  2. I had my tonsils out about 4- weeks ago and I’m gonna be honest and say it was the worst pain of my life. First 2 days it started out find, took my pain meds, had barely any pain then day 3 it got worse VERY fast. My face, tongue, and uvula swelled. It hurt to swallow. It felt like I was swallowing razor blades. I kept up with the medicine but it didn’t fully mask the pain. The pain and swelling kept up for a good week and a half after that. I recommend ice packs ,and popsicles. It helped me get through it. Around day 8 my scabs started falling off which caused bleeding and I can’t even begin to describe the horrible smell coming from my throat whenever I burped. I wanted to throw up everytime. While that was going on i also had terrible ear pain whenever i swallowed. It started getting better about day 11. I finally went back to work day 14. I finally have no pain. I don’t regret it but I would NEVER do it again. My mom warned me ahead of time the worst situation possible and I still went through with it. It will not be fun but it will be worth it in the end, I promise. I will give some advice. When your throat gets in the bleeding process eat cold items and it the bleeding will stop quicker. Sleep on an elevated surface such as a recliner during this time as well so you don’t choke on the blood in case the bleeding doesn’t wake you up. And definitely keep up on meds. Keep up on what they give you but plain liquid Tylenol works wonders as well. Most of all good luck.

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    1. I had my tonsils out the day you posted this. February 22. It’s March 1st, so would that be considered day 7, since it’s a week, or day 8, and you count the procedure day? I had mine removed at 130pm the 22. If I’m on day 8, so far the pain has been unbearable days 6&7. My pain in the night hasn’t eased up from the second day till last night. Nights 5&6 I got severe ear pain and my throat felt worse than ever. But last night 7, I slept 10 hours and while it still hurt I could easily avoid it until I got up and immediately put ice packs on my throat. So if today is 8, so far where my tonsils are, is white and thick but I don’t think the scabs have fell off. I can’t imagine feeling in more pain bc it seems it’s getting better. I’ve drank low of water, right now I can’t sienk cold water bc it hurts my left side too bad but does it get better throughout the nights from now on? Also my
      Main question is if the procedure counts as day 1!!

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  3. Hi,. I’m 26 / female, got my tonsils taken out a week ago today. (I bugged my old DR to see an ORL for the past 12 years and he refused; my new DR sent me in to see one right away and I finally got it done to get rid of horrible tonsil stones) unfortunately I’ve hardly been able to eat, even up to today. I’ve lost 10 lbs in 7 days. I do make it a point to keep hydrated and the only way I am able to take pain medication is by crushing it up first then diluting it in water and using water flavour to drink it down. I’m getting sooo depressed and sooo tired. It’s 4:21 am and I’ve only managed to sleep a half hour because,… I’ve got a cold! Yep. Coughing and all that good stuff just after getting my tonsils removed sucks big time. Every time I swallow it feels like I’m being strangled with a belt. I honestly hope I make good progress in the next 5 days because hubby goes back to work Monday, and I have to go back to running after my 23 and 11 month old. I also hope i’ll Be able to talk louder. I can only whisper and even that hurts. I guess that’s enough. Hope you too had fun during your recovery or are going to be having fun! Good luck!

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  4. Hi all! I’m a 47 year old woman with history of tonsil infections, tonsil stones, and horrible bad breath. I had tonsil surgery about 11 days ago. This Recovery was much easier than I expected after reading all the posts about it. My pain was never more than 5 out of 10. So here is some things that I did to make my recovery so successful:

    1. Drink lots of water! From days one today 10 I was drinking 20 ounces per hour. So I was drinking almost 2 gallons a day. I was going to the bathroom a lot but it certainly spared the pain on my throat.

    2. Take your pain meds on time without fail even if you are not in any pain. This means you may have to wake up in the middle of night to take it. Do it! You will regret it if you don’t.

    3. I had a humidifier running in my room all day and night. This was especially helpful for the night. I live in an environment that’s slightly human all the time. If I did not, I would have had two humidifiers running in the room. I only stopped the humidifier when I saw condensation on my closet doors

    4. I live in the US but I read online that UK recommends that you eat rough food such as toast as soon as you’re able. So I started eating toast on day 3. I was eating cereal on day 6 and regular food on day 8. I found this helped the sloughing of scabs. It was painful at first. But after everybody I followed it with a lot of water and I never bled.

    5. Sleep sitting up and try to avoid laying down. You do not want the mucus to stay in your throat all night as you sleep and dry there

    On day 11 I am still finding it painful to yawn and laugh. I can talk for about an hour before it becomes painful. But I feel as if I’m healing nicely. I’m healing so nicely that suspect the doctor did not take all of my tonsils which I will be truly disappointed if he did not. I certainly dont ever want to experience again, the daily sore throats, the infections, the bad stinky tonsil stones, and the horrendous room-clearing clearing bad breath.

    Pros already: My sinuses and nasal passages do not feel congested! Not nearly as much throat clearing. It appears that people’s reactions to my breath even while I’m healing are less than before surgery. Feeling so good about this decision!

    Good luck to you all.

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  5. My surgery is this Tuesday 1/16/2018 and I am petrified. Just bought different flavors of Cepicol , a Hawaiian ice shaver, Popsicles, Watermelon flavor Italian ice, a neck ice pack, jello (agar), non-dairy pudding, boxes mashed potatoes, cream of wheat, personal humidifier, and other things that people recommended. I read and watched YouTube videos where people said they could only handle cold things, some not even room temp. I have severe sleep apnea so the ENT is also taking out my UVULA and any excess tissue off the back of my soft palate. I have suffered with enlarged cryptic tonsils since I was 18 years old and I just turned 42.

    I had a surgical procedure 2 weeks ago for neck pain and migraines and I stopped breathing with I.V. sedation so they had to turn me over and intubated me for general anesthesia. The anesthesiologist said that he had a difficult time getting the breathing tube in because my tonsils were in the way and recommended that I have them out. (i was actually already scheduled). I felt like my tonsils were beat up after the procedure so he wasn’t kidding that he had to wrestle with them to get past them.

    I think of myself as a tough cookie with a high pain tolerance. Growing up I had intense ear aches and multiple surgeries to place tubes in my ears. I had recurrent strep for 25 years and several head injuries. My ex husband was abusive and injured me in various ways. I have had babies both naturally and c-section, I have had appendicitis with emergency surgery, pancreatitis and liver damage from a terribly infected gallbladder from a decade of not having insurance coverage to get it out. I have had nerve pain that travels down my arm and up into my head like a never ending “brain freeze” but although I think I can handle the feeling of swallowing razor-blades, I am fearing the discomfort from a swollen airway, stitches, and scabbing. I hate my C-PAP for sleep apnea because I feel like I am choking and I have PTSD from a childhood abuser and my ex-husband choking and smothering me.

    I guess my question is, did it feel like you couldn’t breath and/or you felt like you were choking or something was stuck in the back of your throat?

    Thanks In Advance

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    1. Im sorry to hear that. But your incredbile to go through all of that, i did have a few issues i was on morphine and it made me high at nighttime id be scared cuz i was scared of the scabs in my throat. Im 24 and on day 7, i need my mom to sleep in my oroom with me because i get so high and scared

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      1. Thankfully you are now in the clear. A week ago I had to have emergency surgery to stop a heavy bleed. The ER staff really didn’t know what to do. I had to ask the paramedics to sit me up in the ambulance because I felt like I was drowning in blood. I was so relieved when the on call ENT came in and they got me ready for surgery. I am still on liquids and a few very soft foods. My ENT said the original stitches should start to dissolve in another week. On a positive note, my family says that I don’t snore anymore!

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        1. Amazing information on here! Thank you everyone for all the feedback and info. I am 53 and had my tonsils and deviated septum surgery on Feb 8th.. so true to stay hydrated and drink water constantly. Popsicles, luke warm soups have been my meals so far. I am on day 6 and it’s rough. Taking meds still every 4 hours, swelling is apparent in my throat with scabs. My ears are popping with water sounds in them. Jaws are sore as is my tounge. I know it will be a rough few more days just reading all the blogs so far have been right on target from day one. Hang in there all! I believe we have light at the end of the tunnel.

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