Adult Tonsillectomy Recovery Time – a Poll
Tonsillectomy recovery time is unique to each individual- sure. We know that recovery time for adults is longer, and maybe harder, than tonsillectomy recovery time for children. I remember my own son bouncing back in less than a week! My own experience taught me that ten days off from a job that required lots of talking was a bit light. I generally advise two weeks. As I’ve said, most employers will let you come back early. That’s easier than asking for more time after the fact. I’ve read the accounts of thousands of tonsillectomy patients- most of them adults. I’ve learned that the time required varies. I wonder though, how many tonsillectomy patients never really post about their experience. Are you one of those quiet ones lying in the weeds? I’d like to get a better feel for the average adult tonsillectomy recovery time. Please take a moment and share your own experience in recovering from tonsillectomy surgery. You can help us all!
So let me put this out as an informal survey for people who have been through it, to help those planning a tonsillectomy. (It’s also one of the most commonly researched questions by adults considering tonsillectomy.) It’s my hope that we can amass a good sampling of experiences to help guide would-be adult tonsillectomy patients as they plan their family, work, and other obligations,
What is the average recovery time for tonsillectomy in adults? Read my Summary: Tonsillectomy Recovery Time Summary
So, what is it? What is your recommended adult tonsillectomy recovery time?
Join the discussion
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Before you schedule an appointment to have your tonsils removed, do a little research.
I had my surgery when I was 35 and I expected it to be way worse than it really was. I made sure I stayed on top of the pain medication and the doctor also gave me some numbing lollipops to suck on if the pain got bad before next dose. Runny mashed potatoes saved my life and i was up around the day after surgery with no problem really. Some pain in my throat but again, I made sure I took my pain meds before it got bad, I was really worried about it hurting. The worst day for me was around the 10th, I think that was because of all the codeine I was guzzling and my body just didn’t want it anymore, i had a small break down at my family’s house(it was thanksgiving) and I couldn’t eat anything and i just wanted to crawl into bed :)….anyway, that was the worst, by the end of two weeks i was feeling pretty good, weened off the codeine and thrilled that the surgery was not half as bad as what everyone else experienced….
I had the surgery at 48, last summer. Lots of infection & tonsil stones daily *yuck*. I cannot say if I would do it again. I am so glad to have them gone…. but oh my god the pain. I have suffered some massive pain in my life so I thought I could handle whatever this little surgery could dish out. Oh was I wrong. The intensity of this pain was surprising. You cannot help but swallow ALL DAY LONG and every one felt like a thousand knives slicing my throat like a mad symphony conductor with his batton. The back of my throat looked like spanish moss hanging from the trees in Georgia; long, stringy ropes of dead flesh that I would sometimes find on my pillow the next morning. Disgusting!
It took 2 weeks & 1 day until the pain was gone. I still felt a tiny bit sore, like I had cheered on a sports team, but that’s it. On that 15th day, I went in for a follow up & had a bleed thru right there. He cauterized it quickly & that was it. I lost 15.6 pounds!
wow! You guys are awesome. THANK YOU!!!
It took me 11 days to finally be able to swallow solid foods. So maybe around a good two weeks for recovery pain wise and I was able to return to work then too.
3 weeks