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
-Greg My short bio
Before you schedule an appointment to have your tonsils removed, do a little research.
I was 36 when I had mine out. I am a night shift floor nurse who works 12hr shifts. I took 14 days off. When I got back to work, I felt okay at the start of my shift, but around 1 am, (after working 6 hours) I was miserable. It began harder for me to talk, especially because I had two patients that were hard of hearing & I had to practically yell for them to hear me. If I had a desk job with minimal talking, I would have fared better. But I wasnt 100% until about a month afterwards.
I was off work for 4 weeks following my 30th birthday tonsillectomy. Even after returning to work I was still tired and worn out everyday for at least another 2 weeks. As soon as I would come home from work I would lay down for a nap everyday which is highly unusual for me. I havn’t napped during the day except for my tonsillectomy since I was 4.
I had my surgery on a Wednesday and took the entire following week off (so I had 12 days total to recover before going back to work on Monday). After 10 days I could have gone back to work (but been very uncomfortable) – I definitely could not have gone back sooner, even though I have a desk job. You want to be at home when the scabs start coming off with your icepacks and ice chips handy to control any light bleeding. I was still really struggling to eat anything when I went back to work after those 12 days – but then out of nowhere on day 14, I was back to eating completely normally. Guess I had a little scab left that needed to come off and heal! Then it was like nothing ever happened.
Had mine out @ age 32. Doc told me they were the largest, most infected he had ever seen. I thought, oh great it is going to be a tough recovery… it was not that bad. 2 weeks out of work, follow all the tips on this website and it will help a lot. I did not feel “normal” again for about 4-6 weeks. I would say I turned the corner @ day 7 or 8, things just got better and better after that.
I had my tonsils out at 39, and i was very nervous about it! But, I have to say, my experience wasnt as bad as i thought it would (maybe i have a high tolerance to pain after all my bouts of tonsilitis, strep and mono…i dont know?!) the first week was the worst, i slept a lot from the pain pills, but really only had one really bad day. the second was ok, felt a little better every day and was able to eat small amounts of soft food by the end of the second week (gingerly of course). I went back to work after two weeks. (i have a desk job that requires little physical exertion, but that being said, i was very worn out and low energy that week and probably the next week too) so, basically, i was somewhat back to normal after 2 weeks, but probably wasnt feeling ‘normal’ till about 4 weeks out.