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.
Well I am 23 years old and prior to having my tonsillectomy had also read all of your horror stories however it hasn’t been that bad for me. Was able to eat solids by the 3rd day and come off my meds by the 5th day !!
I wanted to give a few comments as an over 50 year old having had my tonsillectomy on 21 Jan 2013. Initially I should have been out of hospital on the day of the op or the day after. I went in for my op around midday and by 6.30pm I was still in the recovery room, not really knowing what was going on.
Once on the ward I was given a cheese sandwich for my dinner, there was absolutely no way I was going to be able to swallow it.
Day 2 I was sick and the pain had intensified, I was given anti sickness meds and was able to eat a wheatabix. Was sick again later that day. Dr said I needed to stay for a second night. Needed lots of meds, and had horrible taste in my mouth.
Day 3 I was allowed home with paracetamol and ibuprofen. The meds were nowhere strong enough to cope with the pain. Alternating the meds at 3 hr intervals was the best I could achieve for pain relief, but it still wasn’t enough, every two and half hours, both day and night I was praying for it to be time for some more. Everytime I wake I have accute pain and terrible taste.
Day 4-6 The pain increased to include headaches and severe earache. I couldn’t lie down or sleep on either side, so I had to sleep in an upright position, which was making my back ache, still only getting a max of 2 hrs at a time. I had read that the more normal food you can eat the sooner the healing would happen, but the best I could manage was porridge for breakfast, a toasted muffin/crumpet for lunch and some jelly. By evening the pain was so bad that I struggled to get anything down my throat, so banana and custard, or rice pudding were about my limit.
During the night of Day 6 I coughed lightly and suddenly my mouth was full of blood. I went to bathroom with the hope that it was just a small amount and that if I drank a glass of cold water it would stop. No such luck, I reached the sink in time to allow the flow of blood to half fill it. It just kept coming. My husband rang for an ambulance and half hour later I was back in A&E. The blood flow had dwindled to a trickle by then but the Dr put me on ‘nil by mouth’ and said I may have to go back to theatre. I was put on a drip and given antibiotics.
Day 7 I was taken to a ward and monitored closely for the next 24hrs. Still ‘nil by mouth’ and still horrible taste in my mouth.
Day 8 Dr came and said that I could start to eat again and that further surgery shouldn’t be necessary, but recovery wise we were back to day one. Recovery had to start again, now with the added worry that a further bleed may occur if the new scab over the bleed were to come off too soon.
Pain meds had been increased and with no food for nearly 48hrs I was feeling very weak and dizzy. Wheatabix for breakfast and then 1 1/2 hrs later sick again. More anti-sickness meds were pumped in with the fluids and antibiotics. By lunch I thought I may be able to eat something, but when the smell of food hit my nostrils I was promptly sick again. A couple of hours later I managed to eat some cream crackers. By dinner I was still feeling dizzy, but knew I needed to eat something – an egg mayo sandwich was my next shot at eating and I managed it without the crust. Dr said I needed to stay another night until I could eat and drink without being sick.
Removed the codine from the pain meds but needed liquid morphine a couple of times in the night.
Day 9 Had wheatabix and half of bread roll for breakfast and was told by throat looked ok and I could go home. Sent home with paracetamol, codine, and ibuprofen, but knew I couldn’t take the codine without being sick. Back home about an hour and I was sick again three times. Decided that with no codine I needed to up the paracetamol to co-dyramol.
Felt weak and miserable, but determined to start eating, I’d had no BM for 5 days and my stomach was very painful and too empty. I started to eat again, but initially I was only able to nibble on cream crackers because of feeling sick. Gradually started to build up to eating more but the pain was still very intense and horrible taste in the mouth.
Day 10/11 Once I’d overcome the BM problem, my stomach began to feel better and I was able to eat more. Timing the meds to 45 mins before food enabled me to swallow a little more. Still sleeping in an upright position and still only for 2hrs at at time.
Day 12 went to see GP – told healing well but due to the haemmerhage there was no way I was ready to go back to work. Signed off for another week .Still needing meds at every opportunity. Managed a very small portion of warm chicken stew tonight (horray – real food).
Day 13 with full pain meds on board I took a trip out in the car with my husband walked about 1/4 mile and was exhausted. Managed to eat sandwich for lunch and a small portion of fish and chips for dinner. Tried to lay down to sleep – with three pillows I managed about an hour on each side, then needed to sit up again. Still only sleeping for 2 – 3 hrs at at time. Still wake up with pain and terrible taste in my mouth.
Definately in need of the extra week off that the Dr ordered.
Boy you have been through the ringer havent you? It has been about 3 months since my surgery. I too am over 50 and it was the worst pain I have ever gone through. I had no idea our tonsils went that far back and took up so much space in our throats. My doctor said mine were the size of walnuts and filled with infection. I was thinking all they had to do was take what I could see in the back of my throat. Once they were out there was 2 huge holes. It explains why I was constantly tired and rundown. I often had a low grade fever with no explanation. Now I know why. It is the 2nd best thing I have ever done for my body 1st was stopping smoking. I feel so much better now and more energetic. I am very happy to have done it and would hate to say I would do it again but knowing the after effects and being healthy I would but would have to have better pain management. I feel they should have something better in this day and time. Hoping you are feeling better by now and making up for lost time with some good food.
I am also over 50 and had tonsillectomy adenoidectomy and uvulectomy on Feb. 14th. I have still not returned to work. This is week 3. I agree that this by far has been a horrible experienxe and pain. I hope that in 3 mos. I can say that I am glad I had it done right now not so sure.
For the first time.. I have made it 3 whole months and not been sick. The pain was so worth not being sick all the time. That is the light at the end of the tunnel. 🙂
Well, I’m an adult and I had mine taken out about 9 years ago. Up until that time, I was a living, walking infection, and would get tonsilitis whenever I got over-tired or stressed. That has not happened since.
The op itself was fine, I woke up and gestured for the nurse, who brought me an ice-block (popsicle), which I ate and then asked for another. Yes, my throat hurt, but it wasn’t anywhere near the pain of the tonsilitis I had experienced. After about an hour, I called my husband over, and asked him to get me a really big cookie and a pack of salt & vinegar chips. He thought I was mad. They were delicious, and I continued to eat the chips throughout my recovery, as I felt like the salt was healing the wound and scraping the scabs off. Plenty of water, watermelon, soups. I took my pain medication, lay in bed, watched tv, and generally had a fantastic holiday. My mum also had hers out around the same time, and they fed her steak in the hospital. The proper food gets your mouth and throat working. Soft foods just slip down, but don’t help you to heal. Well, that’s what they told us, and it worked, as we were both a-ok after 7 days at the most.
I’m sorry so many people on the forum are having a hard time with their recovery, but for anyone considering the op, just do it, you won’t know yourself once those infection-loaded bastards are out of your throat.
Hope this helps!
Im completely terrified. Im 19 years old and have had tonsillitis and strep about every two to three months practically living on antibiotics. I go see my ENT doctor this week to discuss the possibility of surgery. I have read all the above comments and stories and im just so ready to have them taken out it doesnt worry me. How silly does that sound. to be terrified but not worried.
I regret the surgery, pain after pain. Only if I knew. I m now on day five, can’t sleep.
It won’t feel this way next week. Hang in there!
I an 23 and on my 9th day honestly worst pain ever I an surprised no one has mentioned there ears yes my throat is bad but nothing compared to the ear pain I can barely drink let alone eat still and day 9 still can’t sleep and need as much meds as I did from day 1 they don’t seem to help all that much! I am questioning tonsillitis 7 times a year or this? Awful pain
I got mine out n the 3rd Jan… now 5th day post-op. I have to say its not that bad at all! I’ve been eating normally since the operation. Sipping a lot of water really helps. Also, try chewing gum: it helps rebuild the muscle in the throat. No pain during the day except in the mornings. Just pop a pain killer every morning and you’re sorted for the day. Don’t worry about the op at all. Definitely the right thing to do. I’ll be going back to college tomorrow, less than a week after getting them out.
You are very lucky, I got mine out the same day. I am 19 years old. This morning I woke up in pure agony, my ears, neck, head, and throat of course were in the most pain I have ever been in. My doctor suggests eating broth and soft foods until there is barely any discomfort, since my surgery I have only eaten 3 cups of pudding and 2 bowls of soup. Luckily I don’t go back to college for two more weeks, I really hope your recovery keeps up as positively as it has so far and hopefully mine will take a turn for the better. At this point I wish I never had the surgery