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How long does it take to recover after tonsillectomy?
Tonsillectomy recovery time is unique for each patient. The recovery timeline for children is much shorter than for adults, with seemingly less pain. My own eight year old son was back to his old self in less than a week after his tonsils taken out. This may have fanned the flames of my unreasonable expectations of my own recovery time as an adult. His was fairly typical of a child his age. Children’s bodies heal faster than adults’ do.
Tonsillectomy Recovery Time
What to expect after tonsil surgery
The timeline for recovery for an adult is a different story. Age matters. In fact, it appears that the older an adult is at the time of their tonsillectomy, the longer the recovery is, in general. Based on my own adult tonsillectomy recovery, and the stories of thousands of my readers, I’d put the average adult tonsillectomy recovery time at approximately 10.43 days. Yes, I’m that good!
Humor aside, ten days seems to be pretty typical. I added the .43 because so many people, myself included, thought they had it licked and went back to work around day ten, only to find they weren’t quite ready. As scabs slough off in second week of recovery, many adults experience a bit of a pain relapse, just as they thought they were almost recovered. This is a really tough period for many. They’ve spent almost two weeks with minimal sleep, minimal nourishment, minimal activity, and lots of pain medicine. It can be downright depressing for adults recovering in this second week.
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I do hear from many adults whose recovery times are closer to a week – perhaps due to my good advice, perhaps due to genetics. It’s hard to say why some adults’ recovery timelines are shorter, and their experiences less traumatic. There are also cases that drag out further. If you’re one of a small minority that requires re-cauterization for bleeding, or don’t take the proper precautions, (many of these are outlined here and in my book), your tonsillectomy recovery time may be as much as three or four weeks. I want to make an important point here- one that I cannot overemphasis: Stay hydrated! Keep drinking fluids! Dehydration is the worst enemy of the tonsillectomy patient.
My advice: ask your employer, your family, your friends, and the rest of the world to give you two weeks for your adult tonsillectomy. You may surprise them, hopefully for the better.
Recovery is unique to each individual- sure. We know that recovery time for adults is longer, and maybe harder, than 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!I’ve put together a collection of items that I think would be helpful, if not essential, to making tonsillectomy recovery a little more pleasant. Check out the Tonsillectomy General Store.
-Greg Tooke My short bio
I am 31 had mine out 6 days ago still having a lot of pain more at night and in the am hurts to talk and bad thing was today was my first day back to work and it sucked I talk on the phone so it’s worse my son who had his was back by this time I just want to heal sick of the pain
My name is Phyllis I had my tonsils out four days ago. Just recently I’ve started waking up with a dry throat and drool all over. It’s embarrassing!! In the mornings I feel like I’m dying the pain is almost to much to handle. During the day a lot of mucus forms in my throat and my body tried to cough up it up which hurts soooo bad it’s unreal. I’m 19 years old and I really just want the healing process to be over. Any advice
33 year old woman 8 days post op. I went to my ENT 3 weeks ago thinking I needed high power sinus meds and was scheduled for a tonsillectomy instead. I had strep in January 2017 and apparently it didn’t go away after two rounds of antibiotics. So for 3 months, I had been developing larger tonsils. At the time of my surgery, the doctor discovered mid surgery how infected my tonsils were and I had huge masses of abcesses under and behind my tonsils (which could have led to terrible consequences if untreated). Due to the infections, doc couldn’t get my throat to cauterize and old school stitches had to be used. My healing time has been normal. Day one I can’t recall much, lots of pain meds, liquids, humidifier, throat spray, ice and cold packs on my neck. Day 2 and 3 were similar with added Italian Ice cups, popsicles and gatorade. Day 4 I added runny mashed potatoes, runny grits, jello and stool softener. Day 4 had massive headaches and earache and toothaches. Day 5 I was having slow cooked chicken over well soaked rice. Day 6 I finally had a bowel movement and added more solid foods. Day 7 I was having toast (heavy on unsalted butter and drenched in jam and well chewed). Today is day 8 and I am eating soft, but normal foods. Hot stuff and really cold stuff hurts, but it’s not much different than before surgery. My breath is terrible but my appetite is improving. Everything is still a bit swollen but it is nothing compared to the pain and swelling of before surgery. I am off the narcotic pain meds as of day 7 and I am taking ibuprofen 2 or 3 times a day. Today my energy was back and I was able to go grocery shopping, cook, and work in my yard. I am being careful not to do too much and to tag team with my spouse when I get tired before finishing a chore (cooking or dishes). Having a good support system has been a life saver and having an understanding employer also. I go back to work in 5 days (boss is making me wait until post op medical visit to return to make sure I can’t spread more strep throat around our office and per our FMLA regulations). I am a bit stir crazy at home and have done deep cleaning of several rooms (mostly because I could smell a foul odor and it took me several days to realize it was my breath and not something foul in my home). Sadly, there is nothing I can do about the breath until the scabs finish falling off and it goes away. I do find myself brushing my teeth several more times a day than usual hoping it will be better. I had a rough surgery and rough tonsil experience pre-surgery and although I felt rushed into surgery, it was a very good choice to make. I may have cabin fever, but I feel so much better than before. My fears have been centered around my voice. I am a singer and I worry how it will affect that ability as I continue to heal. Currently, I can speak fairly well but I get strained easily and have to resort to a notepad or texting my spouse next to me as communication. Overall, I found my first week to be a blur but progressively getting better. I am beyond ready to get back to work and get back to my normal routine. If anyone questions getting a tonsillectomy, consider how much better you will feel weeks or months afterwards. I already feel better on day 8 post op than several weeks pre op. Best of luck to everyone!
I’m just verging on 40 years old and had a procedure for a sleep disorder on March 1st. This involved having my uvula decreased by 50%, my toungue cauterised and my tonsils removed for good measure. I was ok for the first three days what general anaesthetic and hard core pain killers were in my system, but nothing could prepare me for the agony on day four. I was told to eat ‘scratchy’ foods to take the white residue from the back of my throat but come day four, this was impossible. I did try this initially, although accidentally eating tomato salsa in a chicken wrap was the most excrusiating pain I have ever known. I was doubled-up on my sofa for a good ten minutes.
Following that and all the pain killers I was on I found it hard to eat anything at all. I lost 10lbs in six days as I could only stomach three teaspoons of ice cream for most meals as swallowing was just so painful. Setting alarms for painkillers also took its toll and when you are sleeping badly anyway, this resulted in feeling very low during the day. Keeping hydrated definitely helped and luckily being in the UK during the winter I didn’t need a humidifier although I can see how that could help.
We are now at the end of the first week of April and it’s been six weeks since my operation. Although it doesn’t hurt to swallow anymore, I still feel like I have a lump in my throat and certain foods can trigger pain especially very salty foods like crisps. It also took me three weeks to get back to work as at one point, I couldn’t even speak. My 18 month old son was not a fan of this especially as it meant I couldn’t read to him.
Overall, I’ve had some injuries and scrapes in my lifetime but nothing can prepare you for how much this sucks.
I am glad I found this website as it was very therapeutic.
I know everyone is different and perhaps the other procedures I had increased the pain, but to whoever is going through this now, you have my sympathies. I hope you feel safe in the knowledge you will get through this and remember to never miss your meds and drink water…LOTS of water!
I’m 29/fem and getting my tonsils out tomorrow. I’ve been needing my tonsils out badly this past year. I don’t look forward to the recovery time, but I’m glad to have found this website. Depending on how much I sleep the next few days will tell how much I will be able to update. I’ve been prescribed phenegrin, numbing lollipops, antibiotics, and pain medicine. I’m taking the advice I’ve read to have comfy pillows to sleep on, ice packs, and varied soft foods. I hate to say that I kind of hope to lose weight while recovering, as I am about 50lb overweight! It just is what it is…
I hope I can update in a couple of days.