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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 had mine taken out 4 days ago and it’s been an experience. I have been in rehab for Opiate dependency so I opted out of taking any narcotics for the pain. I really regret it, but I will survive. My tongue was damaged during the surgery and hurts to move, but it is numb on the top. Just keep praying that the pain ends soon.
Matt,
That’s pretty incredible. You are strong. But you’re right, you will survive. I think the hardest part when I had mine out this past summer was that I didn’t know when it would all be over. Just remember that it WILL end. The pain will go away and you’ll be back to your normal life before you know it. Keep pushing through. In the meantime, praying for you. Best, Chloe.
I had my tonsils taken out 4 days ago, I had to stay in hospital due to my sleep apnoea, when I came out from my operation I bounced back, a few hours later I was crying in pain, later on that day I managed two slices of toast, they gave me codeine to help the pain, I went home early the next day, I had a bath and slept for 6 hours I felt rough, I started to come round abit and later on in the night I managed 4 slices of toast! The day after the pain is just like a sore throat, I manage 3 slices of toast and a packet of salt and vinegar chipsticks, I can talk I have been talking most of the time, I managed a small portion of cottage pie last night too! During the night I wake up coughing and when I first wake in the morning my pain is probably at its worst, I’m doing a lot better then everyone thought, I’m just making sure I take pain relief exactly when I should!
I’m currently recovering from adult tonsillectomy. I also had septoplasty done at the same time. I am on day 7 and I am miserable. I have had So much pain, they already had to refill my pain pills. I’ve been hudrating, eating ice chips, only eating pudding and apple sauce- anything else is painful. I don’t have any sense of smell or taste currently. My tongue is very swollen as well so it’s very difficult to talk. All I want to do is sleep but I can’t even sleep bc I can’t breathe and I have to wake up tonwither pee or drink more fluids bc my mouth is open while I sleep and drying out. This makes me wonder if it’s even worth it.
Hi all
I have been sat reading all these previous comments which has gave me some comfort as I feel I’m going through all the post opp mess myself!!
I’m on day 5 of recovery, been given paracetamol, ibuprophen to combat pair for tonsillectomy. On day 3 I went back into hosp as it was infected 🙁 so now on a course of anti biotics too.
I feel like I’m in a bubble of ‘when will this end’ – not an appetite at all, managed a few swallows of ice cream and yogurt (don’t know if that’s good or not) lost 6lbs so far. The pain is incredible before during and after taking meds! The swallowing is so hard I just screw my eyes tight. Sleeping is ok until about 3am then I wake up with THE STING – the worst stinging pain ever that takes hours to wear off! And then there’s the breath…! My breath is horrible death breath!! I know it’s all the mucous and possible infection in throats but that smell/taste itself is making me feel like vomiting! I really hope their is light at the end of the tunnel, and I’m dreading the recovery time of up to 4 weeks! Help Ma Boab!
I’m 22, and I ‘ve had my tonsils out recently. 7 days ago to be exact. It hasn’t been fun but it hasn’t been the worst either. I’d like to take some time to thank God for modern medicine.
I can’t open my mouth very wide and I’m afraid to speak… Ear aches and headaches are very real.
I’ve been given two weeks to recover, till i return to the workforce and it’s a good thing because I’m still in the thick of it. I knew I was going to be slow at recovering.
Worst part is not getting to eat real food!
Haha so true. I got mine out yesterday