tonsilectomy recovery time

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I am 17 and I had my tonsils removed yesterday and it was way less painful than i expected. The surgery took a total of 30 minutes and i was in the hospital for a total of 8 hours after the surgery. I had my tonsils removed because i had chronic and recurrent tonsilitis after having mono two years ago. When i woke up from the anesthisia, I asked the nurse if they didn't do the surgery because I didn't feel anything more than alittle soreness in my throat. As the day progressed and the morphine wore off, i was given liquid tylenol with codine which helps for about 4 hours. I ate macaroni and cheese 5 hours after surgery with bread and mashed potatoes which made my throat alittle swollen but was not hard to eat. I must have been lucky because everyone else seems to have had a horrible time but it is only day 2 so things could change! I've definately had worse pain, but maybe my throat is just used to pain after two years of chronic tonsilitis. I was extremely nervous to have the surgery after everyone told me i would be miserable and in pain for two weeks, but i feel pretty good. I was smiling and talking as soon as i woke up from surgery! I definately do not regret having the surgery

sophie1986 · Newbie Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 2

hey everyone, wow lots of diverse experiences!!
just like to share my experience... i am a 19 year old girl and i had my tonsillectomy six days ago (11th sept) after becoming severly ill with glandular fever tonsilitis... nasty!
i was nil-by-mouth after 8:30am, admitted to hospital at 11:15am... waited and waited ...eventually wheeled into surgery just after 6pm. you can imagine the immense hunger pains! i was extremely nervous, i think because i had done some research before the opperation and knew roughly what was going to happen. i was given some pre-meds to ease the nerves, lucky because waiting to be anaethetised (sp?!) my mechanical bed wouldn't work!! talk about stress - but i was fine thanks to the calming medication i received.

my veins aren't very easy to find so i was given the gas. i would have liked to have been injected... (strange how some want one way, others wan the other!) ...i remember the intense loss of control while inhaling the gas... the ringing of my ears, slowly deaf etc... strange experience!!
in recovery i woke a little disorientated and exxxxxtremely tired; was given morphine for the pain based on what i rated it from 1-10 and some maxilon (sp?) for nausea... i remember lying in recovery and the taste in my mouth was awful... thats when it hit me - the first taste was a result from the gas! yucko!
headed back to my room in the ward, and became extremely hot, fairly high grade fever and vomitting straight away... i was kept in hospital for two nights, the first night was rough, IV fluids and one hourly obs meant very little sleep... although the night nurse was lovely and kept my spirits high.

the second day was the worst. severe vomitting, i couldn't eat anything, i tried jelly and ice cream but it just came back up (consequently turning me off it!!) drinking was an effort so i was kept on the IV drip until early hours of day of discharge. i had problems with taking pain medication, was threatened with surpositories! (sp?!) i was given two soluble panadol tablets every six hours, but when the pain was so extreme (2nd night) i was given a morphine injection (ouch!) and a stemitile (sp?) injection for the nausea.

eventually by the third day i was able to get up and have a quick shower and feel a bit more alive... the pain was still significant but i was not allowed to leave unless i ate something! so i tried to munch on toast and sip on some soup... toast = bad idea. i TOTALLY agree with the avoidance of harsh foods... ouch!!!
i began chewing gum, used my brain and opted for a less flavourless gum such as JUICY FRUIT and this works fine.
when leaving the hospital, (i have anxiety problems) my mouth was clenched so tight and i felt like my teeth weren't aligned, almost like i was grinding to get them straight. when i arrived home, (ahhh good ol' home!) i laid down on my bed and did a very soft gentle, fingertip massage on the jaw and just breathed - this eased the tension in my mouth.

so far my diet has increased, and in order this is what i have consumed so far: banana paddle pop icecream, goulburn valley puree fruit, Heinz tin spaghetti, chicken noodle soup with soft bread and butter, apricots in syrup, porridge with honey (healing food!) soft fruit toast with butter, pumpkin soup, weak black tea with a bit of sugar, crumpet with honey (healer again!!) mcdonalds hashbrowns (who would have thought!! but they are fine, just make sure to chew well first... make you feel full as well.)

i don't have a problem drinking water now... am aware to keep that up regarding dehydration etc.

my main concerns for the immediate future are:
- the amount of phlegm that makes me cough - VERY PAINFUL.... almost leads to vomitting.
- referred ear pain
- the days to come regarding the scabs and bleeding....

i am taking soluble panadol strictly every six hours... i find that the fourth and fifth hour before the next dose are so painful that i tend to try to sleep through it.
i am dying for the pain to go away so i can get on with my life, as you can imagine - glandular fever had put me out of my life for a while!! (nearly 2 1/2 months now!!!)

it has helped me reading this forum, interesting to hear everyone elses experiences, concerns and achievements!!!
for anyone about to embark on this surgery --- the way i thought of it was: "two weeks pain compared to the risk of random bouts of tonsilitis... the surgery is so worth it."

good luck and healthy vibes!!!
-Sophie

Guest · Guest

I just had a tonsilectomy in conjuction with a turbinate reduction for my nose, as I have sinus problems.
After the surgery, I did not even notice that any work had been done on my nose as it was so painful just to swallow.
I am on day 6 of recovery and sometimes its better than others. I woke up at 5am and had to take pain meds, because my mouth and tongue were so dry and sore.
I think the surgeon did a number on my tongue, because I have cuts all over it. Very Painful.
I can tell it is going to be a long recovery time. I have to go back to work soon.
I can't say as of yet if it was worth it, but for what I went through, it better be. Sad

sophie1986 · Newbie Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 2

to the person above my post: i had similar feelings of wondering whether or not the pain was worth it! but i am glad to report that now, day 8 after surgery and i do feel a change - i see the light at the end of the tunnel! so hang in there mate! it will be uncomfortable but just think... tonsilitis (and other problems) never again!!

i had a peek at my throat yesterday (have been too scared to do so up until then!) and was horrified! one side was completely white and the other a little patchy... pretty much grossed me out but hey, it means it is healing, right!

today i took another look (about 10 mins ago) and i am pleased to say that on my right side it is all clear! no white scabs! so now its just the left side to go... and i can definately tell the difference, there is quite considerable LESS pain on the scab-less side than the side still white and yuck!

so i am a little bit more positive about things now...
and! i still haven't had any signs of blood!!! yay!

Guest · Guest

I had an adult tonsillectomy when I was 23 years old. I had been suffering recurring bouts of tonsillitis every month for several years. In hindsight it was the best thing I have ever had done. The recovery is extremely painful. I have heard it described by others as worse than childbirth, though I wouldn't know yet. Definitely much much worse than having a wisdom tooth out. The good news is that the pain can be relieved by perscription medicine. I was on vicadin. It took me 2 weeks to recover fully and luckily I had no complications. I feel that this was due directly to the care that I received while in recovery. I would highly recommend to have a close family member or friend informed of the process and if possible have them take a few days off of work to help you recover. My mother was able to come stay with me for the first two weeks. I don't know what I would have done without her. I also found Zen meditation to be a very effective treatment for the pain. Breathing deeply and accepting it made it much less painful. Before I had the sugery done I did a lot of research into good doctors and specifically asked for an ear nose and throat surgeon who specialized in musicians. They can use a smaller breathing tube which is more dangerous in that it offers less air, but better in that it prevents tearing and scaring of the throat and vocal chords on removal. It was more expensive, but as a singer I definitely found it to be worth it. I would advise anyone considering this or any other surgical procedure to do thorough research and find the best doctor money can buy. When it comes to your health it is worth it.

I have had throat infections since the surgery, but I have only been sick once a year or so compared to monthly before.

Guest · Guest

I'm 17 and had my tonsils out 8 days ago. I really didn't have alot of pain, but they gave me liquid narcotics which worked wonderfully. I've had no bleeding and was able to drink soup since my second day. I had the laser surgey and am waiting for my scabs to fall off so I can go back to work. It is my second operation this year and has been really easy on me^_^

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50plus · Newbie Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 3

My 20 year old son had his surgery 8 days ago. He is very frustrated as he thought he would be back in college by now and is obsessing about missed classes. He is still unable to talk much and the pain has been worse on days 6-8 than it was right after surgery. Am sure hoping that the next day or two shows a big improvement. He is still able to get down liquids, but is eating less than before. (no mac & cheese now).

50plus · Newbie Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 3

update. Night of day 8 was terrible. Son didn't sleep all night due to pain. Called Dr. today and got stronger pain med, which helped pain--but caused nausea Crying or Very sad

Still not eating as well--mainly jello and a little broth. Its gotta get better, right?

ChrissieKittie · Newbie Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 1

[/b] I had a tonsilectmy 10 days ago. At the same time I had sinus surgery. I had 12 sinus cavities as apose to the 10 most human beings have. My two extra sinus cavities were infected with "Chronic Laranghitas. All together, I had a tonsilectomy (for chronic tonsilitas) and 14 different "prcedures" on my sinuses. I explained to my surgeon and the hospital staff that I was terrified of hospitals, the idea of surgery and that my anxiety
disorder was leading me into a "Panic attack". As soon as the surgeon got my consent forms signed and the anesthesiologist spoke with me, the nursing staff ordered me, what the Dr. called the "I dont care what you do to me" drug (quite the sedative). I told my husband I loved him and to kiss the kids for me and the next thing I remember was waking up in recovery.
As the anesthesia was wearing off, I began to feel alot of muscle pain through out my body, and some pain in my throat, but my face felt like I had been beeten with a ball bat.
At first they were giving me Morphine injections for pain, but it was too abrupt for me. It killed the pain, but when it wore ff, it just quit all of a sudden, no gradual let down, just no pain one minute and OUCH!!!!!! the next, so I asked them to switch my pain meds. They wrote me an at home RX for liquid Loritab, so that is what they began giving me at the hospital in place of the Morphine, it was much better.
I went in at 7 am and was released by 9 pm the same day, which I was happy with, I rather recover at home. I went home with my RX for pain and an antibiotic, and many nasal sprays, and pills. I kept on an all liquid diet for 3 days and then added things like mashed potates, and jello, maybe some pudding and ice cream. By day 5 I felt perfect, even quit my pain killer RX, thinking I had healed. They failed to inform me that after the first few days I would feel better, only to get worse again by day 9-10. Well, now I am on day 10 and the only thing I can figure why it gets worse is that by now, the large "Meat" like scabs that are nearly the size of tonsils themselves, are beginning to break loose and fall off. This is not only painful, but discusting. At any rate, I had to return to an all liquid diet, because with loosing the scabs (clumps) in my throat, it is too painfull, even with my pain RX to swallow anything with any real consistancy, even if it is soft like pudding.
I am 27 and honestly, the surgery and recovery hasn't been to bad. However, I have lost 26 pounds in 10 days, and am urinating constently due to an all liquid diet. Ocasionally I have some severe pain that requires me take my pain RX and lye down a while. Because my RX makes me nausious. But for the most part it has been fine. I have, after all, been well enugh to care for my 4 children with very little help. The only real help I have needed is in picking up my 1 year old and anything that requires stooping, due to I am on a 10 pound lift limit, and am not aloud to bend at the waist until 21 days post-op.[/b]

tonsilectomy recovery time

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