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Tonsillectomy in adults - question about recovery....

eskimo

I'm 19 and due to get my tonsils out sometime in July and I'm wondering how long I'm gonna be out of action for! I'm hoping some of you who've gone through it already can help me out? (I haven't spoken to the throat specialist yet)

As a 19 year old, how long does the recovery period usually last? I've heard that it's about 2 weeks before your throat feels normal again. And also how long before being physically back to your normal self? Is it just days? More than a week? How long does it generally take before feeling able to eat again?

And how long before I should head back to work?! (to a job that involves lots of talking and lots of lifting/carrying things!)

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LegacyUser

I am 20 years old and having my tonsils out this week. I have never been more nervous about anything in my life. I keep reading all of the horror stories and it freaks me out.If someone could give me the best advice before going into the surgery and afterwards that would be great.

Weidii

Don't worry about it, I had it done this day last week and overall the experience hasn't been half as bad as folk on the internet would have you believe. I think people are more likely to post about bad experiences than good ones, so there's an unrealistic amount of horror stories here on the boards.

The procedure was fine, you'll be in a bit of discomfort afterwards, but it's nothing a few painkillers can't sort out. A week later I'm still a bit stingy, but I can see that the scabs are falling off back there so I'm pretty sure I won't be long on the road to feeling good and NEVER having tonsilitis again.

LegacyUser

Hi I have an ENT appointment in the Mater Private tomrrow, Im on The National Treatment Purchase Fund... I'm Petrafied about having them out, what really scares me is the thought of going under anasthetic.. as well as the pain following the op.. can anyone tell me how long you have to stay in hospital for?

Look forward to your reply

Brooke

eskimo

I'm Brooke wrote: »

Hi I have an ENT appointment in the Mater Private tomrrow, Im on The National Treatment Purchase Fund... I'm Petrafied about having them out, what really scares me is the thought of going under anasthetic.. as well as the pain following the op.. can anyone tell me how long you have to stay in hospital for?

Look forward to your reply

Brooke

If you type "tonsillectomy" into Google, this thread is the second search result, and there's a good reason! All the info you could possibly want is already in the thread. Read through it from the beginning

You've nothing to worry about.

Blisterman

Had mine removed yesterday. Had never had an operation before, so it was a whole new experience for me. VHI were covering it, so I had it done in a private hospital in London, with my own private room, which was nice.

Had the anaestectic about 12, and woke up at about 1, so it must have been a pretty short operation. Was drowsy for about 3 hours after that, but didn't really feel much pain. The surgeon who specialises in throat surgery said that mine were the biggest tonsils he's removed in over a decade, which, in a weird way, I'm kinda proud of. I've got 2 massive holes in the back of my throat, which will hopefully go away soon, as food keeps going in there when I'm trying to swallow.

Stayed overnight for one night, and came back home this morning. It's a bit more sore today. Eating is particularly bad, I'm forcing myself to eat rough stuff like toast and baguettes. Talking isn't exactly pleasurable either, but with the painkillers, when I'm not talking or eating it's just like a mild sore throat.

So far it's not as bad as I was expecting, but I've heard the worst is yet to come, so I'm gonna have to grin and bear it.

xxxBrookexxx

Glad to hear all went well Blisterman

.... keep me posted on your recovery.. getting mine out in September, and my nerves are gone..

Brooke

Blisterman

Day 6 of the recovery. The last 2 or 3 days were fine. Barely any pain, even when eating. Could talk to my hearts content.
Have been very tired since the operation. Have had 12 hours sleep every night, and I still feel like napping in the afternoon. I also feel quite stoned all the time from the meds.
I don't know whether it's the medication or what, but I've also been finding it really hard to pee. I really have to push. It's strange.

Today's been a bit worse. Eating and talking were painful. Not looking forward to the next couple days, but hopefully I'll be over the worst of it, then.

Blisterman

Day 8.
Yesterday I woke up in immense pain. My throat, jaw and ears were killing me. I felt like I was gonna pass out with the pain I quickly swallowed a few painkillers, and had to wait an agonising half an hour for them to kick in. I kept up the painkillers, so the rest of the day wasn't too bad, although eating was hard.

Today, however has been fine. Small amount of pain, but not too bad, so I'm praying that yesterday was the peak.

On a side note, I can't remember the last time I went 8 days without a drink. I thought I'd miss it a lot more, but it hasn't been too bad. I went to the pub on tuesday, with some friends. Fortunatly they didn't have any decent beers, only crap like Heineken and Stella, so I didn't feel like I was missing out. I was invited to a beer festival, but I think that would have been torture, so I turned it down.

deisemum

Blisterman wrote: »

Day 8.
Yesterday I woke up in immense pain. My throat, jaw and ears were killing me. I felt like I was gonna pass out with the pain I quickly swallowed a few painkillers, and had to wait an agonising half an hour for them to kick in. I kept up the painkillers, so the rest of the day wasn't too bad, although eating was hard.

Today, however has been fine. Small amount of pain, but not too bad, so I'm praying that yesterday was the peak.

On a side note, I can't remember the last time I went 8 days without a drink. I thought I'd miss it a lot more, but it hasn't been too bad. I went to the pub on tuesday, with some friends. Fortunatly they didn't have any decent beers, only crap like Heineken and Stella, so I didn't feel like I was missing out. I was invited to a beer festival, but I think that would have been torture, so I turned it down.

It was about a week after I had mine out that the pain peaked and lasted 2 or 3 days. It was worse than childbirth without any pain relief.

Just be careful with alcohol, I went on the drink about 6 weeks after having them out and I ended up bleeding from the wounds. Doctor said the lining hadn't fully mended and the alcohol aggavated my throat and I ended up with an awful sore throat.

This

slightly off topic... but i got mine out when i was 10... and have been turned off luzocade, foxs fruits and ice cream for life...... the 2 weeks off school were great though...

xxxBrookexxx

deisemum wrote: »

It was about a week after I had mine out that the pain peaked and lasted 2 or 3 days. It was worse than childbirth without any pain relief.

Just be careful with alcohol, I went on the drink about 6 weeks after having them out and I ended up bleeding from the wounds. Doctor said the lining hadn't fully mended and the alcohol aggavated my throat and I ended up with an awful sore throat.

When can ya drink? I have something on with college 3 weeks after i get mine out.... should i not touch a drink??

Blisterman

Day 11
Pain has stayed about the same level as friday for the last few days. Still quite sore to eat. I ate a curry on saturday. Bad idea. Even though it was a mild curry, my throat felt like it was on fire. Might have to wait a few weeks for another Vindaloo.
On the plus side, my head's been feeling a bit clearer, so I don't feel like I've just smoked a load of crappy hash. Rather than taking the painkillers at regular intervals like before, 4 or 5 at a time, I've been waiting until I feel some pain coming on, and then only taking one or two. Rather than 19 assorted pills a day, I'm down to about 12.
The back of my throat, where my tonsils were, is still covered in a kind of white crust. Anyone know what they look like after that, so I know that I'm onto the next stage of recovery?

Weidii

Hey, I just had mine out over a month ago (I'm 22) and I'm fully recovered now. Blisterman, the white basically just starts to disappear and eventually it'll be totally gone. I found it became quite tickly at this point, so I was coughing a bit with it. It might become a bit raw and sore after that stuff falls off, but don't worry, that means you're near to the end.

pcurls

hey i got my tonsils out on the 9th of january and was back in work on the 11th. thats not to say it wasnt the sorest thing in the world cause it was, the first day is grand cause you're still on the morph, then day two is ok, day 3 is the worst day ever, i thought i was gonna pass out, crying and couldnt move! then after that it was just unbearable.

you're in for the worst 2weeks ever. thats not a threat. its just a fact.

Blisterman

Day 13
I'm down to 6 painkillers a day, from a high last week of about 19. (I sound like a recovering drug addict here.) And I would have been taking more, if it wouldn't have caused serious liver damage.

Not nearly as much pain eating as before, so I think I'm on the road to recovery.

Worst 2 weeks ever?
Not at all. At times the pain was agonising but 90% of the time the painkillers did their magic, and it felt like a normal sore throat. Worst times were waking up, eating and the couple of times I made the mistake of drinking orange juice.

LegacyUser

neegie wrote: »

i got my tonsils out last monday, i'm 17. feel ok now except the painkillers dont seem to last long enough but they gave me a mouth rinse that numbs your throat, that helps...
as for smoking, after three days i ran out of will power!! i'm not sure if smoking is slowing my recovery, if anyone has any input on that it'd be helpfull!

you smoking is no good while your healing it will take longer to heal right.i just got mine out last week and trust me it's no pinic.now the mouth rinse that they gave you sounds good right now.try using the patch while your recovery it will help....good luck

Victor

Unregistered wrote: »

you smoking is no good while your healing it will take longer to heal right.i just got mine out last week and trust me it's no pinic.now the mouth rinse that they gave you sounds good right now.try using the patch while your recovery it will help....good luck

No offence poster, but its normal to put a space after a full stop. If you don't take the time when posting, many people won't bother reading your post. Some people have reading difficulties - you aren't helping.

Blisterman

Day 18.
By Saturday, I was off the painkillers altogether, with some mild pain.

No pain at all today, even when eating. So I think I can safely say I'm fully recovered.

After reading all the stories on here, I was pretty nervous before I had it done. I anticipated 2 weeks of being bedridden in constant agony, But it wasn't nearly as bad as I expected, and I'm happy to never have to worry about tonsillitis again.

LegacyUser

Hey everybody,I have red through the majority of the posts, I had mine out monday and im on my 4th day of recovery . To be honest its been awful, not only pain wise put im suffering with extreme nausea

.. day and night.. My stomach is in a complete mess.. I thought it was due to the painkillers, Difene and solphodol, but iv cut them out and still no improvement.. Just keep like cryin

cant sleep.. cant do anything without that constant feeling of a very upset stomach .. Did anyone else experience this? and how long does it last?.. Pain is bad but its bareable. just down in the dumps..My surgeon said that my op went excellent, and i was delighted to hear. Its a hard recovery

LegacyUser

I had my tonsils removed on July 31st 2009, at half 8 the nurse came to get me and told me i had to take a difine suppositery before surgery so i did, i got a general anesthetic at 9.30 and they woke me in the recovery room at 10.30. My mouth was very very dry so I found it difficult to breath, a nurse gave me a long stick with a sponge on top to suck on like a lolly pop it tasted like a very bitter lemon which burned my throat when i swallowed it. My tongue feels swollen and it also has pins and needles feel in the tip of it.

I slept all day in the ward, only awaking when the nurses (who were so good to me) wanted to check my vital signs. This was every half an hour or so. At 3pm the surgeon came around and told me that when I eat something I can go home. 4o'clock i got 4 slices of toast and when I looked at them I got sick.. 5o'clock i had a yoghurt, i was very weak so the nurse had to bring me to the toilet, i felt as if i had motion sickness and i got sick again. I had a bad reaction to the general anisthetic so they kept giving me nausea medicine thru my iv drip.

6o'clock they told me I could go home, i was still very very sleepy and hadnt really eaten anything all day. When I got home it was straight to bed and i didnt wake til the following morning. That morning I had a glass of water and 2 tabs (very sore to swallow) I went back to sleep til 5pm that night and when I woke i felt a lot better, so i ate 2 bananas, a few strawberries, 2 yoghurts and even a small bar of chocolate. I really tot i was on the mend. Later that night I had a bowl of Special K, because the nurse said it would be good for my throat. FOOD DOES NOT TASTE THE SAME

Went to bed Saturday night and awoke Sunday morning in excreuting pain, I couldnt talk, drink, swallow (even though the day before I was doing brilliant) All day i drank sips of water and took my meds, slept most of the day but i did make myself eat a full slice of toast and 2 bananas.

I had a look down my throat and it looks awful where my tonsils used to be is covered in white goo (dont know how else to describe it) and behind that and down my throat is all black. I am coughing up phlem quite often which has a lot of black in it (not sure if this is dry blood or tar because i am a smoker)

Well this is all i have to report so far, hopefully i will get better very soon becasue I dont think I can handle this much longer, i think i wud rather have my tonsilitis every month instead of going thru this. But il let you know how I am doin over the next few days!!

LegacyUser

I had my tonsils taken out also its already been a week .. im 16 , after the first day it hurt really bad. I couldnt eat anything except soup for a week . so far its still painful but I hope it gets better soon. Its true what they say about eating ice cream or anything else dairy , it builds up mucus in the back of ur throat which kills to swallow .
Thank God its already been a week .
I cant wait to finally eat again , I've already lost 6 pound , I now weigh 126

LegacyUser

Hi all,

just wondering if you could give me some advice.

Been suffering with my tonsils for a few years now aft being in a bad car crash, just seemed to come on overnight, went to see consultant and was put on the waiting list to get them out, that took 3 years, had to cancel the 1st op due to other commitments and when i got the 2nd app they cancelled on me the night before. I have since taken my name off the list due to work commitments and college (for work) and being absolutely petrified i mean petrified do not like the thought of being put asleep.

my doctor laughed at me when i suggested laser tonsil removal as recovery process is not as long and no going asleep, cant seem to find anything on it here in ireland and am wondering if any of you have heard anything about it??

When i do get a tonsillitis, it is not sore or painful to eat my tonsils just swell up and get white spots all over them, they are quite big but it does not give me any pain more like a dry mouth and i seem to need to swallow more. have been having recurring bouts of it now since may and normally winter is my worst time,

any advice greatly appreciated....

LegacyUser

I just had mine out about 6 days ago.
This has been the most horrible experience of my life.

I have had four children without pain medicine and you know what? I'd rather have 8 more the same way than this.

I had a sever infection to start with, so that in itself made it dificult.
I left work early on a Thursday afternoon feeling really crappy, my throat was sp sore, felt like there was a nail protruding and each swallow and time I tried to talk it felt as though it were going to tear right through.
So, I went into the ER to see what they could do for me. The nurse did the usual swab of my tonsils (I hate that). The Dr. came in and I guess knew it all cos he said I had strep and he knew what it looked like and put her on these antibiotics and send her home.
He didnt even do the swab test the nurse had taken.

I went home and told my husband, took the medicine and layed down.
Friday evening I was feeling worse, but we held out thinking the Dr was right and I just needed to let the medicines take effect.

Saturday we drove our son to meet up with his Mom and they could have there weekend visit. On the way back I was hurting so much worse that my husband decided to pull into another hospital for a look. After they checked me in and did teh swab (again) they also ran a CT scan to make sure there wasn't a cyst or growth or anything behind the tonsils.
They didn't see anything, they gave yet another prescription for pain killers and a different antibiotic. By Monday I want to die. It has spread from the left side of my throat to both, I am so swollen and hurt so bad that I can't swallow water. I have not eaten in 5 days now.

We were house sitting for my husbands parents so, when we leave there my husband calls the referal Dr. that the hospital listed for us. He explains to the nurse how desperately I need help and they get me in that day. Within the hour actually!!! I highly recomend this Dr. by the way. Dr. Robert Butler ENT Austin,Tx.

We get to his office and wait for some time. Once we get to the back my husband and younger daughter do all the talking for me since I can't at all. The Dr. puts the q-tip with numbing stuff on it against my tonsil so he can inject a painkiller so he can try to withdraw some of the pus etc. It doesn't work, It leaves me sweating and shaking in pain and tears.

He sends us directly to the hospital across the street, has me admitted and instructathem to run another Ct and get me prepared for the pending surgury.
I am unable to breath laying down on my back because of the swelling so the CT has to be postponed for the next day as well as the surgury.mpt to get me somewhat comfortable and to reduce the swelling enough to perform the CT. Much less the surgury.
They pump antiobiotics, pain medications and steroids into me in an atempt to bring down the swelling, some of the infection and pain for the surgury.

Ok, now we go in for surgury. I am TERRIFIED!!!! I have never had a surgury like this before.
My husband can't come with me.
The anesthesiologist gives me what calls a valuum cocktail, then gives me the rest of the medicines needed to knock me out.

I wake up in the recovery room in massive pain. The nurse up there wasn't very nice. I was in so much pain and asked her for something stronger, she said I'm not giving you anything more than morphiene. My DR. had it set up for me to take dalodid (I know I am spelling that wrong) It's much stronger than morphiene, and with the pain I was in I needed it.
Well, she was very rude and wouldn't give it to me. Non the less, I get down to my room finally and they give it to me, nothing will take all of the pain away but this is closer at least.

Now here are some things I found strange about the medications etc.
The steroid-whenever the injected it into my IV it burned like fire, it burned my vagina and my tongue and my underarms and my nose and eyes. The nurse said this was normal. It caused blisters on these same areas which my nurse also said was normal.

So, my surgury was Tuesday evening, I was released from the hospital on thueday afternoon.
I don't feel I was ready to go home.
For one thing I still have not really been able to eat. I can injest a small amount (maybe 2-4 tbsp) of soup ot broth before the pain is so intense that I have to stop trying.
So its been about 10 days since I have actually eaten. My body is sooooo weeeeeek. But no matter how hard I try I can't eat. It has been hell to just swallow water. I'm sure I am dehydrated to a degree and I am getting weaker so I guess if I dont eat soon its gonna get worse.

I take the full dose of Lortab, wait for it to kick in. Then heat up some soup. I can get maybe a bite or two in before the pain returns. I dont know what to do anymore.
I am so weak, I can barely open the Lortab bottle.

My husband is calling the Dr. in the morning to schedule the follow up appt and ask him about nutrician since the hospital didnt add any nutrients to my IV or anything.

I would like to know if anyone else experience these "sores" or "blisters" whatever they are in those areas after the surgury as well. They are painful and annoying.

Ill add more if more information arrises.

LegacyUser

Hi,
I am a 34 year old woman and I just had mine out on the 18th. It has been sheer HELL.
I still can't eat solid foods, and the medications they give you (especially the antibiotics) taste like you are swallowing a liquified dead animal found on the side of the road after about a week in 3 didget temperatures.

Aside from that I found the greatest things you can do to help yourself heal and get your strength back up. If you, like me had an ongoing infection for some time before your surgery, you couldn't eat befpre it either.

I found that baby food is better than almost any thing else you can buy because it is natural and contains NONE of those seasonings that WILL feel like you are injestin BATTERY ACID.

Another thing that has become my BEST friens is Cepacol. It comes in this little sprayer, and its not the greatest tasting thing on earth, tho a far cry from the other stuff.

And my wonderful Gramma gave me a container of " Alive" Whole food energizer shakes.
Another thing is as tempting as it is DO NOT use straws.

I have good days and I have bad days. Today has been a bad one. But all in all I am finally starting to heal.
Anyone have any other advice or questions as to where to get any of this stuff I can be emailed at tess_fuery@yahoo.com
Just make sure you put the subject line from this in the subject line of your email cos I erase anything that looks like spam.

Thanks all, Hope you all heal quickly,
Tess

LegacyUser

Some of these stories sound terrrible! Im 20 and had my tonsils out 1 week ago today. I didn't read many of the horror stories before-hand as quite frankly I preferred not to know the worst case scenario. Im more than glad im only visiting such sites as this now and I can tell anyone thats considering getting their tonsils out that they really should not worry! U go under the anesthetic so don't feel a thing...when I woke up I was was still heavily medicated so pain was minimal, i was in the recovery room for probably about 30mins and then I went back to my room in the clinic...I could drink water no problem in the recovery room and had two slices of toast and a cup of tea when I returned to my room, an hour later I was able to eat a plate of chips with brown sauce, tomato soup and two more slices of toast, followed by some ice-cream! Although i do think the secret to my painless experience was these tablets called arnica..I was taking them for about two months before my operation and am still continuing to take them as recommended by my reflexologist. The past week has not been completely painless but its definitely bearable, I'm a bit sore in the mornings, my jaw does be very tense and the mucus tissue that grows over the back of my mouth where the tonsils existed leaves a horrible stale taste in my mouth, needless-to-say quite bad breath... but on the whole I'm managing very well provided I have my painkillers every 6 hours, I can eat all the foods I'd normally eat: curry, steak and ale pie, even salt and vinegar crisps and Im going back to work tomorrow! I would thoroughly recommend arnica tablets to anyone going in for this operation and any operation in fact, obviously everyone is different; their circumstances and pain threshold but these tablets should definitely help.

xxxBrookexxx

OMG I was supposed to go to hospital today and have my tonsills out tomorrow, but I woke up this morning sick with a cole, sore troat, swollen gland the lot.. and my surgery was cancelled!!! I'm freaked, because I had myself all prepared, although I was terrified aboutr the anasthetic.. i was rescheduled till November.. I just wish I could have had it over and done with!!

Pretty_Pistol

I (early 20's) got my tonsils out a year or so ago. I think my biggest amount of pain came in a few days after the operation. I think the anaesthetic and whatever drug they used, begins with an M, were beginning to wear off. Anyway I just remember lying in bed and the worst part was a severe pain in my jaw.

Was it worth it? I'm not sure. In my case I seem to be getting sore throats again. And I've noticed that where my tonsils used to be bits of food/phelgm gets stuck and I have to hawk it up. Anyone else have this happening?

mariebeth

I'm 25 and just got mine out on Thursday. So far, it hasn't been too bad, I'm in pain, but it's fairly manageable with the painkillers thank God. Actually I had the worst pain so far this morning when I woke up. I was left home yesterday morning after force feeding myself a slice of toast, otherwise the doctor would have made me stay in until I ate something and that just wasn't an option for me - it's much nicer to be at home healing in my own bed. I'd been told that the pain gets really bad between 6-10 days, hopefully though it won't get too bad. I'm off work sick for the next two weeks, and then I'm going to Disneyland Paris on October 7th so hopefully I'll be fully recovered by then!

blondiexox

I had my tonsils out about 6 months ago, I was 19 at the time. It was a horrible experience!

The pain wasn't too bad but about 15 days after the surgery I was at a friends house and felt very sick and a weird feeling in my throat so drove home. I wasn't sure what was wrong until I got home and vomited and it was all blood. After i got sick my scars must have opened because it was like someone turned on a tap in my throat and I couldn't stop the blood.

My poor mam nearly had a heart attack! She rang an ambulance for me anyways and at that stage I was lying on the bathroom in a cold sweat trying not to pass out. It was probably the worst feeling of my life!

I couldn't stand because I was so weak so had to be put on one of those stretcher things and carried to the ambulance. I think they put a drip in my arm with saline (not sure). They wanted to bring me to Waterford hospital but I had my tonsils out in Whitfield Clinic so I was brought there. It was about 12 at night and the doctor that did my surgery met me there and I stayed for two days. Thats a great hospital I have to say.

After I was alright again they said I lost alot of blood but I would be fine. After that whole ordeal I felt perfect again. Havn't been sick since then which is amazing! I used to be out of school for a week every few months with tonsilitus.

So even though my tonsils bled and I had one horrible night, it was definitely worth it!!

mariebeth

My gp mentioned that from day 6-10 after the op the pain could get worse - I'm on day 6 now, so just wondering should I be expecting worse pain??? The pain this morning was worse than it has been other mornings, but once I got some liquid & the pain killers in to me it has improved