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Original poster

Tonsillectomy as an adult - how bad is recovery?

215 replies

HermioneKipper · 17/08/2023 15:42

I’m going to have my tonsils out shortly after lots of horrible episodes of Tonsillitis as an adult. I was hospitalised last time.

Ive been thinking that if I can cope with Tonsillitis then surely I can cope with having them out?! But even the consultant told me that the recovery is awful.

Is it really horrific? Think I need to be prepared for the level of pain 😭

I’m 39

OP posts:
PostItInABook · 30/08/2023 21:02

I had mine out aged 20. It was fine. I had no complications and recovered fully in about 10 days.

Soluble co-codamol was the best pain relief, but you have to make sure you have timed the doses so you can take one in the middle of the night because you WILL wake up with it really hurting (most likely because when you’re asleep you are breathing through your mouth and it dries your throat out) and one first thing in the morning. Then one during the day and one before you go to bed.

I found I could cope better in the day because I could sip cold water. You must eat scrapy foods like toast to speed up recovery.

Original poster
HermioneKipper · 31/08/2023 04:19

Ilikeviognier · 30/08/2023 20:16

@HermioneKipper is it as bad as you expected it to be? 🙈 I hope it doesn’t last xx

i wish I could tell you it’s not been too bad but it’s grim.

im on day 5 and it’s been awful so far. Praying it starts to get easier soon

BUT if I can get through it and no more Tonsilitis it will have been worth it.

OP posts:
YouCantBeSadHoldingACupcake · 31/08/2023 04:32

I remember the pain like it was yesterday, and it was 20 years ago. It feels bad now but another couple of days and you should start feeling better. Weirdly I found eating ready salted crisps felt better on my throat than cold things like ice cream. And it will be so worth it. I went from having tonsillitis every 3 weeks to nothing, it was amazing.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
YouCantTunaFish · 31/08/2023 05:22

When I had mine out I ended up with an infection and waking up crying because of the pain. GP prescribed a numbing gargle with meant I had a brief respite to take the pain relief / antibiotics & eat & drink. Might be worth asking about?

SaturdayGiraffe · 31/08/2023 07:56

Did anyone else’s voice change? Afterwards, mine was so odd. ENT doctor said I had been talking around them.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 31/08/2023 08:43

SaturdayGiraffe · 31/08/2023 07:56

Did anyone else’s voice change? Afterwards, mine was so odd. ENT doctor said I had been talking around them.

Mine did. Because there wasn't the swollen, scarred and infected tissues dulling the sound anymore, my voice became more resonant, clearer, warmer and I found out I actually had a decent singing voice for the first time in my life.

PinkFootstool · 31/08/2023 08:50

SaturdayGiraffe · 31/08/2023 07:56

Did anyone else’s voice change? Afterwards, mine was so odd. ENT doctor said I had been talking around them.

Yes, hugely changed my singing voice and not for the better. I'm still sad about that I used to sing for hours a week in multiple choirs and societies.

Original poster
HermioneKipper · 31/08/2023 10:27

Had the op on Saturday so guess I’m day 5 or 6 and was up being sick in the night. Think it’s a combination of all the drugs and very little food.

The being sick was agonising but no blood at least. Praying there’ll be no more of that

OP posts:
Original poster
HermioneKipper · 31/08/2023 10:28

I’m starting to really regret having it done as it’s still so painful and there seems to be no end in sight

OP posts:
Mama_bear · 31/08/2023 10:43

It's awful, not gonna lie, but, so worth it. Haven't had tonsilitis since (15 years now) and would do it again in a heartbeat.
Make sure you have plenty of painkillers and try and eat and drink and rest. Good luck.

PinkPlantCase · 31/08/2023 10:56

I genuinely found birth and recovery less painful.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 31/08/2023 11:01

HermioneKipper · 31/08/2023 10:28

I’m starting to really regret having it done as it’s still so painful and there seems to be no end in sight

Are you coughing out anything yet? When I started doing that, it was the point at which the healing sped up - another 24 hours or so and you'll likely start feeling better.

It's a longterm benefit you're getting, - that longterm actually starts around Day 10, but it's a very long 10 days.

booksandchoc · 31/08/2023 11:06

I’m 4 weeks post tonsillectomy and have to say that I found liquid paracetamol and liquid ibuprofen the best meds to help. You can but 200ml bottles of each from boots (it is kids medicine but works the same) adult dose is 20ml of each. The most important thing is eating little and often and sipping water as much as you can. I ended up back in hospital day 5 as I was really dehydrated and meds weren’t working, but my tonsillectomy was due to cancer so they had taken extra tissue out from behind tonsil area which made it even worse. I found I started getting better from day 7, so you’re nearly there. Hope your feeling better soon .

Ilikeviognier · 31/08/2023 18:02

@HermioneKipper thanks for being so honest although I’m sorry to hear you’re finding it so tough! At least I feel forewarned…yikes. Maybe I should back out 🙈

Ilikeviognier · 31/08/2023 18:11

also the consultant has sold it to me that recovery is “like having tonsillitis for a week” but I’m guessing that this is bullshxx given this thread!😳

PinkFootstool · 31/08/2023 18:13

Ilikeviognier · 31/08/2023 18:11

also the consultant has sold it to me that recovery is “like having tonsillitis for a week” but I’m guessing that this is bullshxx given this thread!😳

He's a liar....

Ilikeviognier · 31/08/2023 18:33

@PinkFootstool yes I’m gathering that….😳

YouCantBeSadHoldingACupcake · 02/09/2023 16:00

HermioneKipper · 31/08/2023 10:28

I’m starting to really regret having it done as it’s still so painful and there seems to be no end in sight

How are you feeling?

DinnaeFashYersel · 02/09/2023 16:23

It's ok with good pain killers.

I was sent home with a bottle of calpol. Phoned the GP and got cocodamol.

Day 5 and 6 were pretty painful. I was completely fine by day 10.

It was sore but not as sore as tonsillitis. I've never regretted it.

Original poster
HermioneKipper · 02/09/2023 20:30

YouCantBeSadHoldingACupcake · 02/09/2023 16:00

How are you feeling?

Show quote history

I thought I’d turned a corner but the ear and jaw pain has started.

but I hear that means it’s nearly time to feel better so am praying!

thanks for asking x

OP posts:
Original poster
HermioneKipper · 02/09/2023 20:31

DinnaeFashYersel · 02/09/2023 16:23

It's ok with good pain killers.

I was sent home with a bottle of calpol. Phoned the GP and got cocodamol.

Day 5 and 6 were pretty painful. I was completely fine by day 10.

It was sore but not as sore as tonsillitis. I've never regretted it.

Sent home with calpol?! That’s barbaric!

You sound brave! I think I must be a bit weedy as I’ve found it horrific

OP posts:
DinnaeFashYersel · 02/09/2023 20:33

@HermioneKipper

Sent home with calpol?! That’s barbaric!

I know. I asked if they were joking. They were not.

Phoned gp on car journey home for a prescription.

Greenvelvetdress · 02/09/2023 20:36

Hope you feel better soon @HermioneKipper. I was in a terrible state after mine at 23. Ended up bleeding and going back into hospital for more surgery.

I promise once it's over you'll be so pleased you had it done, you can do this 💪🏼

Rudens · 02/09/2023 20:56

If I remember correctly day 5 and 6 were also the most painful for me and then it slowly got better. I did use codeine daily till day 8. On day 9 I had a bleeding as a scab was falling down, but the ENT doctor did warn me it might happen as they discovered my tonsils were inflamed during the tonsillectomy.
The recovery was not easy but I think everyone I've spoken to have said it's worth it. Even the ones who were readmitted to the hospital and had a horrible recovery. Not having tonsillitis afterwards definitely makes it worth it.

Papillon1 · 02/09/2023 20:58

I had mine out this time last year. It was really hard as I ended up with an infection. I turned up at the dr crying. They gave me antibiotics and I got better much quicker after that. It took 6 weeks for me to fully recover but it’s been so worth it! I’ve hardly been ill since having them out. Strefen throat sweets really helped me as well as really keeping on top of the painkillers.
I didn’t go to the dr soon enough for the infection as I was expecting recovery to be bad, so tolerated the pain longer than I should have.
Hope you feel better very soon!