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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:
Original poster
HermioneKipper · 04/09/2023 15:22

Still in quite a lot of pain here. Day 9 now. So still taking a lot of painkillers.

My tongue and jaw are very sore now and it hurts to open my mouth.

This feels never ending!

OP posts:
Ilikeviognier · 04/09/2023 18:25

@HermioneKipper does it feel like you’re on the up though? How long are you signed off from work? I got my op date today….gulp🙈🙈🙈🙈😳😳😳

Wiii · 04/09/2023 18:35

You have my sympathy. It was worse than any of my DCs births when I had mine taken out, I'd gladly choose childbirth over that.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
Original poster
HermioneKipper · 04/09/2023 19:05

Yes definitely better than I was and I can eat a bit again. I just want the pain to go away. And I generally feel quite woozy but assume that’s because I’ve not been up and about much

oh gosh - when is it scheduled for

OP posts:
Ilikeviognier · 04/09/2023 19:17

@HermioneKipper 3 weeks time…..😳when are work expecting you back?

also are you completely laid up or have you been able to do any childcare or Housework? I need to prep myself here for what’s realistic 🙈

Original poster
HermioneKipper · 04/09/2023 19:24

Ilikeviognier · 04/09/2023 19:17

@HermioneKipper 3 weeks time…..😳when are work expecting you back?

also are you completely laid up or have you been able to do any childcare or Housework? I need to prep myself here for what’s realistic 🙈

Signed off for two weeks so back next week.

Unfortunately have been completely laid up. Couldn’t really get out of bed for the first 5 days at all.

was supposed to be helping with the school run this week so will see how I go.

Husband took last week off work to look after the kids (and me!) and is working from home this week to help with/manage the drop offs.

I don’t know how normal this is though and whether I’m a total wimp!

OP posts:
Ilikeviognier · 04/09/2023 21:16

@HermioneKipper it doesn’t sound like it tbh. Ok- will work on that assumption. What have you been able to eat/drink to date?

BoaBunsAreLovely · 04/09/2023 22:34

I’ll be honest, I had them out at 19 & it was truly horrendous. Worse than child birth in my experience. I’m sure a lot would disagree.

No pain relief worked either, it changed the sound of my voice too, nothing dramatically. I couldn’t eat, sleep, drink, talk for quite a while. I remember writing down on a piece of paper to my mum to help me as I couldn’t cope 😂But I’m sure I was a tad dramatic too. I still suffer sore throats even now so was pretty pointless. That said my son had his out & it was an absolute breeze for him.

Sorry, just seen the update. Get well soon x

Original poster
HermioneKipper · 05/09/2023 01:31

Ilikeviognier · 04/09/2023 21:16

@HermioneKipper it doesn’t sound like it tbh. Ok- will work on that assumption. What have you been able to eat/drink to date?

For the first 4 or 5 days I lost my appetite completely and had to force myself to drink water.

Crushed ice was great and it helped when the water was really cold.

After that I started eating soft things like yogurt, rice pudding, mashed potato but I haven’t particularly fancied anything and my taste buds are definitely off.

OP posts:
Swizzylyons1 · 05/09/2023 09:49

I had my bloods today in prep for mine out next week. Through NHS but done at a Private hospital. Really worried about it and whether I should cancel the whole thing now! My work pressured me to ask about tonsillectomy as I have had so much time off in the last few years. Always been my weak spot since having it as a kid and then getting glandular fever. I’m 39 now so expecting recovery to be bad.

Problem is my husband is super busy and in the middle of big meetings at work so can’t get time off to look after me and the kids. Will I be able to do the school run?! Highly doubt it looking at this thread…

Original poster
HermioneKipper · 05/09/2023 17:24

Swizzylyons1 · 05/09/2023 09:49

I had my bloods today in prep for mine out next week. Through NHS but done at a Private hospital. Really worried about it and whether I should cancel the whole thing now! My work pressured me to ask about tonsillectomy as I have had so much time off in the last few years. Always been my weak spot since having it as a kid and then getting glandular fever. I’m 39 now so expecting recovery to be bad.

Problem is my husband is super busy and in the middle of big meetings at work so can’t get time off to look after me and the kids. Will I be able to do the school run?! Highly doubt it looking at this thread…

I really don’t think you’ll be able to do the school runs, at least for the first 4/5 days. Is there anyone who can help out with this?

But someone else may come along and say they were fine but I really struggled to get out of bed without keeling over for that first bit.

Did the consultant not talk to you about the recovery?

OP posts:
NeverDropYourMooncup · 05/09/2023 17:31

HermioneKipper · 05/09/2023 17:24

I really don’t think you’ll be able to do the school runs, at least for the first 4/5 days. Is there anyone who can help out with this?

But someone else may come along and say they were fine but I really struggled to get out of bed without keeling over for that first bit.

Did the consultant not talk to you about the recovery?

Show quote history

I had to look after my two. Wasn't really any alternative beyond dropping them off at the council offices to go into Care for Christmas.

I suspect they quite enjoyed me not speaking so much telling them what to do for a week.

vipersnest1 · 05/09/2023 20:31

@HermioneKipper, I found that after any GA (I've had several, at least 10, I've lost count), and find that for me it takes me around two weeks to recover from that, let alone the healing process for having tonsils removed.

SaturdayGiraffe · 05/09/2023 21:49

Normal.

My BIL later admitted he thought I would die.

Unusualactualname · 05/09/2023 21:52

I didn't want to post before you had the op and were on the mend, OP, but OH had 6 months off work after his tonsillectomy. He'd had quinsys which developed into a chronic infection. It was horrendous - he had infection after infection in the site of the operation. This was 30 years ago - since he recovered he's been fine!

Original poster
HermioneKipper · 05/09/2023 22:40

Unusualactualname · 05/09/2023 21:52

I didn't want to post before you had the op and were on the mend, OP, but OH had 6 months off work after his tonsillectomy. He'd had quinsys which developed into a chronic infection. It was horrendous - he had infection after infection in the site of the operation. This was 30 years ago - since he recovered he's been fine!

Oh yikes poor him. Sounds horrendous

OP posts:
Ilikeviognier · 05/09/2023 22:53

This is all sounding horrific - @Unusualactualname im having mind out for repeated quinsies. I absolutely can’t take 6 months off work after 🙈

Swizzylyons1 · 06/09/2023 00:27

Thanks. It is going to be a rough week I am
sure. Never been under for a op before as my two C sections I was def awake for! My Mum can’t come and stay and my other friend who was going to help has just been diagnosed with Cancer and she had appointments next week. All a bit hectic. Really hoping I can be brave!

How are you feeling now Hermionekipper?

neilyoungismyhero · 06/09/2023 00:35

I was 17 and recovery was pretty horrible if I remember. For me it was the horrendous painful swallowing. I wasn't given any medication and can't remember taking anything. I would go with a PP and take soluble co codamol though.
The sheer relief of no more tonsillitis every other week was bliss.

Original poster
HermioneKipper · 06/09/2023 01:09

Swizzylyons1 · 06/09/2023 00:27

Thanks. It is going to be a rough week I am
sure. Never been under for a op before as my two C sections I was def awake for! My Mum can’t come and stay and my other friend who was going to help has just been diagnosed with Cancer and she had appointments next week. All a bit hectic. Really hoping I can be brave!

How are you feeling now Hermionekipper?

Sorry to hear about your friend ☹️

The general anaesthetic part was actually fine even though I was shaking like a leaf beforehand. The anaesthetist was lovely and I’d only ever had a c-section before too.

The recovery hasn’t been great but I’m feeling much better now. I’d say I really turned a corner on about day 7 post op. Day 10 and I’ve come off the codeine/morphine now. I’m still sore but much better than I was. Doing the school run tomorrow.

OP posts:
Swizzylyons1 · 06/09/2023 06:34

Glad to hear you are feeling a bit brighter!

Really useful hearing all this in real time - appreciate it.

Thank you.

Ilikeviognier · 06/09/2023 20:22

@Swizzylyons1 when are you going in for your op? Are you ahead of me (mine is 26th)😳

Swizzylyons1 · 06/09/2023 23:27

@Ilikeviognier I go in on Tuesday 12th! Yikes!

Original poster
HermioneKipper · 07/09/2023 14:45

Good luck both of you! Let us know how you get on.

OP posts:
Original poster
HermioneKipper · 07/09/2023 14:46

On another note to people who’ve had the op, does everything taste disgusting? I don’t like the taste of nearly all food now and everything tastes different/horrible.

when does taste return to normal?

OP posts: