Tonsillectomy as an adult - how bad is recovery?

[HermioneKipper]

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

How are you doing @Ilikeviognier? have you called the GP?

I called mine and they gave me liquid morphine. Also get some anti sickness as it made me feel sick though

Yesterday was a really bad day. I called the GP this morning and they’ve give me diclofenac which is stronger than ibuprofen - so that’s a result. I’ve also got some difflam spray so hoping things are on the up now.

just Wow though - I literally felt like my throat had been cut yesterday,

Glad you got something stronger from the GP! Hopefully that will do the trick and definitely keep up with the difflam spray as that will help with any chance of infection and I found that was a nice thing to use in between pain relief too.

my first day back at work today and I feel
pooped x

Oh you poor thing. It really is so sore. Really glad the GP gave you some stronger stuff.

Rest up and look after yourself. This op really knocks the stuffing out of you

@Swizzylyons1 how was it being back at work?

I”m on day 6. Definitely better Than yesterday but the intense Pain is still there in waves. Mornings are still horrendous. I’ve also just realised that the hospital only gave me a week”a supply of Cocodamol - so I’m about to run out! Can’t see me existing without it yet - surely they will give me some more? 😳

As an aside - I got the report today that the consultant has sent my GP. It says that my tonsils were “large and unhealthy with fibrosis on the right side” - doesn’t sound good does it?!

Oh yikes this sounds dreadful ☹️ Thank goodness you’ve had them out. You’re on the home stretch now - it’ll def be worth it x

Is the cocodomol the same strength as the stuff you can buy over the counter?

You could ask for codeine maybe?

@HermioneKipper no - I’ve got the super strong one! You can only get the low dose one over the counter. Will ring the clinic tomo. Are you feeling 100 percent yourself now?

How are you doing @Ilikeviognier ? Hope you aren’t in as much pain xx

@Swizzylyons1 I’ve turned a corner now thanks - almost back to normal although not quite ready to give up the drugs yet. Sick note runs out Tuesday so back to work on Wednesday. How are you now?

So good to hear it! Make sure you still take your time and rest on Mon/Tues! Good luck with the return to work. X

I will do thanks. Will be good to get back to “normal” in a way!

Hello everyone! Though I would resume this thread to have some sympathy on my tonsillectomy. Had it done this morning at 10 am, was home by 13.00 and in quite a lot of pain. I live in the Netherlands, healthcare is good but they give you paracetamol for everything. My doctor lacked in sympathy, told me I wasn’t really brave, just because I have asked him stronger painkillers than paracetamol and ibuprofen. Now home, can’t eat and barely drink ice water. Have an ice pack on my throat that is helping but I’m so scared about the night.

hope to hear more stories with a silver lining because right now I feel awful!

im so sorry. You should be able to get a painkiller with codeine over the counter from a pharmacy? My gp was also scornful but after being tipped off by a dr friend I got the anaesthetist to prescribe tramadol. The anaesthetists are responsible for pain meds post op ( but possibly too late if you're already home)

you will get through this but in the meantime I would ask friends or family to get you a codiene painkiller from pharmacy (sometimes combined with paracetamol so do be careful not to go over your daily paracetamol limit)

I was also prescribed tramadol which worked really well. I would.be tempted to contact your doctor again tomorrow, paracetamol is not enough for post operative pain