Thyroidectomy v tonsilectomy - which is the most painful?

[June2008]

So two years ago I had a partial thyroidectomy due to what turned out to be a large benign mass on my thyroid. I was in quite a lot of pain to start with but cannot remember too much of the first week. I was off work for 13 weeks in total.

Next week I am having a adotonsilectomy. Does anyone have experience of both and can tell me how they compare in terms of pain afterwards? I know that the recovery from this second surgery will be much quicker but am a bit worried about the pain.

And finally, for anyone who might know, what is the likelihood of having an issue with bleeding afterwards? Will I be in a fit state to go on a long journey a week later or am I being a bit optimistic?

Thanks for any information!

I had a partial thyroidectomy - entire lobe removed - and had a very miserable week recovering, however returned to fully time work on Day 8. I had a tonsillectomy some years ago and they used the guillotine method - I think I was in hospital for 10 days and it was v painful. My daughter had a tonsillectomy last year and they used the laser method - we were in and out of the hospital in 2 hr 15 minutes - thats check in, anaesthetist, surgeon, surgery, post op - incredible. Her recovery was incredibly quick....anti inflammatories for a couple of days and she was fine. However she is 15 and it is worse for adults. There is a risk of post op bleed and you need to talk to the surgeon about this and especially what method he's using. Its never good to have any sort of pressure on yourself recovering from surgery as every case is so individual - you may be absolutely fine to travel but just have a flexible plan. Recommend you take analgesia very regularly in the first few days i.e. if you need it or not - don't wait for pain. Good luck

Thats great to hear a recent positive story! I am having day surgery and been told to expect to be in from 7am until about 4pm.

What pain relief would you suggest as the nurse I saw today just said otc pain relief I would normally have at home?

I think you're re the journey. I'll just see how it goes, the rest of the family are likely to leave me at home in peace and I'll need to get the train to join them if I do go to the west country. (Was hoping to get a cheaper ticket in advance but seemingly not worth the risk.)

Thanks for the advice!

DS1 had his tonsils out a few years ago. Day surgery. He was in big pain for the first three days and used a very strong painkiller. He could only take it for three days, and he was in hysterics on day 4 when all he could take was calpol. This was related to him being 5 years old, so I am sure you could take stronger if you needed to. He was fine within a week. But, he developed an infection in his tonsillectomy wound while on holiday two weeks later!

my 19 yo daughter had her tonsils out at the end of January. Everyone had made a really big thing out of How Much It Would Hurt Afterwards. As it turned out, she wasn't great afterwards, but was able to cope just fine, basically she just took up residence on the sofa for a week. the co codamol they sent her home with she used at night, calpol was her drug of choice for daytime. she had passed her driving test on the Monday and of course was mad keen to go out and buy a car straight away which we didn't want to go along with. she had her tonsils out on the Thursday and by the following Monday was back to wanting to go looking at cars with her father. they actually went and collected the car she bought the Thursday after the operation. she had 2 weeks off sick from work, but the second week she was more than capable of pottering about doing what she wanted to at her own pace. Everyone's different, but on our experience of tonsillectomy I don't see why you won't be able to go along with your existing plans.

Thank you for the positive stories! Posh you are so right aboutHow Much It Hurts! I have quite a high pain threshold but just don't know what to expect.

And Quint thats another thing I'm worried about, getting an infection. I'm a teacher so regularly exposed to all sorts!

Thanks again

So had my op yesterday and yes It Hurts A Lot! Fine if I don't talk drink or eat, which is obviously not possible! Drugs are helping but it's early days. Had to stay in for a drip overnight after a reaction to either the anaesthetic or the drugs afterwards but it wasn't pleasant. More rest needed I think!