Tonsillectomy surgery - recovery advice needed

[Theawkwardblonde]

Hi! I’m undergoing a tonsillectomy next month following years of frequent bouts of tonsilitis, resulting in multiple hospital stays with IV antibiotics. Finally received an NHS surgery date.
I’ve been reading all the horror stories of recovery as an adult (I’m mid 30s), and now I’m absolutely terrified it’ll be hell. I’m hoping to hear any advice from those who have had the surgery on pain management and general recovery. I’ve 2 DC at home under 5, but will have assistance from DH and family to help with childcare. Planning 2 weeks off from work.
Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated as I’m starting to become very anxious now. Thank you.

I didn’t find it as bad as all the hype. Keep taking the pain relief and eat small amounts of crunchy food as directed to speed up recovery

Hi, I had my tonsils removed in my late 30s after similar issues. I would definitely recommend making sure you have proper painkillers afterwards. I had morphine and I’ve never taken or needed it before but I really did need significant pain relief in the 2 weeks afterwards. I also couldn’t speak at all for over 2 weeks. I don’t know if I reacted badly to the surgery and there was a lot of swelling but I literally couldn’t make any sound at all. It was a difficult recovery but it’s been life changing. I don’t get infected sore throats any more and get less run down overall. Good luck!

Start stocking up with Calpol.
My DC , then 21, went through at least six bottles and it wasn’t easy to find.
She’s so thankful she went through with op. Good luck!

I had mine removed in my late 20s. It was sore. Just make sure you take the pain meds. Get some laxatives too! I found the pain meds really messed with my system.

I had 2 weeks off work and was ready to go back after that length of time. Don’t bother with ice cream or any dairy products as they ‘stick’ to your throat which you don’t want. Eat toast and scratchy food to speed up the recovery.

I'm on a lot of groups for DC about tonsil removal. The advice is generally just keep paracetamol and neurofen alternating for the first 3 days and then take as necessary.

I'm not sure the advice about just taking paracetamol and nurofen for 3 days applies to adults, I would say that's just for children. It's a lot more painful having it done as an adult

I had mine out about 5 years ago OP, and I'll be honest it was awful. It took me a good 3 weeks to recover fully, and like previous posters I could barely even speak as my throat was so sore. I was prescribed oramorph to take home with me, definitely see if you can be given that as it did help. I couldn't even imagine only taking paracetamol and ibuprofen for it, that would have done absolutely nothing for me

DD age 25 had her tonsils out a few weeks ago. She was given morphine for the first few days which enabled her to keep eating and drinking, which in turn helped the healing process. She then managed on Ibruprofen and paracetamol. Without the morphine during the early stages she would have really struggled.

That sounds much better @wetwiped. My DC didn’t get that option. My same DC two years later had her wisdom teeth out and a tongue tie cut.

I also had mine out in my 30s and I can’t sugarcoat it. It was so painful afterwards!
I had ideas of 2 weeks off work eating ice cream but in reality I was in a lot of pain. The hospital prescribed codeine tablets which I couldn’t swallow as they were huge and my throat was so sore. So I was using calpol!
I also really enjoyed fizzy water and lemonade. Something about the fizz seemed to ‘scratch’ my throat and somehow helped! My taste was also affected for about a month afterwards which isn’t a side effect I was warned about.
It is sore but it’s do able. Just stock up on calpol. I recommended fizzy drinks and ice lollies.
I was back to work after 2 weeks and my taste was back to normal after about 4-5 weeks.

Thanks so much for all the replies. Been making myself a list of things to buy in preparation. . I’m hoping I’ll be able to get away with just 2 weeks off from work.

I had my tonsils done as a young adult after years of suffering. Pain relief and ice lollies (not ice cream) were a godsend. Like others, I struggled to talk for a bit but I still had a voice, it was just more like Joe Pasquale. I took 2 weeks off work but just before going back, I got an infection which set me back another week, and throwing up after a tonsillectomy is no fun. Thankfully after this, things improved but I do still get throat pain on the left side due to swelling of scar tissue caused by the op, but it’s better than tonsillitis. Prepare yourself OP, you will need some support and looking after initially, but it is worth it eventually. Good Luck 🤞

I got mine out at 19 and lost so much weight and picked up so many infections after. It was really sore the first few days whilst in hospital, but tonsillitis is agony too. That was 20 years ago and I have never been ill since.