Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum.  ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Ear, Nose and Throat  (Expert Forum)
 | 
Adult tonisillectomy-how much pain
Answered by
The Mount Sinai Medical Center New York - NY
Make An Appointment
Questions posted in the Ear, Nose and Throat Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Mount Sinai Medical Center.

Adult tonisillectomy-how much pain

by carole321, Nov 01, 2008 10:53PM
I am 65 years old.I have two reasons for wanting a tonsillectomy and probable uvulopalatopharyngoplasty....I have tonsiloliths (my primary reason) and mild sleep apenea for which I use c-pap sometimes, but I don't tolerate it well.
The ENT I saw said a tonsillectomy at my age would be extremely painful..."more painful then having a baby".  HIs talking about all the pain has got me scared.  Online discussion groups also talk of terrible pain the people have gone through, but I suspect these discussion boards are often used mostly by people who have had problems with the surgery.   I  am aware of the need to stay hydrated and take pain meds, but will this make it tolerable?  Can you tell me how this surgery is for the majority of people my age?
Thank you,   Carole321

by Vivek V Gurudutt, MD, Nov 04, 2008 02:33PM
To: Carole321
There is no question that tonsillectomies in adulthood can be painful...temporarily.  However, numerous tonsillectomies are performed on adults every year and if are indicated should be completed.  With adequate pain control and attention to hydration, a more manageable post-operative course is attainable. Best wishes.
Member Comments (3)

by Sklndr, Nov 26, 2008 09:56PM
I am 31 yrs old. I had my tonsils removed this past May. I had thought that since I had a high tolerance of pain, I would be fine. I wont sugar coat this, but it can be quite painful. Its not so much as of when you finally try to get some sleep and you wake up an hour later your mouth automatically opens up and it feels as if your throat was stuck together and it rips apart. That is the only pain that I actually felt. Sorry if that sounds horrible, not my intentions.

I just stuck with the diet they said, just one thing that they never told me. They tell you that you should suck on ice and popcicles and such. At the begining it was fine, but i ended up feeling more pain from cold things after a few days, so the warm things were better for me than the cold. I did use a cold pack on my throat though to help with the pain after waking up. I didnt get much sleep either during that time because of the fear of pain when i woke up.

I have percocet and it worked wonders.

Good luck though!

by Grlsniper, Nov 30, 2008 11:43PM
To: carole321
Gotta be honest.  I had mine at 36 and it was the most painful thing I have ever experienced.  I had 2 natural childbirths and they were a breeze in comparison.  I do not recommend it electively and would recommend a second opinion before proceeding.  Demand lts of pain meds!  Sorry to be so negative but this it a very painful procedure later in life.
Related discussions
Continue discussion
RSS Expert Activity
H1N1 and Our Pets
Nov 05 by Thomas Dock, Vet. Technician
In the ER: A Unicorn's Journey
Nov 03 by Jon Geller, D.V.M.
Doctors Resign Over Coca-Cola Fundi...
Nov 03 by Adam Tanase, D.C.