Mutant Tonsils

[lettripp]

I just got back from the ENT and found out I have to have my tonsil's out. I know it is minor surgery, but from everything I've been reading (I Google way too much) it sounds like it is going to be horribly painful for at least a week. The point is, I'm very nervous. The surgery isn't for a month but I wanted to post on the "happiest message board on earth" to see if I can get some advice and insider tricks from anyone who has gone through the surgery as an adult before...

*fingers crossed* that it won't be as bad as I'm making it out to be in my head!

[Ian]

Ugh ... I'm the wrong guy to ask. I'm good for one strep throat every year and my GP keeps telling me I should have mine out, but at my age the last thing I need is elective surgery so I keep putting him off.

Let me know how it is ... maybe I'll stop being such a chicken. :blush:

[Donald]

Yes it is going to be uncomfortable, maybe even painful; but, aren't all of those bouts with strep uncomfortable? Think about how many weeks you suffer from strep and compare it to one week post op.

Good luck with your recovery! All you need is a Mickey bar! :bar:

[laprana]

I haven't had my tonsils out myself, but I worked with a lady who had them out a couple of years ago. She said it was painful afterwards, like a bad sore throat, but she was back at work 2 days after the surgery. Some of the things she did to alleviate the discomfort were to take the pain medication her doctor gave her (I don't remember exactly what it was, but I don't think it was anything too terribly powerful), eat a liquid/soft diet for the first few days afterwards, use a throat numbing spray like Chloroseptic, and she said one of the things that helped the most was to eat popsicles and ice cubes. She was back to normal within a week and after the surgery had much fewer throat infections and sore throats. Hope this helps and :pixie: that everything goes well!

[Mom to a Princess and a Prince]

I had mine out when I was 16, which was A LOT of years ago!:secret: Honestly, it wasn't all that bad. Did it hurt? YES! Was it worth it? YES!!!!!!! I would do it again in a heart beat. I had strep throat and tonsilitis practically all the time. My tonsils were chronically giant! Now I can't tell you the last time I had strep. I still get the occasional sore throat but they pale in comparison to what I used to have. Plus, I lost 15 lbs! So the good far outweighed the bad! Go for it and good luck!

[Granny Jill A]

My daughter had hers out when she was 19, and it was a very rough week for her. I think she suffered more from the effects of anesthesia rather than the actual surgery. She said her throat was raw for about 3 days and then sore for about 7 more.

My granddaughter had hers out when she was 10, and she had about one day of really raw throat followed by merely sore the rest of the week. Again, the anesthesia seemed to affect her more than the surgery.

Good luck and just be prepared for the worst. If it's not that bad, you can count your lucky stars.

[Jeri]

Not as an adult, but my son had his out at 5 and the ENT had told us to help with the raw throat and pain, and to help speed up recovery he should chew gum a lot after.

He still took the pain meds, and ate ice cream and all that, but when he was just laying around watching TV he was chewing gum.
They say it keeps the throat from getting dry and helps to keep the jaw from tightening up after being held open for surgery.

Just thought I would offer that bit of advice. Oh, and he was down for about a week. He would have good days then a bad one, but nothing too terrible.

Good Luck.

[JanetMegan]

Copying and pasting from a thread about a year ago...didn't feel like re-typing (lazy!)

Ah tonsils...one of my favorite subjects. I had mine out at about 24. (7 years ago) I won't lie either, it was bad. At once point I actually begged my mother to shoot me, really. BUT I would do it all over again in a heartbeat, I am SOOO much healthier since having them out. I just wish I had done it sooner.

A couple tips...

1. As someone mentioned earlier lukewarm or room temp foods are your best friends. I was very sensitive to very hot or cold things. I didn't want any ice cream or anything hot. Just room temp juices, and some creamy soups at room temp as well. I actually stayed hot/cold sensitive for a long time and still don't care for ice water-weird huh?

2. Your worst days will not be at the beginning. Your worst days will be days 7-10. I didn't believe the doctor when he told me this but he was right. I told another Intercotee this a couple years ago and she PM'd me later and told me I was right So just be prepared. You won't feel that bad at first but it gets worse before it gets better.

3. When the scabs come off, it's gross. Not to go too much into details here on the cot, but it sort of freaked me out. But after that I was doing much better.

If you have any other questions feel free to drop me a PM. Like I said, it was bad. It was. BUT it was SOOOO worth it!

[garymacd]

They used to give you ice cream when you had them out!

Of course, that way (oh no!) about 50 years ago.

Where did the time go?




oh, yeah, I forgot about all that stuff in between...

[lettripp]

Thank you guys for the awesome advice! I'm still nervous but it is nice to know there are ways of making it a bit easier :-) I will keep you posted on how things go...

I'll be honest, one of my remaining worries is how things are going to be once I'm back at work. I'm a teacher and rely heavily on my voice. I am scheduled to return on day 11 after surgery - should I plan to modify my lessons to avoid talking or will that be painless by then?

[lettripp]

The mutant tonsils are no more! Got them out yesterday. Will say I'm in a TON of pain but rainbow sherbet and ice water have become my new best friends. Going to enjoy reading the boards while I'm laid up this week.

[mickeys_princess_mom]

SENDING YOU LOTS OF PIXIEDUST!! :pixie:
Glad it's behind you, and hope you have an easy time. My oldest had hers out when she was five--a breeze!! Up playing games and eating popsicles that afternoon. Other two had them out in early twenties. Different story. I would say day five area may be the hardest part. Get some help--I see you're a teacher :high5:, and I don't know if you have kids of your own, but you will just need to care of you, and have someone else making sure you're drinking enough, etc. You may put up a fight. ;) My son at one point told me (writing) to just put him in the hospital and hook him up to IV, he was miserable trying to eat and drink anything. We did the happy dance and celebrated when he ate a soggy Cheerio at last! :dance: Take care--I promise you'll be much better in the long run. Take it easy your first days back at work. I have to baby my vocal cords a couple of times a year as whenever I get a little sick it affects them. I taught Thursday with no voice at all, and just stayed home yesterday. Have actually had to start school first three days one year with zero voice. Junior high--sixth grade. Did it. :mickey: Enjoy some peace and quiet and lots of Intercot! Let us know how you're doing! Plan your next trip! :wave:

[mickeys_princess_mom]

How are you feeling? Just checking on you! :wave:

[lettripp]

I really appreciate you checking in :-) This is also the first time I got to see your post "MPM" and it really made my night!

I'm doing o.k.... I'm going into day 4-5 post surgery (depending if you count the surgery day) and today was the roughest so far. The pain was resonating in my ears and ice water, which was once my best friend in this process, sends screaming signals to my brain! I'm writing almost everything I say on a white board (you can take the teacher out of the classroom but... ;)) and am lucky to have amazing parents who, even though I'm all moved out and such, have taken me under their wings once again :D. I am happy to report that I strayed from the sherbet and jello today and had some eggs and mac-n-cheese and even though it is extremely painful to swallow, I was so hungry that I just dealt with it and had a (relatively) full stomach for the first time in days.

I am nervous about tomorrow and the days after because I can tell that the really painful change in the healing process is beginning and I'm worried about how much more painful this can get, but in the meantime I have lesson planning and vacation planning to keep me busy (I can't even begin to think about where my voice is going to be when I get back to work on Monday. I'm thinking I may need to teach via Microsoft word and a projector!!).

Thanks again for checking in! ! I will keep you posted on how things progress!

[TinkerbellT421]

Just saw this post from beginning to end and just wanted to say I hope you feel better and recover quick!! :mickey: I have sore throats and tonsilitis a couple of times a year and not once has my doctor told me to get my tonsils out....Im wondering if suggesting this might make those horrible strep throats and tonsilitis go away!! I get it soooo bad!! :(

[sherriepaul]

I have appt. with ENT next week, I'm hoping he will say no leave in those tonsils, because of our WDW trip later this year it so is not in the budget!

[lettripp]

I have to say that as I'm starting to feel better, it is much more clear that this surgery will totally be worth it in the end! Yea, there was a slight financial expense and this week has been miserable, but I'm never going to get tonsillitis again and that means everything!

As far as suggesting it to the ENT: I never suggested it - he took one look at my throat and said he wished I had come to him years ago. Sometimes it is about seeing the right Doc... if you have concerns about your throat I highly suggest seeing a specialist!

On that note, I will say the pain is starting to become manageable... still not fun but when the meds are working I can swallow and talk which is a major improvement! And yea, reading the posts and looking at Disney pics has totally made my time on the couch more fun :mickey:

[TinkerbellT421]

I have to say that as I'm starting to feel better, it is much more clear that this surgery will totally be worth it in the end! Yea, there was a slight financial expense and this week has been miserable, but I'm never going to get tonsillitis again and that means everything!

As far as suggesting it to the ENT: I never suggested it - he took one look at my throat and said he wished I had come to him years ago. Sometimes it is about seeing the right Doc... if you have concerns about your throat I highly suggest seeing a specialist!

On that note, I will say the pain is starting to become manageable... still not fun but when the meds are working I can swallow and talk which is a major improvement! And yea, reading the posts and looking at Disney pics has totally made my time on the couch more fun :mickey:

So happy to hear your doing better!!! :mickey:

[Jasper]

Good to hear you are on the mend.

I had mine out a few years ago and didn't think it was too bad. But then again, I have had over twenty back surgeries in the last ten years so I am used to the pain.

Good luck.

[lettripp]

Those who are weak of stomach may not want to read on...

Going to post a bit of a warning for anyone considering having this surgery: There is an increased risk of severe bleeding in adults so be sure you are absolutely positive about going through with this procedure before you do. This recovery has not been easy (by any means) and just when I thought it was over, I discovered the "risk." My point is... talk to you doctor about the risks and what you can do to prevent them... and be sure you take plenty of time off from work to recover!