Adult Tonsil removal (tonsilectomy)

[bewofthe]

Whee, I'm so totally new.

I'm 17, and throughout my life I'm often had fevers accompanied by enlarged tonsils. Bugged me so much. I just got sick recently and am getting over it, but my tonsils are still so huge it's hard to talk and super hard to swallow. My right tonsil has gotten so big it's literally touching my uvula. This is it. I really want a tonsilectomy, but I also sing, and perform in musicals. If I get a tonsilectomy, what effect will it have on my voice? Advice is greatly appreciated.

: )

i was searching for a friend. I am also a performer and sing. have for the last 10 yrs. I am 44. I had mine out _at_ 17 and I swear I almost bled to death. Dr. was um alseep at the wheel? I lived obviously but remember how sick I was. It was raw. I then became very ill, as the doc never perscribed any antibiotics, when my buddys dr stopped by to visit me, he became my dr. I did however end up fine. My singing voice remained the same. I was a cig smoker then, and after 33 years of THAT. my voice is still ok.. so you'll be ok. don't push your voice at first, and whispering is not good. try talking like you have a baratone voice. but quietly. whispering requires more air, and you are constricting your throat (i think) to actually whisper. peace.

[peterb]

Hi bewofthe

A warm welcome to the forum.

[livnatural]

I had my tonsils out March 14th.  They did not tell me to eat anything rough... reading that here was news to me! 
I have to say, if I had ANY idea it would be this bad, I would have NEVER had the tonsilectomy.

I suffered from chronic infections, and constent enlarged tonsils, which caused me to want the surgery. 

It has been 10 days, 10 lbs, and a LOT of pain later, and I feel worse than I did the day after surgery.  The day OF surgery, I had Demerol and Vikeden, so I felt fine.  My at home pain killers do not scratch the surface of the pain.  I can't eat anything but cream of wheat.  Drink anything but water (tepid). 

Last week, I could eat popsicles and smoothies, NOW I can't even handle that. 

I don't know what to do.  My doctor says it's normal to have this pain for up to 14 days, but I feel like it is worse than he realizes. 

[peterb]

Hi livnatural 

Welcome to the forum.

[choitoy]

Hi everyone.

I guess I'm on here cause I need a support group.  I got a tonsilectomy, adeniodectomy, uvula excision, and soft palette trim on march 23.  It has been 5 days now, and it is still torture.  The pain from the sides of my mouth (tonsils) has finally subsided a little bit, but my soft palette area is still killing me.  I really haven't been eating or drinking much since I got back home (which is probably quickly leading to dehydration, but everytime i try to swallow, it's like i'm trying to get a tennis ball down my throat, and that's after taking my oxycotin!!!).

I'm 26, and I got the surgery due to chronic obstructive sleep apnea (for those of you with CPAP machienes, I was on 20, and it still didn't completely get rid of my apnic moments.)

I'm finally able to get popsicles down, but with the soft palette trim, when I drink water, it feels like it wants to come back up my nose, which makes me want to cough, which is even worse pain than trying to drink the water in the first place.

I'm not mad (though in hindsight, I wish I could have told my doc to leave my soft palette alone, and just do the other stuff), but I would sell my soul right now just to feel normal again.  I crave pizza so much right now, it's not even funny!!!

[Gobe]

 

Welcome to Skincell Choitoy!

That sounds really painful!

I can relate to your pain, a little, because I had the skin on my soft palate removed a few years ago and it hurt.  Are you wearing a mouth shield to protect your palate until it heals?  That is what I had to do.

It sounds like you are going through a really rough time right now but hopefully with each new day you will feel a little better.

 

PS

I had both my adenoids and tonsils removed when I was a child and all I remeber was it hurt when I ate my ice cream and jelly.  That is what they gave you to eat afterwards.

[choitoy]

Are you wearing a mouth shield to protect your palate until it heals?  That is what I had to do.

Nope, they just sent me home the next day without telling me anything.  My doctor did warn that it probably would hurt more from the palate trim than the tonsilectomies, due to threre being more nerves and muscles involved, but if I had known it would still be so painful, I probably wouldn't have done it.  I still wonder why she went ahead with the soft palate trim, since on her assessment a week before the surgery, she said that the palate looked fine, and that she would probably only remove the uvula, but then she actually ended up removing it.

By the way, is it normal for that area to look a little white? I don't thin it's swollen and pussy, and I don't have a fever or pain in the surrounding areas, just my palate area, so I don't think it's an infection, but I didn't get a good look at that area post surgery, and I only decided to look back there today, and it looked a little whitish around the sutures...

[Celery Peach]

  choitoy

I'm sorry, that sounds so painful. I had my tonsils and adonoids removed when I was a kid and I still remember the pain, to have all that extra on top must be hell. 

What did concern me about your post was the mention of white areas. The thing that springs to mind is oral thrush. I would hate to think you have that too, to add to your pain. It might be wise to just have your doc take a look ? Especially if you have had antibiotics recently. You should be getting better each day, not worse.

Get Well Soon ! and just think how good that Pizza will taste when you are eventually well enough 

[Gobe]

.

By the way, is it normal for that area to look a little white? I don't thin it's swollen and pussy, and I don't have a fever or pain in the surrounding areas, just my palate area, so I don't think it's an infection, but I didn't get a good look at that area post surgery, and I only decided to look back there today, and it looked a little whitish around the sutures...

Well my palate looked a pale yellow colour but I did have the skin removed so I was prepared for a scary sight.  I did not have any stitches after and maybe that is why I had to wear the mouth shield.  I will tell you this tho my mouth felt really tender and painful for a few days.  I was also advised to rinse my mouth with a weak salt water solution to aid healing. 

 

 

[seele]

Just wanted to let you know . . . white is normal.  I just had my tonsils out on the 24th, the dr said there would be huge white patches where they were removed (and they appeared as promised) but that it is nothing to be concerned with, it's what the area should look like while healing.  He also said that there would be an "odor" associated with healing, ewwww!  I haven't noticed it, but have felt too self concious about anyone getting near my mouth to get a second opinion.  Everything tastes slightly bitter that should taste sweet and water tastes god awful!  Anyone with me on that? 
I feel a little better hearing that some places advise eating toast, I was ravenous yesterday and ate some crusty bread that came with takeout and and am everlastingly sorry today.  I am glad to think that I didn't do any major damage, but cannot imagine that eating toast would be a bright idea, and from now on will faithfully stick to my dr's advisement for a soft diet. 
I think my biggest complaint about the procedure is as a (now-ex) smoker.  I didn't quit until I literally was wheeled into the operating room, which I am sure was a mistake.  I am now coughing all the tar and goodies out of my lungs while trying to recover from the surgery and I don't think it's helping.  Also, don't go with the patch as a coping mechanism, I tried it the first day after surgery and threw up everywhere after having it on for a couple hours thanks to my small size (105lb), painkillers mixed with general anesthesia, and not having anything in my stomach.  Anyone wanna guess how painful that was?  Nicorette gum is much better. 
I'm also wondering if anyone has any thoughts about why the pain is worse upon just waking up in the am (I haven't been sleeping straight through the night, so I don't think it's the vicodin wearing off)?  Oh, by the way, I'm 21 and got 2 wks off work, I was planning on enjoying them more and am getting rather disgruntled by my lack of progress.  I'll write in again with anything new, I'm sure I'll be glad I did this when it's over (major reason for surgery was sleep apnea followed closely by chronic tonsillitis), but I'm not thrilled with it right now.

[Gobe]

I'm also wondering if anyone has any thoughts about why the pain is worse upon just waking up in the am

Just a thought but I have often noticed that if I go to sleep breathing through my mouth (I often have a blocked up nose) that I often wake up with a really dry mouth.  So if your mouth gets dry I am thinking that this might somehow dry up the healing skin and cause it to feel more sensitive???




 

[choitoy]

I forgot to mention that I also got some radiofrequency ablasion to the lower turbinates of my nose, because my nose is in a constant stuffed up state.

My nose doesn't bother me at all, but it does cause the back of my throat to dry out if I have been either mouthbreathing, or nose breathing for too long.  There is like no humidity in my house.  And my parents do own a cold mist humidifier, but it is barely helping.

It can probably be cured with more liquids, but a tthe rate that's going...

I do see the doctor tomorrow morning for my week followup, so sopefully she'll give me some good news

But at the rate I'm going, it almost seems like I want to take a third week off, but I don't think I have enough sick/vacation time to cover it all.  What's worse is that I'm an x-ray technologist, so I have to talk all day to give patients positioning instructions and breathing instructions.  I've always been known as a quiet guy, but now that I can't talk very well...

Anyways, thanks for all your guys' support and comments.  It has been much appreciated. 

(p.s.  I also thought it could be oral thrush, but I don't think so, since my breath doesn't smell or taste necessarily bad, which I know would be another sign of infection.)

[psirosisvirgin]

My wee brother had his tonsils removed when he was about 5, I will never forget when he came out of the operation i was standing with my dad waiting for him (I was 7) I took one look at him and stamped my foot shouting 'Why has he had choclate and not me!'
My dad told me it was not chocolate round his mouth it was blood! I think back now at what a spoilt little brat i must of been!

[egr120]

I had my tonsils removed on March 21.  The surgery went well although my doctor said I bled more then expected.  They also removed a growth on my soft palate which turned out to be benign which is a relief.  They removed them cause my left one was chronically enlarged and I was having a lot of problems with the left side of my jaw.  The jaw pain has decreased a lot since getting them out.
The first 2 days after surgery I was in a lot of pain but thanks to liquid percocet I thought I would be fine soon.  the 3rd through 7th day were pure hell.  I couldnt eat or drink, I barely swallowed saliva.  I survived on slurpees and a little bit of ice cream when I felt I needed something heavier.  I lost 7 lbs in 7 days.  The morning of the 8th day I woke up at 4am coughing, I went into the bathroom really nauseus and looked in the mirror, my mouth was full of blood.  It was so gross I almost passed out so we went to the ER.  That afternoon my dr cauterized the site and I have been feeling better since.  I am finally eating soft solid foods, like potatos and pastas.  It is now day 10.  My throat is sore but I feel better then I have the past week and a half.  I'm 24 years old, I wouldn't want to go through this again. 

[choitoy]

I had my tonsils removed on March 21.  The surgery went well although my doctor said I bled more then expected.  They also removed a growth on my soft palate which turned out to be benign which is a relief.  They removed them cause my left one was chronically enlarged and I was having a lot of problems with the left side of my jaw.  The jaw pain has decreased a lot since getting them out.
The first 2 days after surgery I was in a lot of pain but thanks to liquid percocet I thought I would be fine soon.  the 3rd through 7th day were pure hell.  I couldnt eat or drink, I barely swallowed saliva.  I survived on slurpees and a little bit of ice cream when I felt I needed something heavier.  I lost 7 lbs in 7 days.  The morning of the 8th day I woke up at 4am coughing, I went into the bathroom really nauseus and looked in the mirror, my mouth was full of blood.  It was so gross I almost passed out so we went to the ER.  That afternoon my dr cauterized the site and I have been feeling better since.  I am finally eating soft solid foods, like potatos and pastas.  It is now day 10.  My throat is sore but I feel better then I have the past week and a half.  I'm 24 years old, I wouldn't want to go through this again. 

I'm glad to know you are feeling better.  I hope you are fully recouperated soon!

To update you guys on my process, on wednesday, I went in for my 1 week checkup.  The 2 days before Wednesday, I felt like I was at death's door.  I had no energy, I could barely talk, I haven't had anything orally except for my antibiotic and oxycotin.  I was a mess.

I went in to my doctor, she looked at everything, and she says except for the dehydration, I'm doing fine.  So she decided to put me on some IV fluids there in the office.  The nurses came in, and as soon as they poked me, I had a vasovagal reaction (nausea, wanting to faint, lowered blood pressure, etc.), which was the first time I ever experienced that.

Well 2 hours later (and about 2 500cc bags of liquid into me), I feel like a new man.  I was able to eat pudding yesterday, I drank some ensure with about 3/4ths a bottle of water, and at night, I was even able to eat about a spoonful of tuna.  My soft palate is strarting to hurt less (my doctor says that it was hurting because the tissues were still very swollen, and the stitches were causing the muscle to tense up, so as they loosened it would be easier to swallow.)

So it seems that I'm starting to make my way onto the road to recovery.  I guess that IV really helped, since I was so dehydrated that everything hurt, but now I feel the best I've been since the surgery.

I'll let you guys know how the next week goes.  Thank you all who have written into this thread for your support, and similar experiences.  It has helped me get through this period knowing that many others have gone through the same pain.  Big hugs to everyone!!!

[legldiva]

Well, I'm the newby to the forum.  I had my tonsils removed yesterday on April 1st.  The surgery went fairly well, I think.  I am a big water drinker so getting the cold ice water down was a cinch!  I was still pretty drugged from the meds from the hospital yesterday and began the Roxicet at home last night.  Yes, it took the edge off, but I still have a bad sore throat.  What's the problem with getting my urine flow moving with drinking all this water??

Ok, day 2 and I did not sleep well last night and the pain seems to be getting a little worse.  As I read your comments, I started to wonder what I have gotten myself into this time.  I guess I won't be making my business trip on 4/10...ambicious, huh???

I did have ice cream, snack peaches and mashed potatoes today.  Wow, on a regular day, I'd think I had been starving myself but today, I feel like I've eaten alot considering I don't feel like eating. 

I pray that tomorrow gets better....and every day after that....leaves the pain behind and I stop feeling any.  Wishful thinking...but a girl has gotta have something to look forward to. 

I'll keep you posted on how recovery goes! 

[RainForestDweller]

I had my tonsils and adenoids out at 5 (in Germany).
When I was in my late teens (19-ish I think?) I went to the Dr. because my throat was sore, he said tonsilitis.  He figured a bit of tonsil had been left and now I have tonsils again. Ick.

[jcadman]

My daughter (aged 16) had her tonsils out on 1st April. She is in a lot of pain and keeps vommiting. Is this usual? We had to get the doctor out yesterday to give her an injection to stop the sickness.
Also she still feels very light headed and "weird".
Are these symptoms usual?
I am trying to keep fluids and salt and vinegar crisps (recommended by the hospital) going but I am getting a lot of resistance.
She is taking pain killers every 3 to 4 hours and drinking water or lemonade.
It feels a bit scary looking after her at home. Anyone got any tips?

[legldiva]

I would steer clear of anything hard or scratchy.  I haven't had anything.  I am not nauseated at all.  Praise the Lord!

I drink lots of water.  I sip it as often as I move, to keep going to the bathroom.  Skip the lemonade.  It has citrus in it.   I haven't had much to eat.  DelMonte Peaches (snacks), ice cream, popsicles, and I tried mashed potatoes.  Very little though...not a lot.  Just enough to keep me going. 

Just keep her drinking...and keep calling the doctors if you aren't comfortable.

Today, I am hurting pretty bad and my ears are hurting too.  I have even begun losing my voice.  What's that all about???

[choitoy]

My daughter (aged 16) had her tonsils out on 1st April. She is in a lot of pain and keeps vommiting. Is this usual? We had to get the doctor out yesterday to give her an injection to stop the sickness.
Also she still feels very light headed and "weird".
Are these symptoms usual?
I am trying to keep fluids and salt and vinegar crisps (recommended by the hospital) going but I am getting a lot of resistance.
She is taking pain killers every 3 to 4 hours and drinking water or lemonade.
It feels a bit scary looking after her at home. Anyone got any tips?

Salt and vinegar crisps?  That would be horrible!!!
First of all, salt usually iriitates fresh wounds, and vinegar is an acid.  I coulnd't even fathom the thought of having orange juice after my surgery (and I used to drink about two large glasses of OJ a day).  I can even barely have Fruit Puch flavored gatorade.  The little bit of citric acid in there really irratates my throat still, and it has been 11 days since my surgery.  No wonder she is still resisting.

I would recommend trying to cut out any of the acidic stuff for at least a week post surgery, and sticking to stuff like vanilla puddings, mashed potatoes, non-citrus jellos, etc.  Oh, and it's good that she's trying to drink water.  Don't be like me and dehydrate yourself (especially if she is vomiting).  And take it slow, don't force her to eat too many solids and acidic stuff is she doesn't feel like it the first week.  But stay hydrated.  That might explain the light headedness of she's starting to dehydrate (i felt fain a number of times when I wasn't drinking as much as I should have).  It could also be a side effect of the pain medication.

Tell her good luck.  It's been 11 days since my tonsil/adenoid/uvula-ectomies, and I am finally felling well enough to eat toast (well, after it has been moisturized down by my saliva, and chased down with a lot of water after each bite.)