Adult Tonsil removal (tonsilectomy)

[adultswim]

Hey just a quick note here...and I will be doing some more research and provide more information.

**this comes with a commons sense disclaimer - talk to your doctor before taking anything you might be considering**

I had a very bad burn on my leg (2nd and 3rd degree) once and was told by my doctor who was not a big fan of the pharm companies to buy "real, natural (called RAW) honey. Apply to the wound area and than I had this fishnet stocking thing I wore over the bandage. It is antibacterial, promotes tissue healing, and reduces inflammation...and worked better than that Silver *something* cream. Sooooo I started thinking antibacterial, promotes tissue healing, and reduces inflammation well wouldn't that be beneficial to faster less painful recovery?

Also having a good body supply of vitamins A, C, Zinc and E all also promote faster healing to wounds and reduce recovery time for various traumas.

Again I am not a doctor but I will do some research and post what I find....it helps fill the time with something constructive other than worrying.

If anyone knows someone in a professional capacity they could ask about this as well I think that would also be nice.....

Anyway just a thought and trying to keep busy while coming up with a reschedule date.

[adultswim]

I just had another idea that might be helpful to everyone here. When posting about your post experience if you know and could list the method used for your tonsil removal it may be helpful. I never realized there were so many methods (Coblation, Laser, Cold Scalpel, Thermal Welding, Radiofrequency, Harmonic scalpel, Electrocautery) and all seem to have different pro's and con's related to them.

My doctor told me he would be using Coblation (does this seem to be the most common?) which reduces post operative pain and helps with recovery time in adults. I am starting to feel a little better about all of this.


Good luck to everyone....

[tony_220turbo]

Hi im tony from northwest of england. I had read this topic before i went in to have my tonsils removed last wednesday and have to admit i was very scared but i knew i had to have the op as i always get tonsillitis and antibiotics had stopped working!

went down to the theatre at 11.30 am on the wednesday after being at the hospital since 7am had a few pads stuck on me a thing put in my hand then an injection they said was water then i laid back let them do what they had to and thought they would be counting me backwards till i was asleep! i started counting backwards got to 0 and realised i wasnt asleep .... opened my eyes and realised i had already had the operation and i had woken up counting haha! i felt fine my throat was a little scratchy and everyone around me looked half dead but i got them to sit me up and was soon flirting with the nurse! I felt completely fine but the nurse said they had given me morphene when i was under so i thought the pain would start when it wore off! they gave me some paracetamol and phoned the ward.

went back up to the ward and my sister who is a nurse at the hospital came to see me i was fine chatting away! then my friend came to see me about an hour after i had been up and brought me grapes and cadburys chocolate buttons and some juice! they where soon all gone eating was fine... but i thought as soon as the pain killers where off the pain will start! then at dinner time i had a cheese and tomato sandwich 2 lots of cheese and crackers and a yoghurt. then in the evening my mum came to visit brought me some more chocolate which i started eating straight away! i was in hospital over night, kept on top of the paracetamol and felt ok slept fine all night then woke in the morning had some toast and orange juice for breakfast before the doctor came round and discharged me! after reading the story's on here and listening to my friends that had told me there experiences i was pretty shocked at the way i was feeling!

went home on the thursday morning the doctor said i have to stay in for a week and ill be off work for 2! so i went home with some dihydrocodiene paracetamol and ketoprofin! since then i havent really been in 2 much pain just kept on top of the pain killers prescribed and i went shopping to liverpool yesterday on day number 7!

so all im going to say to anyone worried about this operation is if u need it have it cos u just dont know what ur experience will be!

[lbabrams]

I have been reading on this forum for about a month now getting ready for my tonsillectomy.....I thought that researching the procedure would help me to get through it but now on day 6 of recovery I find that I think it scared me more than anything!  I will start out by saying that no it has not been pleasant (but what surgery is?) and that yes I did have some complications (none related to the surgery itself), but overall it has not been the experience that I was so dreading.  I am a 28 yr old female with a history of chronic strep throat and tonsillitis who had finally had enough of giving up months of my life to being sick and on antibiotics.  Honestly at this point the pain that I am feeling is comparable to a case of tonsillitis...nothing new right??...and I am only taking ibuprofen and Tylenol and swishing with viscous lidocain 

As I read through this forum I did find it interesting how different the recovery recommendations were from country to country and from surgeon to surgeon. You see I am in the U.S. and this surgery is a day surgery, that, is I arrived at the hospital at 10:45 am and was on my way home at 2:00 pm the same day.  Also, I have been advised to stay far away from anything hard and crunchy for up to month after surgery. I did have some complications that came about due to the fact that I have a very sensitive stomach and severe acid reflux, but a re admittance to the hospital and removing the narcotics and antibiotics from my system was a lifesaver. I had a two day period of time where I was vomitting uncontrollably and had had diarrhea from the word go, which not only meant dehydration but the vomitting meant no pain killers either.  FUN TIMES!! 

So, I guess I feel like everyone else on here, that I should provide some tips on getting through!!!

~ The viscous lidocain is a lifesaver...it numbs the throat so that you can take your pain meds and you don't have to ingest it for it to work, swish and spit:)

~ Keep ice packs around your neck for a few days...it really will help.  I had three sets so I always had a good cold pack.

~ Cool mist humidifier close by especially when you are sleeping to keep your throat moist.

~ Sleep, sleep, sleep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sooooooooo important don't fight it:)

~ If you have a sensitive stomach make sure you inform EVERYONE, taking painkillers on an empty stomach is just asking for it!  Surgeon,  anesthesiology (especially), recovery nurses, need to know. There are things that can help you get through without having to experience the pain of vomitting - which is much more painfull than the basic recovery pain - believe me!!

~ Find the temperature that is right for you!!  I liked everything really cold in the beginning, now on day 6 room temperature or a bit warmer is most comfortable.

~ Stay hydrated it is soooooo important. A few hours without liquids could do you in and hydration is a key to comfort. I really counted on crushed ice for the first 5 days:)

~ Eat, it will help you to tolerate your pain meds, will aid in hydration, and will speed up recovery.  Be sure to only eat things that are comfortable don't let your pain meds lull you into a false sense of security...you may do more harm than good.

~ Have friends and family available to help you out and thank them for putting up with you because you will undoubtedly become a pain in the you know what.

~ A good reclining chair is very handy...keeps you at a good incline to avoid mucus and coughing.

~ Try to stay in good spirits..it really hurts more if you cry!!! It will be over sooner than later and just think about the benefits:)

~ THINGS TO EAT:  applesauce, jello, Popsicles, mac and cheese, buttered noodles (slid right down), Gatorade, eggs, soup, broth, mashed potatoes, baby food...some of it really is not that bad.

~ THINGS NOT TO EAT:  Crunchy hard things, milk products for at least the first week because milk creates mucus...not good on the throat, acidic foods and sauces, anything with a lot of carbonation as burping will hurt, and anything that you try and find uncomfortable. Don't push it, a month without pizza never killed anybody:)


Well I hope this helps somebody!  I will post again when I am fully recovered with any additional info that might be helpful.

Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories:)

[sctrich720]

hey i just got my tonsils out 4 days ago, im 18, and i was wondering if anyone else has a little pain with deep breaths....almost at the very top of my lungs.

but other than that my symptoms have been basic, including ear ache soar throat real stiff neck i cant really talk when i drink water it likes to come out of my nose....but yesterday(day3) was the worst day so far....i felt run down and every thing hurt

[jpeshek]

I got a tonsillectomy and septioplasty to help resolve sleep apnea and general breathing problems.  I'm a 41 year old male, and have apparently not been through nearly as bad a process as some others I have read about on here.  I'm going to find out today what type of procedure was performed, and below you will find my story up until now (Day 8 )

[jpeshek]

Day of Operation – Feeling very little pain, came home, relaxed, had no problems drinking fluids, even ate cream of broccoli soup!  Foggy memory and trouble urinating, mostly due to anesthesia effects.

Post OP – Day 2 – Pain meds working for pain, but not sleeping well.  Fidgiting, restless, cleaned house, cut grass (riding mower!) ate scrambled eggs & grits, drinking lots of water, eating smoothies, soup, feeling well out-of-sorts though.  Slight trouble breathing through nose, due to crusties built up on splints.

Post OP – Day 3 – Still trouble urinating, still not sleeping well, still very restless.  Went to WalMart, played games, watched TV, pain still manageable through liquid hydrocodone, but the panicky “I can’t breathe” feeling is getting intolerable.  Not sure if it is pain meds or just swelling setting in, but cannot sleep at all.  No trouble drinking water, smoothies, popsicles, soups.  Ate eggs, hashbrowns, and sausage for dinner – no ill effects so far!  Follow up tomorrow with doctor to get splints removed.  When they fix a deviated septum, they put plastic splints on each side, then stitch the whole thing together like plywood so it will stay in place and heal properly….

Post OP – Day 4 – Showed up an hour early to my appointment (no sleep will do that to you).  Just want to breathe…  Take out splint #1, WOW!  That thing is huge – it resembles the cartilage inside a lobster claw; similar in size and shape!  About 2” long by 1” tall!  What’s that?  You can’t find splint #2?  WHAT DO YOU MEAN you can’t find it?  He says, “there are only so many places it can be and it’s not here – did you swallow it?” !!!  Then he says, with eyes wide open, “I’ve never had this happen before!”  Really!  Just me, huh?  We need to find it, and now.  So he explores with a lighted scope just about everywhere the scope will go, down my throat and all over my sinus, and concludes that it must have dislodged and went down my throat.  At least I can breathe.  What about my panicky episodes?  What about my uvula being the size of a ping pong ball? Why can’t I urinate properly?  Who will Obama choose to be Vice President of the United States?  Oh; you want to see me back in 10 days?  Fine.  Will try Darvocet instead of Loritab for pain.  Went home, throat swelling got worse as the day went on, so I called him back and he prescribed some steroids, which take three days to work.  No more pain meds – can’t handle the panicky feelings.

Post OP – Day 5 – Saturday!  Slept for 4 one-hour episodes, which is great!  Thought about taking some sleep meds, but worried about the throat swelling, which is getting worse.  Supposed to return to work Monday, so will run up to the office and see how it goes today.  Managed to check emails, voicemails, shuffle some paperwork, look at the clock, one hour.  OK that’s enough.  Another trip to WalMart, then home for the evening.  No pain meds for a day or so now, and not feeling too bad.  Throat is sore, can’t talk hardly at all, but not unbearable.  Starting to pee normally again.  Still able to drink lots of fluids, eat eggs & grits, soups, smoothies, and the popsicles help numb the oversized uvula.  C’mon, steroids….

Post OP – Day 6 – Sunday!  Slept for at least 8 or 9 one hour episodes!  Fantastic.  Pain and swelling the same, food and water intake the same, lost 10 lbs so far!  Getting scared reading the online forums about adult tonsillectomy’s and the dangers of days 7-12, like bleeding, cauterizations, ER visits, worsening pain, AUGH!  For me, so far so good, not nearly as bad as some cases I’ve been reading about.  Staying away from Advil, Aleve, Aspirin, and Alcohol because these thin the blood and can cause bleeding.  Going to the office again and see how long I can stand it.  Pretty sure I should have taken two weeks off instead of one, but we’ll see.  Made it 2 hours at the office, then visited friends and went grocery shopping.  Ok ok, I took a half-dose of pain meds.  About to go to bed and although the swelling hasn’t subsided yet (GRRR…c’mon steroids….) I felt pretty good today.  Tried to eat boneless chicken and mashed potatoes; only got a few bites of chicken down.  Had bean and bacon soup earlier, that was fine.  First day back to work tomorrow…

Post OP – Day 7 – Monday, first day back to work – forgot how much I have to talk at work.  Talking hurts, and by 9am I was reaching for my meds   Actually made it to 3:30 though, and ate pretty good today.   Had eggs for breakfast, two bananas, black bean soup, and mashed potatoes.  SO wanted to try a McDonalds double cheeseburger – even for just a couple bites, $1 is worth it ;-) but resisted the temptation.  Starting to feel the scratchies in my throat, and cold stuff is bothering me now.  Stayed medicated (half doses) most of the day, but the throat feels better, so the steroids might be starting to work on the swelling.  Took a short nap when I got home, gonna take a long one now and try again tomorrow.

[jpeshek]

Post OP – Day 8 – Tuesday, still very painful in the morning, but had eggs with cheese today, and CHINESE BUFFET FOR LUNCH!  Woo hoo.  Actually got full off of mushrooms, broccoli, egg drop soup, jello, and pudding!  It was heaven.  Steroids definitely making a difference, swelling is tolerable, just overall feeling better today.  Found out my procedure was a blunt dissection with cautery of the blood vessels.  Pretty close to cold scalpel, from what the MD says.  Anyone else go all the way through day 8 with no pooping?

[wishful]

Hi, I'm new to this. I have a severe case of acute tonsilitis. I was'nt able to speak, eat, or drink for two days, and is just now able to swallow without pain. I have been battling this for a long time and each time it gets worse. Well,now they tell me that I have to get mt tonsils removed within the next month. I'm not new to surgery and know that my recovery time is always much longer than expected because I'm a slow healer. I've been researching and reading, so I am very scared rght now and I have a month to get ready.

[jpeshek]

Post OP – Day 9 – Wednesday, best night sleep yet!  Talking much better, not near as much pain in the morning today, just feeling really good overall.  Best dinner yet – KFC!  Original, 5 pieces, with macNcheese, mashed potatoes, and a biscuit, plus two beers!  Actually tried a glass of wine last night, but it burned going down, so two sips was all that I could muster.  Didn’t know if it was the alcohol or the acidity that caused the problem, but I guess because the beer was ok tonite, it must have been the acid.  Breathing great, swelling is way down, and just mild sore throat pain is all that remains.  Just an FYI, if you are going to use soy milk in lieu of regular to avoid the throat phlegm caused by dairy products, use the sweetened kind, not the unsweet.  I learned the hard way making cream of broccoli soup.

[jpeshek]

Welcome to the forum wishful; lots of good information here, so dig in!

[jpeshek]

Post OP – Day 10 – Thursday, might as well say I’m at 90%.  Slept in a bed, functions are mostly back to normal, guess I’m just waiting for the sore throat to fade away.  Still under orders to take it easy, no strenuous activities, and acidic foods like wine still burn, but I’ll post back occasionally to share any new or different experiences.

[Listat18]

so yeah i gotta have my tonsils taken out. i had strep throat once and 2 paratonsillar absesses all in the time frame of a month an a half. and honestly i am scared as heck. i have never ever been put under for any surgery and i am freaked. especialy since they want to do a sleep study to see if i have sleep apnea. they told me i may have a lot of trouble breathing when i wake up if i do so they want to go on a machine when i sleep if i got it for a while before they will do the surgery because they said it can cause pulminary hypertension. they also want me on blood pressure medicine. can anyone tell me if they were told the same stuff about sleep apnea and if this is a normal precaution and also if you had sleep apnea how did it affect you when you awoke from the surgery.

[BQ91]

Hi, Wanted to give yall my expirence so far. THis site has really helped and I haave a questions that someone may be able to answer.

I am a 39 yr old white male, Had my Tonsils, adnodids, and Septem fixed. Did the Surgury last Friday August 8th. So I am on Day 7. Pain Free and no meds.

I will give a break down of each days expirence a little later. Right now My problem is Gag Reflex. THis si the grossed thing back there, I start to Gag and then throw up. It is Bad, this started yesterday and I have done it over ten Times now. I got Zero Sleep Last Night! Because if I feel asleep then I would wake up Gag and throwning up.

Last Eposode was a couple of hours ago, and there was no bright blood they warn you of, but not alot. We looked at the tonsils and you could see a small trickle , that has no stoped, so I  might be ok. If it bleeeds a little what is the best thing to Do? All I did was drink lots of Ice water.

Does anyone else ever had problems of Gag Reflex is there a trick or solution to stop it?

Also with a very liilt bleeding from the tonsils should I still be worred or am I ok? Like I said I think I stoped it. How long till this bad tasted and smell is gone, is this the scare stuff and it is coming off.

I will post me breakown later, when I have more time.. Sum things up My was not as bad as I thought it would be pain wise but I was not ready for the Gag flex problem

THanks,

Troy in Texas  

[lila12]

Just checking in with a small report.  I was an active poster here when I had my tonsils out in May 2006, and I just had my FIRST sore throat/cold since then, in late July 2008. This is an amazing, amazing thing, as I used to have step/tonsilitis/sore throat every 4-6 weeks like clockwork.

Getting my tonsils out was hands down the best thing I have done so far for my health. Best to everyone going through it now - it's so worth it!

BQ91 - are you sleeping with your head propped up on pillows? Perhaps your scabs are causing the bleeding/gagging.  I did not vomit at all, but I did take dramamine a couple times for nausa, which was recommended very early in this thread. Based on what you described it sounds like a different issue, and I think it couldn't hurt to call your doctor and review what is going on.

[Miserable23]

hi everyone,

I'm Emilee, and i'm 17 years old. I just had my tonsils/adenoids removed October 1st 2008. I'm not sure how often people come to this forum anymore, but I have a couple complaints, questions or whatever they turn out to be as I type them.

I had my tonsils taken out the 1st.
I came home about  6 that night, after having them removed at 11 that morning
I was okay, able to take medicine and eat some macaroni and cheese, guilty i got hungry from watching the food channel.

Thursday was the same, i was okay, but i started getting really disorientated and throwing up and bleeding, and i didn't know what was going on, but as the day went on i was okay. Kept taking medicine, went to sleep and ate some more macaroni stuff, seemed to be the only thing i could eat, i ate popsicles and jello all day too.

Friday, i didnt see the light of the day. I was miserable, very disorientated, very weak, very fragil and i'm a big ol soccer player and macho female so it was a step out of my comfort zone. went out to eat with family at ryans, was able to eat mashed patatoes, very soft carrots, soup, roll, just a few bites of each, then went to sonics for a banana milkshake. Passed out in the car on the way home, layed on the floor and watched a movie with my family

Saturday wass HORRIBLE, i figured i was suffering from the events from the day before. nauseaous, horrible headache, disorientated, woozy, just wanted to die. So i stopped taking my codine and took liquid tylonel. Seemed to be a diffrence but still felt horrible, just ate jello not even but two bites and that was all.

sunday was okay, throat didnt hurt real bad, ears were hurting and MAJOR headache still, the headache wasnt going away, was having hard time eating again, so i ate jello and popsickles then i felt like i was going to vomit so i stopped.

Last night, i woke up with this tightning feeling in my throat that i was choking, took some more tylonel and laid on the couch and fell asleep, woke up choking again, no blood, just a very sore painful spot in between my neck to my ear. VERY painful, feels like as if one tonsil fell off or something, laying here with Ice in between my throat and my chin, very bad headache and nauseous. babysitting 8 year old sister, MAJOR help..


it seems like its getting worst but yet better. "you get worst before you get better" that phrase true in this situation?? ive tried eating today, and i about died. I was struggling just taking my medicine, and i dont see my doctor until the 22nd and it's only the 6th. im tempted to call him about my headaches, these headaches are knocking me out and its scaring me and it HURTS

any advice??

im using icepack, seems to help a little, right now im MISERABLE and i cant eat nor can i swallow

[CazAngel]

Hi, hun.. It sounds like you may need to check in with a dr, none of us are dr's and can say for sure. I, myself had bad effects, had to go to the ER. I hope things workout for you.

[Stunt Man]

I remember thinking I had tonsillitis, I went to the doctor and he said I didn't even have any  Is that even possible? turned out I had glandular though 

[BestnameICouldFind]

Hello Everyone, I'm a 23 Year Old Male, with a very bad case of SLEEP APNEA, My tonsils were huge!!! and could not breathe out of my right nostril, it was completely shut,  I read many user's stories in this topic before having my surgery last week on Oct 7th, I had a tonsillectomy, had my adenoids removed, and septum corrected, I am now on day 7, and i have yet to feel any real pain, i was prescribed Vicodin, and Antibiodics, i have been taking the antibiodics daily, but have yet to take a vicodon, I want to believe that im Lucky, and that my healing process has been a very fortunate one, but I have a feeling my worst days are yet to come. The only real problem i had was having to stay in the hospital an extra night, I had a fever because of the anesthesia, while in the hospital for 2 days, I had to keep using this little Suction tool (like they use at the dentist) because of my constant saliva build up, it was getting to the point where i would wake up because i was choking(i couldnt breathe through my nose). The only point in my day that i feel any real pain is when i wake up from my sleep, i wake up with a really dry throat  and that usually goes away after 5 minutes i'll drink a bottle of water and have a smoothie. Luckily I have been able to sleep a full 8 hours.

As far as my diet, im now starting to get an appetite, I just didnt feel like eating, for the first few days... I would just have water and popsicles,  on a daily basis ill usually go Jamba Juice have a smoothie, and soup, and as of yesterday i started eating bread, I just finished having a little bit of turkey chili 

Overall im hoping for a fast recovery, my voice sounds kind of strange still  (normal i suppose), but again i have yet to be in any unbearable pain, where i need some medication (and am hoping this is as bad as it will get) the only thing that has really bothered me about this whole situation was my ENT, the guy was a total scumbag, moneyhungry and not a real people person in general (he said I asked too many questions)  , i did a little research and he did have many years experience which was a probably the only reason i did go through with him, but due to lack of time because of work, and money i didnt want to have to schedule more appts to find another ENT.

Good luck to anybody in the future getting the operation, thanks to everyone who shared their stories,  if you have any questions feel free to ask

[CazAngel]

Wow.. Thank you for sharing your story. It is amazing that you had no pain, I thought mine would kill me, at the time after I had mine. As to the comment of doctors being money-hungry, it seems that is true with so many anymore, it is sad what some of the medical profession has become, more about money than helping people, which is very sad.