Surgery!

[Matwilliams91]

Anyone here had a tonsillectomy? I'm having minor ear surgery Monday, and have the option to get tonsils removed. I get tonsillitis around 5 or 6 times per year. I've spoken to the ent specialist, he is happy to take them out, just wondering if anyone else has had theirs out and any advice they can offer.

[Giant Cranium]

get them out. my sister had them out at the start of the year and has not even had a cold since then. said she has never felt better and thinks she may have always been run down but assumed it was normal

[Sprint]

its not minor sugery and it hurts like hell.

[2011G6E]

Luckily I was of the generation where as soon as you had a few problems with them, they would whip them out as a matter of course. I had them out when I was eight way back in 1973.

Whereas our oldest son suffered through years of tonsil infections before finally a doctor agreed to take them out when he as about 14, and he's been great ever since.

Get it done...you won't look back.

Be prepared to eat plenty of ice cream and jelly...

[MWTB]

I'd say do it. Only downside is that nurses usually don't look like the internet will have you believe :\

[Matwilliams91]

I went in to hospital 2 months ago, had a Quincey (spelling?) on my tonsil, the nurses WERE like on tv! Amazing.

[Matwilliams91]

I mean the internet,my dr was not House.

Ear surgery is getting a grommet put in. Not concerned about this. I know I need tonsils out, but it's convincing myself to commit to getting them out. So many negative stories will throw anyone off. I believe i had a high pain threshold (many years of welding burns) but I'm sure this will be a new pain altogether.

[ebxr8240]

Just make sure the ectomy is in correct part of the body ..

[Matwilliams91]

Originally Posted by Sprint

its not minor sugery and it hurts like hell.

Do you know from experience? Please explain your experience, I'm interested to hear. Appreciated!
Thanks.

[seedywagon]

It hurts a lot if you're older, I'm not quite sure why. You'll be knocked out and everything while they do it, but you'll be out of action for at least a week (at home) eating soft and cold foods.
If you leave them as they are, you'll probably keep getting sicker, so it's best you get them out.

[seedywagon]

Think of it as the worst sore throat you'll ever have, it's not THAT bad.

[2011G6E]

Think of it like this: short term discomfort (yes, discomfort...painkillers are a hell of a lot better now than they were when most of us were younger and only had Disprin or Aspirin for pain) for long term gain. Once they're gone, you never have to worry about them again.

[mickbundy]

Yeah I had my tonsils out when I was around 38 years old .I started getting Quincy's and these would burst get better and then about a week later would start again was a vicious cycle,and a lot of pain. And yes the after affects of the operation was a bit painful ,it was no where near as painful as the Quincy was. And the up side is I have only ever had a sore throat about 3 times in the last 15 years so yeah a sore throat for a week,and then no more sore throats for years is surely a good thing.Good luck with it all

[Matwilliams91]

Booked in! Monday Morning for surgery, removal of tonsils and tubes placed in ears. Hopefully in 2 weeks i can report i am 100% well.
Thanks those that commented with their stories, helped me to make a decision.
I am nervous, yes, not a fan of hospitals and sleeping in a bed which is not mine (not to mention the bleeding that 1 in 5 experience).
Thanks again FF!

[Matwilliams91]

Recovering in hospital after having them removed at 12pm yesterday! Just feeling a major discomfort at the moment, taste of blood (vomiting all night) with NExt to no sleep. Home in an hour, for a nice long recovery! And advice for the next few days would be good!

[mickbundy]

Mate just go home and take it easy, yes it will be sore for a couple of days but will be worth it in the long run.Also don't be scared to eat and drink even though swallowing is hard, and no doubt they have told you to eat normally like toast and stuff. Or has this changed again ? once upon a time it was ice cream and jelly.I was told toast and stuff to stop scabs forming on the throat where the tonsil was removed helps with the scar tissue. But yeah just relax and take it easy and enjoy the thought that the sore throats are gone Cheers

[galaxy xr8]

I had mine removed 4 yrs ago, the night I was in hospital was the best night sleep I had ever had, apart from the nurse coming in every now and then to do her ob's.
The hardest part is a few day's afterward's when they start to scab up, like has been mentioned you are supposed to eat solid's to prevent scar tissue which was hard as chewing was fine, it's just the swalllowing, that was a little painfull.
I found that mashed up party pies tasted good.......lol.

[Matwilliams91]

Haha mashed up party pies sounds like its the way to go! Only 9 days recovery (hopefully, if all goes well) then back to work!

And I was told the same, toast is good to eat (they brought around a roast chicken breast with mash, gravy, and vegetables 3 hours after operation, safe to say I turned it away)

[hawkgirl]

Glad to hear it went well for you.

[GK]

Glad to hear you've had the op and it's going well.

My daughter suffered terribly with tonsillitis for a few years, and we finally got so sick and tired of her being sick and tired that we got them taken out.

She hasn't looked back.

Hope your experience is similar.

GK

[BA Turbo]

i want mine taken out now!!!!!!

but i cant due to blood thinners life isn't fair :(

[Matwilliams91]

Pain has definitely increased since leaving hospital. Taking usual pain meds as prescribed, but I cannot swallow food or water. It's a struggle. Getting a humidifier, hopefully that will keep things a bit humid throughout the night and save me mass amounts of pain. Will check in again when I wake up!

[u2canb12]

I hope you can get plenty of drugs to manage the pain and you have an uncomplicated recovery. Probably look back in a week and wonder what all the worry was about and enjoy better health and well being :-)

[karj]

Originally Posted by Matwilliams91

Pain has definitely increased since leaving hospital. Taking usual pain meds as prescribed, but I cannot swallow food or water. It's a struggle. Getting a humidifier, hopefully that will keep things a bit humid throughout the night and save me mass amounts of pain. Will check in again when I wake up!

When I had my tonsils out, I was prescribed endone and panadeine forte which I alternated to keep the pain at bay. Although it was still painful, I found it to be relatively effective. I also deliberately set my alarm at night to wake up when due for pain meds (rather than allowing myself to wake up in pain). Kept this up for about 2-3 weeks before able to return to work.

[Matwilliams91]

Okay, I'm roughly at day 2.5, after having surgery Monday at 12.30pm.
Pain has set in, taking mersyndol tablets every 4 hours as prescribed, plus liquid panadol every few hours. Eating is very hard, toast is really all i have managed, but so is drinking. It tends to go up my nose, then after a few seconds some of it decides to go down my throat.
The only major problem i am finding is my uvula is very large, i was told just normal 'wear and tear' from surgery, but struggling with it at the moment. If no better by day 5 I will be going to hospital to have it looked at!

[karj]

Mersyndol is not what I'd call a strong painkiller. It is basically just panadol + codeine + antihistamine (so by taking liquid panadol as well, you're essentially doubling the amount of panadol you're consuming). It may be worth having a chat to your ENT or GP because there are much more effective pain meds available should you need them.

As for drinking... I purchased an ice crusher when I had my tonsils out and this was a really good way of keeping hydrated because it was easier to swallow small amounts of semi-solid crushed ice than drinking straight water.

Sorry to hear you're having a crap time.

[Matwilliams91]

Originally Posted by karj

Mersyndol is not what I'd call a strong painkiller. It is basically just panadol + codeine + antihistamine (so by taking liquid panadol as well, you're essentially doubling the amount of panadol you're consuming). It may be worth having a chat to your ENT or GP because there are much more effective pain meds available should you need them.

As for drinking... I purchased an ice crusher when I had my tonsils out and this was a really good way of keeping hydrated because it was easier to swallow small amounts of semi-solid crushed ice than drinking straight water.

Sorry to hear you're having a crap time.

Originally Posted by Sprint

its not minor sugery and it hurts like hell.

Thanks for te advice! Will have to act upon it.
I'm also on Tramadol, 2 tablets every 3 hours. Seems to be better than mersyndol.