alleycat
11-26-2003, 12:56 PM
I turn 18 in less than a week and I am scheduled to have a tonsillectomy soon after. I have been told that its hardder for someone my age to have a tonsillectomy. Im wondering has anyone known someone or themselves had a tonsillectomy around this age. If so what should I expect and if you remember what did they use (Laszer of scapel) and what should I expect after surgery.
Timber
11-26-2003, 12:58 PM
I don't know much about tonsillectomies, but happy 18th birthday! It's a big birthday! Have fun! :D
Ratatosk
11-26-2003, 04:14 PM
I had my tonsils out three years ago. Regular surgery. Put something in my IV to make me relax -- I fell asleep. Woke up smiling, I guess. They monitored me for a few hours at the hospital. Made sure I wasn't bleeding. Sent me home with liquid codeine for the pain. My recovery wasn't all that bad. I took off work for two weeks.
Make sure you drink water constantly. I had a cup of ice to suck on and a glass of water. You need to stay hydrated or your throat'll get all sticky and your ears will start to hurt. Worst times for me was at night. I'd sleep for a couple hours at night and my throat would get dry. Keep a glass of water by the bedside and drink when you wake up.
You can eat whatever you want, although things will taste a lot different. Also, don't drink or eat anything too hot -- I ate a lot of luke warm broth with saltine crackers mushed up in it. Ate a lot of pudding, too. Soda -- bubbles = pain.
They cauterized the surgical area, so the back of my throat had a bunch of nasty looking scabs. Under NO circumstance should you look. Made me WEAK in the knees.
PerpleNerple
11-26-2003, 07:35 PM
How funny is it that you ask? I am 23 years old and had my tonsillectomy at 830 this morning. Obviously I am feeling better than what I thought, because here I sit. I can share my experience with you though it is a short one so far. I have never had surgery before or been knocked out so I was very nervous. They gave me something in my IV to calm me down and it made me a little sleepy. I went into the OR, I remember the anesthesiologist talking to me about how everything was going to be fine yadda yadda, and then I was waking up. I was breathin kinda heavy cause I didnt realize what was going on at first, and my face itched a bit from the anesthesia. Within about 60 seconds though I was calm, they gave me pain meds, and anti-naseau meds and a drink of some kind of juice which felt very good. Throat has gotten progressively sorer since Ive been home but my pain med is not very strong. I have liquid Vicodin. Most ppl are prescribed Tylenol w/codeine or percocet....those make me sick so I requested something not as strong. I have been eating pudding since I got home, and just had some very finely mashed potatoes that were at room temp. The pudding feels good and is actually easier to swallow than the drinks Ive had (water and Gatorade). My throat feels a bit dry even though I have maintained drinking so thats my best advise to you drink as much as you can. It might hurt a bit, but not as much as a dry throat, ya know. Dont let ppl scare you, its not as bad as what I thought it would be, at all
catt143
11-27-2003, 05:28 PM
Thank you all for your posts. I am 33 years old and I am going to have my tonsils taken out on December 2nd. I am so scared because I have never had surgery being under anesthisia. I have 2 kids - one was a c-section but I was awake and had local anesthia! Anyhow, I am glad to read about the same fears and that it wasn't that bad! Alleycat - good luck. At least you are younger than me! I'll be thinking of you! Just one question for those who have been through the tonsilectomy - can you talk? Or is it whispering? –Kat
supergirl
11-27-2003, 08:03 PM
I turn 18 in less than a week and I am scheduled to have a tonsillectomy soon after. I have been told that its hardder for someone my age to have a tonsillectomy. Im wondering has anyone known someone or themselves had a tonsillectomy around this age. If so what should I expect and if you remember what did they use (Laszer of scapel) and what should I expect after surgery.
How wierd? lol i turned `18 on february 8th and had mine out on february 12th.
it wasnt realy that bad. not as near as bad as it hought it was gonna be i thought i was gonna be on my death bed lol. i had laser one. take ur pain pills crushed up. i know it tastes sick but it makes them work soooo much faster. drink loads of water, even if it hurts cause u gott keep it wet back there so the cuts dont split open. if u have a bath make sure its not hot cause a hot bad makes you more likely to bleed or something like that. i found cold things hurt so maybe so soup thats like lukewarm would be good. dont eat anything with citrus in it(including mangos too) caus eit burns really really bad, its not fun
youll be fine!
KRYSTAL
PerpleNerple
11-27-2003, 09:28 PM
Going on day 2 now. Not so bad at all. Thought I would be starving. Had a small slice of turkey, brocoli with cheese, deviled eggs, lots of jellied cranberry sauce and even some spinach dip for Thanksgiving dinner and my tonsillectomy was less than 48 hours ago. Talking is a bit of a problem, it's actually easier to swallow than talk, not at all what I was expecting. I CAN talk, its just somewhat painful and a lot easier to "mmm hmmmm and uhhhhh uhhhh" :) My "holes" are starting to scab now with the white stuff and Im gettin the funny tatste in my mouth. I too thought I was going to be on my deathbed....but its not so bad....