diva_dynamite
11-04-2005, 10:40 PM
Hello-
I am a 40yo woman with OSA. Didn't respond to CPAP worth a darn, so went to an ENT at the behest of my family doc. He was the first to actually look at my airways and see that both my throat and nasal passages are very small. I've also had a lifetime of sinus problems that weren't helped by allergy shots, climate change, etc., so to make a long story short, I had a tonsillectomy, septoplasty and sinus drain last week. I was supposed to have the UPPP, too, but the insurance denied it at the last moment because I wasn't 'last resort' enough. After he saw the condition of my sinuses, he told my husband (post-op), that that alone could have accounted for a lot of my breathing trouble. If the surgery alone doesn't fix it, he said I could also try the jaw advancement device because of my large tongue base. So far, I am happy to say that recovery is going well. I went back to work in the office 3 days ago, and was working from home the day after surgery (lortab didn't make me sleepy, it kept me awake!). After reading the posts on the tonsillectomy forums, I feel really lucky about my post-op recovery experience, but I'd like to hear some opinions on long-term effectiveness of all this. So far, of course, the tonsil pain is keeping me awake at night, and I know that it will be awhile before I can expect to see noticeable improvement. I've lost 10 pounds so far, and that's great, but I don't want that to be all I get out of this! Thank you!
I am a 40yo woman with OSA. Didn't respond to CPAP worth a darn, so went to an ENT at the behest of my family doc. He was the first to actually look at my airways and see that both my throat and nasal passages are very small. I've also had a lifetime of sinus problems that weren't helped by allergy shots, climate change, etc., so to make a long story short, I had a tonsillectomy, septoplasty and sinus drain last week. I was supposed to have the UPPP, too, but the insurance denied it at the last moment because I wasn't 'last resort' enough. After he saw the condition of my sinuses, he told my husband (post-op), that that alone could have accounted for a lot of my breathing trouble. If the surgery alone doesn't fix it, he said I could also try the jaw advancement device because of my large tongue base. So far, I am happy to say that recovery is going well. I went back to work in the office 3 days ago, and was working from home the day after surgery (lortab didn't make me sleepy, it kept me awake!). After reading the posts on the tonsillectomy forums, I feel really lucky about my post-op recovery experience, but I'd like to hear some opinions on long-term effectiveness of all this. So far, of course, the tonsil pain is keeping me awake at night, and I know that it will be awhile before I can expect to see noticeable improvement. I've lost 10 pounds so far, and that's great, but I don't want that to be all I get out of this! Thank you!
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TonyaM
11-10-2005, 10:53 PM
Hi,
I have heard surgery works wonders for some and for others it does nothing. However that is all I know. Perhaps you could find some research on the internet. good luck
TonyaM
I have heard surgery works wonders for some and for others it does nothing. However that is all I know. Perhaps you could find some research on the internet. good luck
TonyaM
yellow10
11-17-2005, 04:52 PM
Hi,
I am wondering how much a tonsillectomy really changes ones voice? I'd love to hear from people who have had it done awhile ago and are completely healed. Have you noticed much change in your voice?
I am wondering how much a tonsillectomy really changes ones voice? I'd love to hear from people who have had it done awhile ago and are completely healed. Have you noticed much change in your voice?
diva_dynamite
11-28-2005, 06:37 PM
That is the one thing I wasn't prepared for! Yes, everyone has told me that my voice has changed. I can't really explain it. It's much more noticeable at first, when the throat is still tight, but I think you start to sound more like normal as the throat heals. I also had the sinus and deviated septum surgeries, too. People tell me that I have more resonance to my voice, but right after the surgery, when I laughed, I thought I sounded like Squidward on Spongebob Squarepants! Thankfully, that has gone away, but I do feel there is a little bit of a nasal/tightness quality that pops up every once in awhile. When I first went back to work, I would talk to my coworkers (from one cubicle to another), and they didn't respond because I didn't sound like me! I think a) the difference has mostly subsided, and b) everyone has gotten used to it.
diva_dynamite
11-28-2005, 06:40 PM
BTW, it's been almost 5 weeks since my surgeries. I felt pretty elated at first, because the recovery was going so well. However, for the last couple of weeks, the quality of my sleep has been horrible, resulting in exhaustion and depression. I see my surgeon on Thursday, and will ask him how long to wait before we declare this a failure and go on to the next thing. Everything seems to be healed, I haven't been on any meds except an antibiotic sinus rinse for almost 2 weeks - shouldn't things be improving by now? I'm feeling very disappointed. I don't want to get the UPPP!