To Christine - Stine - about tonsilectomy

hrtofluv · 07-14-2005, 05:58 PM

"Hi hrtofluv,

I am 31 and getting a tonsillectomy next month. (Scared to death!) I just saw your post on the tonsillectomy site and thought I'd ask you a couple of questions. First, do you know what type of procedure they used on you? (Cauterization, laser, dissection, or coblation?) Second, what did your pain feel like? (a really bad thoat infection, burning, throbbing, etc.) I am just trying to prepare myself here... Also, was it tolerable with the pain meds?

Sorry for so many questions- I am asking everyone and anyone at this point.

Thank you, Christine"

Once again - I was only trying to help. When I started out on these boards - some of my posts were deleted by the moderator for the same reason "jumping in". Was just trying to help you out in the long run - so you didn't ended up being banned for anything.
These boards are wonderful and very informative too.

As for your questions - I had this done at the age of 35 in July of 2003. I am not sure what type of procedure was used at the time, but a very good ENT with years of experience is the one who did it. But I do know that prior to I had HUGE tonsils that were causing swallowing and breathing difficulties and had multiple stones. Having several tonsillitis each year with each time getting worse. The last time prior to surgery that I went in for this - the ENT suggested draining the tonsils - YUCK! And I pressured him for stronger antibiotics which he finally agreed, but told me if I had it again - he would take me straight over to the surgery room!
So, I finally agreed to the tonsillectomy after putting it off for several years due to the scare of my age! So don't think you are the only one scared - we all were!
I originally scheduled to be off one week from work (as an optimist), but learned that 2 weeks is about norm for the average over 30 patient.
I have to say that scaring you - I don't want to do, but it will be very hard for the first 10 days. At 2 weeks, you will be better and by a month - you will be SO GLAD you did it! Then to make it through the winter with NO problems - WOW!!!! It has now been 2 years and even though I thought I would die during the first week - I would do it again in a heartbeat!
The pain I will describe as best I can. Remember though that I bit the 2 sides of my tongue during recovery (almost completely off) - so I couldn't talk and my tongue swelled huge and hurt like my throat. As for the throat - just remember to take your pain medicine on time for the first 3 days (hopefully prior to the pain returning). Pudding was my lifesaver - nothing else. I survived off that for the first 3-4 days. And remember to take your pain medicine with some type of food so as to not get your stomach hurting. And I was begging for more at my one week check-up.
I sure hope my experience helps and if you have more questions - please feel free to post again here.
I will be committed to seeing you through this if you wish! Here to answer ANY questions you have. I'll put a call into my ENT tomorrow to see exactly what type of procedure he did. All I know is he cut them out and I'm a different person now!
Wishing you all the best!
hrtofluv

stine · 07-14-2005, 07:34 PM

Thanks for the heads up on "jumping in." I am a bit new to this site and I didn't really know where to go to ask you the questions. I appreciate you getting back to me on all of this.

I too suffer from severe bouts of tonsillitis. For the last six months, antibiotics are not helping the infections. I do not have enlarged tonsils though. My ENT says that they're just "hammered" from all of the scar tissue and that they cannot fight off infection any longer.

I am having the coblation procedure. I did a lot of research before I made my decision to have this done and found that the coblation was supposed to be easier as far as recovery time and post op pain is concerned. I have been looking for someone to talk to that has had it done that way, and in the last couple of weeks I have found two people on this site that have. Both of them say that it was an easier recovery than they thought it would be (especially after reading all of the horror stories on here.) I learned a lot from everyone here and I am glad that I found this site.

I guess my biggest question is if the pain meds actually take the pain down to a tolerable level, or is it just unbearable 100% of the time? As long as I have some kind of pain relief from the meds, I think I'll be o.k. What meds did you take?

I guess I am fortunate that I have found such a great Dr. and that I found this site, but I am still soooo stressed out from the thought of this whole thing. I am looking so forward to not being sick anymore though. That is all that is keeping me positive at this point...

I greatly appreciate you taking the time to go over this with me. Your help and advice means a lot.

Christine

sm77 · 07-17-2005, 12:56 PM

I had my tonsils removed on 7/14, with the coblation procedure. I have to say the pain is very tolerable with the "hycet" my dr. gave me. I am drinking lots of ice water and room temp. chicken broth. My main complaint is the swelling in my uvula. I was scared to death before my surgery too. It really hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. You will do great!

hrtofluv · 07-18-2005, 12:12 PM

Christine,
Another weekend down for you and your wait. How are you holding up?
as for your pain question - the medicine will help you for 2-3 hours at a time (remember to take your meds on schedule whether you need them or not the first 2-3 days). I did have to call and get a higher dose of hydrocodone the first week AND get a refill when I went in for the week re-check. By about 10 days, you realize that you are not needing the meds as much and by 2 weeks I was weaned off - I hate meds, so the faster I could get off the better for me. And don't worry about addiction or anything - I think it's crazy not to use them as prescribed the first week for fear of addiction. For me I don't think a 2 week prescription can get you addicted.
And just remember - get a good book - like the latest Harry Potter book and just sit back and relax - read - watch TV - catch up on some sleep - and don't forget that pudding!!!
Post when you can!

stine · 07-24-2005, 02:27 AM

Hi hrtofluv
I was on vacation for the last week, and I did a good job of putting the whole surgery out of my mind. I was feeling real sick from the constant infections that I have though. The antibiotics are really shutting my whole body down and making me feel lousy. Part of me wants to do this so that I will start feeling better- The other part of me is scared to death! My pre-op appt. is on the 4th of Aug. Hopefully I will feel a little less anxiety after talking to my Dr. The doc says that I pretty much have my choice as to what meds I want to take. Like you, I hate taking medication. It makes me feel dizzy and weak and actually gives me panic attacks. So I will also need to take anxiety meds after the surgery... I just can't wait for my life to be back to normal!

I will keep you up to date on everything. (2 weeks from Mon.!) Thanks for all of the advice.