Getting Tonsils Out

ConTheCat

Getting my tonsils out next Tuesday, any more recent advise to a 17 year old? Getting really nervous about it now :S

Distorted

I had mine out as an adult, along with nasal septum deviation surgery. There was hardly any pain from my tonsils, maybe about as bad as a mild tonsilitis for one day after the surgery. The nasal septum surgery with the cotton wool stuffed up my blocked nose was really uncomfortable but not actually painful (but thats a different procedure). Once you put your mind to going through something like that, you become braver and a bit blase about it. Some people will react badly to anaesthetics and surgery, but most people don't seem to find it that bad. I took painkillers but could probably have done without them.

I was absolutely starving on waking up from the anaesthetic and continued to be starving for the 7 day duration I was in hospital (got them out in Germany where it was the rule to stay in that long because there is a small risk of bleeding). The nurses said they had never seen a patient with such an appetite - I was eating seconds and thirds, although it was quite a bland diet. On the fifth day, I was caught sneaking back into the hospital, returning from a run round round the park...you're not meant to get too hot for at least 7 days due to the risk of bleeding.

Honestly though, I could have gone home straight after the operation and certainly wouldn't have needed any time off work, I only experienced mild discomfort from the tonsils on the first day after the operation only. Although I guess it stopped me eating even more and made me stick to the bland diet, as it was, when I came out of hospital, I was so well rested and had lost weight despite eating all that was offered, it was a bit like having been in a health farm for a week!

Its worth it though, I had no colds whatsoever, never mind anything worse, for about 4 years after the operation. Have to say, in Germany, you were encouraged to be brave, and got kind of looked at strangely when you made a fuss. But funnily enough, once you stopped making a fuss, you actually realised there wasn't anything to fuss about. (and I'm talking about getting long tubes up my nose here for the nasal septum surgery, not the tonsils). Staying calm aids healing, and enables the doctors and nurses to treat you to best effect.

Ickle Magoo

Given you your own up-to-date thread so you can get relevant advice OP. :cool:

sarahbro

Got mine out ten years ago age 14.
Was nervous as hell but it was grand.
Went in Wed, was operated on on Thursday and out Saturday.
Had my mam sneaking me in Mac Donalds on the Friday
I stopped snoring, grinding my teeth and my voice got a bit higher too (i remember ringing my boyfriend at the time after and he didn't believe it was me, said my voice was different ).
If you smoke - don't as it hinders healing time etc.
Best of luck, you'll be grand!
Just don't believe anyone that tells you that you get bowls of ice-cream after! Lies! :P

ConTheCat

Thanks Disorted, quite a calming post to read!
@sarahbo Does your voice actually change? :O I think my voice is quite high already Did you suffer with the earaches? I've read in so many places about them and have never had one before!
The last time I had tonsilitis I was trying to eat rough foods as I knew it would happen after getting them out!!
Thank you both

Novella

I had my tonsils out a few years ago. I can't remember what age I was tbh, but it was definitely when I was a teenager.

It's really not bad at all. Pain-wise afterwards, for me it was truthfully just like having a sore throat. I ate a bag of crisps that night and went home the next morning. No problem. I dunno if it happens to everyone, but post-op I did vomit some blood. This is just blood you swallow during the op, I believe. Not a lot so don't even worry about it. Just telling you so that you're not alarmed if it happens to you.

Best of luck. You will be fine!

mariebeth

Hiya OP, had mine out two years ago at the age of 25/nearly 26. Was out of hospital the morning after, having eaten some toast.

I won't lie, it did hurt, and it was hard to eat solids for a couple of days. Everyone is different though, and we all react to pain differently.

They'll prescribe you with antibiotics and painkillers leaving the hospital, my one piece of advice would be to try and go on regular painkillers as soon as possible. The painkillers made me awfully constipated after about 4 days on them, and that was worse for me than getting my tonsils out. I'm grand with a bit of pain, but when my system is out of whack, I'm the biggest whinge. I just wanted someone to take me out the back & shoot me! :rolleyes:

Try to keep eating and drinking after you have them out, it'll help the healing process. I remember the best thing I ate after it was mashed up strawberries!

Give yourself about two weeks to recover. It turned out that I got my tonsils out exactly two weeks before I went to EuroDisney, and while I was grand over there, I was still more tired than I should have been.

Best of luck OP & come back & let us know how you're getting on!

MrsMcSteamy

I got mine out about three years ago now at the age of 24. Post op all was grand, ate well and took my antibiotics but didn't take any pain meds as it wasnt too bad. However I was one of those people who had post op bleeding.

Middle of the night a week after surgery I started coughing up blood. Stayed calm as it was dark red blood which I had been told in the hospital would be blood from the surgery. Went to hospital and they applied pressure and something else I can't quite remember but it stopped and i was kept in for two days to be safe.

However another two weeks later I was out in a pub and started coughing up blood again. Another trip to hospital and i had to go to surgery and get the wound site stitched, had to stay in hospital for three days that time.

Don't want to scare you, but give you a realistic picture of what could happen. At no point was it sore or anything like that, and I didn't take any pain meds on my two return trips to the hospital. I was just one of those who would pick up an infection and have post op bleeding.

Haven't looked back ever since, and if I had to go through the exact same situation again I would without a doubt because I have been perfect and pain free every since, touch wood

Best of luck with the op, there won't be a bother on you !!

harar

i work in an operating theatre and have also had my tonsils out (albeit as a child). its a minor op, taking minimal amount of time and is one of the most textbook surgeries. also no skin incision so less chance of wound infection. ul more than likely wake up from the best sleep ever (as per majority of my patients) have a nice snooze while we check ur blood pressure a million or so times and find urself back on the ward having tea and toast, tonsil free before u no it. i dont no ur med history or indications for having them removed but i can guarentee u never having another episode of tonsilitis EVER will be worth it good luck (not that u need it- honestly)

ConTheCat

Thank you so much for the replies! Really looking forward to it now, getting a bit nervous! Was out on friday and got a little bit too drunk, at least everybody knows I'm getting them out now!

ConTheCat

Just realised there was no need for me to be worrying!!! Went perfect
Had surgery at 9.30 but was late going in, woke up around 11.20 in recovery. Was looking for a drink around 1 but wasn't allowed it yet. Asked when would I be getting food aswel. Ate a scone and apple last night, roll and apple this morning! Came home around 12 today to start eating packets of sweets and chicken and chips for dinner! Thanks for all of yer advise and keeping me calm with an insight of what would happen

Distorted

ConTheCat wrote: »

Just realised there was no need for me to be worrying!!! Went perfect
Had surgery at 9.30 but was late going in, woke up around 11.20 in recovery. Was looking for a drink around 1 but wasn't allowed it yet. Asked when would I be getting food aswel. Ate a scone and apple last night, roll and apple this morning! Came home around 12 today to start eating packets of sweets and chicken and chips for dinner! Thanks for all of yer advise and keeping me calm with an insight of what would happen

Glad to hear it went well. Follow their advice and your recovery should soon be complete. Its the sheer ravenous hunger I remember afterwards the most as well, not any pain!

ConTheCat

Distorted wrote: »

Glad to hear it went well. Follow their advice and your recovery should soon be complete. Its the sheer ravenous hunger I remember afterwards the most as well, not any pain!

Yeah I'm not in alot of pain atal! The annoying thing is eating, I feel the food is going where the tonsils were...Need water on hand for it!

CyberJuice

why did all you guys have to get your tonsils out? im wondering what would be a reason to have them removed and how do you go about gettin it done?

do you go ask your gp to schedule you for an operation?how long is the waiting list?is it medical card covered?or how much would it cost?

ConTheCat

CyberJuice wrote: »

why did all you guys have to get your tonsils out? im wondering what would be a reason to have them removed and how do you go about gettin it done?

do you go ask your gp to schedule you for an operation?how long is the waiting list?is it medical card covered?or how much would it cost?

I had to get them out as had it 5 times this year and 4 last year, doing Leaving Cert. Its usual for adults to get it twice a year so unless you have it more than that you're wasting you're time trying! Asked my GP about it and he referred me to a specialist, it can be covered on medical card but waiting list is very long that way. We went privately as I got it twice as school started and didn't want to miss much school. Not sure on the full cost privately.

On the other night, had a rough night from the tablets yesterday. Upset tummy all evening and as I took a motilium to calm it down I vomitted. Feeling much better today though, pain slightly worse.

Beruthiel

Thread closed due to Con's operation performed.
Glad it went well for you Con.
B