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Original poster

Has anyone here had their tonsils removed as an adult?

27 replies

Bagelsandbrie · 01/02/2021 20:21

Just that really.

Urgent referral to oral specialist - appointment tomorrow. I have a lot of rare and difficult autoimmune conditions, one of which is sjorgens and I also have lupus and they’re causing me terrible mouth issues. I suspect they may suggest removing my tonsils for various reasons and I’m scared.

.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bagelsandbrie · 01/02/2021 20:22

Sorry what I’m asking is what it was like if you did... how long did it take to feel better etc?

OP posts:
GCITC · 01/02/2021 20:34

I have!

The op was fine. Woke up groggy. I took my own food in as they won't let you leave without having something to eat.

For the first 3 days eating was OK. Uncomfortable but bearable. I'd describe it as a burning sensation? I had lots of ice cream though I don't think it's recommended.

One it started scabbing the pain was really bad. I couldn't eat or drink for 2 days, swallowing was just too painful.

Then when the scabs start coming off everything tastes disgusting and you keep having to get rid of the bits in your mouth. But the pain has totally gone.

I've got depression and anxiety and the experience took a real toll on my mental heath. From that perspective it took about 6-9 months to recover.

I'd go through it again in a heartbeat though. I had mine out to help with sleep apnoea (which it didn't solve) but I also suffered with really bad tonsil stones and used to choke on them in my sleep (they were the biggest the surgeon had ever seen). Life is much better without them, I just wish they'd taken them out as a child when I had other ent surgery.

LtGreggs · 01/02/2021 20:39

I had mine out in my early twenties - after lots of infections, tonsil stones etc.

I'm afraid to say it was really quite painful for about 10 days afterwards. I could hardly eat for several days, and drinking or just swallowing was really difficult. Luckily I had arranged to go and stay with my parents while off work (this was pre-DH) - I would have struggled without a fair bit of tlc.

But long term glad I had it done.

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General health
FoxInSocks2 · 01/02/2021 20:46

I had mine out recently and it was a lot better than expected. Make sure you push hard for extra pain relief as they initially wanted to send me home with just paracetamol. They eventually relented and gave me a few days of oramorph. I had to get more from the GP midweek but as long as I kept topped up I was fine.

Mammaaof · 01/02/2021 20:48

I had mine out as an adult and I won't lie it was the worse experience of my life but I did have an infection and that made things alot more painful, but for a month after having them out I can't remember much as I was constantly knocked out on pain killers. But now I'm so grateful as I used to get tonsillitis every single month without fail, so the pain was definitely worth it in the end

BeBraveAndBeKind · 01/02/2021 20:49

I had mine out when I was 30. I was getting recurrent tonsillitis, needing antibiotics most months and woke up with a sore throat every single day.

The recovery was rough. It's probably in my top three most painful things ever and I've got two DC and have had previous surgeries. It was absolutely worth it though to not have the pain every day or being laid up in bed unable to look after my DC.

Original poster
Bagelsandbrie · 01/02/2021 20:51

Thank you so much for sharing your stories. I really appreciate every reply. It helps to hear how others actually found it. I’d like to be somewhat prepared for what might happen.

I am also absolutely terrified of the general anaesthetic. I’ve never had one of those. I’m worried I’ll wake up and feel in pain and unable to speak or confused about what’s happened and be scared etc. Urgh. I feel sick with anxiety about it all and I don’t even know that’s what’s going to happen yet! It’s good to be able to write it down and chat to others though.

OP posts:
Chesneyhawkes1 · 01/02/2021 20:52

I did. Was quite painful after. However I got some sort of infection which made it worse.

Couldn't eat anything for ages. Just liquid. I lost a ton of weight mind.

Still worth it though as I got tonsillitis all the time. Endless antibiotics.

Viviennemary · 01/02/2021 20:52

I know someone who did and pain was quite bad. And complication of bleeding. But on the plus side freedom from constant chronic sore throats every winter.

Maria1982 · 01/02/2021 20:57

Hi! I had mine out in October. It was my first ever surgery and general anaesthetic.

Recovery was rough, no two ways about it. Painful to swallow for 7 days I’d say.
But it does pass, and for me totally worth it to not have tonsil issues anymore.

In terms of preparation I would say -
Stock up on paracetamol.
I ended up sending my boyfriend to the pharmacy and he got me liquid paracetamol which was a godsend the first 3 days as it hurt to swallow tablets with water.
Also stockpile ice cream.

As for general anaesthetic and waking up after - I was nervous too, but it was okay. When I woke up I was groggy. I was asked if I needed pain relief and I nodded/ mumbled yes. Was given morphine via cannula on back of hand.
Had two shots of that, and that kept me happy for hours! Was not nice when it wore off middle of the night though!

Best advice someone gave me: whenever you are offered pain relief say Yes

Splann · 01/02/2021 20:58

I had mine removed in my early twenties. It went fine but I was sore for a couple of weeks. It made a big difference to my health afterwards. I went from having constant throat infections that had to be treated, to not having to see a doctor for years.

I’ve had a general anaesthetic twice and both times went well. I did wake from both of them shivering with cold but apparently that’s normal.

Good luck Smile

Maria1982 · 01/02/2021 21:01

@FoxInSocks2 you were wise! I didn’t realise I needed to be pushing for pain relief and so I was discharged with advice to take paracetamol and ibuprofen. Argh!
The day after I was so appalled by the prospect of swallowing anything that I called the ward. Of course I was told I had been discharged and if I needed anything I should go via my GP. I didn’t bother, talking was too painful to argue back. I think that’s when my boyfriend went to pharmacy and returned with liquid paracetamol

OP sorry, not wanting to scare you. It’s not fun but it is doable. You will need time off work, and general anaesthetic can make you feel odd for a couple of days. Just expect very little of yourself in the first few days and you’ll be fine.

Lovelise · 01/02/2021 21:07

I had mine out a couple of years ago due to recurring tonsillitis and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be!

Honestly, it was absolutely fine as long as I kept taking pain relief and eating and drinking. You must keep your throat moving, it's so important.

I bought some dissolvable, over the counter codeine which was easier to swallow.

I also kept sipping ice cold water.

I was lucky and didn't have any complications. Good luck.

MBM18 · 01/02/2021 21:08

@Bagelsandbrie

Thank you so much for sharing your stories. I really appreciate every reply. It helps to hear how others actually found it. I’d like to be somewhat prepared for what might happen.

I am also absolutely terrified of the general anaesthetic. I’ve never had one of those. I’m worried I’ll wake up and feel in pain and unable to speak or confused about what’s happened and be scared etc. Urgh. I feel sick with anxiety about it all and I don’t even know that’s what’s going to happen yet! It’s good to be able to write it down and chat to others though.

Tbh OP, I found that the easiest part. Upon waking I was given morphine to help with the pain so couldn't feel much (was sent home with paracetamol though). It was the days after at home when it really hurt to swallow. But I remember being able to eat toast, and something I found useful was to drink regularly. If I fell asleep for ages and woke up with a dry mouth, that hurt more than regular sips of drink. Have you ever had tonsillitis before? I'd say it's similar to a bad case of that where swallowing is painful. Try not to be too nervous, you'll get through it and be glad you done it Smile
nixso29 · 01/02/2021 21:10

I had mine out in my early 20s. I won't lie it was extremely painful for around 2 weeks but it was definitely worth it to be free from 3-4 bouts of severe tonsillitis per year. Not had even a whisper of a sore throat in over 10 years now. Be prepared to eat nothing but ice lollies/ice cream/yoghurts for a 10 days or so! I lost around 2 stone that was the best bit!

BlowDryRat · 01/02/2021 21:37

I had mine out in my late 20's. Eating was fine, as long as it wasn't anything acidic (fruit, including tomatoes, hurt a lot) but drinking was painful for some reason. It was ok if I kept taking regular, small sips. I stayed up ridiculously late for a few days after the op because I was worried about it hurting again when I woke up. They prescribed me a bottle of oramorph to have at home but I only took it for a couple of days afterwards. I was fine after a week and I'd definitely have it again if I had to go back and make the choice.

GCITC · 01/02/2021 22:02

The general anaesthetic is the best part! Especially that wonderful stuff they give you just before you go under.

It's literally like time has stopped once you're under. You wake up confused that you're in a different room but that about it.

I had a really dry mouth but the worse wouldn't let me have anything to drink til I'd woken up a bit. You feel quite groggy afterwards, struggle to keep your eyes open etc.

BlowDryRat · 01/02/2021 22:13

Ooo yes, I've had a GA twice and would quite happily have another. The anaesthetist counts down from 10, gets to 4 and... you wake up in the recovery room, minus a body part. So weird but in a cool way.

delilahbucket · 01/02/2021 22:17

I did. I forced down a sandwich at a snails pace so I could go home the day after the op. Spent a week on cocodamol, got an infection, had a round of antibiotics, another week and I was fine. Not looked back and really glad I had it done as j was constantly severely poorly with tonsillitis.

Original poster
Bagelsandbrie · 01/02/2021 22:33

Gosh thank you all, this is all super interesting. If I lose any weight that will be a bonus...!

I am having issues with severe oral thrush and inflamed tonsils due to Sjorgens - basically it’s a rare condition where I hardly produce any saliva and so my throat etc is constantly super dry causing severe inflammation and that with my autoimmune conditions are causing severe oesophageal thrush and what I think are cysts on my tonsils. But cheery old me also thinks fuck what if it’s actually oral cancer or tonsil cancer? Generally very anxious.

I already had three tongue biopsies taken last year because my tongue was doing weird things (weird white patches that even they didn’t know what they were, I suspected lichen planus but they said no...!)

It’s all very odd. But they say knowledge is power and all that. So it all helps and I am very reassured by your anaesthesia experiences. The only thing I’ve ever had really is a c section where they found out I had undiagnosed placenta previa and I lost 2.5 litres of blood... but weirdly stayed conscious throughout! So the thought of being under freaks me out.

I am generally quite debilitated by my conditions and can’t work because of them (married with two dc and dh works full time but will take time off to help if something needs doing - one of our dc is severely disabled so lots going on)!

I feel like a bit of a big baby but it’s just worrying me. Last thing you want especially in the middle of a pandemic when you’re in the clinically extremely vulnerable group!

OP posts:
BeBraveAndBeKind · 01/02/2021 22:41

I've had five GAs and am generally sick after but for the last one, they attached some sensors to my forehead and used some amazing technique to manage the anaesthesia and it was the best one I've ever had. I've never woken up or felt anything with any of them though - those folks know what they're doing. 😊

stillonthattightrope · 01/02/2021 23:08

I did, in my twenties. I was ok, had two weeks off work as I got an infection and needed antibiotics but recovered fine.

It was great not to have tonsillitis every 3 months.

Maria1982 · 02/02/2021 17:53

OP, sorry to hear you have so much going on.

Try not to worry about tonsil cancer etc. I know, easier said than done! Mine were removed due to cyst randomly appearing and I was also a bit worried about it. Turned out to be blocked saliva duct, which apparently is not uncommon.
I am immensely grateful to have them gone as apart from the cyst I suffered regularly with tonsillitis .

I would suggest your DH will need to take some time off work, especially if you have children needing attention, as you may struggle to do much the first few days.

Best of luck. And remember - they wouldn’t be suggesting tonsillectomy if it wasn’t clinically appropriate, and they are very careful about covid coming into hospitals (everyone going in for surgery had to have covid test 72 hours beforehand and then self isolate until surgery when I went in).

FoxInSocks2 · 02/02/2021 20:55

@Bagelsandbrie I was so nervous about the anaesthetic, not helped by being the last one of the day. I was so nervous they were concerned as my heart rate was so high. All I can say is that everyone in theatre was lovely and as soon as they knew I was nervous they acted quickly to get me asleep.

You shouldn't wake up in pain as they give you painkillers when under, you'll probably just have a super dry mouth.

Bubbles1st · 02/02/2021 21:04

Yes I did. Everything was fine until I got an infection... the pain in my tongue was the most excruciating I have ever experienced.

Otherwise the actual process and recovery of area was ok. It pretty miserable just because you don't want to eat but have to. Made such a positive impact to my health though.