Does ANYONE have a positive tonsillotomy/tonsillectomy experience?!

[imgettingmyknickersinatwist]

Hi all,

NC for this (as will be outing for my other posts) and posting here for traffic.

I am having a tonsillotomy this week (so 95% of the tonsils removed by laser, as opposed to 100% removed in a tonsillectomy which exposes the muscles benetah etc.) and am absolutely terrified.

I have been trying to prepare myself as every single recovery story I have read is actually horrific. I haven't read a single good experience which I guess is therefore a measure of how painful the recovery actually is (it's supposed to be agonising for adults despite being relatively less so for kids). Does ANYONE have anything even minutely positive to say about it?! Or any advice as to how I can make it as comfortable as possible?

I'm having the op due to tonsil stones, and not due to recurrent tonsilitis etc so I'm not having it on the basis of ongoing pain etc, so again, I'm terrified what I'm doing is not worth the pay off. I am a WIMP of epic proportions, my pain threshold is pitiful, and I'm just pathetic.

I can't decide if I'm making a big mistake and going ahead with this for what would be considered a minor irritation (constant feeling of something stuck in my throat, daily dislodging attempts etc, worries about breath etc) but then again I'm in a position to have the procedure done now, and I may not be in the future when I'm assured this issue only gets progressively worse and that this is the only 'cure'.

For those of you who've had a tonsillectomy/tonsillotomy, does anyone have any advice? what can I try and do to ease it/make it as comfortable as possible? I have two young DCs but my husband has a week's leave owing so I'll have help at home.

Sorry for the self-pitying post but I am freaking out. I've already delayed it once and regretted it so this time it's happening, but I'm totally terrified and wondering why the hell I'm doing it........

Any wise words? HELP!

I had mine out three years ago due to tonsillitis and tonsil stones. I'm not going to lie, it was painful. The 5th and 6th day after surgery were the worst for me, but it was 100% worth it for me!

Good luck!

I had mine out last week and it is painful. But I'm on day 12 and it's starting to feel normal now. I've been home alone with an 8 month old too so haven't exactly been relaxing! Just keep dosed up on painkillers and rest where you can. Only drink water and avoid anything too sweet.

I have under good authority that it’s one of the most painful ops to have as an adult, much easier to handle as a kid.

When I’m nursing tonsillectomy patients I make sure you have IV paracetamol, codeine and liquid oral morphine prescribed. Every patient I’ve had has needed all of those and has done well with it, being able to tolerate small amounts of liquid or mashed diet. I do throw a bag of IV fluid up though for the first few hours to give you a boost you hydrated after you’ve been fasting. Don’t worry about asking for more if you feel really dry

We do try to get you to eat toast but if you can’t manage you can’t manage

I had mine out 5 years ago. I wasn't made to eat toast. I was told I had to eat something before they'd let me go, but I could have anything I wanted off the menu although it might be wise to avoid spicy food! This was in a Hampshire NHS hospital.

The recovery was a doddle compared to some of the tonsillitis I'd had. Plus they give you the good painkillers

If you've had bad tonsillitis, you already know how the recovery will feel. It's not fun but you can rest easier knowing it's the last time you'll have to put up with it!

I had mine taken out privately last year after suffering with tonsillitis repeatedly for over 10 years. The first few days weren't too bad, but about a week after the operation the scabs came off which I found really painful. I had a wheat bag that heats up in the microwave and ice packs and found alternating putting those on my neck helped a lot. 100% worth going through the experience, I feel like I've had a new lease of life.

If anyone in South East Wales wants details of the clinic, pm me. Cost me about 2.5k and worth every penny.

I had mine out when I was 25 and I'm not going to lie, it was rough HOWEVER, it has been completely and utterly worth it. I used to have tonsillitis 3/4 times a year, the last time I ended up in hospital over Xmas and new year with it because I'd not eaten in 2 weeks, that's what convinced them to allow me a tonsillectomy.

I also got an infection in healing process (but doesn't sound like that's likely with the laser option) and I didn't eat for 2 weeks again.

You'll get through it and you'll be thankful once it's done

I'm in my 50s and had mine out in my 20s. Don't know what the technique was but it wouldn't have been laser. And in those days I got ice cream later that day then it was dry toast and cornflakes! I was made to eat normal food immediately. It was painful but I've never regretted it as my health improved so quickly afterwards.

Had mine out ten years ago. Awful operation as I had scar tissue from quinces. I was determined to eat after surgery so I could go home and spent six hours eating a sandwich! Ended up with an infection which was the most painful part, but antibiotics cleared it up. I've not looked back though. I was getting tonsillitis at least four times a year and I couldn't even swallow my own saliva when I had it. If I get run down now I still get a bit of earache or my neck glands get swollen, but some ibuprofen and I'm on my way. Nothing like when I would spend a week in bed malnourished and severely dehydrated and end up in hospital on a drip.
The operation isn't the easiest to recover from, but a couple of weeks with nothing worse than tonsillitis itself, is so worth it.

@Ispywithmycynicaleye thank you! I'm going to book in and see if I can get a referral.

@MrMeeseekscando I've had a skin problem for the past 2 months and thought it was eczema but it will not clear, just goggled guttate psoriasis and it looks EXACTLY like the patches I've got! It didn't seem like a big enough issue to go to the doctors with but will broach it along with the ENT referral.

Thank god for this thread, I did one of my own a while back and was unanimously told no way will they remove on the NHS

I had one tonsil removed 5 weeks ago due to a cyst and repeat infections and am only just starting to feel normal. I have a high pain threshold but have never felt pain like it but was told as i am older it would take longer to recover. I am still left with a dry mouth and a constant feeling of something stuck in my throat, has anyone else had this side effect?

dd had hers out when she was 13 due to them being enlarged. took years of begging the doctors. she was like a different person after, best thing to ever happen to her.

the recovery was very painful though, no doubt about it. all you can do is take painkillers regular, and try to eat dry toast as this helps apparently. no longer do they suggest ice cream! good luck x

Had mine out in 2005 - best thing ever! No more throat infections, sick days, feeling awful rtc. Focus on the medium term and beyond.

Had mine out at 13 so yes a child but I can remember it very clearly it hurt like hell but was SO worth it I would definitely do it again.
Good luck op make sure you have plenty of time off work and can just stay in Bed

Lots of fluids - nothing acidic x