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Original poster

Anyone had a tonsillectomy?

20 replies

1wokeuplikethis · 14/09/2016 14:03

As an adult?

I am due to have one and I am feeling nervous about the whole thing. Never had an operation or been under GA before so that is daunting. But I am mostly concerned for the recovery period. The consultant said I should take two weeks off work, but I'm currently on maternity leave and I have a three year old to look after.

Honest opinions will be valued on whether I am going to be able to properly look after them?! My husband works but has no annual leave left to take this year, I don't know if he gets leave to look after sick children/wife in this case. And if it is unpaid then we can't really afford it.

I am waiting for my appointment to come through and really do want to go ahead because I get unbearable tonsilitis 3-4 times a year that has me bedridden and hallucinating so it's really short term pain for long term gain.

I keep thinking I've had two children....I can do this! But have read terrible horror stories about adult recovery. Bah.

OP posts:
Original poster
1wokeuplikethis · 14/09/2016 15:33

Anyone?

OP posts:
KikiAndTheThreeBears · 14/09/2016 15:40

I have! It was before I had DD though. But recovery was about a week of uncomfortable throat and taking it easy, into the second week it eased up and by the third it was pretty much healed and ok. Avoid any foods that are mushy, like potato (I had an awful experience) stick to the dreaded diet they tell you as it hurts but helps! Lots of water and natural foods, nothing spicy etc and you should be fine!

Good luck try not to worry. Smile

SweetChickadee · 14/09/2016 15:45

I won't lie - it was pretty awful. The first week you are a pretty buggered, but it gets much better after that. I got an infection which made mine worse.

It's worth it though.

I lost a lot of weight - I really didn't eat much for about 10 days, just because it was so painful Sad

Justmuddlingalong · 14/09/2016 15:54

Worst 2 weeks of my life. You should organise childcare. Honestly. The 1st few days after weren't too bad. Then...horrendous to the point of not being able to swallow my own saliva. Don't want to freak you out, but I was 40, so kids were grown and I really struggled. Flowers

monkeywithacowface · 14/09/2016 16:02

It is a pretty miserable week or two post op. I had a five and two year old to look after at the time and it was hard. You need someone to be at home to do childcare for the first 4 or 5 days.

Top Tips: drink water lots of water, just keep sipping it throughout the day. Eat scratchy foods, toast, crisps etc. Avoid ice cream, chocolate, milk as it creates a filmy coating on your throat and makes it prone to infection. Take your pain killers on time don't wait to be in pain (including through the night)
Get a humidifier for night time to help stop your throat drying out.
Ice packs around your neck an throat help.
The scabs start coming off around day ten, avoid hot drinks at this point (my biggest mistake!)
Any small signs of blood can indicate infection so see a dr straight away if that happens.

It all sounds horrible BUT I'm so glad mine are out now

tillyann2013 · 14/09/2016 16:02

I had one last year and I'm 40. It was pretty yucky to be honest but I can honestly say it's worth it.

Original poster
1wokeuplikethis · 14/09/2016 20:33

Thanks for your replies and advice. I definitely feel nervous now but at least I can be prepared.

I really suffer with tonsilitis; temp was 42 last time (hence hallucinations) I can't swallow my own saliva, it spreads to my weak joints in my pelvis so i end up writhing about and the coating on them is so vile and vast the dr always tests for glandular fever.

So I guess I could just imagine this to be as bad as that and my last experience of anything tonsilitis-like.

My husband is going to find out about looking after the children while I'm incapacitated and they are really good at letting him work from home. Hopefully my mum can help out too so maybe it will all be ok.

OP posts:
Original poster
1wokeuplikethis · 14/09/2016 20:33

Also those of you saying how glad you are to have had the procedure gives me a positive outlook.

Need to not be a wuss!

OP posts:
Candycoco · 14/09/2016 20:37

I did, my dd was only 2 at the time and honestly it was awful. The pain was so severe my dad had to go to the GP for me and get me stronger painkillers as I couldn't get out of bed. He took my dd to nursery for me every day as I was just so ill. Was honestly the worst 2 weeks ever. You definitely need childcare x

MsPickle · 14/09/2016 20:45

I had mine out at 20 and I was sore and not great for the first week and then improved. My dd, age 3, recently had hers out at St Thomas' in London and say up after she'd had a post op sleep and ate a bag of crisps with obvious relish! The difference was the technique-the chap at st Thomas has devised a way of removing without cutting into the muscle wall. http://www.danieltweedie.com/tonsils-and-tonsillectomy/. He practises privately as well, I have no idea whether you're anywhere near London or whether private would be an option but it might be worth seeing if there's someone around you doing something similar? Dd was on regular pain meds and we kept things very low key for the first week but that was more my caution than her need I think! Like with all ops it's the GA which can make you not feel great, I've used arnica after major surgery and think it helped.

Good luck OP, do all the obvious things, feel the freezer, book a shopping delivery before you're off your trolley on painkillers, and train your three year old to love watching TV in PJs Wink

Eviecat83 · 14/09/2016 20:45

I had it done as an adult and everyone told me all these horror stories of how awful it is for adults but honestly it was nowhere near as bad or as painful as I expected! I was eating a bag of salt and vinegar seabrook crisps later that day!
Please don't worry op, I used to get tonsillitis and sore throats every 2 months and since having them out a few years ago never had a sore throat since! I'm so glad I had it done and would advise anyone who suffers from recurring tonsillitis to have it done.
Good luck! Hope all goes well :)

Pinkerbeller · 14/09/2016 21:02

I was 17 so not quite adult but not a child either. It was sore for a week but not as bad as the bouts of tonsilitis I'd been suffering and I knew it had an end point so got through the scratchy diet.

The worse bit was watching people recoil when I spoke, the smell was rank for a while!

Pinkerbeller · 14/09/2016 21:03

worst Blush

mineofuselessinformation · 14/09/2016 21:26

Firstly, don't worry about the GA. As a veteran of at least ten (I've lost count!) they are SO much better these days.
For me, the first week was OK although I felt knocked out by the anaesthetic.
The second week was when I had problems as, whilst the pain in the day was ok, it was bad at night. A numbing throat spray so I could take painkillers sorted me out.
It was some years back, but I don't regret it for a minute. A few days of pain was definitely worth not having an incredibly sore throat every four to six weeks.

mizu · 16/09/2016 09:07

Had my tonsils out at 19. Remember it being painful esp the second week. Not particularly pleasant but worth it.

DD had hers out on her 5th birthday!

Best thing both of us have ever done, we were both different people after the op.

Johno85 · 20/09/2016 21:52

So nice (in a morbid way) to know that other people were in as much pain as me post op! I had mine out at 21 and have never regretted it in the long run. I had two weeks off work (I spend all day talking to patients) and it was doable but really could have done with a bit longer off. I didn't sleep well at all for the first week and stayed with my sister and her family who mothered me. I remember thinking I would never eat properly again! Childcare is probably a great idea. I used to get tonsillitis every couple of months, and the antibiotics used to make me sick. All in all go for it. Crap in the short term, great long term result. Best of luck x

Maidofdishonour · 20/09/2016 22:12

I had mine out at the age of 31 when I had two children under 3. I was terrified as I had been told the usual horror stories and was amazed that it was nowhere near as bad as some of the sore throats that I had been getting. The worse bit for me was the earache. I had been told to chew gum but I can't bear the stuff so didn't.
I also used soluble painkillers (the strongest that you can buy in Boots) and disolved them in cold water and drank through a straw. Again, I had been told to gargle the solution but I am too much of a wuss.

moonfacebaby · 20/09/2016 22:22

I had mine out last year. It was worth it - I was getting tonsillitis almost every month & I was fed up of feeling like shit.

I'm a single parent - so organised for exH to have our 2 DDs for the first 10 days. It was school holidays, so it was doable.

You really need to rest! I can't stress that enough. I found the pain bearable but I made sure I took ibuprofen, codeine & paracetamol at regular intervals (not together!). I think I used difflam spray too. I made sure I ate too - even if it took a while & was a bit painful, it does aid the healing process.

I felt a bit worse for wear after about a week - it was sore & I just felt drained.

But it honestly wasn't that bad - I was dreading it as a friend had an awful time.

And I cannot believe how much better I feel! It's amazing really - I've rarely been ill at all & to not have to suffer feeling like utter shite, whilst looking after 2 kids, it's worth that bit of pain & discomfort...

almondfinger · 20/09/2016 22:34

I had mine out at 20. Had been suffering with chronic tonsillitis for years and surgeon didn't out all the infection, seal me up properly. Had a massive haemmorage and was touch and go for a while when they couldn't stop the bleeding.

I would definitely say you need plenty of time to recover and get your strength back. A week later I went off to work for the summer and would definitely attribute my crappy immune system for years later to not recuperating properly.

On the plus side. I have never had a sore throat since and for that I am truly thankful. Unfortunately DD1 also has massive tonsils and suffers. I will be having hers taken out in childhood.

Is there anyone who can help you out with DC?

almondfinger · 20/09/2016 22:36

'didn't take out all or the infection or seal me up properly

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