Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

Original poster

I'm having my tonsils out on Tuesday is it as bad

24 replies

cocolepew · 12/02/2009 13:41

as everyone says?

OP posts:

thisisyesterday · 12/02/2009 13:43

well, i had mine out when I was 8 and yes, it was pretty bad.
i found it near impossible to swallow anything without being in agony.
but you know, you get over it and I am sure if I had it done as an adult i'd cope with that better.... plus I guess you can take stronger painkillers lol

Original poster

cocolepew · 12/02/2009 13:46

break it to me gently woman!

OP posts:

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 12/02/2009 13:59

i had them out at 15, was just like a severe sore throat, which I'm sure you are used to, I found Solpadeine wonderful for gargling!!!

thisisyesterday · 12/02/2009 14:04

lol sorry. you did ask! as I say though, I was only 8 so it was probably worse for me cos I couldn't have hardcore medication and cos I was a wussy kid

ilovesprouts · 12/02/2009 14:15

i had mine out at 30 ouch then i got a very bad infection in my throat they say its a lot worser for adults its painful but u get over it how old are you

dashboardconfessionals · 12/02/2009 14:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

georgiemum · 12/02/2009 14:20

My neice had them out a few years ago when she was about 23. It was sore but she said that it wasn't as bad as the tonsilitus she had been plagued with.

Make sure you have lots of ice cream in the freezer.

Original poster

cocolepew · 12/02/2009 15:22

I'm 40. I'm planning on have the entire pharmacy beside me on the sofa

OP posts:

oldraver · 12/02/2009 16:46

I had mine out in 2004 when I was 39. Immediately after the op I wa sok up and about and eating wasnt too bad but when I got home it did get more painfull and eventually got a infection. I was sent home with4 lots of painkillers (tho only a weeks supply of codeine) including a painkiller gargle. I found it best to have the gargle just before taking a tablet as it was very painfull to swallow then space out painkillers so I was taking something every two hours. ie paracetamol then two hours later codeine then paracetamol two hours later. Making sure I stayed within the recommended dosing. I did leave hosp with a huge medicine bag

If it still hurts ask your gp for more codeine, mine had to be pushed a little as they are afraid of people getting addicted

I will be honest it was very painfull when it got infected, my whole face ached but it was so worth it, My tonsills were playing up every month, I was loosing days at works all the time through it and was very prone to colds and chest infections. Ive not had a bad chest since

You will need to eat scratchy food but ice cream to numb beforhand is a good idea.... any excuse for Ben and Jerry's

oldraver · 12/02/2009 16:46

PS..... Have you been asked to donate them at all ??

Original poster

cocolepew · 12/02/2009 16:53

Donate them I presume not for transplant They'd be no good to anybody.

OP posts:

thisisyesterday · 12/02/2009 18:51

yes, I forgot to say about the scratchy food too. they like you to eat toast and stuff as it is abrasive and will get rid of any mank that's forming on the site of the wound.
nice eh?
really important though as it helps keep it nice and clean

dramaqueen · 12/02/2009 19:17

It's not as bad as having tonsilitis, more like a bad sore throat. It was one of the best things i've done though - I haven't had a bad throat since (I was 25ish when I had them out).

oldraver · 16/02/2009 20:12

Lol @ coco... Mine went to three places, Cancer research, some other research place I forgot and CJD research to see how prevelent it is in the community. (CJD shows up in tosills)

So someone somewhere has confirmation I'm a mad cow but there not telling

FlorenceDaphne · 16/02/2009 20:19

Right...I will give it to you straight. It is HORRIBLE... but it is worth it. You will feel like shit for two weeks, but then you will feel normal again.

I was 20 and I found the worst bit was referred pain in my ear...random but true. It was like the worst ear ache ever.

Also, I could only eat room temperature food. Anything hot or cold caused horrid pain. I actually cried at one point because my mum bought me expensive ice-cream and I couldn't eat it.

Oh, and you will be sick when you wake up, and it will be full of blood, but don't panic like I did... it's normal. It doesn't mean you're bleeding to death!

Buy lots of trashy magazines and keep a duvet downstairs for comfy snuggling. Good luck!

saramoon · 17/02/2009 15:21

Yep, florenceDaphne is absolutely right, bloody awful - all above correct. But you WILL feel so much better after.

Bucharest · 17/02/2009 15:23

What everyone else has said...I was 22.

It hurt my ears afterwards more then anything.

Lots and lots of solpadeine and hot water bottle on your ear.

Concepta · 20/02/2009 22:17

My DD1 had to have hers out a year ago. She was only 5 and has been brilliant since - she had constant sore throats and tonsillitis but is so much more healthy now. They took her adenoids out as well at the same time as they said they didn't look that good either. One thing to warn you about is that about 1 in 10 people get a bleed about 10 days after the operation. My dd was that 1. She was eating really well and had some potato wedges that evening and then she felt blood in her throat. We went to the Out of Hours Doctor who ordered an ambulance. Our nearest hospital is an hour away. She had to stay there for two days and get antibiotics through a drip. She had a blood clot around the area where the tonsils had been. It sorted itself out and she was fine, although others I have heard of have had to go back to theatre. Maybe this only applies to children, but its something they will probably tell you about when you go in. All the best anyway, and hope all goes well.

Ewe · 20/02/2009 22:20

I had mine out at 18 and didn't find it that bad at all. Came round from anaesethic and then had a cheese sarnie and some crisps.

Went home the next morning - a Wednesday - was in the pub with my friends on the Friday night. It was a bit uncomfortable at first but really not that bad and I think I have quite a low pain threshold.

Good luck!

trixiethepixie · 20/02/2009 22:32

Not nice having them out but worse having tonsillitis. I lost 3 stone before they even thought about taking my tonsils out and I was in so much pain. I was told that I would suffer from bad sore throats as your tonsils are part of your immune system but tbh I have never had anything as bad since then. You might puke up a bit of blood immediately after the op which is frightening and they try to 'harden up the scar' as in I had to eat corn flakes and other scratchy stuff but it's not too bad and not as bad as an infected throat.

Concepta · 25/02/2009 13:03

How did you get on - hope all went well and that you are back home again.

Concepta · 03/03/2009 20:24

cocolepew - hope all is ok - its a week since your operation and was wondering if you are ok.

kentmumtj · 10/03/2009 11:52

i had mine out when i was 18. Very painful at the time. For me to it was the pain in my ear. I had painkiller injections in the hospital it was that bad. However it was one of the best ops ive had. I was immune to all the penicilin after taking them for so long that i was getting penicilin injections (very painful) in my bum. These did not get rid of it.

I was off work for about 2 months due to infections but am so glad i did it.

My hubby had his out as a child and does not remeber any pain at all.

My daughter had hers out when she was 5. She was very very poorly and had to stay in and be put on a drip. She reacted bad to the general anasthetic. At home she would not speak for weeks. She also had problems swallowing her own saliva because she had such rotten infections. Once fully recovered i was amazed at the amount of weight she put on. Poor thing had not been able to eat properly for years due to tinsils being so large.

My son is now being monitored as he has tonsilitus frequently. I hope he does not need his out too.

babybarrister · 10/03/2009 13:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Flip