Topic: Getting tonsils out

[Cvillechopper]

I've been MIA around here for a bit with the new kid and all, was just getting around to working on my ill-timed dream car purchase (had to yank the engine for a timing chain and various gasket replacement) and found out that my tonsils are finally at the point that it can't wait.  Doc looked at my throat for about 5 seconds before asking me if I was opposed to surgery.  Going in on Wednesday and was told to expect about a week out of work but plan on going back next Monday if I can (too much going on to be out for a full week). 

Anyone had their tonsils out as an adult.  I've heard that it can be a bit complicated and truthfully have started getting a bit stressed about the idea of issues coming up and me not being able to pull my weight with the kid stuff for an extended period (or be around at all in the worst case).  Somebody tell me that they've been through it and I'm just letting my boarder-line OCD get the best of me...

Thanks
James

[scottly]

I think I was 36. Not bad at all, compared to the years of putrefied flesh in my throat.

[bill440cars]

Had mine out a very LONG time ago James, so I'm of no help. All I can do is offer my support and tell you to hang in there buddy, time will pass and you'll be up and running again. Well, MAYBE running, I don't know how much of that YOU were doing before.


                                    Take care Man,  Bill

[Scott S]

 My ex wife had them out as an adult. I'm not gonna lie to you....it can be rough. It's much easier as a kid. Plan on taking the whole week off.

[dave500]

you get to eat ice cream!

[Sam Green Racing]

you get to eat ice cream!

and when you are 5 years old and your parents can't afford such luxury, it's nice.
The sad part of having them out was, they came out on November 5th 1951, bonfire night in the UK. It's the night that we celebrate the burning of Guy Faulks, his punishment for trying to blow up our houses of Parliament, we were very barbaric back then.

Sam.

[Dawdlin Dog]

you get to eat ice cream!

and when you are 5 years old and your parents can't afford such luxury, it's nice.
The sad part of having them out was, they came out on November 5th 1951, bonfire night in the UK. It's the night that we celebrate the burning of Guy Faulks, his punishment for trying to blow up our houses of Parliament, we were very barbaric back then.

Sam.

Very barbaric in 1951    Exactly how did they take your tonsils out Sam?
 

[bill440cars]

you get to eat ice cream!

and when you are 5 years old and your parents can't afford such luxury, it's nice.
The sad part of having them out was, they came out on November 5th 1951, bonfire night in the UK. It's the night that we celebrate the burning of Guy Faulks, his punishment for trying to blow up our houses of Parliament, we were very barbaric back then.

Sam.

Very barbaric in 1951    Exactly how did they take your tonsils out Sam?
 

   Sounds like they BURNED them out!

[gmonkey]

I got my adenoids out when I was a kid.  When and where I had it done the adenoidectomy consisted of being tied to a chair and having a fork stuck in your throat.

[Kframe]

Well, I'm an RN and I can tell you for a fact that the recovery is tougher (more painful) for someone in their 30's than as a child. 

It's going to suck pretty bad for the first 3 days, you're going to be given copious (yet safe) amounts of IV pain medication, probably Dilaudid or fentanyl, but it won't take all the pain away.  It will feel fiery. 
But by day 3-4 postop, you'll be getting better. 
Definitely take the whole week off. 

I'm not trying to scare you, but patients have the right to the truth, and health care workers (doctors or nurses) that mislead patients by glossing over facts are doing them a disservice. 
The surgery is necessary, and the discomfort won't kill you, it just will be quite unpleasant for a short time.  You can handle it.
-K

[sangyo soichiro]

I'm not trying to be funny here, but is it true that the smell of your breath will improve with them out?  Just something I heard... that they can catch food which gets old and such.  Not sure if it's true.

[scottly]

I'm not trying to be funny here, but is it true that the smell of your breath will improve with them out?  Just something I heard... that they can catch food which gets old and such.  Not sure if it's true.

It's true, but not necessarily from food. Bacteria grows in the festering pockets. YUCK!

[Cvillechopper]

I'm not trying to be funny here, but is it true that the smell of your breath will improve with them out?  Just something I heard... that they can catch food which gets old and such.  Not sure if it's true.

It's true, but not necessarily from food. Bacteria grows in the festering pockets. YUCK!

Yeh, that's what's happening for me.  I've been cleaning them out weekly for about 12 years with q-tips and a syringe.  Not fun.  The doc said that your body fights off the bacteria and spends alot of energy doing so.  I'm hoping that it'll help with the exhaustion I've had for over a year now. 
I have also heard that your breath is REALLY bad for a week or so after the surgery as things heal and that your voice might change as a result.  Asked the doc for the Barry White treatment but he didn't think it was as funny as I did.  Good thing I'm not paying him for his sense of humor.

Thanks for the kinda words and extra info guys. 
James

[Sam Green Racing]

you get to eat ice cream!

and when you are 5 years old and your parents can't afford such luxury, it's nice.
The sad part of having them out was, they came out on November 5th 1951, bonfire night in the UK. It's the night that we celebrate the burning of Guy Faulks, his punishment for trying to blow up our houses of Parliament, we were very barbaric back then.

Sam.

Very barbaric in 1951    Exactly how did they take your tonsils out Sam?
 

Same way that they castrate sheep DD.

Sam.

[Cvillechopper]

So going back to work on Monday did NOT work out.  Was still getting sick from time to time (drugs did not agree with me).  Heading back tomorrow morning and stayed off the meds (other than antibiotics) all day today.  Hurts still but not so bad that I can't think straight like it did before.  Going with just Tylenol now and seeing if I can make it through month-end reporting starting tomorrow. 

[Kframe]

Sounds like you are on the upswing though. 
In another week or so you'll start forgetting about it; and no more syringes and q-tips!
 
-K

[syth82]

  reading this thread makes the back of my throat feel funny. I think I may be the only adult I know personally who still has tonsils....

[scottly]

Cville, sorry you are having a bad time with this. I was only given Tylenol. I did gargle with salt-water, and it seemed to help with the healing process; your mileage may vary.

[zanorak]

I had mine out when I was 21. Believe me - it's better to get infected tonsils out than not!
I was working for the parks service when mine swelled up (either because I handled park garbage all day or because of the girl I was dating... ) and I swear - by the time I finally threw the towel in and went to the doctor I had lost 20 pounds! I was having trouble breathing my throat was so swollen.

We had an HMO at the time, so I went in and they said "oh, well we're going to give you a big shot of antibiotics and see if it goes away." SO they got out a needle that was at least 8 inches long and gave me a big old shot in the rump. No effect. So I went back. DIFFERENT doctor. (I say doctor loosely as they were all about 25) Doctor does the SAME thing. I went back 5 times in 3 weeks and each time they did the same thing. They had to start alternating cheeks because the bump hadn't gone down on the other. THEN they said "oh yeah, we're going to lance them and see if that works." I needn't elaborate on THAT I don't think. Long story short I could barely walk at the end of 3 weeks and my 15 year old sister had to drive me in and she flipped on them. "Doctor" got defensive and they almost had us removed from the clinic - them my mom's friend Wendy showed up and flipped on them too and they sent me to an ENT guy. (I needed a referral under that plan... ) He said the same thing. "We need to do surgery."

So about a half hour later they were out. I spent a week on my lawn chair in the garage looking at my camaro project car NOT being put back together and became immune to Vicadin. Pain? Sure... but nothing compared to the 3 weeks proceeding. Now I get a little sore throat every now and then - sometimes weird bacterial infections that my body fights off without the antibiotics and the doctor can never pin down - but I have only been to the doc a couple times in 8 years. Better this than having a bacterial time bomb in your throat. My doc missed a tiny bit of adenoid and that's why I get sick sometimes but this is way better than before. Make sure you get the OLD doctor who did these every day in the 60's!

And YES, my voice got a bit lower and now I can run and chug beer a bit better!!!

+1 on the salt water - though it made me gag. This should be on plane with having your wisdom teeth removed...