Adult tonsillectomy

Author
Discussion

JCKST1

Original Poster:

949 posts

149 months

Monday 14th August 2023
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So after another infection it looks like I will realistically need to get my tonsils out and I am back to the see the dcotor again next month to confirm and arrange a date.

Has anyone on here had this done as an adult (I am 30)?
From what I read online its basically hell for 1-2 weeks, the doctor did say the first week will be very tough but by the end of the second you should be fine.

I am hoping two weeks of pain will be better than regular issues so probably going to take them up on the offer and get it booked in.

Davey S2

13,108 posts

259 months

Monday 14th August 2023
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Yes I had mine out at the age of 45.

Had bad throat infections for years and then they triggered very bad bouts of psoriosis.

Its not particularly pleasant. Obviously very sore for a week or so and feels like you're trying to swallow broken glass and barbed wire but after that it's ok.

Stock up on Solpadine Max for after the Op. The painkillers the hospital will give you won't even touch the sides.

I wish I had had mine out years ago. My consultant said my tonsils were the biggest and dirtiest he'd ever seen. When they cut the tonsils out they pack the cavity with small cotton swabs to soak up the blood. He said he usually used 3 or 4 for each tonsil. On mine he used 11 on one side and 12 on the other. He seemed genuinely sad he didn't keep them to show his colleagues biggrin




anonymous-user

59 months

Monday 14th August 2023
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Does ice cream help at all?

Davey S2

13,108 posts

259 months

Monday 14th August 2023
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pocketspring said:
Does ice cream help at all?
Yes and also a good excuse to eat loads of it.

I lived on soup and ice cream for days after my tonsillectomy.

MrBig

3,035 posts

134 months

Monday 14th August 2023
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Hell is a bit OTT IMO. Yes it was painful, but I don't get ill for 2+ weeks every single year anymore. Well worth it. I was eating a regular dinner within a few hours of being home, in fact I was encouraged to eat normally if it wasn't too uncomfortable.

cheeky_chops

1,599 posts

256 months

Monday 14th August 2023
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Had mine out early 20's (so 25+ years ago)

2 weeks rest at home, no exercise or going out. Was going stir crazy after 12 days so had an easy night out no booze. Couple of days later had a bit of bleeding so called ward and went back in.... Was put back in hospital bed for 48hrs!!!!

Things may of changed since but it wasnt nice - only time ive ever had morphine so read into that what you will... Never had a problem since


LimmerickLad

1,830 posts

20 months

Monday 14th August 2023
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Had mine out aged 40 after years of regular sore throats and a quinsey. I seem to recal being given cornflakes soon after the operation rather than icecream as apparantly it "scraped" the area and prevented infection.

Being older it was quite painful but as far as I am concerned well worth it because I don't think I've had a sore throat in subsequent 25 yrs.

Gixer968CS

651 posts

93 months

Monday 14th August 2023
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Had mine out when I was 40. Actually wasn't anywhere near as bad as I expected. The surgeon said mine were very ingrown and took some cutting. I remember it being pretty uncomfortable for a couple of days but the worst bit was not being able to go outside (due o infection risk) for 2 weeks. I crumbled on about day 10 and went for a ride on my bike.

I remember the nurse feeding me hula-hoops a few hours after the op. Logic has changed and now they don't want you eating soup and ice cream but sharp stuff instead, apparently it scrapes the surface of the wounds and reduces scaring. I basically had recurring tonsilitis until I became pretty much immune to the antibiotics and I have to say the removal was 100% worth it for quality of life, just a few uncomfortable days for a life of no tonsilitis which in the end was giving me pretty bad flu-like symptoms.

Get it done!

JCKST1

Original Poster:

949 posts

149 months

Monday 14th August 2023
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That gives me hope, I read a few things on various forums this morn which made it sound like some medieval torture!

Would you compare it to a bad case of tonsillitis then, but with a longer term?

I am back on antibiotics today due to another infection (last one 6 weeks ago when I could barely talk for 2-3 days) and this time is tough, really painful to swallow and aching in my ears and jawline and doesn't seem to be getting better with any medication yet.

Happy to go ahead with the procedure, my thinking is like you all, a week or two of intense pain for years of no pain!

Siko

2,032 posts

247 months

Monday 14th August 2023
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Had both mine out at 49 due to having stage 2 cancer in one of them. Yea it was a bit sore for a few weeks but I managed some solid food, my first meal in hospital was battered fish and chips, although I only ate about a third of it and mainly to get the ice cream for dessert!

Regular painkillers will help (codeine mainly for me) and softish food for a while, croissants with jam were another regular staple. Overall it was ok.

Davey S2

13,108 posts

259 months

Monday 14th August 2023
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The nurses wouldn’t let me go home until I’d eaten 2 rounds of toast.

Hurt like f**k.

EmilA

1,589 posts

162 months

Tuesday 15th August 2023
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Had mine out in May. Post op was fine but I went downhill after the 3rd day. Your encouraged to eat as it helps with the healing, I tried to do so but found it hard to swallow and things gradually got worse. Could only sip water, unable to talk etc.
Ended up in hospital on the 7th day post op due to severe bleeding, an overnight stay with a few bags of fluids, IV antibiotics and I was better again. I got my voice back after the first bag of fluids had finished and was able to eat properly again before I left.

What I found out afterwards is the eating and chewing helps clean away the tonsil site, prevent bacteria buildup etc. I knew I would feel rough and the pain would increase before I got better, I thought what I went through was just how it was but I was wrong.

The pain was all worth it though, quite a significant change with my breathing and I also had my adenoids removed so my snoring has basically stopped.

Get some Difflam to help with eating, make sure you use it as I didn't and that was one of my first mistakes that I did. Keep on top of eating proper food even if its smaller portions and on top of fluids.