Tonsillectomy

arrippa · June 2015

Has anyone had their tonsils out as an adult? I have been suffering from peritonsillitis now for awhile and the doctor recommended that get my tonsils out. I have goggled (big mistake) other people's blogging account of their operation and recovery and now I am freaked out. It looks long and painful.

lyndausvi · June 2015

I still have mine, but DH's best friend had them out a few years ago. It took him weeks to recover. He was completely miserable during the recovery.

loveislouder · June 2015

Is it harder as an adult? Or do you just remember the pain more? I had mine out when I was 5.

novella1186 · June 2015

H and his sister both had theirs out as kids and the story his parents told me is fucking horrifying. (They both suffered some bad complications). So I don't think getting them out as a kid means you're automatically in the clear.

I know two people who got them out as adults and I remember them both saying they had really bad sore throats for a while, but neither of them had any complications or long-term effects.

teddygirl9 · June 2015

I had mine out in grade 1 (valentines day), but it was fine. I was getting ear infections/tonsilitis every other week, and was basically constantly on antibiotics which werent working. I had no idea it would be worse when older!

simcal18 · June 2015

I had my tonsils and adnoids taken out when I was 16. It was really painful for a while and I couldn't really eat solid foods for about a week, but looking back on it now it was totally worth it. I was getting really bad ear infections frequently and every cold I had turned into a sinus infection. They also found precancerous cells in my tonsils when I took them out. Since then my colds are way more manageable and I can count the ear infections I've had over the second 16 years of my life on one hand.

Lulawife · June 2015

I was 18 when I had mine taken out over my freshmen year's Christmas break and it was definitely worth it in my experience. Mine were so swollen all the time that when I came back for spring semester, my friends didn't recognize my voice. I was mostly miserable during recovery because it was the holidays and I was missing out on great food and then I had some stomach troubles once I started eating solid foods again but no major complications or complaints.

knottie9c5ed33df4bbd226 · June 2015

My dad is a doctor and he always says the older you are, the worse it is. My brother is 16 (so still younger) and he just had them out 2 weeks ago. He was in brutal pain, to be honest but he feels much better now.

MairePoppy · June 2015

loveislouder said:

Is it harder as an adult? Or do you just remember the pain more? I had mine out when I was 5.

True story - I had my tonsils taken out twice. I was five the first time. I rememer a sore, scratchy throat, similar to Strep throat pain but I could swallow cold stuff - ice cream and jello for a few days.

In my late 20s, I had multiple strep throat infections, sinus infections and peritonsillar abscess. The ear, nose and throat specialist said the first doctor amputated my tonsils leaving part of the tonsils intact. He removed the rest and cauterized under general anesthesia. It was very painful to swallow for about a week after surgery. I haven't had strep or sinus infections since so it was worth it.

[Deleted User] · June 2015

I've been thinking about seeing my doctor and finding out about a tonsillectomy, so this is really interesting to me as well. Of course, I have only ever heard the horror stories from it, but I have basically had a never-ending sinus headache/infection for two years and other lovely, gross, related things (like tonsil stones) and I am SICK of it!

MJKlover · June 2015

I had my tonsils and adenoids removed at the same time I had sinus surgery last August. It's hard for me to describe what just having the tonsillectomy was like since they did so much other stuff at the same time. I will say that I foolishly told my ENT that I only needed a note excusing me from work for one week. He went ahead and wrote it for two and I needed it. So my best advice to you is to stock up on ice cream and Popsicles and plan to take off at least two weeks from your job/life. It really took me a total of 3 weeks to start to feel normal again.

ETA: I was 33 at the time.

novella1186 · June 2015

abcdevonn said:

I've been thinking about seeing my doctor and finding out about a tonsillectomy, so this is really interesting to me as well. Of course, I have only ever heard the horror stories from it, but I have basically had a never-ending sinus headache/infection for two years and other lovely, gross, related things (like tonsil stones) and I am SICK of it!

Holy hell what is a tonsil stone?!!! Actually ya know what. I'm really nauseous today. I don't think I can handle knowing.

wandajune6 · June 2015

I will need to get mine out sooner or later. It's not immediately necessary but I've had multiple doc seem surprised that someone could keep tonsils as big as mine. I'm terrified of getting them removed so this is interesting to me too.

A former coworker had them removed a few years back. He was 25 and was back in the office without a problem about week later. A current coworker had hers done at 26 and had a horrible time of it-- out of the office for 2 weeks, complications, etc.

I'll continue to put it off....

Maggie0829 · June 2015

novella1186 said:

abcdevonn said:

I've been thinking about seeing my doctor and finding out about a tonsillectomy, so this is really interesting to me as well. Of course, I have only ever heard the horror stories from it, but I have basically had a never-ending sinus headache/infection for two years and other lovely, gross, related things (like tonsil stones) and I am SICK of it!

Holy hell what is a tonsil stone?!!! Actually ya know what. I'm really nauseous today. I don't think I can handle knowing.

I know you said you don't want to know but I am going to tell you anyways

Tonsil stones are when debris (food, mucus, bacteria, etc) becomes trapped and concentrated into white formations in the nooks and crannies of your tonsils. Tonsil stones generally give you very bad breath and can cause sore throats and ear pain depending on where they form. Plus other not so fun side effects like some swelling and difficulty swallowing.

Really the description is not that bad. If you really don't want to be grossed out then don't Google or youtube it.

[Deleted User] · June 2015

Maggie0829 said:

novella1186 said:

abcdevonn said:

I've been thinking about seeing my doctor and finding out about a tonsillectomy, so this is really interesting to me as well. Of course, I have only ever heard the horror stories from it, but I have basically had a never-ending sinus headache/infection for two years and other lovely, gross, related things (like tonsil stones) and I am SICK of it!

Holy hell what is a tonsil stone?!!! Actually ya know what. I'm really nauseous today. I don't think I can handle knowing.

I know you said you don't want to know but I am going to tell you anyways Tonsil stones are when debris (food, mucus, bacteria, etc) becomes trapped and concentrated into white formations in the nooks and crannies of your tonsils. Tonsil stones generally give you very bad breath and can cause sore throats and ear pain depending on where they form. Plus other not so fun side effects like some swelling and difficulty swallowing.

Really the description is not that bad. If you really don't want to be grossed out then don't Google or youtube it.

They are freaking gross and I hate them and I can feel them CONSTANTLY and it grosses me out that I have them

novella1186 · June 2015

Maggie0829 said:

novella1186 said:

abcdevonn said:

I've been thinking about seeing my doctor and finding out about a tonsillectomy, so this is really interesting to me as well. Of course, I have only ever heard the horror stories from it, but I have basically had a never-ending sinus headache/infection for two years and other lovely, gross, related things (like tonsil stones) and I am SICK of it!

Holy hell what is a tonsil stone?!!! Actually ya know what. I'm really nauseous today. I don't think I can handle knowing.

I know you said you don't want to know but I am going to tell you anyways Tonsil stones are when debris (food, mucus, bacteria, etc) becomes trapped and concentrated into white formations in the nooks and crannies of your tonsils. Tonsil stones generally give you very bad breath and can cause sore throats and ear pain depending on where they form. Plus other not so fun side effects like some swelling and difficulty swallowing.

Really the description is not that bad. If you really don't want to be grossed out then don't Google or youtube it.

I was just looking at necrotic tissue samples (doing my actual job for once) and THIS is what made me gag.

princessleia22 · June 2015

abcdevonn said:

Maggie0829 said:

novella1186 said:

abcdevonn said:

I've been thinking about seeing my doctor and finding out about a tonsillectomy, so this is really interesting to me as well. Of course, I have only ever heard the horror stories from it, but I have basically had a never-ending sinus headache/infection for two years and other lovely, gross, related things (like tonsil stones) and I am SICK of it!

Holy hell what is a tonsil stone?!!! Actually ya know what. I'm really nauseous today. I don't think I can handle knowing.

I know you said you don't want to know but I am going to tell you anyways Tonsil stones are when debris (food, mucus, bacteria, etc) becomes trapped and concentrated into white formations in the nooks and crannies of your tonsils. Tonsil stones generally give you very bad breath and can cause sore throats and ear pain depending on where they form. Plus other not so fun side effects like some swelling and difficulty swallowing.

Really the description is not that bad. If you really don't want to be grossed out then don't Google or youtube it.

They are freaking gross and I hate them and I can feel them CONSTANTLY and it grosses me out that I have them

Yeah, I occassionally get tonsil stones too. It basically feels like I have something stuck in the back of my throat and I can't get it out (which makes sense because that really is what is happening). But, yeah, DO NOT google for images because they look nasty in those zoomed in, graphic photos.

I've had a couple times that docs have said I may want to think about getting tonsils out, but I haven't had any ongoing problems serious enough to really look into doing it. I'm 35 and the only person in my family that still has tonsils. Plus, I've had bad history with surgery... I had one surgery that caused severe infection (nearly killed me), resulting in 3 more surgeries and leaving me high risk for future infections, so I'd rather avoid any surgeries that aren't really necessary. Plus, like others, I've heard horror stories of adult tonsillectomy and would rather not go through that.

kmmssg · June 2015

Dd1 had hers out in her late 20's, son in law was mid 30's and dd2 had hers out in May. Every one of them needed 2 weeks to recover. The 2nd week they were starting to get around but not back to work. It kicked all their asses.

kaos16 · June 2015

I had mine out in my early twenties. I remember being pretty miserable for a few days, and then just having a scratchy throat, especially when swallowing for like a week or so. It wasn't too bad at all. I think as a a general rule, kids heal faster than adults, but at the same time everybody heals differently. Good luck!

arrippa · June 2015

Thanks for all the replies. The doctor mentioned that it takes up to three weeks for adults to recover but kids a little over a week. Doing some research, I did pick up some tips to help with the recovery. I am hoping to put off the surgery after until summer is over.

levioosa · June 2015

I had mine taken out at 20. Best decision ever. I used to get sick with strep every couple of months. One of the last times I had strep I ended up in the hospital for a week. I haven't had strep since getting them out. And the pain of the tonsillectomy wasn't even close to the pain I had with the severe strep/tonsillitis that ended up putting me in the hospital.

It wasn't a picnic, but I handled it okay. I was out about 3-4 days, and then I was just very careful with what I ate (mostly mac and cheese and mashed potatoes and broth, if I remember correctly) for a few weeks. Vicodin makes me terribly nauseous and dizzy, so I only took that for a day before switching to children's liquid motrin, which was enough to keep me from being in a lot of pain.

debbeau · June 2015

I had mine removed at 26 because of Repeated strep, ear infections and sinus infections, tonsil stones etc. it was painful for a few days. I missed a week of work. It was so worth it. The doctor told me my tonsils were the biggest he ever removed. That was a little embarrassing when he said that.

jenna8984 · June 2015

@abcdevonn I get tonsil stones ALL the time. I am crazy about brushing, flossing, and mouthwash gargle twice a day yet, I guess I just have the perfect sized deep crevices because I still get them almost weekly. I have it down to a science now where I shine a flashlight on it in the mirror and squeeze the sides til it pops out. It's as gross as it sounds and makes me gag half the time but I can't just leave them in there! I have wanted to get surgery for a while now but I'm too chicken because my best friend had it last year and was definitely out/ in pain for a solid 3 weeks.

l9i · June 2015

My best friend just had hers out a week ago exactly at age 26. She's doing well, I saw her on Friday. She could talk some and eat soft food, no real complications as of yet. She's hoping to be back to work by the end of this week.

MissKittyDanger · June 2015

I had tonsills, adenoids and tubes put in my ears when I was 4yrs old.

I've heard it's changed a lot since then and day surgery. Sounds fairly similar to dental surgery. Soft foods, no straining, etc etc. Depends a lot on your own personal recovery.

MissKittyDanger · June 2015

debbeau said:

I had mine removed at 26 because of Repeated strep, ear infections and sinus infections, tonsil stones etc. it was painful for a few days. I missed a week of work. It was so worth it. The doctor told me my tonsils were the biggest he ever removed. That was a little embarrassing when he said that.

That's interesting actually. I don't have tonsils and I've had sinus infections and strep quite a few times in past couple of years. My dr said mine were size of walnuts when removed {i was 4} so you're not alone

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