Having a tonsillectomy as an adult...

[nc0ffey]

So after a number of issues with my tonsils (one especially that is permanently enlarged) over the past few years, I finally manned up and went to the ENT specialist today and after looking them over he wants them (and my adenoids) to come out. The procedure is scheduled for the 13th. I turn 28 tomorrow and have been having a number of people tell me that having it done as an adult is "risky"or that its going to be super painful...but those people either haven't had theirs out or had them out at a young age.

I'm not expecting it to be a cake walk, I figure since the muscles are more developed than that of a kid, it should hurt more as an adult...but these people are making it sound like I will be crying over it.

Have any of y'all had a tonsillectomy at an older age? Is it really a big deal?

I will say, while I am not concerned about the pain, I HATE surgery, I had a number of them as a kid and still don't like the thought of going under the knife for anything.

[Chaos81]

Re: Having a tonsillectomy as an adult...

Guessing 18 isn't quite the age you're looking for, but that's when I had mine removed and I didn't have any problems.

[NDAlum]

Re: Having a tonsillectomy as an adult...

By far the worst experience of my life at the age of 21

- Severe sore throat: CHECK
- They cauterize your throat
- Ended up coughing up gray chunks when it started to heal
- Nearly killed myself by taking a huge breath and inhaling fluid while being operated on
- I could barely open my mouth after the procedure...miserable

Hopefully yours does not suck...but mine did. I'm not a pansy by any means.

I had several throat infections leading up to the procedure and actually had my tonsils absess or whatever. Doctor went in with pliers to get the stuff out of them!

I even missed a few baseball games in college due to my issues.

I will say my case may have been the extreme. I hope you don't have my experience. I wish that on nobody.

[BurghFan]

Re: Having a tonsillectomy as an adult...

By far the worst experience of my life at the age of 21

- Severe sore throat: CHECK
- They cauterize your throat
- Ended up coughing up gray chunks when it started to heal
- Nearly killed myself by taking a huge breath and inhaling fluid while being operated on
- I could barely open my mouth after the procedure...miserable

Hopefully yours does not suck...but mine did. I'm not a pansy by any means.

I had several throat infections leading up to the procedure and actually had my tonsils absess or whatever. Doctor went in with pliers to get the stuff out of them!

I even missed a few baseball games in college due to my issues.

I will say my case may have been the extreme. I hope you don't have my experience. I wish that on nobody.

Geez, dude I don't think you're helping him. Did you just have a local anasthetic or something? Your post makes it sound almost like you were awake during the procedure whereas I would think it'd be don with general anasthesia and an ET tube.

Anyways, I've never heard anything about tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy being any riskier for adults than children. I still have my tonsils though, but apparently they are very small as I've occasionally had doctors ask me if I'd had them removed. My guess is that it is merely a misconception stemming from the perception that having your tonsilitis is a sickness of childhood like chicken pox which IS more dangerous to adults who have never had it before.

Edit: According to wikipedia adults do have a slightly increased risk of bleeding, though it is still only 2-3%.

[Guffers]

Re: Having a tonsillectomy as an adult...

I had mine done at 19. Honestly it was fine. I woke up still in a haze of anesthesia and remarked to my folks that I couldn't feel any pain! Later on the drugs wore off and it was a little uncomfortable but the nurses were great with making sure I had pain meds and everything seemed to heal quickly.

I spent a week at home taking Panadeine Forte (American equivalent is Vicodin I think?) and hanging on the couch and then all was back to normal. I was very nervous leading up to the procedure but it all went as perfectly as I could hope.

The worst part for me was the nausea that the anesthesia caused me but before I could throw up I was out like a light. I'm quite sure your surgery will be fine Coffey and the benefits after your healed up will be worth it. I would get tonsillitis multiple times a year before I finally had them cut out.

[NDAlum]

Re: Having a tonsillectomy as an adult...

I was under full anasthesia. I don't remember waking up they said I took a big breath and took in fluid.

They wouldn't let me leave until my lungs had the appropriate oxygen level or something like that.

I think I was the exception...in a negative way. My tonsils were very large and I had several issues with them in college.

Sorry burghfan but I'm not gonna lie to the boy!

My doctor said there was a clear difference in youth to adults for this procedure.

[Chaos81]

Re: Having a tonsillectomy as an adult...

I had mine done at 19. Honestly it was fine. I woke up still in a haze of anesthesia and remarked to my folks that I couldn't feel any pain!

I did the same thing. Woke up when they were wheeling me into my room and said something about how I felt fine, was thinking clearly, didn't have any pain, and that they should let me out of the bed so I could walk home. I was back out again before I made to the bed and didn't wake up for another hour or so. My dad laughed at me once I finally came out of it.

[nc0ffey]

Re: Having a tonsillectomy as an adult...

Thanks guys...I'm confident everything with the surgery will go well. However I keep thinking of things that might happen afterwards...like coughing/sneezing...or hiccups (I have violent hiccups). I plan on going to stock up on TrueMoo, jello, and some ice cream next week. I hate laying around all day, so I also gotta find something to keep me occupied to help time pass. I will probably be on OS a TON.

More than anything I'm getting aggravated with work acting like this is an inconvenience...like I want to waste a lot of sick time and money on this...but whatever, they'll get over it, I have the time and I'm not "hurting" for money right now...

[nc0ffey]

Re: Having a tonsillectomy as an adult...

They're out!

I went in at 6:30 this morning and was home by 11:15, most of the time was spent in the prep room where they put in my IV and the doctors/nurses came to see if I had questions, I probably spent nearly 2 hours in that room before they actually took me into surgery.

The "worst" part of it was having to put on that hospital robe and take off everything else except my socks. I understand the sanitary reasons...but I would have been more comfortable in my boxers/sweat pants with the robe over them.

Post-surgery I woke up quickly and was drinking water/eating crushed ice right away. The nurse even gave me a lime (my favorite) ice pop. I didn't feel nauseous until I st up and stood to put my clothes back on, but it quickly subsided. Even the 30 minute ride home was fine.

I'm not chillin' in bed watching tv, I have ice packs on the front and back of my neck to assist in managing any possible swelling in my throat. Right now it just feels like a bad sore throat, and honestly I feel like I have had sore throats that were more painful than this.

I appreciate your guys support/suggestions and will keep posting updates in the coming days.

[NDAlum]

Re: Having a tonsillectomy as an adult...

Good for you.

I wasn't trying to scare you I just gave you my experience. I guess mine was ridiculous...it was absolutely miserable.

BTW they also made me stay overnight. They had to make sure my lungs were getting enough oxygen.

The only silver lining is that I didn't pay anything for it, Notre Dame did!

[nc0ffey]

Ha, your experience didn't "scare" me, it helped me consider the worst. I went into surgery expecting the worst anyway just so I wouldn't be freaked out if it did happen...or at least less freaked out. Luckily everything went well (so far)!

[Guffers]

Re: Having a tonsillectomy as an adult...

Great to hear Coffey! I hope your making a speedy recovery.

I didn't want to scare you too much but I did have a friend who spent 3 weeks in hospital after getting his tonsils out. They had a really hard time stopping the bleeding and it really knocked him around.

But I think it is very much routine and minor surgery for most people.

[nc0ffey]

Yea, the soreness seems to have increased a little but still is tolerable and I'm still pretty pale.

I've had 2 bowls of chicken broth, some jello, pudding, and have had a lot of water and a powerade.

[NDAlum]

Re: Having a tonsillectomy as an adult...

Does your jaw hurt at all?

I seriously felt like I couldn't open my mouth anywhere near normal.

[nc0ffey]

No, the only issue I am experiencing is trying to sleep. When I am awake I breathe through my mouth fine but as soon as I doze off I breathe through my nose for some reason and its causing me to make snoring sounds from the stuff in my nose/throat (drainage and such), the vibration from that is uncomfortable and wakes me right back up. Not in much pain, just discomfort.