It wasn't all that bad!! Think positive!

Stackette · Newbie Joined: 18 Jan 2008 Posts: 1

Ok...I read all of the horror stories before my surgery on 10/29/07 and was SCARED TO DEATH!! I am 35 years old. I had already made the commitment to myself to go through with it and I have to say....glad I did! I had a tonsilectomy and sinus surgery done at the same time. I knew I was going to be out for two weeks, so why not do them both! It was not near as bad as I had imagined. Just remember that everyone's body is different and will heal differently. The tonsilectomy was the worst of the two though. I actually woke up from surgery and was talking a little! I talked that night, but then started getting sore. I didn't sleep well at all and the pain pills didn't seem to help with that. I had it done on a Monday afternoon and by far....Wednesday was my worst day! Couldn't talk and getting very weak. I found that lying in the bed didn't work for me because I felt like I was choking even with my pillows propped up. I found that my recliner would be my BEST FRIEND for a good 10 days. I could at least lay back a little, but keep my head to the side to sleep. Kept the TV on at all times so that I didn't feel so alone because I woke up all hours of the night. I had to keep my nose clean and had plastic tubes in there...not fun, but not bad. I NEVER had any bleeding with the tonsils and never had any scabbing like everyone talked about. If I did...didn't feel it. I didn't have any energy because of no food (lost 10 lbs.), but once I was able to eat...my energy level came back. Even after my first two weeks, I had a sore throat when I swallowed, but not bad. I learned to deal with it and keep eating! It eventually stopped hurting and things were great! My overall experience....GREAT! I would definitely do it again if I had to! Wasn't all that bad. Keep a positive attitude.

Cynthia07 · Posted: 01/20/08 - 18:18 Post subject:

I am very glad that you posted that!! I have my tonsilectomy done tomorrow morning at 7AM! So I'm kinda calm! Gettin over it!!! Hope things work well for me as they did for you!

Guest · Guest

Cynthia -- Best of luck with your tonsillectomy tomorrow morning. Make sure that you eat something relatively close to midnight, because it just might be the last thing you get to enjoy for the next two weeks. I had my tonsils removed on Friday, January 11th and am finally in the clear around Day 11. Water was my best friend. I was fine the first two days, but once the scabs started forming, I was in misery. Waking up at all hours of the night screaming bloody murder. Sleeping was the most difficult, because you are waking up every couple of hours to take pain meds and when you are sleeping you are not drinking, so your mouth gets dry. I lost 15 lbs over th entire course of my recovery. I have pain when I swallow, but it subsides with ice packs on my neck and lots of sucking on ice cubes. I went to the ER one night, because the pain was so bad, but I was not dehydrated or anything. The doctor suggested 'gargling' to the best of your ability with a combination of Maalax and Children's Benadryl. The ENT never told me this, but after paying a$75 ER co-pay and figuring out this piece of information, I found it much mor bearable. The combination coats your throat and allows some temporary relief for you to get down some foods or your medicine. As much as it hurts to eat, do it, because if not, you will get sick and that is not fun on your throat!
Best of luck tomorrow!

Paula

Guest · Guest

Cynthia -- Best of luck with your tonsillectomy tomorrow morning. Make sure that you eat something relatively close to midnight, because it just might be the last thing you get to enjoy for the next two weeks. I had my tonsils removed on Friday, January 11th and am finally in the clear around Day 11. Water was my best friend. I was fine the first two days, but once the scabs started forming, I was in misery. Waking up at all hours of the night screaming bloody murder. Sleeping was the most difficult, because you are waking up every couple of hours to take pain meds and when you are sleeping you are not drinking, so your mouth gets dry. I lost 15 lbs over th entire course of my recovery. I have pain when I swallow, but it subsides with ice packs on my neck and lots of sucking on ice cubes. I went to the ER one night, because the pain was so bad, but I was not dehydrated or anything. The doctor suggested 'gargling' to the best of your ability with a combination of Maalax and Children's Benadryl. The ENT never told me this, but after paying a$75 ER co-pay and figuring out this piece of information, I found it much mor bearable. The combination coats your throat and allows some temporary relief for you to get down some foods or your medicine. As much as it hurts to eat, do it, because if not, you will get sick and that is not fun on your throat!
Best of luck tomorrow!

Paula

free0809 · Newbie Joined: 20 Jan 2008 Posts: 16

Paula--can you explain the garlge that the ER doc recommended?

Cynthia07 · Posted: 01/22/08 - 10:41 Post subject:

I had my surgery done yesterday morning! and i was feelin good... not as bad as i imagined... i'm very sure i'm not in the clear.. i also heard the first 2 days are good but the 3rd day gets harder!!! The meds have my dozing in and out of sleep for 30 mins at a time.... I'm a teenager(18yo) so of course i keep my cell phone next to me 24/7 so i think that had something to do with me waking up.. lol but i have put it on slient so i could rest! I was talkin yesterday but towards the end of the day i was starting to get sore! I only talk when i have to... other then that... i have my mom home with me and my grandma has come over as well to help my mom with me and my younger brother who is 6 yo. He's kinda sick! But he's so cute cuz everytime he sees me up and walking he tells me "Cynthia... you should be resting!! GET BACK IN BED!" He's too cute.... but i'm takin my meds every 4 hours! which keeps me kidna busy and waking up all the time! They are all liquids.. the taste is bad but i need it so no time for complaining! This morning i had to take a dose at 2:30AM so i waited to take that and by 3:45AM i was out! and was able to sleep til 7:30AM missing my 6:30AM dose! so that kinda shifts my meds an hour later! but it's ok.... i'm doing great so far.. i'm sure things will be worse tomorrow! but i'm doin good!! I know this sounds gross but i had a sherbet and powerade yesterday... that didn't do so well.. my body can't hold it in! So i've been sticking to water! Like you said Paula it has become my bestfriend!! =] =] it hurts to sallow but i'm doing great with getting a bottle down almost every 2 hours! I tried to eat roman noodles last night... didn't work was too scared so i just slipped the soup!! lol I brought a humidifier and that seemed to work great.. the only thing i had to sleep with my door closed to keep the good air in! My Mom has been great! I call her cell in the middle of the night so she can being me my meds!!! SHE'S GREAT!!!! I LOVE HER!!! Hoping to heal fast but only on Day 2!!!! Ekkkk... Thanks!!!!

free0809 · Newbie Joined: 20 Jan 2008 Posts: 16

Glad to hear you came through okay and are doing good! Keep drinking that water--I had my surgery Thursday and that is still all I can drink!
For some reason my pain is horrible today....not sure why. I see the ENT tomorrow so I guess I'll just wait until then.

Keep drinking!!!!!

Anne

Guest · Guest

I'm on Day 4 Now..... i really haven't noticed a change in pain for the past 4 days! It's bout the same.. but hurts on and off again! You know the pain. today i got sick! It was horrible... UGH but i'm drinking lots of water... my mom had to leave me today but didn't wanna leave me alone so once again grandma is here.. or i should i'm at grandma's house! I can't wait to get back to the normal things and talkin to friends!!!!! I've taken up a new hobby (WRITING!) lol i use my little FSU notepad to write notes to my mom and brothers... it hurts to talk! UGHH!!! But just can't wait to go to McDonald's and bite into a cheeseburger with no problem! Yesterday i had Mac and Cheese and Roman Noddles and a little bit of pasta from my mom's Chicken Alfredo! YUMMY!!! I already had to get a refill on my pain med! Still liquid! I see my ENT Monday... can't wait to see wat he says! And i'm managing to get online and do some of my college homework! =]

It wasn't all that bad!! Think positive!

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