I have had sinus surgery and that was awful! Worst pain I went through. I have been noticing a huge increase in my tonsil stones since. Maybe because I have more post nasal drip. I also purchased Dr. Katz tonsil stone kit. I am on week two of using the kit and it doesn't do a thing! I used my cell flash light to look at my throat and once again low and behold those yellowish white gunk in the crevices of my tonsils!!! I feel like I have tried everything. Nothing is working! Your story totally resonates with me, all the self consiousness, all of the mints, gum, gargling solution. I think my only option at this point is to see a good ENT about a tonsilectomy. I am so sick of this problem. I am just so fearful of the pain.
Sincerely,
32 year old female
I am a 29yr female on day 10 of my post op for my tonsillectomy. I knew I needed my tonsils out two years ago, but when my ENT quoted me the price and time I needed out for work I put it on the back burner because I had just started a new job with zero personal time accumulated. Anyway, last Tuesday I went in and had it done. I have read stories about the procedure before and after my surgery and my consensus is that the majority of the stories have really sound advice. Things that I have heard repeatedly and that definitely made a difference for me. 1. DRINK, DRINK, DRINK even if it burns, stings, hurts, or you feel like you've already drunk a bathtub full of water it is the only thing that will save you more pain and suffering in the end. I had one morning-just one when my throat dried out and I felt like I was swallowing glass. Never let that happen again. 2. Take ample time to heal. For some strange reason the worse of the pain for people seem to happen on the second week and not the first so taking only one week off work is not sufficient. Besides all the sleep deprivation you will feel trying to baby your throat will take its told. You need rest. 4. Elevate the head while sleeping. If you have to sleep sitting up do so. I did my first night. The reason being that everything will be swollen after surgery for a few days: Throat, tongue, uvula and this will make you feel like you are choking if you lie flat on your back on on your side. 5. Apply ice to the outside of your neck and/or suck on it. Helps with the swelling and pain. 6. Eat what you can tolerate. There is some debate about he soft food diet during the early days of recovery depending on country and state. In the UK the consensus seems to be that eating regular foods is the way to a speedy recovery and helps keep your strength up. On the other hand UK patients, correct me if I am wrong, stay overnight after surgery for observation. Think it was the same way in Australia. In the US you go home same day after minimal observation which was fine with me as I did not want any more bills and I cannot sleep in strange places unless I am under general anesthesia. lol US patients are largely advised to adopt a liquid diet to a soft diet and finally a regular diet as tolerated. I COULD NOT tolerate a soft diet or regular diet at first. My attempt to nibble on a sandwich was one of my worse mistakes ever. Mashed, soup, and iced seemed to work for me. Be your own judge. 7. To talk or not to talk. I did not talk for 6 days. I kept a pad and pen on hand for things I couldn't gesture. Some folks spoke every day and even if it was terribly painful. I didn't see the need. If you don't feel like talking. Don't. 8. Be proactive not reactive. Take your meds as instructed even when it doesn't hurt. It is easier to prevent a fire than to put one out. 9. Be prepared for weird and know the risks. As of yesterday I started to taste metallic in my mouth. I see my ENT tomorrow but accounts I have read people have experienced this. I sincerely hope it is limited to a few days and not a few works or shudder…years as people report. Side effects never covered by ENT are the risk of permanent or long term impairment to your taste buds. My mother had her tonsils removed when she was 48 and suffered lost of taste for over 6 months. 10. Is it worth it. Have troublesome tonsil stones? Sleep Apnea? Chronic Tonsillitis? Despite the risks of bleeding, blog clots, and taste disturbance you should strongly consider getting your tonsils out if they are doing more harm then good. I dealt with chronic fatigue and tonsil stones for a very long time when I didn't have to. And remember the older you get the harder it will become.
So for the 98% who don't go through the bleeding, you're welcome