tonsillectomy advice needed

[blaze100]

Hi Guys, I need some advice/info on adult tonsillectomy.

I've been getting sick every few months since I was 13. My tonsils swell up and have those awful stones. It seems to be getting worse, takes longer to recover etc.

I've heard tonsillectomy is very painful for adults, but how bad could it be compared to lobectomy? I'm thinking about asking my doc about doing tonsillectomy, especially since it is almost impossible to get antibiotics from these guys.

Any advice/info would be greatly appreciated. Barb

[Kasey]

My advice, Barb, is.......GO FOR IT!!!! Of course I had my own tonsils out at the age of 5!!!! I wouldn't worry abourt the pain involved ~ just get them outta there so you aren't suffering so much. Need help while recuperating? Okay..........I'm there for ya, friend.

Seriously though, isn't it a good idea to get this taken care of?

Kasey

[Ry]

I was 17 when I had mine out and it was not pleasant but not particularly painful. That was thirty some years ago so they must have improved that surgery by now. I bet it isn't that bad with all the new techniques they have. Probably better than all the infections and sore throats you're having. Good luck.

[Geri]

Had mine out at 20. Just remember the mother of all sore throats for a few days and then no more infections.

As Rochelle said, they have to have improved things since I had mine done 40 (yikes) years ago.

Go for it.

Geri

[Connie B]

They may not opt to do it Barb. I know of some doc's that will NOT take them out if a person is over 45-50. But then again your only 39 right??? Having them out over the age of 30 is somewhat risky.

My girlfriends daughter had her's out at the age of 35 and it wasn't a picnic, she did have complications and it did take longer for her to heal. I would try and find poeple who had theres out later in life if I were you. I would want to hear from others that walked the walk.

I had mine out when I was 9, by daughter had her's out TWICE once at age 5 and once at age 7! YES TWICE they didn't get them all on the first try and low and behold they grew back!

I'd push for the Drugs and tell them your sick of playing the game with them. Have your doc's talked to you about taking them out?

It's a 50/50 deal. Good luck!

[wendyr]

Had mine out when I was 16, just a sore throat for a week, but you'd be looking at a whole lot more than that. I'd say load up on antibiotics

wendyr

[beatlemike]

I dont know Blaze but I would think it would be a piece of cake compared to lung surgery.

[shineladysue]

Barb,

I would have to agree with Connie B. Find out more about the risks involved in the surgery as an adult.. I , too, have heard that it is rather risky for adults, especially older adults. Gosh, my experience was to have mine out twice . I had them out at 5 years and 8 years and the docs say I still have a little bit.. Think it's my narrow throat which made it hard for them to work. Anyhow, I would certainly research the risks before seriously considering it.

Sue

[shineladysue]

Barb, me again. Here's some good information and they describe the pain for adults as worse than childbirth and 10-20 days recovery... yiiiikes no picnic here. Hope it's not that bad.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonsillectomy

[blaze100]

Connie dear, I like the way you think. but, I'm over 50.

I've never given birth....Is it worse than lobectomy?

I know tonsillectomy is supposed to be hard over 50, but how good can all these sore throats be for me?

I have to schedule a talk to my GP I guess....I can't get in to see him when I'm sick (he's too busy), but maybe I can ask him to write me a prescription now for next time when I antibiotics?

These docs in Northern CA are very stingy with the antibiotics. Barb

[ErinC1973]

I had mine out last January; I am 34.

I have gotten Strep every year since I was about 12 until I had them out, including a few years where I had it a few times. I had it both times I was pregnant and had to go on antibiotics.

In '06 I was sick from the week before Easter until the following January, when I had them removed. A few ER trips the culture was positive, but many times it was negative. I only had one six week period where I did not have a sore throat during that whole time. And I mean SORE. Like not being able to even swallow my own saliva. But that was my only symptom. I went to two ENT's who said..."wellll...you CAN have them out..." and then kind of just left the room. My last ER trip I had to be rehydrated intravenously, and the doctor referred me to another ENT, who was great and said there was no question I needed my tonsils out.

That was my 14th surgery, and I really was not nervous at all, because I figured I had been in unbearable pain already, what could be worse? Then I saw the nurse practitioner, who gave me all of my pre-op info, and a script for liquid Vicodin. It then hit me that I wouldn't even be able to swallow a PILL, it was going to be so bad. But still, I figured, a few days of pain was worth it.

Then she said I would be in a lot of pain for about two weeks. She said the first few days would be okay, but then when the scabs started forming it would hurt worse, and plateau at the beginning of the second week. She told me I would need to have help come in for my kids. My husband was taking a week off of work, but she told me I needed him to take that second week, too. And it was bad; I slept a LOT, because the meds made me sleepy, and then I'd wake up and feel a bit hungry, but also in pain, so I'd take another dose of Vicodin, and then think of what I'd rather do--sleep or eat--and I'd just fall asleep again. When I went back for my checkup I had to get a liquid to swish around and gargle because they warned me since I was not eating I was not sloughing off the scabs, which was necessary to heal.

All in all, I did begin to get depressed when I was still not better in that second week, but then I did start healing. I thought I'd be less apt to get sick, but no such luck. I still get sore throats ALL the time. I went to the ER before Christmas with such a sore throat, and I had the flu. I told the doctor that I thought I had gotten rid of all of those problems when I had my tonsils out. But my tonsils weren't the problem--my uvula was swollen like a cherry, so much so that it was obstructing my airway. He put me on Z-pac, and do you know that I STILL have a sore throat?

I'm pretty depressed, to say the least. I am seeing my rheumatologist in February and I'm sure we'll have to talk about other options. I feel like I went through that painful surgery for nothing!

If you do have it done, the best advice I can give is that no matter what anyone says about having all the ice cream you want, you probably won't want it. It hurt too badly. I ate nothing but Campbell's Soup-to-Go, the drinkable kind. It was very soothing.

I looked at it like I look at any other surgery/procedure I have to have done: it only hurts for a little while!

Good luck!

[Snowflake]

Barb,

I went through childbirth and a lobectomy. I had a horrible time with childbirth and after 26 hours of labor the doctor decided the boy wasn't coming out on his own and went in to get him. Dreadful....painful...and a walk in the park compared to a thoracotomy!

I know that the radiation affected my throat so badly that I couldn't really swallow. Lost some totally unneeded body fat during that time... If I could have two weeks of pain/discomfort to avoid sore throats, I would do it. I HATE sore throats (I get them often, as well).

BUT, I'm not a doctor. You need to weigh your risks, as there is always possible side effects with any surgery. If it isn't clear cut or the odds of bad side effects are high, that should weigh into your decision.

Good luck!

Becky

[Patti B]

Barb-

I still have my tonsils so I cannot speak of what the surgery is like. I would, however, speak to not only your GP but your onc, also about any risks involved with a general anesthesia with lung cancer and a lobectomy. I needed a tooth extracted a few months ago, and the oral surgeon refused to do it under anesthesia unless my onc would send him a note garaunteeing him that I would wake up!! Needless to say, I had it pulled under novacaine. But it is something to think about.

Whatever the final decision, I hope for the best for you and an end to those darned sore throats!!

Patti B.

[Nick C]

I didn't have it as an adult, but I have to tell you, I usd to get sick all the time...had them out...stopped getting sick.

I don't know why they stopped doing these for kids. Was so much better for me.

[blaze100]

Thanks for all the great info so far. Lots to think about. You guys are terrific.

I woke up feeling much better today. Plus my GP called to check up on me. He sent in an antibiotic prescription to pharmacy. I told him I got scared and probably over-reacted. He said it was completely understandable given my medical history and that I should have a bottle of antibiotics stashed away in medicine cabinet just in case anyway. I like my GP. I will talk to him about tonsils at my next visit.

I get so disgusted with my body sometimes - it has let me down majorly twice. I get all wound up when I feel crummy.

I see onc next week for yearly check up. I will ask about tonsils. See what she says too. Hopefully there won't be anything more important to discuss.

You guys had lots of good advice and I will think about it all.

Barb

[Suzie Q]

Keep in mind, that you can get liquid Motrin or liquid Tylenol for the pain, as well as a lidocaine "swish." That way, you are not in a drug fog for two weeks.

Sometimes the old standby meds work better than the narcotics.

Do ask for a ear-nose-throat specialist consult.

Best of luck, and take care of the throat!

~Karen

[KC]

Barb,

Hi. I haven't posted in quite a while, but I saw your post and I was just talking to someone about this yesterday. I had my tonsils removed when I was 35. They were huge and I too used to get those awful stones. I have to tell you, it was the worst pain I have ever felt in my entire life, but I have never had a lobectomy, so I cannot compare it to that. I was out of commission for 3 weeks and in excruciating pain for all of that time. The pain felt like someone was sticking knives in my ears, so it was not only in my throat, it was just awful. I couldn't even speak for the first week. I was unable to take any pain killers as they make me nauseous, so that may have something to do with it. You really cannot swallow anything, even your own saliva for a week at least without experiencing pain. I don't want to frighten you, but I did feel like I needed to tell you how awful it was for me. No one could understand why it was so painful, because children have it done all the time, but it is much worse for adults, there is no comparison. Maybe if your dr. can prescribe to you liquid painkiller, you will be in a better position than I was. Honestly, I would only advise doing it if you really cannot take the sore throats any longer and are guaranteed that the surgery will make them go away forever. I wish you the best.

[blaze100]

Thanks KC. I can't handle pain meds too, so that made my lobectomy pretty bad.

This is good advice. Now that I'm feeling all better, it sounds like tonsillectomy pain is something I want to avoid - especially since I'm about 20 years older than you were.

Thanks again. Barb

[Anais]

I had mine out in the summer of 2004 (at 24), they were enlarged, I had frequent sore throats and stones. The first 2 weeks following the surgery were horrible, the pain was strong and I would even choke when drinking liquid. I went back to work after 3 weeks. I took some liquid medication, even had liquid codein for a few days. Now, I don't regret having the surgery...only 2 weeks of intense torture.