topic Re: Adult Tonsillectomy in Wellness

Adult Tonsillectomy

kitty60 — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 15:29:33 GMT

My son who is in his thirties will be having his tonsils out this week. Has anyone had this experience as an adult? Dr. wanted him to take two weeks out of work, he is planning on a full week out of work. DIL wants someone to sit with him for one week. Since he is having them removed outpatient on Friday and will have people around over the weekend I think she will have a good idea of what is going on. I know it is a little more serious in adults but really! Any experiences would be appreicated.

Re: Adult Tonsillectomy

henderson — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 15:37:26 GMT

It's much more painful for an adult. Is there a good reason for taking the tonsils out? I had my tonsils out at age 30 in 1976. I was not completely out, but I could feel blood dripping down my throat. It was painful after I got home. Felt like my throat was slit open. I remember just eating popsicles. I got pregnant with our 2nd son after recovery!

I think i was off work for about 2 weeks. I had strep throat a lot so that's why I had them removed. I'm sure, now 40 years later, the surgery is much better and they can control the pain when your son gets home.

Re: Adult Tonsillectomy

sunshine45 — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 15:38:23 GMT

my adult son had this done two years ago.

it was quite painful! as the doctor said, it feels like you are swallowing glass.

he ate a lot of soup the first few days and drank a lot of gatorade. you just have to be careful about the site bleeding.

they gave him a prescription of liquid oxycodone for pain, but he did not take it.

although the doctor said the same thing about 2 full weeks for recovery, he was up and out after about 5 days or so.

Re: Adult Tonsillectomy

cherry — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 15:39:14 GMT

I had it done as a 15 year old ,this was about 55 years ago. I was told by someone my age , how sick I would be

She didn't lie. I couldn't eat or talk, and dropped a great deal of weight..This is probably not going to happen to your son. I am sure methods are a lot better today

Re: Adult Tonsillectomy

Nightowlz — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 15:41:25 GMT

I was 17 when I had mine removed. They did not remove my adenoids since they said they were so small. My friend had hers out the day before me but she had to have her adenoids removed. We were in the same room. She had more problems & pain. I did not have those problems. Just sore throat & tired.

Are they removing his adenoids?

No they don't let you eat ice cream. It builds up mucous. I ate a lot of Popsicles.

Re: Adult Tonsillectomy

LexaMom — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 15:42:23 GMT

I had this done when I was 22. I was in grad school and my Mom - an LPN came out to take care of me. What I remember the most was not being able to swallow much and salivating a lot. I ate a LOT of Jello Egg Custard. It was about a week of that.

I also remember - back then (1972) - they had to use ether to put you out.. That was awful. Hopefully that isn't true anymore.

Re: Adult Tonsillectomy

IlliniGirl88 — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 15:45:00 GMT

@kitty60 - Sorry to hear your son has to get this done as an adult. My sister had her tonsils out as an adult, and as others have said, it's quite painful. It was very uncomfortable for her, but no complications. She's not a wimpy person either, and she just seemed to take longer to heal and she was in quite a bit of pain. Wish I had something better to say, but adults seem to have a rougher time with tonsillectomy. I hope your son has a better time with it.

Re: Adult Tonsillectomy

JYWilliams — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 16:28:50 GMT

I was 28 when I had mine removed. My pain tolerance is high so when I say I had a great deal of pain believe it. I couldn't eat so I lost 20 lbs in 10 days. My right ear hurt so bad. I started bleeding twice where the second time it happen I had to be put back under so they can stop the bleeding.(this was almost two weeks after the surgery) The pain pills where so big that they hurt to swallow so I had to get liquid. I had it rough. The smell that comes from your mouth from the procedure is really bad. I know everyone is different but for me I would rather heal from broken bones. (LOL) I hope your son has a better out come.

Re: Adult Tonsillectomy

GraceLady — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 17:03:13 GMT

Adult tonsillectomy is very painful. I had mine removed in my mid-twentys, not my adenoids. My tonsils were deeply rooted, which made it more difficult for the surgeon to remove them. My son had his removed at age 3, and his just popped out because children's tonsils hadn't rooted in yet. My ENT also never does adults as outpatients. He always admits for one night. I was so thankful for that. When anesthesia completely wears off, the pain really sets in. Only the hopsital can manage that pain. I ended up having to stay a second night because I couldn't swallow, and until I could take in fluids and soft foods, I could not go home. He had me out for two weeks. It was important to stay away from people so I didn't get sick. Full recovery took more like five-six weeks.

Re: Adult Tonsillectomy

kitty60 — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 17:18:19 GMT

Yes, they are taking his adenoids also. He has been in so much pain with his throat over the last year I can only hope it will be a relief when it heals. The overall response seems to be the first few days will be the worst. He doen not like to take any prescription pain meds so I pray he can work through it.

Re: Adult Tonsillectomy

Carmie — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 18:24:44 GMT

I was 33 when I had mine out. I had just started a new job and was concerned about taking time off and the pain, etc.

The only problem I had were I swallowed blood during surgery and when I was in recovery, I began vomiting it up. They called the surgeon because they thought someting was wrong. I was okay.

During the surgery, there was a flat depresser holding my tongue down. I know because my tongue was pinched and had marks on it outlining the depresser and it became swollen. I could not swallow anything because my huge tongue was in the way. It took at least three days for the swelling to go down.

I had no pain and took no pain meds.I was out of work for one week. I had no one to take care of me. I cooked and took care of three children from the moment I came home, This surgery and recovery is easy in my opinion.

Re: Adult Tonsillectomy

Lucky Duck — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 19:21:11 GMT

I had my tonsils removed when I was 18. They took me to the operating room, blindfolded my eyes ("so they wouldn't accidentally poke out my eyes"), jacked my mouth open (still dealing with TMJ from that), deadened my throat with long needles (I could see them when I looked out the bottom of the blindfold) about 6 times, handed me a curved metal bowl so I could catch the blood. I motioned that I was still awake. They said you aren't going to sleep. My throat wasn't numbed enough and I felt every cut and rip the doctor did. It was horrible. My mom was waiting for me when it was over and she was really worried because I looked awful (that from a woman who had seen 6 of her children return from tonsillectomies with no problem). The pain was unbelieveable for over a week. Many years later I still have doctors ask who did the butcher job on my tonsils.

My daughter had hers removed when she was 15. She stayed overnight. The next day after we got home, she hemorrhaged. Back to the hospital. She was re-admitted. She still remembers the trauma.

Re: Adult Tonsillectomy

RedTop — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 19:21:52 GMT

I had my tonsils removed at age 19, back when it was a 3 day hospital stay. Broth, jello and ice cream only in the hospital, but I came home and ate fried chicken livers. My now husband came in on leave the Friday I was discharged, and we went out for hamburger and fries! I didn’t have any problems at all.

My oldest daughter had her tonsils removed in her early 30’s; less than a week before Christmas. She did extremely well too, and was eating everything just fine by Christmas Day. I was working for the Director of Nursing at that time, and she told me to make my daughter drink lots and lots of fluids in the first days after surgery.

The patients who have to return to the hospital because of bleeding issues are usually the ones who won’t drink fluids because their throat is sore. When their throat tissue dries out from no fluids, it bleeds. Keep the throat tissue wet, and healing progresses normally. My daughter had 2 glasses of tea or juice at her bedside every night. I set an alarm to get up every 2 hours to make sure she was drinking on schedule.

My daughter is a teacher, so her surgery was done at the start of Christmas break, and she returned to work as usual after New Years.

Re: Adult Tonsillectomy

riley1 — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 20:11:41 GMT

My daughter had this done when she was about 20 - she came home from college and was home about a week. I remember the doctor wanting her around for that long should anything happen.

I know her throat was sore, but I don't remember any other side effects she had.

Re: Adult Tonsillectomy

ID2 — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 20:30:01 GMT

Yes, I had my tonsils out when I was 48. It was the most pain I have every experienced. And I've had kids and getting my tonsils out was horrible! I kept wondering how do kids do it? Not fun.

Re: Adult Tonsillectomy

Eileen in Virginia — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 01:34:01 GMT

My husband didn’t have his tonsils out, but he had extensive throat surgery about 25 years ago for sleep apnea (this was before CPAP machines). In addition to fatty tissue in his throat they removed much of his soft palate and uvula. I think he was in the hospital for a few days and off work for another week. His throat was extremely sore at first. In the hospital, they used something that looked like a long, hollow rubber tube with crushed ice in it. This was pretty effective in helping relieve the pain. They wrapped it in a hand towel and draped it around his throat. They also gave him adult liquid Tylenol. I don’t remember him getting nauseous that time, but it would’ve really been a problem if he had. I hope your son’s surgery goes well and he has a speedy recovery.

Re: Adult Tonsillectomy

kitty60 — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 13:33:19 GMT

It does seem like its on an individual basis. Our family is not one to stay down in spite of what is going on, so I hope it all goes well and he does not overdo it to prove a point. He did pick up a compound lollipop from the pharmacist last night. The RX was for two but the pharmacist told him to only fill one at this time, he wouldn't need another. Let's hope for the best!

Re: Adult Tonsillectomy

janeec — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 19:04:20 GMT

I was 22 years old when I had mine out. Nausea and vomiting can occur afterwards due to swallowed blood from the procedure.

When first drinking or taking ice chips post op, remember a little swallow will hurt as much as a big swallow, so just take a big swallow. Make it count!

Avoid acidic fluids and foods, such as orange juice, tomato sauce, etc. It will irritate the throat. Cool, soothing liquids and soft foods are best in the beginning, popsicles, jello, eggs, etc.

Best of luck to him.

Re: Adult Tonsillectomy

corita — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 21:26:20 GMT

Well, years ago, I had mine taken out when I was in my late 40's. I was having strep throat and sore throats so often, that the doc said "they have to come out!" I remember he told me that tonsils are like sponges. Every time I got sick and finished my antibiotics, those 'sponges' would still have some leftover disease and I would get sick again!!

He told me that because of my age this would be the most painful operation I would go through and I had been already had had several C sections, hernia etc. And he was right!! My throat hurt so much and felt like I could not breath...though I could! To top that off, the doc had given me a strong pain med that made me vomit. Bad way to find out I was allergic to that med!! The recovery was tough and I still remember the pain!!

Hope tonsillectomy procedures and meds have been modernized and wish your son minimal pain!

Re: Adult Tonsillectomy

CANDLEQUEEN — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 20:37:03 GMT

I had mine out at 18, and it was very painful.....My youngest daughter had hers out at 20, and she had maybe 2 days of pain and then she was fine.

I think it is an individual thing like most surgeries.....Someone may have a horrible time, but you might be just fine. I think for me, it was my doctor..