Im getting my tonsils taken out next week and im really scared...any advice??!
Question: I'm an anaesthetic nurse so have first hand experience of many procedures. Firstly, ignore those people who are trying to scare you further.
Tonsillectomy is a pretty routine procedure carried out on thousands of patients each year. Today's methods of removing the tonsils are far safer than the methods used even twenty years ago and most patients have no post-operative problems at all.
You will understandably be nervous about having a general anaesthetic. Please don't worry. I look after several patients a day undergoing general anaesthetic and am with them throughout their surgery. Again todays methods of anaesthesia are extremely safe and well controlled.
You will firstly have a very small cannula (plastic tube) put into the back of your hand. This can sometimes nip a bit for a second but shouldnt really be painful. All of the medicine to make you go off to sleep will be delivered through this cannula. You will then be asked to breathe some oxygen through a face mask and the anaeshetist will gently drift you off to sleep. Patients tell me often that this is the best sleep they've had for ages! When you are asleep the anaesthetist will insert a breathing tube into your throat - again this is normal and is only there to provide a safe airway whilst the surgeon works. The breathing tube will be removed before you wake up and you'll never know a thing about it!
When you wake up your operation will be over and you will be back in the recovery area, where the recovery nurses will look after you for a short time before you go back to the ward.
You will have a bit of a sore throat when you wake up but this is to be expected. The combination of having your tonsils removed and of having a breathing tube in your throat is bound to cause a bit of discomfort.
You will be encouraged to eat and drink before you leave the hospital and unfortunately it's not all jelly and ice cream. You will probably get something soft to eat for your first meal or so and then will be advised to try to eat pretty much normally as this help to clear the throat after surgery. Most importantly even if you don't feel like eating please remember to keep drinking lots.
It's important to tell the staff before your operation if you are allergic to any medicines or any foods because that may affect which medicines will be used on you.
If you are in any pain at all after your operation let the nurses know - they can give you something to help.
Dont be afraid to let the anaesthetic nurse know if you're feeling scared on the day - she'll be able to talk you through everything that's happening and help you feel at ease.
Good Luck!
Answers: I'm an anaesthetic nurse so have first hand experience of many procedures. Firstly, ignore those people who are trying to scare you further.
Tonsillectomy is a pretty routine procedure carried out on thousands of patients each year. Today's methods of removing the tonsils are far safer than the methods used even twenty years ago and most patients have no post-operative problems at all.
You will understandably be nervous about having a general anaesthetic. Please don't worry. I look after several patients a day undergoing general anaesthetic and am with them throughout their surgery. Again todays methods of anaesthesia are extremely safe and well controlled.
You will firstly have a very small cannula (plastic tube) put into the back of your hand. This can sometimes nip a bit for a second but shouldnt really be painful. All of the medicine to make you go off to sleep will be delivered through this cannula. You will then be asked to breathe some oxygen through a face mask and the anaeshetist will gently drift you off to sleep. Patients tell me often that this is the best sleep they've had for ages! When you are asleep the anaesthetist will insert a breathing tube into your throat - again this is normal and is only there to provide a safe airway whilst the surgeon works. The breathing tube will be removed before you wake up and you'll never know a thing about it!
When you wake up your operation will be over and you will be back in the recovery area, where the recovery nurses will look after you for a short time before you go back to the ward.
You will have a bit of a sore throat when you wake up but this is to be expected. The combination of having your tonsils removed and of having a breathing tube in your throat is bound to cause a bit of discomfort.
You will be encouraged to eat and drink before you leave the hospital and unfortunately it's not all jelly and ice cream. You will probably get something soft to eat for your first meal or so and then will be advised to try to eat pretty much normally as this help to clear the throat after surgery. Most importantly even if you don't feel like eating please remember to keep drinking lots.
It's important to tell the staff before your operation if you are allergic to any medicines or any foods because that may affect which medicines will be used on you.
If you are in any pain at all after your operation let the nurses know - they can give you something to help.
Dont be afraid to let the anaesthetic nurse know if you're feeling scared on the day - she'll be able to talk you through everything that's happening and help you feel at ease.
Good Luck!
Yeah, make sure they put you to sleep first, I found it helped
Ohhh it is not so bad. I had my tonsils out . One thing though, avoid anything milky it tends to make you swallow more and that can hurt. Jellies are fine. Don't worry, you will feel better soon .:))) Take care .
Don't be. It a simple procedure. Doctors do it all the time. Its going to take some time to recover, but you get to eat ice cream.
some ppl can be so mean on here. my daughter had her tonsils out when she was in 10th grade. sure it hurts afterward but do what the dr says eat jellos and broth at first then try soft foods do not try anything crunchy or hard.till you heal more. they will give you some pain medicine afterward to ease the pain but the pain wont last long. dont worry you will be just fine. take care....
oh boy I had this done when i was 21, it was quite pain full afterwards for a few weeks especially first thing in the morning and it's a myth that you get to eat ice cream and jelly, i got bran flakes and toast! but you get pain killers.
and i felt once it had all cleared up that it was the best thing i had done because i was getting bouts of tonsillitis every 4 weeks or so and now i rarely even get a sore throat!
So don't worry its all for the best.
Stock up on soup, Itatlian Ice or Icecream and mashed potatoes.
That is about all you will be able to eat for a little bit.
Better ask for a 'straight jacket' dude, don't wanna lose ya head now do ya?.......
My daughter was 4 when she got hers out, and she was a real trooper. Just relax, and let the doctors do their thing (make sure they're planning to take out your adenoids also, as sometimes it's hard to tell which is causing trouble). Once it's over, the recovery isn't much worse than having a sore throat. Lots of clear liquids, popsicles are great, but stay away from milk and ice cream products for a couple of days at least. You'll be froggy for a couple of days, but you'll do just fine. In the long run it's worth it for getting rid of the tonsilitis, snoring, and bad breath!
Don't try to talk right after the surgery because you're going to be able to. eat Lot's and Lot's of ice cream and ice or just a lot of cold things.
1. Always choose a surgeon who has done a lot of the procedure.
2. Go to a major hospital - avoid surgi centers.
3. Follow your discharge instructions to the the letter.
4. Do not hesitate to call the doctor's office or nurse if you have questions before or after surgery.
5. Ask family or friends to help with daily chores.
6. Have your Living-will, medical power of attorney completed. Tell family what your would want if things go poorly.
7. This a procedure that is done thousands of time each year and is relatively low risk.
8. Make sure you have pre-approval from your insurance company. You'll get lots of bills from many different providers. Its just a fact of life. Expect them and dont worry.
9. Have your doctor write any prescriptions before surgery so you can have them filled in advance.
10. Do not suffer in pain, tell the nurse if your hurt. Pain is not helpful and will delay healing.
11. Get a lot of rest post surgery and do not go back to work too quickly
I had mine out a couple of years ago. It was fine. Sore yes, but they advise you to eat rough things like toast and not ice cream. Oh and drink plenty. They do give you plenty of pain killers but they're soluble as it works better which isn't very nice. I'm a tablet person myself!
I think the worst part was not being able to go out for risk of infection.