Tonsillectomy?!

Tonsillectomy?

I have really huge tonsils, when I got mono they were almost touching. Occasionally I get tonsil stones, white, hard things that I have to cough out. I am going for a consultation with an ENT Friday, and I was wondering what to expect if he decides to schedule a tonsillectomy. I am 19 years old, how severe is this surgery, how long will it take for me to feel better, tell me everthing!!

2 weeks ago
Also, will it make my voice change?

I'm also 19 and had basically the same problems you list. I had the tonsil stones, and got Strep throat on at least 4-5 occasions, resulting pain that prevented me from eating and swelling so bad that my breathing was restricted. I had actually just had a Tonsillectomy yesterday(July 3), So I am currently in the recovery process.

What to expect(from my experience so far): When my tonsillectomy was scheduled, I was put on Amoxicillin, Prednisone, and Rantidine for the 5 days prior to my surgery. The Amoxicillin is an antibiotic used preventively against infection; the Prednisone is used to reduce swelling, and is given before the surgery so you have some in you; and the Rantidine is used to counter the Prednisone. the Prednisone has a side effect of upset stomach or nausea, and the Rantidine is used to prevent that.

I also had to get bloodwork done the week before my surgery, and you cant take any asprin painkillers for 2 weeks prior to surgery because they thin your blood and increase the chance of post-op bleeding.

Day of surgery: You can not eat or drink anything starting midnight before your surgery, because the anesthesia can cause you to vomit it up during surgery. It's not a long process. I got to the surgical center at 6:15am, was knocked out around 7:15, woke up a little after 8, rested for about 2 hours, and was home by 10:30am. (you can't drive for 24 hours after your surgery).

I'm currently taking the same three prescriptions from before the surgery for the same reasons, as well as a prescription for Percocet as a painkiller. you can't take ANY aspirin products until you are fully recovered because of the bleeding risk.

Today my throat was pretty sore at times, but the pills seemed to help. I slept for a few hours when I got home. I drank a lot of cold gatorade and water because the two main problems after surgery are bleeding and dehydration, they told me it's okay if i don't eat for a few days but I HAVE to have plenty of fluids. make sure they're cold because it helps to soothe the throat. i had a few spoon fulls of ice cream around 12:30. I had some scrambled eggs around 3:30 and a pudding as well. for dinner i had a small microwavable Mac & cheese, a yogurt, and a Wendy's frosty for desert(while drinking plenty of liquid all day!). you can have soft cook-able foods like mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, scrambled eggs AS LONG as it's at room temperature and not hot.

It's only been day 1 for me so if you have any questions for me as i recover the next few weeks, feel free to email me at superfot63@hotmail.com..good luck!

also, about the voice changing..my voice sounds different now..but it's because my throat still hurts...honestly you won't have any desire to talk, for the first day at least.


Edit: in response to keeping them in..if they are truly as bad as mine were, there is no benefit of keeping them. The fact that they catch bad germs...that is helpful in your childhood...once your body catches the germ as a child your immune system makes a copy of the correct antibody to treat the germ if it is found later in life. research has shown that adults with their tonsils removed had on average the same rate of sickness and infection as adults with their tonsils.

Sources: College Bio class on immune system and information from my ENT about the tonsils.