Tonsillectomy/General Anesthesia?!
Question: I am 28 years old and scheduled to have my tonsils taken out next week. I have a few questions about it. I have had surgeries before, but never under general anesthesia, so I am a little nervous. (1) When I wake up, will there be a tube in my throat? (2) Will I be tied down? (3) Can you use a saline solution to moisturize your nose/throat? (I have a humidifier, but it's still really dry in my house) (4) Is caffeine bad afterwards? (5) Is it realistic to think I will be able to go back to work in 10 days (having my surgery on a Friday, taking the following week off, and plan on returning Monday)...my doc says I'll be fine by then, but I don't necessarily believe him.
Any other advice you can offer? I have purchased lots of ensure, jello, juice and protein drinks...a baby toothbrush and bubble gum flavored toothpaste.
Answers: I am 28 years old and scheduled to have my tonsils taken out next week. I have a few questions about it. I have had surgeries before, but never under general anesthesia, so I am a little nervous. (1) When I wake up, will there be a tube in my throat? (2) Will I be tied down? (3) Can you use a saline solution to moisturize your nose/throat? (I have a humidifier, but it's still really dry in my house) (4) Is caffeine bad afterwards? (5) Is it realistic to think I will be able to go back to work in 10 days (having my surgery on a Friday, taking the following week off, and plan on returning Monday)...my doc says I'll be fine by then, but I don't necessarily believe him.
Any other advice you can offer? I have purchased lots of ensure, jello, juice and protein drinks...a baby toothbrush and bubble gum flavored toothpaste.
I am 22 and I just had my tonsils removed on Wed the 20th. I was very scared prior to surgery because I have heard from tons of people, including my doctor that it would "hurt like hell" for at least two weeks. And, I don't like being put to sleep, because waking up in another place freaks me out...
BUT, let me tell you, the anesthesia is really no big deal. When you wake up the tube will already have been removed, and you will not be tied down.
I am not sure about the saline, and I was told to avoid caffinated beverages for at least a week.
I have been drinking tons of water, juice and gatorade and I have been taking my pain meds as prescribed and let me tell you, I am doing great! My dad, who had the surgery when he was 28, is in shock because he was miserable for 3 weeks and didn't eat a scrap of actual food for the first week and a half. Today, the day after my surgery, I ate some overcooked mac & cheese, jello and sherbert. I wouldn't classify what I feel in my throat as pain, more like a very bad sore throat. Now, I will tell you, from what I have heard/read, I am the exception to the rule, but there is always wishing.
My advice to you:::
1) Drink until your eyeballs float! Water, apple juice, gatorade. Suck on icecubes, have popcicles. Keeping your throat moist at all times keeps pain down. Keep hydrated because, if you get dehydrated, it will cause more pain and there is a chance of bleeding, you don't want that.
2) Take your pain medication as prescribed, mine is every 4-6 hrs and I have been sticking to it about ever 5 hrs. This has kept me pretty drowsy, but practically pain free. I'd rather be drowsy than experience pain.
3) If you go to sleep at night, set an alarm for every 4 hours or so so that you can get up, drink some liquids and take a dose of pain meds. This was advice I got and it is great, the person who told me this didn't do it at first and woke up in the morning with a very dry, painful throat.
4) In my opinion, everyone is different. It took my dad 3 weeks to heal, most people say 2, I have a feeling my recovery will be much shorter. But it seems to me like you shouldn't have any problem going back to work after 10 days as long as in those 10 days you take it easy, you stay hydrated, and you don't have any post-op complications.
I hope I have helped. If you have anymore specific questions, please feel free to email me. Good luck! =]
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You won't be tied down, and the tube will be out by the time you wake up.
My son had this done last year at age 18. I wish I could tell you it was easy for him, but the reality is that it's a tough recovery for adults. Plain water even hurt to swallow the first few days, unless it was ice cold. It was actually kind of tough, as his mom, to see him hurt like that, as he is no pain wuss generally speaking. With only 10 days at home, you will still be hurting a little when you go back to work, just not as bad as the first week. My son's doctor made me take off the first two days from work after his surgery because he insists that his patients not be alone for at least the first 48 hours after this surgery. I had to monitor him at all times to make sure he was breathing okay, and make sure he was awake to take his pain meds on time - because the pain can get unbearable if you're late on a dose. If you happen to be lucky enough to get to stay in the hospital a couple days afterwards, that is what nurses are for, but this surgery has been primarily an outpatient one for years now.
It would be good if you have a friend or close family member that can be there for you if needed. If staying at your house is a problem, you might even want to plan to stay the first couple days at their house.
I answered this same question on here months ago from someone else, and several other adults who had it done answered, and they had the same experiences as my son.
The good news is that for most people, once they have this surgery they hardly ever get sick again, at least not with the inflamed throat and sinus stuff that was so common before. As bad as the recovery was, my son is still glad he had the surgery for this reason.
I am 21 and had mine out a few months ago. There will not be a tube in your throat and you will not be tied down. I was encouraged to drink coke, apparently it helps with healing but the bubbles tend to burn on the way down. I had two weeks off at the advice of the surgeon but really only needed one.
Having surgery is scary I had major head an neck surgery when I was 19 and I was still scare when I had by tonsils out. Remember to tell the surgeon and anesthetists you are scared and they will do there best to put you at ease.
Good Luck, Be Brave