I'm Having a T&A...

I had a tonsilectomy at age 21 and everyone told me that it's so much harder when you're older...well, I was 21!! That's not "old". Unfortunately, it was bad. The recovery was about two weeks and although they tell you that you can have all the ice cream and popscicles you can eat, the problem is the action of SWALLOWING! Anything, Jell-O, pudding, saliva...it was very painful. On the upside, I lost about 7 pounds. Although it was a bad experience, the great news is no more really bad sore throats. Good luck!

I have 4 children that have all had their tonsils out plus my hubby has had his tonsils out since we've been married, he was 26. It was definately easier on my kids. However, if you like iced tea one of the best things that you can do to help the healing process and take away some of the pain is to freeze some tea and eat it as much as you can. We were told that the tanic acid in the tea is a healing agent for a T & A. Something else that helped with all of them was to start taking the pain meds as soon as you can. It really does help if you can try to keep ahead of the pain. One last thing that happened with all of them as well......they started to feel better around day 3 but days 4-6 are the worst pain you will feel. On those days my hubby ate tons of tea.

hi, I had my tonsils and adnoids taken out when I was 25 and it was indeed awful, a long recovery and it was rough, I will not lie to you, but it truly was the best thing I ever did, I was not sick after that- I am over 40 now and have hardly been sick since then, so worth 2 weeks of pain and agony, truly. The best part was it was just five months before I got married and lost a ton of weight too, so along with the pain, I had a side benefit! Just get some help with the kids, I was single and had no kids at the time, you might want some help from family or friends. Good luck...you will not regret it.

HI! I definetly sympathize with you. I had my tonsils out when I was 28 after numerous bouts of Strep throat. I had heard all the same bad stories too. I will be honest with you and say it was hard. My kids were 6 and 4 @ the time and my Mom and husband pretty much had to take care of them for the first few days. I had quite a bit of pain about a week after due to healing. I would just take it easy and drink and eat things that aren't too cold or too hot. The bonus is that adults typically lose around 10 pounds, I lost 8. You will get through it and it is worth it to not be sick anymore. I haven't had any problems since. I will pray for you.

I had my tonsils removed when I was 31 years old. It was the best thing that I did, however be prepared for the WORST sore throat ever! After it went away I have not had many in the 4 years since. Eat lots of soft, cold things for your throat in recovery and expect it to be sore for about a week. I couldn't take the liquid lortab because I don't do liquid meds at all and had to switch to the pill right off. Take your pain meds and do what the dr. says and you will be fine. Get some help with your kids b/c you won't fell like doing much and shouldn't.

My advice would be to make sure you follow your doctor's advice. I had my tonsils removed as an adult several years ago, had to stay a couple of days because I have Lupus and they wanted to watch me. I came home and started hemorraging and had to go back. I was trying to do too much when I got home. Usually, you go get it done as an outpatient, go home, do what the doc says, rest for a few days, take your medicine, and you will probably be fine. I did not do this to scare you or maybe I did to make you listen to your body and your doctor.
B. Z

Hello W.. I had my tonsils removed at the age of "29". I'm now 37 & I promise, having my tonsils taken out was the best move for me! I was sick for 1-1/2 yrs prior to the surgery with constant strep throat & tonsillitis. I tried every antibotic known to mankind & nothing helped. Finally, my ENT said that it was time for the "poisionous apples" to come out. The acutal surgery was a breeze, but the recovery was kinda rough. All in all, I definitely would go thru the surgery again! I haven't had any major throat problems since my surgery. Every once in a while I'll now have some discomfort with "acid reflux" a common side effect of having a tonsillectomy. But nothing compared to what I was dealing with. Good luck! J. in NC

I was 19 when I got my tonsils out, its not that bad. They give you pain medicine. Basically, you have a REALLY BAD sore throat.
Hey, look at it this way. Its not as bad as labor! :-) Do it. You'll feel better in the end.
Mine hurt for a couple days after, then a few weeks of more of an uncomfortable feeling rather than major pain.

I would suggest having someone help you out for a couple days with the kids though, so you can rest and heal faster. Plus, you'll be on pain meds, so resting shouldn't be too hard! Good luck!

I was 29 when I had my tonsils out. It was very painful, but only required 2 weeks of recovery. Make sure you have someone that will take care of you 24/7 for the first 3 days. I was actually off work for 2 weeks. Also make sure you continue all medications for infection. My tonsils were so nasty, I actually had the doctor save them after surgery so I could see them.

Good luck!!

D. A (Memphis, TN)

Hi W..
I am a 40 yr old mom and I had to have my tonsils taken out 6 months ago. As of today I am so glad that I did. I had dealt with constant pain for 3 months before finally being sent to an ENT. The recovery was worse than the constant pain that I was already in before surgery, but after 10 days I was able to return to work. I wll be honest with you. During recovery, there were quite e few days that I felt as if I had a dirty dish rag hung in my throat that just wouldn't move. My best advice is to keep your throat moist during recovery. Drink as much water as your body can stand even if it is just small sips. A dry throat can cause a lot of extra pain during this time. Hang in there and just remember that you will feel better after it is all over. I feel great now. I haven't been able to go back to singing in my church choir yet, but I wouldn't change having those little rascals removed for anything in the world.

I would get a second opinion, without telling doc#2 about the previous diagnosis. Also, seek alternative treatment. I think those should be exhausted before surgery.

Hi W.,
First, have the surgery. You probably should have had it sooner but there was a trend in medicine not to remove T & As which resulted in many people like you developing a severe infection which has lasted over a long period.
Second, get all the info you need before the surgery. The more you know the less you have to fear. It is what you do not know that is causing you the anxiety. Write down al the questions you have about the proceedure and get your doctor to answer them.
Third, one of the reasons that the surgery is harder on adults is because unlike children who after a T & A proceedure are happy to eat ice cream and sleep for a few days until the pain subsides, adults try to talk and function way before they should. Get help with your babies and give your self a couple of days to do nothing. The rest factor is why children get over colds faster than adults do.
Fourth, another reason the surgery can be worse on adults is because your body has been dealing with the infection for so long. Fighting an infection drains your body of energy so it can not heal as fast so eat lots of fruits and vegetables or use a juicer, and give your immune system a boost before the surgery and you will heal faster.
Lastly, your attitude will determine your healing. Be prayerful and see yourself as healed and joyful. Expect a positive outcome and you will get a positve outcome. God bless you.

I was in the same boat at 28. I had mine removed 3 months after my son was born. Now that I am through the process it was the best decison. It was painful but pain only last for a short time. If you are able to stay in bed the first 2-3 days and not do anything but take the meds then you will make it through just fine. Good luck! Try not to dewell on the horror stories because that will only make it worse. You will be glad once you are through the difficult time.
C.

sorry to hear that but its the same as having it as a child its just makes you a little more were you will need to drink from a straw for a few days longer than well you were a kid good luck I will keep you in my prays

I had my tonsils removed at 36 and yes it was very painful. And yes, you will experience pain. Something similar to what it must feel like to swallow cut glass. It lasted for about 4 days. But now, more than 10 years later, I have no regrets. Not one! No more swollen tonsils and no more throat infections and no more upset stomach and no more yeast infections from taking 500mg of amoxicillin every day for years. I took a chance because I believed there was hope for some relief and I am very glad I did. Be encougaged!

I like another mom on here have NOT have my tonsils removed. But I talked with a friend yesterday that had hers removed about 2 years ago and she said that every thing was a "breeze" and that was her EXACT word! I don't know where you are located but Dr Wallace in Kingsport did her surgery and she said he was fabulous.

I wish I could be of more help, but I do wish you the best of luck!

C.

a lady i used to work with said her grown daughter(age 26 at the time i think) had her tonsils removed and hadm relatively no problems. she was laid up in bed for about 2 days and could only eat stuff like popsickles and jello. other than a little discomfort, she was fine in a few days and hasn't had any problems since. you'll always hear horror stories, but i think the pluses genrealy outweigh the minuses in a sitation like this. take care and i hope everything goes well and you start to feel better soon.

I am sure everything will be just fine. I had my tonsils removed at 41. Yes, it is much harder on adults. You may want to get your doctor to find you something called a 'Tetracaine Lollipop'. They are expensive but it is worth EVERY penny. The most pain will be in your ears, they call it radiated pain but the lollipop will numb EVERYTHING! Don't freak out or anything. Yes it hurts, all surgery hurts, but it is worth it to be able to stop all the infections and sore throats and misery that goes with the infected tonsils. Keep your chin up, pray for good health and find the LOLLIPOP! Good Luck :)!

I can't speak from personal experience, but I am a pediatric nurse. I have heard it is worse for adults. I would give you the same advise I give my patients and what I did for my 2 kids that have had theirs out. Make sure you take your pain meds. If you get something that says take every 4 hours as needed, take it every 4 hours. You don't want to start hurting and then have the pain get so bad that you can't get back on top of it. Also, most of the prescribed meds have Tylenol (acetamenaphen) in them so, you can take Mortin with them. Either take it at the same time to help your pain meds last longer or alternate it with the pain meds. Example: take pain meds at 12, mortin at 3, pain meds at 6, motrin at 9, etc. Motrin can be taken every 6 hours. You may need to have this to help the pain for about 48-72 hours around the clock except when sleeping of course. Just make sure your doctor says you can take it because it does have some blood thinning properties to it. Also, drink, drink, and drink some more. Don't worry about eating if you aren't hungry. If you start hurting too much, you won't want to drink, then you can get dehydrated and start bleeding where your tonsils came off. Also, you want to stay hydrated because your greatest risk of bleeding is about 10 days after surgery when the scabs fall off. All this is probably gross but hope it helps. I hope you have someone to take care of you, the kids and all the house stuff. Do not do too much the frist couple of days. Everyone is different. My oldest had hers out at age 10y and it took her the full 14 days to feel better. My 6y old had hers out and in 2 days wanted steak. Go figure. Anyway, good luck.

Your ENT is right...so it is best for you to make up your mind to go ahead and get it donw ASAP...having had mind out twice...yes twice...first time I was to young to remember but the second time I was grown...the hardest part was getting awake...yes my throat was sore as the dickens, but it didn't last all that long...and quiet soon I was back to normal...with your two children...you need to be at the top of your game...so...do it !!!

I went through a few years of dealing with infections and antibiotics as well. I was so frustrated with it that I was willing to try ANYTHING! I think after a while your body is immuned to the antibiotics. My doctor suggested that I try to eat a yogurt everyday because it has acidophilus in it which fights bad bacteria in the body. I absolutely hated yogurt but I tried it. I have not used anitbiotics in about a year. :-) Woo Hoo. I would suggest yogurt to anyone. I eat the Yoplait - Strawberry and I have acquired a taste for it. It wouldn't hurt to try.

Hi W., I have taken care of an adult patient that had her tonsils removed. She was in her 40's. She did well. It depends on if the Dr. seals good or not,cauterizes. If not it will cause excess bleeding.So other than that it is just a minor surgery.

I had my tonsils out at 23 - WELL worth it. Like you, I was constantly sick before that - strep throat over and over, etc. It was painful (the recovery) and in my case, after about a week and a half, it ruptured and I had to go into Emergency and get it cauterized - but that is quite rare (I had very large tonsils). Even with the long recovery (about a week and a half), it was so worth it. I've never had strep throat since then.

God bless.

Hi W., I went through the same thing when I was 25. It wasnt as bad as I had been expecting from all the bad things I had heard. Plan to have someone take care of you for two full days, but after that, I was getting along fine. Good luck, and it is well worth it. I havent had a sore throat since (and Im 40)!!!!

I will start by saying that I have not had tonsils & adenoids removed. However, I've had a few friends (one in 20's, other in 40's) that came through tonsils just fine after hearing all the "scary" stories. Remember when you were pregnant and everyone had a horror story for you? I think this is the same type situation. Stop listening to the pessimists, think positive and everything will be just fine.

I had my tonsils, and anoids (hope I spelled that correct), removed when I was 24! THE BEST THING I EVER DID!!! I was killing my immune system with all the years of antibiotics! I am now 27, and I have not had a cold in three years!!!The surgery was fast, but I could not even swallow water without wanting to cry! I called the doctor, and he prescribed a throat numbing medicine, it was a MIRACLE IN A BOTTLE!!!! The doctor also gave me A mixture mouthwash called Magic mouthwash! I recovered quickly! GET MEDS FROM THE START!! You do not have to suffer!
Good Luck LoL: B.

A friend of mine, double your age, had this procedure. Same issues as you are experiencing now. Although recovery is longer for adults, her full recovery time was 6 weeks. She said it was WELL WORTH IT !!! Take your daily vitamins, drink lots of water and get your body in shape for this surgery and you will be fine !!! Good luck !! --K.

Dear W.,

So sorry to tell you, but you will not stop being sick until they are gone. And if they are septic like mine were, the infection will not go away without removing it surgically. Believe it or not, I had mine out for the second time three years ago (the first time was when I was 8 and so much excess tissue grew back that it had to be done again). With new technology, you can eat anything pretty much as soon as you leave the surgery center. I did Christmas shopping the first week, and I was thinking,"Wow, this has advanced so much since I was a kid!" However, prepare yourself for the second week--even the kids I teach agree with me. When the "scabs" at the back of your throat start softening, it feels like a burn for about a week. Keep lots of cold stuff around, and drink as much fluid as possible. This keeps the back of the throat moist and will keep them from bleeding. It takes about a month for your throat to feel normal, because it just feels different back there!
The GREATEST thing though, is I've only had a couple of sinus infections in three years, and no sore throats. The difference is amazing, and I feel SO much better without having to constantly fight the germs my tonsils were catching.

I will be praying for you to have a quick recovery.God bless and Good Luck.

I am 40 and my ENT recommends that I get my tonsils out for similar reasons. I was scared, but then my 40 year old cousin got his out, and besides a long (2-3week) recovery with a very very sore throat, he said it was more than worth it.

Our doctor is also recommending that our 4 year old son get his T&A out as he snores and is always stuffy and miserable. I am seeking a second opinion, just to make myself feel better.
One best kept secret that I use for my chronic tonsilitis is gargling w/ about a tablespooon of all natural colloidal silver. It wipes out bacterial infections and just by gargling w/ it I have stopped my tonsilitis. It cannot hurt you, it is a metal but has antibiotic properties w/out any side effects.You should buy it from a well respected health food store. It is a little expensive, but it is a life saver for me:)

Good luck! Sincerely, B. M.

Trust me....you Do Not want to go around with infections for long! They get resistant to medications. Also its very hard trying to be a mom while being chronically sick! Had mine out at 38. So glad I did! Was down for a few days but have had worse pain. Whats worse, a few days of pain or a lifetime of chronic illness? You will be pleasently surprised how well you feel after! I have never regreted my decision. Good luck!!!

I had just my tonsils removed when I was 16. It was painful for about a week after. Do you have anyone to help you at your house while you are recovering?
I must say, the pain was worth it. I had strep throat so much growing up and haven't had a problem since they were removed. Keep your eyes on the bigger picture (not being so sick anymore!) and I hope that will get you through any rough spots.
Let us know how it goes!

I had a tonsillectomy when I was 27 (3 years ago). If you want the honest truth...it was really rough the first week. Couldn't speak or eat (only ice cream/shakes). Good news, by the third week I was back to my old self.

Some advice, for the first week be sure you have 24-hour childcare. You will not be up to running after children or talking.

Good luck!

My duaghter had it when she was 15, so almost adult, and her post-surgery course was exactly like the doctor told her it would be. He used a laser, and she was required to real food on the way home and regularly after that. It was a week of real pain on pain meds, 5 more days of feeling bad, but getting better, and then poof! back to normal.

Hey there. Don't worry. I had cryptic tonsils and had them removed at 22. It was no problem. Just had to stay away from rough foods like chips and popcorn so it wouldn't hurt my throat. Otherwise within a couple days I just had a minor sore throat. It was the same day surgery and I was pleasantly surprised how quickly I healed.

I had my tonsils out when I was 19 and my mom had them out when she was 40. It is painful and the recovery is a lot longer but I tell you what it is worth the couple of weeks recovery to be better in the long run. It will get better.

Hi, W.. It's rather amazing how many people are so willing to share horror stories with someone who absolutely has to have the surgery. I think, however, that you'll find your life after this so much better that you'll soon forget about the discomfort that is quite temporary. One would expect to have a sore throat for a while. The doctor will tell you exactly what to expect. If you follow directions, the great likelihood is that you will glide right through it. Remember when someone says something like, "My aunt was in the hospital for 40 days and nights," think of it as humorous. I think I'd avoid actual sarcastic comments, but you could think them and amuse yourself.

I had my tonsils out in the Dark Ages when I was a child. They were still using ether in those days. I did live to tell about it but I went through some things that you won't have to because medical procedures have vastly improved. I know several people who sailed through a tonsilectomy as adults and are just fine.

Hang in there. Stay calm. Keep your sense of humor.

I won't sugar coat any of this. I had my tonsils removed a year after having mono and several rounds of strep throat. I didn't know that after mono, the tonsils do not shrink to its normal size. I laughed when the doctor told me to take 2 weeks of work. It was a slap in the face. I needed everyday to recover My body has been through a lot, but this beats the pain radar by far. Make sure you have someone that can be around to help you recover as much as possible. The later recovery days are worse than the first because the scabs from the lasers are beginning to heal. Make sure the pain medication they are giving you works on your body. My body doesn't respond to demorol. It makes me wide awake and doesn't help the pain. So I was into the 3rd days of recovery before having any reflief or sleep from the paid medication. I lost 15 pounds. I actually hated things like ice cream. I drank hydrating drinks. I had a bad taste in my mouth, so I needed something other than water to help. My favorite food? Hot Krystal Hamburgers...they went to down easy. I laugh at that one. People react different to surgeries. You may not have as bad of time as I did. Just make sure you have a support team to help out with your routine and family activties. You';ll need it. J.

My younger sister had her tonsils removed last year at the age of 36. The surgery was difficult & painful to heal, especially since she is a single mom of two girls aged 6 & 2 at the time. The girls stayed with friends & I stayed with her. It is not an easy surgery on an adult, but with careful attention to the pain meds & instructions she did well. She also found that contrary to what everyone says- eat all the jello & ice cream you want, warm liquids felt much better to her when she was ready to start eating again. She says it was the best thing she has ever done for her health, for she has not- knock on wood- been sick since! Prior to that she was always battling strep throat, upper respiratory infections, colds, flu, you name it- she was always sick. Good luck!

I had my T&A about your same age. I was also sick alot with my ears and throat etc. I had my T&A. My throat was SORE for a week. Talking was rough. I drank lots of cold shivered drinks, ice cream, ANYTHING COLD. I chewed asper gum. I have been in GREAT health ever since. I am 63 now.

HI,
I was wondering if you would tell me what type of illnesses you have been having? I have been suffering with chronic allergies/sinus infections which cause me to constantly cough for about three years now, and I do not feel like I am well controlled by my allergist. Therefore, I am considering seeing an ENT. I was curious to see if perhaps it could be my tonsils.

I had a tonsilectomy when I was 17 - not exactly an adult, but not a kid either. It hurt, for about a week. The worst part is waking up and your throat being really dry and it hurts. They gave me all kinds of pain killers for it, and I took one pill the first day home and after that tylenol or advil were sufficient for the pain. Good luck to you! I was glad to have mine gone - the added bonus is that I no longer snored.....

I had mine removed as an adult for the same reasons. It really wasn't that bad. It was an outpatient surgery which was done in the morning- they released me around lunchtime. I did have a bad reaction to the anesthesia, which in combination with all the blood I swallowed, made me throw up a lot that first day. However, I slept for most of the day and that night felt good enough to eat a little. I took it easy for the next few days and ate a lot of popsicles and pudding. I returned to work after being out 4 days total.
The only thing I will say is bad is that it took several weeks for me to be able to eat acidic stuff like tomato soup, orange juice, etc. without my throat being in excruciating pain. That's about it though. I think if you are otherwise healthy you shouldn't have much of a problem. Good luck and hope all goes well!

Had mine removed at the age of 31,my throat was swelling shut and had spent the better part of a year sleeping sitting almost completly upright to avoid suffocation.I would awaken gasping for breath and like you had nonstop problems and meds.My ears would hurt,I lost my voice atleast 3 times a year and had sinus problems,constant.If I came within a yard of anyone with strep throat I was sure to catch it.These issues were with me my whole life.Of all of the doctors I went to back home (Wilmington, NC)it was only when I went to one in Raleigh that I was told to have my toncils removed.With that said I will tell you it is a painful recovery,you will need help with your chidren for awhile( took me 2 weeks before my hubby would let me drive)But it is worth it!!!!!!!! I no longer take a handful of sinus pills a day no more constant ear and throat infections.Since the surgery I have not lost my voice once! :)My doctor said I should have had them removed as a child ,ecspecially since I nearly died of strep throat as a teen.Im telling you all these awful things so you will know, dont wait! It will only get worse.Its amazing what we get use to and how we neglect ourselves to take care of everyone else.I can advise you of one very important thing,if your doctor gives you a prescription for antinausea med. to counterreact the nausea the pain med might cause,TAKE IT!I had some over the counter stuff i thought would be good enough,trust me its not.Good luck and God Bless Liz H.

I was about 56 when I had my tonsils out.
I did fine.

.

I was the same age as you when my tonsils came out.I felt bad the next week,but not as bad as everyone made it out to be. Just make sure to rest for a whole week, and do not start solid foods any earlier than you have to.

It's always scary to undergo any type of procedure that involves "Pain". I had my tonsils out in my 20's and yes the first couple days you have a sore throat.. BUT I ASSURE YOU.. YOU WILL DO FINE! It's not a big deal I promise! I bounced back in a couple of days and I feel confident you will too!
Good luck
J.

Hi W.,

I had a T&A at 32 and survived - you will, too. I have been much healthier since. Just do EVERYTHING the doc tells you and have some help for a week or so. It is important to follow the soft diet they recommend.Look at the bright side - you may lose weight. If you don't want to lose weight - think Instant Breakfast! Good luck - you will feel better each day.

Hi W. :)
I am 25 years old and had my tonsils removed last year; they were also as yours septic; and I was told they should have been removed (due to the size) when I was a child. I ALWAYS had strep and tonsilitis growing up; and my throat would hurt sooooo bad (as does yours i'm sure)When I finally went to see the ENT last year he told me in order to get better and stay that way I would HAVE to get my tonsils taken out. I have a 2 year old and am a single mother so I had to make arrangements with my parents so they would be able to take care of my son while I recuperated; luckily I had that support system.
When I went in for the surgery it took a little longer than expected because there was so much infection; and they had to cut deeper than intended. I was out of work for 3 weeks and ended up in the er dehydrated. I was in sooooo much pain and wondered if I had done the right thing; and now I cant remember what that pain felt like; or even remember what it feels like to have a sore throat!! It was horrible to go thru but if I had it to do all over again I would in a heartbeat!!
All procedures are different and every person handles things differently; so maybe yours will be a breeze :) but if not I would still definitely tell u it is worth it!! Good luck and hope all goes well. I'll keep u in my prayers. :)

W., you are going to be just fine. You will wonder why you didn't get it done sooner. I had my tonsils out at 28 also for the same reason. Everyone told me how horrible it would be. In my experience it was really not that bad. You've been through childbirth twice, so everything is relative, right? From the time I checked in to when I was ready to go home was under 2 hours. I think most of that time was spent in recovery waiting for the anaesthesia to wear off. I was working at the time and the doctor told me to expect to be out of work for 2 weeks. By day 6 I was ready to go back but he said no, I needed to take it easy because he didn't want me to have any problems from trying to do too much too soon. With kids, you have to be careful of that, I know it is hard. I just had my wisdom teeth out and have 1 and 3 year old girls, so I know first hand how nervous you can be having to go under anaesthesia when you are a mom, and also trying to make sure you get adequate rest those first few days. If you can schedule for a Friday, at least then your hubby can take off Friday and Monday and hopefully keep the kids out of your hair over the weekend and you should be good to go when he goes back to work.

The meds they gave me for my tonsils (hydrocodone I think?? it was 8 years ago) were probably more than I really needed. Knocked me out and made me sleep a lot, which was good. I found it ironic that it was a horse pill and really hard to swallow when you have throat pain. But definitely needed to take it for the first 3 days. I was having breakthrough pain in the middle of the night when it wore off. The key, which they will tell you, is to stay on top of the pain, take it when they say to, not just when you think you need to, because by then it's already wearing off. After the first 3 days, I took extra strength tylenol. By then, my throat didn't hurt but my ears were really bothering me (referred pain). That was the worst of it for me, actually.

Get yourself a few movies you've been wanting to see and a lot of soup and ice cream, enjoy the opportunity to take a break from mommydom for a few days and be pampered for a change, and try not to worry. It's going to be fine and you will be SO glad you did it. I have had no more than one cold a year since having this done instead of being sick and tired all the time for almost a year. Good luck!