waiting for answer. Would be great if you can take a sec and
answer them
Tonsillectomy, or no tonsillectomy?A couple of months ago I was really sick and had a constant sore throat. I also noticed that I've been getting these little white stones lodged in the back of my tonsils. I went on yahoo answers and found out what I had were tonsil stones or tonsil lithes. After reading everyone's answers on previous asked questions I decided to make an appointment with an ENT. Last month I was diagnosed with chronic tonsillitis and a sinus infection. I have been missing so much school because I am constantly getting sore throats and I am coughing up green phlegm (sorry). I actually stayed home today because I felt like complete crap. My ENT suggested two solutions to my problem. The first was to gargle with salt water every morning and night to prevent the tonsil stones (which isn't even a solution at all because he said it wasn't guaranteed to make them go away). The next suggestion was to get my tonsils removed. He honestly fully suggested that I go in for surgery, and told me to take a couple of days to think about it before scheduling for surgery. Well, lately my mom has been asking me to please try and keep my tonsils. She doesn't want me to get rid of them because once they're gone they're gone. I graduate towards the end of May, and I absolutely cannot miss anymore school if I want to graduate with an okay GPA. I'm really stuck on the decision. I actually have another appointment with my ENT today at 3 to discuss the surgery and maybe ease my fears a little.
I just want to know what having a tonsillectomy is like. How bad is the pain on a scale of 1-10? Does it hurt to have a breathing tube down your throat? How long does it take for your throat to fully heal? Can you REALLY feel the stitches itching at the back of your throat? What were the discomforts? Is it really a big of deal as I making it out to be? I'm just super scared and I don't want my fear to affect my decision. Right now I'm really swaying towards the surgery, I'm so sick of being sick! Any experiences anyone has had, or knows someone else has had a tonsillectomy I would really appreciate the insight. Thanks!
djbreed_2000
I think they zap it with a laser now...we are living in modern times.
and you go home like the next day.
If you need them out,get them out...I would wait til may after exams.
keep gargling.and keep a throat lozenger in your mouth alot...sometimes air from the vents can cause dryness and bacteria to get in your throat. The longer you wait(the older)it's worse...and believe me,it continues til your 50.So,ask the dr...honestly if they need to come out get them out!
Jocelyn
i had my tonsils taken out 6 days ago and i am still in the worst pain of my life.
my symptoms were very similar to yours, and my doctor said it would be best to have a tonsillectomy.
if you do decide to have one, your doctors will try to prepare you for what things will be like afterward, but it will be MUCH worse than what they say.
right after surgery the pain isnt that bad, its just hard to swallow.
a few days after things get REALLY bad though. saturday and sunday my pain was probably a 9, but today its more like a 7.
you cant feel the stitches, because there are none. they burn your throat closed. it does feel a little dry but if you drink a lot it helps.
Megan S
Procedure: The surgery is performed under general anesthesia. Your mouth is held open and the tonsils are incised (cut) and removed from your throat. The bleeding is controlled at the time of the surgery using a little electric cautery. At the end of surgery you go to a recovery room, and 3 or 4 hours later you go home, pending no complications.
Pain: Pain really depends on the person and his/her tolerance level. Some people can take extra strength Tylenol while others need morphine. Your ENT will prescribe you pain medication. Children generally recover from pain in a couple days, adults typically experience pain for 5-10 days. Cold fluids/food and a soft diet are recommended and will help with your throat.
Risk: The major risk is bleeding. Some patients have to return to the hospital or clinic to control bleeding. Some have a substantial amount of bleeding that they may require transfusion and rarely there's the risk of death (usually from excessive bleeding or anesthesia but really very rare). Some people experience some changes in taste, usually for 2-3 months, but it could be permanent. Scarring in the back of your throat can develop and it can rarely cause nasal regurgitation (talking in a hypernasal voice, or the possiblity of fluids or even foods refluxing through your nose, it's not uncommon to have this during the post-op period, but it usually resolves).
Healing Time: It takes 5 or 6 weeks to be fully healed.
What do you think? Answer below! Tonsillitis explained | Better Health Channel
Links to information about tonsillitis , including tonsillectomy.
Orignal From: Tonsillectomy, or no tonsillectomy?
