This blog post is my personal experience. It may be funny, extreme and/or helpful to some. I am not making any attempt to over exaggerate. I actually wish I could say this whole thing was an over exaggeration.
It’s true others may have had very different experiences. Maybe they could talk within 24 hours or had the best sleep of their life after watching comedies and eating ice cream all day. Well, I am not them and that is not my story friends.
I had to write this while it’s fresh so it’s probably not going to sound happy. Sorry but not sorry. I’m writing for the people who want the real version in case they find themselves in such a seat. And also for the people who could use a chuckle because they would NEVER find themselves in such a seat LOL.
This blog post may even come off as complainy which is fine because I am complaining, so that tracks LOL.
Let’s get to it…
1. Age Matters
If only one of the several ENTs and doctors I met annually since 2013 had taken my concerns seriously. Perhaps I would have been enough years younger to have an easier recovery but it took 10 years of advocating for myself.
While I am truly grateful for the medical staff who took care of me and handled my surgery, I am not grateful for the recovery that has been hell in my apparently old age. (My age is indeed why they told me recovery has been such a bear 😒)
2. Fast Procedure, Slow Recovery
I wish the doctor had saved a tonsil or took a picture for me to see. Before I went under I asked if she could save the biggest tonsil stone so I could really see what brought me here. She laughed it off both times so I guess that’s a no.
The last I remember them saying at the hospital was you won’t remember a thing…
After I gave my final wishes to the anesthesiologist team, I was wheeled into a room where I could see nothing but blurs because they had removed my glasses. Some people said some things and next I know, I was waking up in a different room. Almost unsettling how that happens lol!
I threw up night 1 after surgery. To be fair the anesthesiologist said it could happen but there is no way to prepare for that feeling. There was no stopping it and with nothing in my tummy (you have to fast before surgery), there was nothing to give. I just had to let my body go through the motions until I forced myself to calm down. I thought I might have to go to the ER. I could suddenly feel the burnt throat bits. It was the worst. It sucks when you want to cry but can’t because that hurts too. Throat got tight. I didn’t want to sniffle up cry snot. I never had such a major silent protest against everything. Unfortunately, I threw up about 3-4 more times over the first couple weeks.
3. Ice Cream? Yeah Right
It should be said humor and sarcasm are some of my favorite coping mechanisms. I repeat: I did not enjoy this experience at all LOL.
The hospital said I could eat soft foods by day 2. IKYFL!
Everyone who’s like…”You just get a couple days off to enjoy some ice cream.”
…Who are these people!?
Most tried to pacify me with this beforehand. “Oh it won’t be so bad. It’ll be worth it. Ice cream and popsicles all day sounds like a dream.”
What they forgot was, I don’t even like ice cream or popsicles that much.
You fail to realize how much you involuntarily swallow your spit in a day or adjust your throat to breathe. Next time you notice it, think about if it hurt every single time you did that. So honestly, when I thought about minimizing mucus…the last thing I wanted was vanilla ice cream draping my throat and causing me to gag. Ewww
I’d rather have a burger and fries or yummy pizza but those were totally not possible. My diet for the first two weeks was primarily small sips of water. I will be posting another blog after this to share what I actually ate and drank post surgery. While this absolutely should not be used as a diet plan, I actually lost 12 lbs by Day 13 post surgery. I hadn’t been that small since pre-pandemic.
4. Say What You Need To Say…Beforehand
I’m grateful for my niece who from the beginning was like you’re going to hate it and it’s going to be terrible. It didn’t make me feel better by any stretch but at least it was honest. Then she gave practical tips like using ice packs on my throat and that changed my life.
I was giving The Little Mermaid vibes when Ariel can’t speak!
And I’m an introvert. I don’t even like general talking like that. But when you take away a simple freedom like speaking, boy it feels like it’s never coming back. I could not open my mouth enough to get words out and it hurt too much to try. The first week was a lot of unofficial sign language, grunts and written notes. I learned pretty quickly to keep things concise!
5. Time is a Social Construct
At some point I completely lost track of time. I started tracking my days in how long ago I took my last pain med dosage. Is it giving narcos yet?
6. Your Intestines May Struggle
⚠️This part is gross. A complete TMI and possible overshare so if you’re squeamish about bodily functions, skip this paragraph. Final warning ⚠️
I am not saying I could win an award for the state of my digestive tract but I was regular enough previously. It’s one of the few things I can admire about my internal system.
Let’s just say…I had surgery on a Monday. In 21 days I pooped 2 times. Now that’s some scary sh*t.
Mind you I hadn’t eaten my regular diet of trans fats and sugar but still. I thought the couple spoonfuls of yogurt, the tiny half mashed sweet potato and other small, sad snacks I pushed past my swollen throat would lead to something! It did not. They say this is what those really strong hospital meds can do to you. And taking laxatives while on a medication that makes you sleepy several times a day. God… please forbid the two experiences ever meeting 🙏🏽
⚠️ Trigger warning complete. Welcome Back! ⚠️
7. Stay Hydrated!
I found out I can manage without eating since I physically couldn’t. Even when it hurt like hell, I still did my best to drink water – still, sparkling or coconut, whatever worked. I tried gatorade because it was on the after care list but it honestly dehydrated me and made the pain more prominent. I also noticed a new unbelievable nerve pain — tracing from my jaw to my throat to my ear — that would stop me in my tracks and make me press ice immediately to my face until it relaxed.
The reason why I personally forced myself to sip water even when I felt extreme pain was because the medical folks said staying hydrated was a way to keep the pain from getting worse and it speeds up recovery. If they would not have told me that, I prob wouldn’t have bothered with those tiny sips every few mins. Instead I like to think it saved me from worse so sip your water!
8. No Rest For the Weary
Sleeping and waking from sleep were the saddest moments of the day. Mostly because there was no sleep for at least 3 weeks. Waking from closed eyes and realizing my attempt to sleep upright were thwarted by my large head which does not like upright sleep. Usually my head was too far back or too far down on my chest and any attempt to move it was met by severe and extreme pain either in my ears or throat or both.
If by day 2 they would have given me the option to safely go in a coma where I could stay hydrated and fed then come out healed up, I would have taken it. I don’t mean that lightly.
I was on Google daily researching. I thought maybe I missed a tip because no one was talking about these conditions enough. They said sleep propped on pillows for the first 3-4 days but then what? Because the propping didn’t work for me. Was I missing an instructions page because they sent me home to recover for at least 3-4 weeks, not days. I need more information!!
Also, most articles out there are written for toddlers. Apparently tonsillectomies are a rare footnote in the adulting handbook. I think that’s part of why I decided to write this blog. Maybe it will help someone else who’s desperate for more information!
For example, have you ever eaten a sour candy and your throat just tightens to a crease? Maybe I’m describing it wrong but you know that sensation I mean. That started around Day 5-6 and would often lead to silent tears. I couldn’t find any info to help me so I just powered through as best I could. Everytime we spoke to my doctor they said everything was normal. Maybe somebody else can comment on something they know about it.
Lessons in patience. I’m telling you.
9. Fill the Gaps with People Who Care
Most people don’t really want to hear about your pain. They want to hear about your progress.
Thank those who hold space for you to not be 100%…to still not be okay even after days of check-ins. Those are the people you need, especially at the beginning. People who haven’t experienced this surgery and recovery probably won’t fully understand what you’re going through. Empathy and patience is important long before people wonder when you’ll get back to normal life.
I was really struggling at times. I didn’t want to pretend I was ok when I truly wasn’t. And things were moving slower than expected which sucked. Having people be with you in that in between…when you have to rely on others and may be at your most vulnerable…is some deep love.
Here are some of my Thank Yous:
Thank you sister who picked us up from the hospital after surgery and made sure we got home safely. Also thank you for my glittery crocs that made surgery day and every day since so much more comfortable to walk and lounge as needed. They became my favorite comfort shoes on the journey to getting better.
Thank you to my sisters, parents, niece, nephew who checked on me daily, gave me advice and encouragement, sent outside world pictures and awesome netflix recommendations.
Thank you friends and loved ones for your check-ins and messages and food gift cards ❤️. I am loved beyond measure and that means more than you know but I hope you know!
Thank you medical team. I literally saw so many people there’s no way I could remember everyone but I met a lot of nice and helpful people. Other than the follow up appointments where I hope most of this will continue to be forgotten by, I wish you all well and hope we never have to meet again on this subject LOL.
Thank you to my significant other who has the patient of a saint. From surgery day and every day since he has been my caretaker at home. He had to put up with me and my burnt smelling throat whenever I tried to speak though I mostly had to text since I couldn’t open my mouth. He hunted down a pharmacy that could fill my pain med prescription since my regular pharmacy doesn’t stock hospital narcotics. He switched out my ice cups, waters, ice packs, pillows, rubbed my back every time I threw up (even at 3am), refilled my humidifier umpteen times, made me baby sized meals of whatever I asked for so I could try eating, tracked my progress, handled my phone calls, held my hands, wiped my tears, encouraged me, prayed for me and loved me so well. I know you hate when I’m hurt and you can’t just fix it…🥹 You are a king among men.
10. A Journey of Ups and Downs
After a few weeks, I commandered (is that even the word??) a breakthrough day where we took a walk outside in fresh air and bright sunshine. It felt like the kind of progress I needed. I realize it sounds dramatic but I didn’t know when it would come.
I still have trouble sleeping at night. I wake up several times to re-adjust my head, clear my throat, drink my san pelly. I still can’t say more than a few sentences without needing to take a break. My throat and neck still ache. I drink water all day long and never feel like my thirst is quenched. It’s not a simple bounce back.
The journey to recovery is not over but I am grateful at whatever day I have arrived to.
Thank for you reading my story. Oh and please wait at least 6-12 months before asking me if it was worth it 🫶🏾
PS. I think this would be a fascinating animated experience. I want to write a illustrated book lol! Who knows an illustrator?
PPS. I tried to cover most everything I experienced but may have missed something. If you are going to have a throat surgery or are in recovery now and have questions like I did, please let me know! I’d like to help anyone I can by sharing my experience. If you went through this operation or something similar, what would you add from your experience?
#tonsillectomy #adulttonsillectomy
#surgeryafter30 #surgery #postsurgery #blog #adultsurgery #tonsillectomyafter35 #surgeryafter35 #health #healthcare #lifeuntangled #ENT
Life Untangled 