Anyone have their tonsils removed as an ADULT?

Megamorph

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Nov 25, 2001
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My doc told me that my nasty, extremely large, cryptic tonsils should be removed. The problem is that I am 25 and have heard that post-op recovery can be horrible and last for over a month.

Any adults have this done that can share your experiences?
 

Jzero

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
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Coworker of mine just got tonsils and adenoids out. He took a few weeks to recover fully, but he was able to get back on solid foods after a week or two.
 

Hayabusa Rider

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Yeah, I had that and a whole lot more a few months ago. Hurt like hell, but I feel and sleep so much better. I'd do it again.
 

My sister had hers out last two years ago...I'm sure it's worse to get them out as an adult, but she recovered within a couple weeks and is better than ever now.
 

Megamorph

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Nov 25, 2001
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Originally posted by: Hayabusarider
Yeah, I had that and a whole lot more a few months ago. Hurt like hell, but I feel and sleep so much better. I'd do it again.

How old are you and how long was it before you were eating normally?
 

Babbles

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Jan 4, 2001
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Tonsils are lymapthic tissue that produces white blood cells, hence why they get swollen when you have an infection.

Anyhow, I got mine out at 19 if you consider that an adult.

It hurt like hell, not going to lie to you. But, if yours are anything like mine were it was worth every penny.
I had absolutely huge ones, even when not sick they were much larger than what some people had with an infection.

I was out, oh I dunno almost three weeks. The first week sucks big time. You know the story about oh yea you can eat all the ice cream you want. Bunch of crap, I had trouble drinking water.
My morning ritual was getting up and take many swings out of a tylenol/codiene liquid mix; that was the best part to be honest.
I dropped quite a bit of weight simply from not eating.

So, even at 19 it really sucked, but as somebody else mentioned if I had to do it all over again I would. Besides the occasional allergy flare-up or just winter sniffles I have not had any throat type infection since then, vs. beforehand I got strep throat once or twice a year, plus other infections.
 

HombrePequeno

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Mar 7, 2001
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I had my adenoids removed and my tonsils came with it. It didn't hurt too bad...or at least I didn't really notice it because they also burned off most of my uvula which hurt like hell (not to mention having breath that smelled like rotting flesh).
 

erikiksaz

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Nov 3, 1999
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Damn, so it's a pain even as an 18 year old? I have track season coming up, and i absolutely cannot miss 1-2 weeks of practice. With the modern methods (not sure how old babbles is), how long will recovery take?
 

iwearnosox

Lifer
Oct 26, 2000
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Originally posted by: HombrePequeno
I had my adenoids removed and my tonsils came with it. It didn't hurt too bad...or at least I didn't really notice it because they also burned off most of my uvula which hurt like hell (not to mention having breath that smelled like rotting flesh).
Silly, you can't have adenoids and a uvula. One belongs to a boy, the other a girl.
 

Positron

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Apr 6, 2000
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Maybe I missed a joke, but both boys and girls have adenoids and a uvula. The uvula is that dangling thing in the back of your mouth.
 

Yo Ma Ma

Lifer
Jan 21, 2000
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Originally posted by: iwearnosox
Originally posted by: HombrePequeno
I had my adenoids removed and my tonsils came with it. It didn't hurt too bad...or at least I didn't really notice it because they also burned off most of my uvula which hurt like hell (not to mention having breath that smelled like rotting flesh).
Silly, you can't have adenoids and a uvula. One belongs to a boy, the other a girl.
:D

 

Megamorph

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Nov 25, 2001
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Originally posted by: erikiksaz
Damn, so it's a pain even as an 18 year old? I have track season coming up, and i absolutely cannot miss 1-2 weeks of practice. With the modern methods (not sure how old babbles is), how long will recovery take?

the problem is that there really aren't any "modern" methods. there have been some minor developments that have made the surgery itself easier for the doctors, but recovery is still as painful as it has ever been.
 

Spamela

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Oct 30, 2000
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recovery can bad:

you have to learn to swallow without stuff coming out of your nose.
you can't chug beer as easily.
you're easily tired for about a week - i tried to jog & perform my manly duties - big mistake.
it hurts to swallow "sharp" foods, like corn chips for awhile.

OTOH, not being laid up for 1-2 weeks 4x a year with tonsillitis made it worthwhile.
 

Hayabusa Rider

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I must almost be as old as Red ;)

Do it. Meds will help. Drinkable yogurt was my friend. I had a lot of tissue removed, and the Boston hospital staff had not seen a larger or worse set of tonsils. In other words I was worst case, but I feel so much better now, I can't believe it.
 

CraigRT

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
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my cousin has to have his removed... he's 22.. does that count?

kinda sucks.. i had mine out when i was like 7.
 

Mallow

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Jul 25, 2001
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Lymphatic tissue doesn't "produce" leukocytes (while blood cells - immune system) but many are stored there. Tonsels are kind of like a filtering mechanism for any fluid draining from your head to your heart. If there are any pathogenic invaders they should get caught up and killed in the lymphatic tissue.
 

Richdog

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Feb 10, 2003
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THANK GOD I was only 5 when I had it done... All I remeber is unlimited quantities od Ice Cream... YUM!:D
 

Hayabusa Rider

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BTW, do plan on not being in school/working for 1 to 2 weeks. Total recovery time for me was 2 months, but I heal well. What you are having is not as bad, so in that same time, you should be 100%
 

Megamorph

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Nov 25, 2001
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Originally posted by: Hayabusarider
BTW, do plan on not being in school/working for 1 to 2 weeks. Total recovery time for me was 2 months, but I heal well. What you are having is not as bad, so in that same time, you should be 100%

Did you mean 2 "months" or 2 weeks?
 

Hayabusa Rider

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2 weeks for being out of work, 2 months for complete recovery. You can be active, but wont be chewing any crusty pizza for a while
 

Amused

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Apr 14, 2001
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I had mine removed at 25. It's not that bad with good drugs.

But it did take about three weeks to recover.

Best thing I ever did, though. I get sick FAR less often... and when I do catch a cold, it's far less serious now.