Tonsillectomies? (page 2)

Finally-Free

I had my tonsils removed when I was 5. I woke up half way through the procedure while the old woman doctor had her hands and instruments in my mouth, and they had to get more anesthetic to put me under again. Gawd, what a stench!

The only good part of the whole thing was all the ice cream I got to eat.

Ever since then my colds quickly settled into my chest. I've had pneumonia several times, and it's not uncommon for me to throw out my back when coughing. I try to brace my back against a door frame whenever possible if I'm coughing. I have sleep apnea too, and use a CPAP machine at night.

All things considered, I can't see that the tonsillectomy did me any good, but it was common for doctors to do it in the early 1960's, whether it was really necessary or not.

W

Sad emo

As far as I know they don't remove them in the UK now unless it's absolutely needed - like constant illness etc.

My sis had her tonsils and adenoids out when she was 8 because she kept getting bad ear infections, at the same time they put a grommet (sp?) into one of her ears as well - so they might be seeing if she needs those too.

I remember watching a documentary once on a Russian hospital where they did tonsilectomies without anaesthetic - the kids just queued up, went into a room, sat down and ...

BlackSwan of Memphis

Big Tex: Sounds like he was having a really tough time breathing! That's an awful lot of blockage. I saw my dentist the other day and she mentioned that she sees kids who have really large tonsils which doesn't leave much room for breathing and so they can end up with gingivitis from the resulting dry mouth. So, sounds like large tonsils are really a nasty thing to deal with.

*Did they give pain meds for him?

**I'll keep you guys posted.

Sammieswife: Ouch, 2 weeks in a hospital. That sounds awful. I don't like hospitals to begin with, two weeks would be a pain in the arse. At 14, I'm surprised they didn't just tell you what was going on.

FinallyFree: Waking up during the procedure is definitely not a memory you want to have with you. A stench? Ok that sounds nasty, I don't know what exactly the stench was, but hospitals can have their own little aroma that is less then pleasing as it is. Ew. You had your tonsils out, but not your adenoids? I wonder if that would have helped the apnea then? I don't know, I'm just wondering. When you start feeling like you're coming down with something, please let us know. Pneumonia is very hard to deal with, any extra energy you can get the better, I'd send an extra prayer..

SadEmo: I wonder why there are so many differences in the opinions of doctors for tonsillectomies? If they put the tubes (grommets?) in her ears, I guess they'll be in for a year or so. We're hoping that all of this, in the long run, will help us understand if hearing is working properly which could be affecting her speech, which, well, there really isn't much of that to begin with. From my undestanding, if she gets them, we have to take more precautions with bathing her.

I can't imagine a child or adult not receiving anasthesia for any surgical procedure. That would be a nightmare!!! Poor kids. Then again, some of the things I hear about that take place (sometimes right here in the 'good ol' usa) shock me and make me wonder.

Clam

Sad Emo that's right. My daughter has had tonsillitis on and off for years and our Doctor has resisted recommending the op. Now she has so many more important happenings in her life, such as exams and sporting events, Mrs Clam, who's a Midwife has insisted that she have the operation asap, and so she's due to have the tonsillectomy in about 2 months time. Potential complications we've been told are those normally associated with general anaesthesia, infection, bleeding and taste disturbance.

My daughter's main interest is whether she'll be allowed to keep the tonsils in a formaldehyde jar in her room.

BlackSwan of Memphis

She wants to keep them? Haha, that sounds like something I would have asked for, lol.

<<<<<<,notice my avatar?

So, why are the doctors in the UK so hesitant to do this op? I mean, I do realize after reading the experiences that it is by no means a magic cure and that there are, as with other procedures, complications that can arise.

But seeing as there are complications that can arise with most procedures, do you happen to know the reason?

Clam

Hi Black Swan

I think they just prefer to have a "wait and see" policy, apparently because tonsilitis is something one can grow out of. Knowing the general strain on our health service here, they probably try and keep the waiting lists small, as it's often used as a political football.

Here's an information sheet from the British National Health Service.

http://www.ruh.nhs.uk/documents/ent_documents/childrens_tonsillectomy.pdf

BlackSwan of Memphis

thanks for this Clam.

Makes sense. Thank you for reminding about health care in the Uk, that definitely adds to the decision.

That information was helpful, thanks!

Sad emo

From my undestanding, if she gets them, we have to take more precautions with bathing her.

Yes that's true - my sister wasn't allowed to dive or jump into the pool when she went swimming either. It's a loooong time ago but she also got a perforated eardrum which may have been the result of the school swimming instructor not believing that she couldn't jump/dive - he literally picked her up and threw her in Gee that guy was a nutcase, everyone hated him.

BlackSwan of Memphis

People are pretty amazing aren't they? I wonder sometimes, I really wonder what people are thinking when they do stuff like that.

I was reading the papers they gave us on the tubes and apparently we have to put ear plugs in her ear when we're bathing her. That should be interesting. She gets pretty fussy about her ears and feet.

Finally-Free

I don't know what exactly the stench was,

It was the anesthetic. I remember waking up and as soon as they saw I was awake they put the smelly mask over my mouth and nose again to knock me out. Not sure what it was - ether or chloroform or something like that. I'm not sure what they used in those days - 1963. I don't mind the memory - I'm one of those weird people who asks doctors to videotape my colonoscopies. I didn't have the adenoids removed. Maybe that would have helped the apnea. I did have laser surgery in 1995 to remove part of the uvula. Big mistake. If a doctor ever tells you it's less painful than conventional surgery, please beat him to death with a ball peen hammer. I couldn't swallow anything other than whipped cream and water for an entire month, and that was excruciating enough if the temperature wasn't exactly body temperature. After all that, the apnea returned within a year.

W

Tonsillectomies?

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