Children rarely get their tonsils out these days, which means sometimes people need to get a tonsillectomy as an adult.
Miss 17 has always had enlarged tonsils, and has been plagued by tonsillitis for years, so we made the decision to get them removed.
It’s been a very rough ride – she had her adult tonsillectomy on 27 March and was in excruciating pain for most of the next 10 days.
What you can’t see …
- How many years we have been trying to get her a referral – in the end we found a surgeon on the Gold Coast willing to do the job.
- The sleepless nights (for her AND us!).
- The trip BACK to hospital on Day 3 so Miss 17 could be put on a drip, as she couldn’t keep anything down.
- The many phone calls and messages from concerned grandparents and other relatives.
- The 5 kilograms she lost.
- How awesome the staff are, at both John Flynn Hospital and Redland Hospital!
- How awful it was to see our daughter in so much pain. She was a very sick girl for a good 10 days.
- The bill! About $3000 all up though we will get a little bit of the surgeon’s and anaesethetist’s fees back on Medicare.
Now, at the two week point, she is out shopping with friends and will go back to work next week. She still needs to take painkillers though!
My advice? Think carefully before committing to an adult tonsillectomy. We had no idea how painful and difficult it would be. Hopefully it will be worth it in the long run …
Have you had a tonsillectomy as an adult or child?
Linking in with My Little Drummer Boys for Wordless Wednesday.
Poor Miss 17, I hope she is on the mend now. Lucky she has some awesome parents to help her through!!
They seem to cope much better when they are little with the op. My sister had it done as an adult and she says its the worst thing she has ever had done. But now she is happier that she rarely gets sick like she used to.
I was 18 when I had mine out, very painful and less complications then your dd
Thankful now at 32 to not have to put up with chronic tonsillitis
Glad she is on the mend
I had no idea it would be this full on for your daughter! I remember having them taken out when I was five and I stayed in hospital overnight. The first night was the worst as I couldn’t keep anything down. I can’t remember too much after that but I guess when you are little surgery heals quicker maybe? So sorry to hear your daughter has had such a rough time with it. But at least now she should get less sick. X
Your poor girl having to endure all of that … thank goodness she’s now well on the road to recovery! There’s nothing worse than when our kids are sick.
Goodness it has taken a toll on her, I didn’t think recovery time would be so long, my son had a major 2.5 hour kidney surgery and he was bouncing around a week later! Poor girl 🙁
Poor love! I had mine out when I was 21, and it was honestly the worst pain I’ve ever had in my life, including natural childbirth!!! I also took a long time to recover, and can remember my mum coming to stay with me, as I was living away from home.
Glad to hear she’s on the mend Janet x
Oh boy what a long recovery. I had no idea it would take that long. I hope she really recovers quickly now.
Hope things are on the mend.
Glad it’s over and now everything is back to normal xxx
Wow the poor girl I feel sick at the tough. My boy had them out when he was 2 it went pretty well for him. The bill was about the same as your daughter. I hope she continues to improve and that it will be worth it and she no longer suffers from so many infections. It has made a huge difference to my little man he used to be sick every week.
I found out while I was pregnant with my twins – that I had my tonsils out on my 4th Birthday (same hospital but 36yrs later). Shame on my parents.
I hope she is feeling better now. I think my son (7) needs his tonsils out.
Oh Janet, what an awful experience for all of you, I can only imagine how much pain your daughter must have been in! Our Miss 5 is lining up to get hers done soon as they are affecting her sleep and while I’m nervous at the thought, I’m kind of glad that it’s being done so young as I’m told the recovery is much smoother for children than adults.
It’s amazing how nice the couch is to lay on when you’re feeling poorly. I know I’ve said it before but Miss 17 is stunning. I’m sure it will be worth it for her in the end 🙂
It’s hard but I’m sure it was the right decision. Glad to know she’s feeling better.