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.
