From Tonsillectomy to Bloody Marys…
In 2008, at the age of 44, I underwent tonsillectomy surgery. As I struggled to prepare for the surgery and recover from it, I was frustrated by the lack of quality content available on the internet for tonsillectomy patients. I was also frustrated by the general public’s assumptions about adult tonsillectomy surgery, and the lack of compassion from my health care providers. I was ill-prepared and struggled through recovery with minimal support. For this reason, I created a website to provide information to adults considering or recovering from tonsillectomy. It was called, “My Big Fat Tonsillectomy.” I later added a forum where other patients could share their experiences, questions, pain, and compassion.
Since then I’ve learned a great deal about tonsillectomy, and also about web design and search engine optimization. After reading thousands and thousands of posts to the forum, I have amassed a fortune in knowledge and insight into the experience of adult tonsillectomy. I’ve learned even more about the beauty and resilience of the human spirit.
Speaking of spirits, as a long time aficionado of bloody Mary recipes, I decided to take what I learned about creating websites and create a fun blog about the cocktail and its many manifestations. My Big fat Bloody Mary is a lighter and more fun site where I share tips and strategies for making the best bloody Mary. When you feel up to it, check it out!
This new site is intended to be a place where people considering or recovering from tonsillectomy can arm themselves with information and become their own best advocates. But it’s also a community. Every page allows comments and questions. The tonsillectomy forum is pure, free form venting, asking, crying, sharing, and mingling.
I am currently working on a book designed to guide patients, step by step, through the period leading up to surgery, the day of surgery, and the recovery from tonsillectomy.
Tonsillectomy Resources
Greg Tooke
Day 3 of a tonsillectomy and ive found this site!
There is a god!! Its so reassuring to read what others have gone through or are going through, and the pain in feeling is normal (Grrr!!)
Thanks for this Greg!!
Mel
you bet!
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Greg, Thank you for this site. It has been my go-to place before and during my recovery. I’m on day 10 and am still uncomfortable, but I feel as though I’m rounding a corner. I do have thrush which is greeeeeaaat, not really, but I’m trying to stay positive. Thank you for creating a place that answers all of my questions and doesn’t make me feel crazy because this surgery/recovery is so tough.
Aw, thanks for the kind words! I just hate to think of anyone going through it alone like I did. Best of luck in your recovery!
OK, I know this is crazy (and kind of cheating), but four years ago this website saved my life. I had a tonsillectomy, in conjunction with minor sinus surgery, and if it wasn’t for My BIg Fat Tonsillectomy I honestly don’t know how I would have gotten through it.
Anyway, fast forward to now, and I had to get my surgery on my sinuses (septoplasty, turbinate reductions) again yesterday. It’s not the same (far less painful!!), but it’s 3:30am, I can’t sleep, and I’m suffering, so I thought “what the hell, let’s see if lighting can strike twice”.
If anyone has some words of encouragement, or just wants to say a prayer, I’d greatly appreciate it.
For my part, I can tell everyone that I’m firmly aware of what they’re going through, as I had my tonsils removed a few years back, as I said, and it was a pretty awful experience. However, I got through it thanks to this site (and lots of vicodin), and so will all of you!!!
Best,
Brian
Welcome back Brian. I will say a prayer for you. Many people have the sinus surgery along with their tonsillectomy so hopefully someone can share with you ( I did not). Take care and God bless you. Greg
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I am scheduled for a tonsillectomy Wednesday and am absolutely scared to death! I have had other surgeries, including abdominal and I am sot sure why I am having such a hard time. I have had strep all my life and as I get older, the infections are lasting laster and becoming more difficult to treat. I had a sore throat the entire month of December. Any replies or encouragement would be great….I am so frightened of this!
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[...] Build the liquid ingredients in a highball glassover ice cubes.Garnish your bloody Mary with a pickle, celery, olive, beef jerky, and a cheese. then skip lunch! Serve with an ice cold beer of your choice. Enjoy this bloody Mary recipe in moderation!Cheers! -Greg My short bio [...]
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I am a 24 year old RN. I had a tonsillectomy 5 days ago. This is by far the worst pain I’ve ever experienced. I am taking my oral percocet and viscous lidocaine meds as ordered. I sometimes need a phenergan for nausea. I have not been able to eat anything more than a few sips of lukewarm soup. Plus, today I realized I had thrush all over my tongue and mouth (chunky white stuff). I’m waiting to hear back from the MD for some meds. I can only sleep about 4 hours without making up needing more pain meds. I had been a chronic tonsil stone and tonsillitis patient and I can only hope that having the surgery will be worth it. I have another week and a half out of work so hopefully I’ll be able to get back and do my job in the ICU like normal. To everyone out there having tonsillectomies as an adult, good luck. I need prayers for a speedy recovery and I will pray for all of you!
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I just want to say how grateful I am that I found this site. I am a 41 year old female, an RN by profession, and had a tonsillectomy 9-13-12. I am now day 6 post-op. It has been very helpful, especially the pictures. I hadn’t really been informed as to how my throat would look through the healing process, and I was looking for a point of reference. I had talked to several adults who had tonsillectomies, and they all pretty much said it was miserable experience. Even Dr Z, after telling me I needed my tonsils out, said “as an adult, this is a miserable, miserable surgery. Please tell me you don’t have young children to take care of.” Being a nurse really didn’t prepare me either, as my specialty in nursing is neonatal intensive care. While I have occasional sore throats, I needed to have mine removed due to a potentially cancerous growth and for tonsil stones. So along with dealing with this horrendous pain, I have the worries of a biopsy report lingering. All I can think, is if this is a cancerous growth, how much worse will all this get? I ended up in the ER last night because I started to have some bleeding. Luckily, the bleeding stopped on its own, I got some dilaudid, and fluids for mild dehydration. For pain post-op, I was give Lortab elixir, and quite frankly, it sucks! Its base is 7% alcohol and burns horribly. Why would you give something that burns raw tissues? Plus it does little to touch the pain. I tried to get something else, but the DRs office staff were uncooperative. They said I can’t have a pill. Really? Cause I still have to swallow my pill for my BP everyday. I do find that liquids back up my nose when I swallow, and the thicker the liquid, the more it backs up. I also found I tolerate warm much better then cold, cold is more irritating. At this point, I’m living on chamomile tea with a little honey, and cream of wheat. Aside from my hysterectomy gone bad, this is the worst pain I’ve experienced. And I have given birth twice, and had kidney and gall stones. The ear pain is excruciating. And sleep only 3 hours at a time. My uvula is still very swollen and I can feel it in the back of my throat. I’m snoring something awful. I know I snored before the surgery, but it is way worse now. I’m hoping once the swelling goes down, the snoring will improve or stop. I also am experiencing severe heartburn. I found that crushing a couple of tums and mixing it in water and taking it every time I take my pain med to be helpful. I am supposed to return to work 2 weeks post-op, but at this point, don’t see how that is going to be able to happen. I just want to add for the few post I’ve read that it hasn’t been the horrible experience they worried about, well you people suck…LOL…I’m jealous!
Audrey- Thank you for sharing your experience, and God bless you for the work you do! My oldest son spent almost 3 months in a PNICU. He was born 25.5 weeks gestation. Now 22 years old, sharp as a tack and strong as a horse- I have angels like you to thank!!!
I agree with all you have said. For what it’s worth, I found oxycodone to be much more effective than hydrocodone. And no, I did not become a junkie- even though the clinic treated me like one when I ran out and requested more on day 5.
Hang in there my dear!
-Greg
Wow Ric, you made this sound like a walk in the park!! How are you feeling today? I don’t think i’ve heard anyone say they ate fried chicken on day 1 or day 10 for that matter!! Where did you have your surgery??
I just had a tonsillectomy yesterday, I’m 44 years old and in good physical. I stopped by my daughters house on the way home and had fried chicken whith her and the grandbabies and now I’m having my morning coffee. This is no where as bad as I thought it would be actually it’s not as bad as having streep. Well now I’m going for a run, good luck everyone.
I am 55 years old. My second round tonsillectomy (my first round, was at the age of 2 yrs old, I have no rememebering of this). I will post in few days. But wanted to tell you, Thank you, Greg Tooke for doing this page for others. I know it will be rough, but thanks to you, it should be easier
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I am 53 years old and just had my tonsils removed yesterday afternoon. I am feeling fine and actually better than I thought. I don’t know if the worst is yet to come but if it stays like this for awhile I will be happy. I have been using an icepack, take my meds every 4 hours and drink lots of water. My dr. told me to just eat or drink clear things for the first few days and I have. I will post back in a couple of days.
Hello Ida,
To answer your question in a word: YES.
In addition to strep and tonsillitis, I also had sleep apnea- have not had ANY of those since tonsillectomy. Is it right for you? I can’t say. It was for me. Whatever you decide, best of luck. Please keep me posted,
Greg (also 47)
Thank you for the reply. I’m very glad it was worth it for you. It’s very reassuring. I’m getting a second opinion next week and I will keep you posted.
-ida
Thank you for the wonderful information. My question to you, and anyone else that has gone through this, is “Are you healthy now and was it worth it?” My doctor just recommended a tonsillectomy and I’m freaking out. I am a stong, healthy, 47-year-old mother of two. I have 9-year-old son and a 6-year-old daughter. My 9-year-old had a tonsillectomy last year due to chronic strep. Now I’ve had 6 episodes of strep over a 7 month period – with 7 rounds of antibiotics. I have felt sick more than I have felt well and I don’t believe there is an antibiotic left that I can (or should) take. I am getting a second opinion from another ENT this week but I’m guessing he will recommend the same thing. So, is it worth it? Have you felt better since?
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