At 37, I had a tonsilectomy yesterday. I had no previous symptoms, but at my annual physical my MD noticed a small cyst and thought an EMT doctor should check it out. So he did, and thought it best I have my tonsils removed: cysts could get bigger, could get infected, slight chance it might be cancer. So I am doing incredibly well, and I owe most of it to being in shape because of Cathe videos. They were surprised at the hospital how quickly I was able to be discharged. Today I feel good (even took a walk) except for sore throat when swallowing. I'm looking forward to losing a pound or two, but the bummer is I can't do any Cathe until my post-op physical which is Good Friday (over a week away--yipes!). It will feel like my muscles are turning to flab and my blood is going stale! Has anyone elso out there had an adult tonsilectomy? If so, how was your recovery and when were you able to get back into your regular workout routine? Thanks in advance for any responses! cathefANN
tonsilectomy
- Thread starter cathefANN
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eminenz2
Cathlete
I had my tonsils taken out about 8 years years ago - I am 36 now. I found the recovery to be painful, and could only function by eating jello and taking codeine three times a day. I was in the worst pain for the first week, with gradually less pain after that.
I am an elementary music teacher and so I was sure to have the operation during the summer when I could allow my throat to heal completely. Don't push yourself with talking!
I am not surprised you were discharged the same day. I had my surgery in a "walk-up" type of outpatient hospital building. It was a small building, and my friend waited in the waiting room for me while I had the procedure done.
I wasn't working out regularly at the time, except riding horses. I was back in the saddle within 10 days. Pain or no pain, I wasn't going to give up my riding - LOL!
Good luck to you and take it easy!
Susan L.G.
I am an elementary music teacher and so I was sure to have the operation during the summer when I could allow my throat to heal completely. Don't push yourself with talking!
I am not surprised you were discharged the same day. I had my surgery in a "walk-up" type of outpatient hospital building. It was a small building, and my friend waited in the waiting room for me while I had the procedure done.
I wasn't working out regularly at the time, except riding horses. I was back in the saddle within 10 days. Pain or no pain, I wasn't going to give up my riding - LOL!
Good luck to you and take it easy!
Susan L.G.
RE: tonsilectomy....
I am 37 too, had my tonsils out at age 26, I think it was. Kept getting strep after strep after strep and finally said "enough!". It was outpatient surgery for me. I think it was 3-4 weeks before they told me I would be able to lift weights again.
I would say definitely listen to your doctor. I ended up having a hemorrage in my throat (not related to working out, I hadn't started back yet...it was just one of those things)...basically the incisions in my tonsillectomy site started to bleed, I woke up early one morning 2 WEEKS post op feeling like I had something I needed to hock up in the back of my throat, kept trying to swallow it. This was the day I was supposed to be back to work, even!! I proceeded to begin throwing it all up (blood irritates your tum)...nasty business. Several bouts of that within the hour, before it clotted up and I was able to drive myself to the doc and was taken back in for surgery and they put a stitch in. Doc says it is only 1percent or so that that happens to but you do NOT want it to be you. Don't lift weights until they clear you...the exertion too early I would think could cause something similar. This happened the day I was supposed to return to work so I would have thought I was all clear. Don't mean to scare you or gross you out, but the only thing worse than an adult tonsillectomy...is TWO adult tonsillectomies! Just make sure you listen to the doc....if he says it is OK, I would think it is.
By the way it is the best thing I ever did, despite the complications....I have hardly had a sore throat since. It is AWESOME.
I wish you a very smooth recovery! I would lay on my couch watching all those food commercials! Did you ever notice how many food commercials there are on daytime tv?!?! Seems like all my throat could handle was puddings etc. but after a while it was like...sheesh, gimme something crunchy and salty!!!!
I think I did lose some weight....but then proceeded to be so starving and dying for crackers etc. when I could eat that I gained it back.
Jen
I am 37 too, had my tonsils out at age 26, I think it was. Kept getting strep after strep after strep and finally said "enough!". It was outpatient surgery for me. I think it was 3-4 weeks before they told me I would be able to lift weights again.
I would say definitely listen to your doctor. I ended up having a hemorrage in my throat (not related to working out, I hadn't started back yet...it was just one of those things)...basically the incisions in my tonsillectomy site started to bleed, I woke up early one morning 2 WEEKS post op feeling like I had something I needed to hock up in the back of my throat, kept trying to swallow it. This was the day I was supposed to be back to work, even!! I proceeded to begin throwing it all up (blood irritates your tum)...nasty business. Several bouts of that within the hour, before it clotted up and I was able to drive myself to the doc and was taken back in for surgery and they put a stitch in. Doc says it is only 1percent or so that that happens to but you do NOT want it to be you. Don't lift weights until they clear you...the exertion too early I would think could cause something similar. This happened the day I was supposed to return to work so I would have thought I was all clear. Don't mean to scare you or gross you out, but the only thing worse than an adult tonsillectomy...is TWO adult tonsillectomies! Just make sure you listen to the doc....if he says it is OK, I would think it is.
By the way it is the best thing I ever did, despite the complications....I have hardly had a sore throat since. It is AWESOME.
I wish you a very smooth recovery! I would lay on my couch watching all those food commercials! Did you ever notice how many food commercials there are on daytime tv?!?! Seems like all my throat could handle was puddings etc. but after a while it was like...sheesh, gimme something crunchy and salty!!!!
I think I did lose some weight....but then proceeded to be so starving and dying for crackers etc. when I could eat that I gained it back.
Jen
RE: tonsilectomy....
I was 39 when I had my tonsils out. I had swollen glands all the time and caught colds and throat ailments easily. I was working out prior to the surgery - which by the way my recovery was VERY painful. The pain actually got worse before it got better (not to frighten you!) Anyhow, I was anxious to get going again and did some light workouts. My body was not ready and I ended up getting pneumonia. My experience taught me to try to be patient and wait until I truly felt well. That could have saved me 2 months of battling post-op illness. Good Luck!
I was 39 when I had my tonsils out. I had swollen glands all the time and caught colds and throat ailments easily. I was working out prior to the surgery - which by the way my recovery was VERY painful. The pain actually got worse before it got better (not to frighten you!) Anyhow, I was anxious to get going again and did some light workouts. My body was not ready and I ended up getting pneumonia. My experience taught me to try to be patient and wait until I truly felt well. That could have saved me 2 months of battling post-op illness. Good Luck!
eminenz2
Cathlete
RE: tonsilectomy....
Jen,
I too had continuous strep throat infections (I was at the beginning of my teaching career and everything the little ones brought into my classroom took up residence in my throat).
Getting my tonsils out was painful - I'm glad to hear your complications were resolved- but you are right - it was the best thing I ever did. Hardly a sore throat since, and even if I did have one, it wasn't strep!
Susan L.G.
Jen,
I too had continuous strep throat infections (I was at the beginning of my teaching career and everything the little ones brought into my classroom took up residence in my throat).
Getting my tonsils out was painful - I'm glad to hear your complications were resolved- but you are right - it was the best thing I ever did. Hardly a sore throat since, and even if I did have one, it wasn't strep!
Susan L.G.
RE: tonsilectomy....
Susan: I would imagine those school germs would do it, for sure. I was dating a nurse who worked in Pediatrics and I think I must have gotten a ton of bugs from him. Air travel also seemed to stir things up for me...I swear I was sick for every major holiday. SO GREAT I would do it again in a heartbeat!!!
J
Susan: I would imagine those school germs would do it, for sure. I was dating a nurse who worked in Pediatrics and I think I must have gotten a ton of bugs from him. Air travel also seemed to stir things up for me...I swear I was sick for every major holiday. SO GREAT I would do it again in a heartbeat!!!
J
Bobbi
Cathlete
RE: tonsilectomy....
A weeks rest is very beneficial to your muscles and you'll jump back in with lots of enegy and raring to go! You sound great. Try to relax-you won't detrain in a mere week. And you're forced to eat a low cal "diet" and that'll balance out the lack of exercise. Here's to a speedy recovery!
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"
A weeks rest is very beneficial to your muscles and you'll jump back in with lots of enegy and raring to go! You sound great. Try to relax-you won't detrain in a mere week. And you're forced to eat a low cal "diet" and that'll balance out the lack of exercise. Here's to a speedy recovery!
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"