so yeah... I'll be 27 years old the end of this month... and five days later, they're going to take my tonsils out! I've never had surgery of any kind... never been under anesthesia... and have been hearing all kinds of horror stories about adult tonsillectomies...

has anyone else here had this done... past the age of say... 16? i'd love to hear your experience, good or bad, and any advice you might have for surviving what will apparently be the worst sore throat of my life!

umm i was 2 so i dont really remember, but my mom told me i drank a lot of dr. pepper and the nurse kept coming in to make me drink more and by the 4th time of her waking me up i slapped her bwahahahaha. the sad part is i'm stll the same way when someone wakes me up. good luck tho and dont worry about it. chances are it wont be as bad as you think.

I was 25- it sucked- my first and only surgery too- besides having labor and a baby. I'd rather have a baby any day- without medication- which I've done.
Anyhow- now that I've cheered you up I'm sure- my tips:

Do NOT forget a single dose of medicine. I slept through one the second day and was unable to drink/talk/swallow when I awoke.

A sippy cup for toddlers- get one! It hurts to drink at first, and the low flow is a lifesaver! This is the only way I was able to drink.

This is gross, but because I couldn't swallow I had to spit a lot. Get plenty of tissues.

A notebook and pen to write messages to your caregiver, in my case, hubby. After I missed that codeine dose I couldn't talk either.

Stay away from salt. Ouch!

A cell phone or telephone by the bed so you can page your caregiver. I couldn't yell for the hubby.

I think total recovery was about a month for me. Make sure you get plenty of recuperation time. I don't remember eating the first week. Best of luck! You'll be fine, just be sure to take care of yourself as I've said. Enjoy your birthday and get well soon!

I had mine out when I was 20 and I completely agree with FB

Don't forget ice cream!

I was 21. My most important piece of advice is DO NOT STOP EATING. It really does help the process and will keep your throat feeling better. If I want for more that about 2 hours I was in absolute misery. If I kept eating every couple hours, something like mash potatoes or jellow, it kept the pain down. Moving your throat actually keeps it from hurting so much. Its like a massage for the area. I personally could not do anything cold like ice cream, it hurt really bad.

I had my tonsils out only 3 years ago. They have been begging me for years and I said **** no. I'm afraid of hospitals and I've never had a surgery. I went because I was losing a lot of sleep because of sleep apnea.

I was happy to get this procedure done for one reason and one reason alone. I went into the surgery weight 265. After my healing for 2 weeks. I came out at about 235. During the last week of me healing I ran into an old friend from high school I had a thing for. Ever since then we've been together.

The healing process however, i did not enjoy... i can't lie. Everytime I swalled it felt like sandpaper in the back of my throat. Jesus. Please stay away from dairy, its regularly a friend but not in this case.

I really ate a lot of fruit popsicles and things of that nature. After a while the cold will help to numb your throat. Whatever you do, dont talk unless you need to, its worth it not to. I wish you luck

I was fifteen and remember eating lots of ice cream, it goes down pretty good. But for weight loss I would recommend sugar free popicles.

I did not bleed at all.

i had my tonsils out at 20 and the recovery was "rough" to say the least. i thought people were joking when they said having a c-section is more comfortable but i'd gladly welcome a c-section if that's the case. :lol i also had my adenoids out and turbinates in my nose cauterized so i was all sorts of messed up.

i took my meds regularly but it still hurt at times. i wasn't allowed to have anything red so it was a lot of white italian ices and ice for the first 2 weeks. after that, eating was still painful but i got to the point where i just didn't care to eat so i would take a nibble and be satisfied.

it took about 2 months to be fully recovered. obviously, the first few weeks were the worst and it gradually got better. towards the end of recovery i developed small ulcers around the scar site when i ate some foods but they cleared up withing 24 hrs or so.

good luck with your surgery, sorry if i scared you. if they offer you morphine in the hospital, take it!