tonsils cam e out this morning

jeepman · May 2011

The stories are true about the pain being severe for adult tonsillectomies. I am in the most pain I have ever been in, but my Dr finally found the narc that works for me: hydrocodne. Thank god too, I will post more as I get to feeling better.

Keep me in you guys' prayers,

Mike

Goalie · May 2011

You are on the road
Congratulations, Mike. Looking back now with a couple of months of perspective I think I can say that the pain of tonsillectomy might have been worse than the rads/chemo or the subsequent neck dissection. My ENT actually had great sympathy since he had had his tonsils out as an adult and knew what he was putting me in for. (I assume he didn't do his own!)

But this is all finally real and on the road. A couple of months and it will be all over. Hug your wife and get some rest. Doug

Skiffin16 · May 2011

Liquid is Best...
The liquid hydrocodone worked best for me.....

It shouldn't be too bad after the first week, which took 3 - 4 days to kick in, then about a week or so after that.

I mainly ate very soft foods, soft mashed potatoes and gravy...nothing lumpy. The stuff about eating ice cream and cold stuff didn't work for me...I couldn't eat or drink anything cold.

Best,
John

RushFan · May 2011

Nail on the head...
I agree. My tonsil and base of tongue biopsis were seriously painful...and so were the rads. For me it was liquid hydrocodone, and when the going got rough toward the end of treatments...Fentanyl Patches.

Thoughts & prayers to you and all here.
Chuck.

jeepman · May 2011

Skiffin16 said:
Liquid is Best...
The liquid hydrocodone worked best for me.....

It shouldn't be too bad after the first week, which took 3 - 4 days to kick in, then about a week or so after that.

I mainly ate very soft foods, soft mashed potatoes and gravy...nothing lumpy. The stuff about eating ice cream and cold stuff didn't work for me...I couldn't eat or drink anything cold.

Best,
John

liquid hydrcodone is the ticket
John,

Liquid is the way to go. Almost instantaneous relief. Gotta eat something solid to try and get released.

Talk soon,

Mike

Pam M · May 2011

Feeling For You
Mike,
The moment I read your subject line, I was with you. I had my tonsillectomy Oct. 2009. Ow. I mean, OW. I had a type of ice pack that wrapped around my neck - it gave some good relief. Watch out for popsicles - assumed they'd be nice - they burned. And ice cream promotes phlegm, ugh. I had to experiment with different things/temperatures. I went to an online support site for folks who had tonsillectomies - BAD idea - most of the folks who posted there were the "worst case" people and/or HUGE whiners. As painful as it was for me, that site had me thinking it was gonna be nightmarish. I will admit, even while suffering, I was grateful I didn't have it as bad as "they" did. But I also spent too much time worrying about when it would get worse, and if I'd develop a horrible complication. Do well - don't let the swollen uvula and sloughing tissue make you crazy.
- Pam

bpell0402 · May 2011

Pam M said:
Feeling For You
Mike,
The moment I read your subject line, I was with you. I had my tonsillectomy Oct. 2009. Ow. I mean, OW. I had a type of ice pack that wrapped around my neck - it gave some good relief. Watch out for popsicles - assumed they'd be nice - they burned. And ice cream promotes phlegm, ugh. I had to experiment with different things/temperatures. I went to an online support site for folks who had tonsillectomies - BAD idea - most of the folks who posted there were the "worst case" people and/or HUGE whiners. As painful as it was for me, that site had me thinking it was gonna be nightmarish. I will admit, even while suffering, I was grateful I didn't have it as bad as "they" did. But I also spent too much time worrying about when it would get worse, and if I'd develop a horrible complication. Do well - don't let the swollen uvula and sloughing tissue make you crazy.
- Pam

hang in there jeepman
wishing you a speedy recovery!

Skiffin16 · May 2011

jeepman said:
liquid hydrcodone is the ticket
John,

Liquid is the way to go. Almost instantaneous relief. Gotta eat something solid to try and get released.

Talk soon,

Mike

Did they keep you in the hospital or something....

Actually for me, that's when the confirmed I did indeed have SCC and STGIII. Surgery was at the surgery center and released that same day.

For me, in all honesty, the tonsils being pretty painful for a week or so. I think the pain from the tonsils coming out was worse than the radiation.

It's just the radiation has other effects, peeling skin and of course burning up your salivary glands and taste buds for several months.

But the pain from the tonsils was more intense....

Hang in there, this part will be over before you know it.

Once you can start eating again, eat everything you like a lot, because you probably won't be able to taste it again for several months if you are having radiation eventually.

I in no way am trying to discourage you, I just wanna give you a heads up to how it was for me anyways.

I look back and say, dang, I wish I would have eaten some of those things when I could taste them good....but luckily for me, 95% of my taste and saliva has returned.

Oh, and those thoughts and prayers....you have them from me.
John

jeepman · May 2011

Pam M said:
Feeling For You
Mike,
The moment I read your subject line, I was with you. I had my tonsillectomy Oct. 2009. Ow. I mean, OW. I had a type of ice pack that wrapped around my neck - it gave some good relief. Watch out for popsicles - assumed they'd be nice - they burned. And ice cream promotes phlegm, ugh. I had to experiment with different things/temperatures. I went to an online support site for folks who had tonsillectomies - BAD idea - most of the folks who posted there were the "worst case" people and/or HUGE whiners. As painful as it was for me, that site had me thinking it was gonna be nightmarish. I will admit, even while suffering, I was grateful I didn't have it as bad as "they" did. But I also spent too much time worrying about when it would get worse, and if I'd develop a horrible complication. Do well - don't let the swollen uvula and sloughing tissue make you crazy.
- Pam

swelling is really bad
I think my ENT doc got overzealous with the "uknown primary" thing. He took out my tonsils, a chunk of the BOT (strong suspicion of source) and must have riddled my tongue with holes from biopsies. WOW does this hurt.
Thanks for the tip on icecream. All it made me do was produce phlegm.
Mike

jeepman · May 2011

Skiffin16 said:
Did they keep you in the hospital or something....

Actually for me, that's when the confirmed I did indeed have SCC and STGIII. Surgery was at the surgery center and released that same day.

For me, in all honesty, the tonsils being pretty painful for a week or so. I think the pain from the tonsils coming out was worse than the radiation.

It's just the radiation has other effects, peeling skin and of course burning up your salivary glands and taste buds for several months.

But the pain from the tonsils was more intense....

Hang in there, this part will be over before you know it.

Once you can start eating again, eat everything you like a lot, because you probably won't be able to taste it again for several months if you are having radiation eventually.

I in no way am trying to discourage you, I just wanna give you a heads up to how it was for me anyways.

I look back and say, dang, I wish I would have eaten some of those things when I could taste them good....but luckily for me, 95% of my taste and saliva has returned.

Oh, and those thoughts and prayers....you have them from me.
John

John,

They made me stay the night due to the amount of swelling. The were worried that I might have problems with breathing...didn't happen thank god.

I am at day 5 now and this is some painful stuff. I have had several surgeries over the years due to broken collar bones, separating my left deltoid head, etc. This is the worst, but I would still have had the surgery if I knew then what I know now.

Just gotta stay focused on the prize: 7 weeks from 13 June and treatment is over. I will make it.

Thanks for checking on me,

Mike

jeepman · May 2011

Goalie said:
You are on the road
Congratulations, Mike. Looking back now with a couple of months of perspective I think I can say that the pain of tonsillectomy might have been worse than the rads/chemo or the subsequent neck dissection. My ENT actually had great sympathy since he had had his tonsils out as an adult and knew what he was putting me in for. (I assume he didn't do his own!)

But this is all finally real and on the road. A couple of months and it will be all over. Hug your wife and get some rest. Doug

deeper threshold for pain
Doug,

I have developed an entirely new ability to tolerate pain. Nothing that you don't know, though. The adult tonsils coming out (with a bit of the BOT) really hurts. I had no idea what I was getting into, but then again, who does?

I am getting lots of rest, water, metamucil and yes, hugs to the wife.

BTW, popsicles rock.

Talk soon,

Mike

Skiffin16 · May 2011

jeepman said:
John,

They made me stay the night due to the amount of swelling. The were worried that I might have problems with breathing...didn't happen thank god.

I am at day 5 now and this is some painful stuff. I have had several surgeries over the years due to broken collar bones, separating my left deltoid head, etc. This is the worst, but I would still have had the surgery if I knew then what I know now.

Just gotta stay focused on the prize: 7 weeks from 13 June and treatment is over. I will make it.

Thanks for checking on me,

Mike

Rough Diet
It's a rough diet but doable...you can make it. Just stay focued and go through the drudge....

It's like the movie Ground Hog's Day, same thing day, after day, after day, after day.....

Hang tough, it'll be over before you know it.

Best,
John

Hedwig · May 2011

jeepman said:
swelling is really bad
I think my ENT doc got overzealous with the "uknown primary" thing. He took out my tonsils, a chunk of the BOT (strong suspicion of source) and must have riddled my tongue with holes from biopsies. WOW does this hurt.
Thanks for the tip on icecream. All it made me do was produce phlegm.
Mike

I understand
My hubby had the same procedure, biopsies of the tongue,removed one tonsil and scc behind it. I felt like he took too much out. M.y hubby
Was in so much pain, they said it wil get better. Right!!!! Easy to say when it is not you. They gave him roxicet and all it did was make him
Dizzy, still had the pain, so he stopped it. This week we get the info on chemo and radiation. Has to have a dental cleaning as well this week. This summer is going to be quite a wIld ride indeed. I hope I can talk to all of you as we go through this together. this support group has been a big help so far. God bless.

hawk711 · May 2011

Hedwig said:
I understand
My hubby had the same procedure, biopsies of the tongue,removed one tonsil and scc behind it. I felt like he took too much out. M.y hubby
Was in so much pain, they said it wil get better. Right!!!! Easy to say when it is not you. They gave him roxicet and all it did was make him
Dizzy, still had the pain, so he stopped it. This week we get the info on chemo and radiation. Has to have a dental cleaning as well this week. This summer is going to be quite a wIld ride indeed. I hope I can talk to all of you as we go through this together. this support group has been a big help so far. God bless.

wishing you well
Hi Jeepman
your a strong guy and will get through this. Keep posting to let us all know how you're doing. You have a lot of us sending prayers your way to get back to "less pain" again.
all the best.
Steve

tonsils cam e out this morning

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