Abscessed Tonsil... (update: TONSILS are OUT!)

[vettechick99]

I have posted before about my tonsils - apparently they are about as worthless as two pennies.

So two weeks ago I get tonsilitis again. Even though it wasn't strep, she treated it as such and gave me a shot of penicillin and within a few days I was feeling better.

About a week later, my throat started hurting again and my right tonsil started growing. It is so big now, it's about the size of a large gumball and takes up half of my throat.

I went back to my doctor on Friday (nurse practioner actually - my doctor is building his new office and can't see anyone) and she said keep an eye on it over the weekend and call her Monday if it wasn't better. Well it isn't, so I'm going today and I guess she is going to drain it. I have my Xanax ready.

Any experience with this?

 

[Mermaid02]

No- but I had both of my tonsils out as an adult and it wasn't NEARLY as horrible as all of the sores throats I had endured for YEARS. Good luck!!

 

[tiggersmom6]

When I was in my 20's I had infected tonsils. The doctor gave me antibiotics for 10 days. After the 10 days the tonsils became infected again and he gave me 10 more days of antibiotics. After those 10 days they became infected again. He said he would give me 10 more days of antibiotics and if they got infected again they were coming out. Needless to say, I no longer have my tonsils. After the operation the doctor said one tonsil was so abscessed he hardly had to cut at all to get it out. Good luck and I hope you are feeling better soon!

 

[vettechick99]

At this point I'm ready to get them out. I've had tonsilitis 5 times in the last 2 years plus this abscessed tonsil. My NP just called me back and is going to try and get me an appt with an ENT today. Cross your fingers!

 

[lovemygoofy]

At this point I'm ready to get them out. I've had tonsilitis 5 times in the last 2 years plus this abscessed tonsil. My NP just called me back and is going to try and get me an appt with an ENT today. Cross your fingers!

Interesting thing I learned before having my tonsils out is that my constant infected tonsils was a majority of the problem with my sinus issues. Because the tonsils were always infected, it would infect everything around it.

I felt alot better and was breathing and swallowing alot better after the tonsils were out but having the tonsils out were pretty darn painful.

I hope you feel better.

 

[JessicaR]

At this point I'm ready to get them out. I've had tonsilitis 5 times in the last 2 years plus this abscessed tonsil. My NP just called me back and is going to try and get me an appt with an ENT today. Cross your fingers!

Fingers crossed, hope you get in today! It sure does sound like its time to get them out. Hope you start feeling better.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Good luck!
I ended up having my tonsils out last summer because i would get strep/sinus infections constantly...i havent had strep yet (and i teach kindergarten--lots f strep!) and i have had a huge decline in sinus infections

 

[disneynikon]

When I was in my late 20's I had what you have. Don't be surprise they book you asap to have them removed.

 

[vettechick99]

When I was in my late 20's I had what you have. Don't be surprise they book you asap to have them removed.

Well that's pretty much what happened! I booked an appt at 2 pm yesterday but when I woke up yesterday morning I knew I couldn't wait that long. I went in at 9 and she worked me in. I was in surgery 4 hours later. He surgically drained it, he didn't want to take them out because of the higher risk of bleeding when inflamed. I go back in 2 weeks to have them removed.

I'm really annoyed at my NP. She should have known the swelling was not going to go down on its own and told me last Friday to get it looked at. If I had gone to the ENT earlier, I could have had an in-office procedure, instead of surgery at the hospital. I won't be going back to her.

 

[Disneylover79]

I have been following your thread...so I have to say I am glad to hear you are feeling better... I agree with you ( and I am in NP school) she should have sent you to see the ENT right away... we learned about this in class yesterday... when you can't handle the treatment then send them to someone that can.. ( I am an ACUTE care NP student) and if I would have seen you in the ER I would have called ENT right away... who knows he could have said the same thing to lets wait and see or lets drain it one will never know but at least the ENT can make the decision.... take care and please keep us updated....

 

[DisneyFairytale]

Good luck with your upcoming surgery. It's never fun.

I've been dealing with hip dysplasia for the last 4 years(when it started to be symptomatic). Have had 4 hip surgeries since with one more on the way.

Keep us posted on your recovery, ok

 

[mickeyboat]

Sounds like you are on the right track, now! Sending lots of positive thoughts that your surgery goes well!

I have been frustrated with my PCP lately, too. I have gone to him numerous times complaining of sinus issues and he said it wasn't an infection. He eventually diagnosed me with a chronic nerve pain condition and I insisted on seeing a neurologist. The neurologist did an MRI which found - guess what - a sinus infection. Argh!

ETA - I keep reading the title of this thread as Abcessed Toenail!

 

[Briarmom]

Make SURE you have help with that little one of yours! I had my tonsils out at 23 and it was very very painful. I, too, had tonsilitis (sp) very often. I am SO GLAD I had it done. I rarely get sick now.

 

[vettechick99]

disneylover, it didn't take me but a few minutes on google to figure out I had a peritonsillar abscess. Apparently they are somewhat common after tonsilitis - which she treated me for. She should have known exactly what it was - instead she kept saying it was a sore throat due to sinus drainage, which I had very little of. She was in over her head and should have referred me right then. And at the very least called me back on Monday - instead of me having to call her 3 times and finally giving up and making my own appt. But at least he was able to drain it safely, so that is the silver lining.

Briarmom (and others), what was your recovery time like? I am having it done on a Thursday and Scooner can go to the sitter's for Thursday and Friday, and DH will help on the weekend. But we had planned on going to the beach on Sunday - will I feel up for it? I can always go late, but the sooner I make it to the beach, the better!

Thanks everyone for your kind words! Those sweet thoughts and these Percocets make all the difference.

 

[Briarmom]

Briarmom (and others), what was your recovery time like? I am having it done on a Thursday and Scooner can go to the sitter's for Thursday and Friday, and DH will help on the weekend. But we had planned on going to the beach on Sunday - will I feel up for it? I can always go late, but the sooner I make it to the beach, the better!

It took me a good week to feel like I could do ANYTHING. Luckily, my Grandmother came and took care of ds (he was 1 at the time). I've had much much more serious surgery since then, and that was a cake walk compared to having the tonsils out. It was entirely worth it, don't get me wrong, but it was very very painful.

 

[lovemygoofy]

disneylover, it didn't take me but a few minutes on google to figure out I had a peritonsillar abscess. Apparently they are somewhat common after tonsilitis - which she treated me for. She should have known exactly what it was - instead she kept saying it was a sore throat due to sinus drainage, which I had very little of. She was in over her head and should have referred me right then. And at the very least called me back on Monday - instead of me having to call her 3 times and finally giving up and making my own appt. But at least he was able to drain it safely, so that is the silver lining.

Briarmom (and others), what was your recovery time like? I am having it done on a Thursday and Scooner can go to the sitter's for Thursday and Friday, and DH will help on the weekend. But we had planned on going to the beach on Sunday - will I feel up for it? I can always go late, but the sooner I make it to the beach, the better!

Thanks everyone for your kind words! Those sweet thoughts and these Percocets make all the difference.

I had my tonsils out at 25 and it was horrible. Make sure that your ENT does a caulderazation instead of stitches if that is possible. I think having the stitches just makes healing that much more difficult and prolonged.

It was at least a week before I could even think about being alone. I was doped up for a good 4 days with my mom staying with me. The liquid pain killer they prescribe. Get it filled ahead of time and take it on schedule. I couldn't even eat the ice cream, I was eating melted popsicles.

 

[Aneille]

I'll be watching this thread. My 5 year old goes back next week to the ENT. He is recommending her tonsils and adnoids to come out. She has had strep a few times (not a lot) and has had tonscillitas(sp) once but her tonsils are natually huge. Twice now our pedi. has thought she may have had an abcess on her tonsil. She's also been strep tested on well visits due to her tonsils being big.

He told me that her height and weight issues (small for her age) may be due to her not eating enough because she can't breathe through her nose very well due to the adnoids. So she eats so slow and doesn't have a real interest because its too much work for her to eat. Its funny because I commented to my DH last year that she seems to grow better if I remember to give her a multi vitiman every day.

He also said her speech problems (she often doesn't open her mouth very well while speaking) may also be from that.

He saw them a few weeks ago when she had strep. He wants to see her again when they are not inflammed.

BTW her ENT told me if she had them out it was a 2 week recovery and no sports for 1 week and no school for 2 weeks if I remember. The first week sounded like you had to be pretty home bound and then the second was better. He said the real risk was a bleed after the surgery and it was more likely in adults than children.

 

[vettechick99]

It took me a good week to feel like I could do ANYTHING. Luckily, my Grandmother came and took care of ds (he was 1 at the time). I've had much much more serious surgery since then, and that was a cake walk compared to having the tonsils out. It was entirely worth it, don't get me wrong, but it was very very painful.

Oh no, don't say that!! I had a c-section, d&c, and gallbladder removal - those are easy compared to tonsils? What is so bad? The pain, or not being able to eat? I can't afford to lose any weight. I'm about to start carboloading big time to gain a few pounds! Bring on the donuts!

 

[sacall]

I had mine out when I was 25 and my recovery was not a week or more, I would say more like 4 days. The two problems I had was getting sick (throwing up) after surgery because of the blood in my stomach. The other was ear pain because I guess your ear and tonsil can share a nerve.

I had it done in the morning and my ENT told me to eat - soft sandwhichs, soft bread, soft foods (but not ice cream) right away. He told me that if you don't excerise the throat muscles, that they get really, really sore. So, I had it done in the morning, by the afternoon I was eating a PBJ with scrambled eggs. I just keep eating small, soft foods to work those muscles! I really think it helped.

I will say, getting those darn tonsils out of my throat was the best thing in the world

Stacy

 

[4nana]

Sending hugs vettemommy is feeling much better and wishing you luck on your surgery sweetie. Take good care!