We may have to postpone our trip :(

[DebIreland]

Sorry to hear about this. I suffered from tonsilities many times in the last few years and eventually had my tonsils out 2 years ago (I was 34).

The bouts of tonsilitis I experienced were very severe to the point where my throat would close over and during the last bout I was rushed to hospital by ambulance as I could barely breathe. It was like having a knife stuck in the back of my throat. HOWEVER, as soon as antibiotics kick in, it heals quite quickly. You woudn't believe just how fast! The key is to blast the patient with very strong antibiotics over a short period of time. That's the way they do it here when it's a very severe case - during the last infection I was on 4 times the regular dose of antibiotics, getting it by IV for maximum efficiency. I went from choking on my tonsils to fully better within 2 days. Amazing. Also, have him gargle with either salt & water (to sterilise the area) or with an aspirin based over-the-counter soluble pill. That is if he can gargle - it can be very painful but it will help a lot.

When I finally had the surgery it took me a couple of weeks to recover in total. The recovery wasn't half as bad as having tonsilitis itself. But that was just my experience. It's not a pleasant operation and the thought of it is worse than the reality.

A few tips for you - the sooner he eats regular food the sooner he will recover. It makes a huge difference to recovery!!!!!! I begged for ice-cream or custard (i.e. soft food) after my op and they wouldn't give them to me because they said they no longer do it that way - they *insisted* that I eat regular food - this was within a couple of hours of surgery!! I was terrified but it worked and it wasn't very painful at all, just unpleasant and scary. By day 3 of recovery I was even eating toast and all regular foods - small bites and eating SLOWLY. If he sticks to soft foods his throat will become accustomed to them and it will really retard the recovery process. Also he'll build up a fear of eating normal foods.

This got long, sorry. As I said, if they can blast him now with anti-biotics they should be able to cure this bout of tonsilitis, enough to have him to on the holiday and then have the op scheduled for later. But even if he needs surgery before the trip, I see no reason why he couldn't do his recovery at WDW provided he has at least 4 or 5 days of recovery at home first! He'll need lots of rest at WDW though and lots of fluids (as well as gargling regularly).

Good luck!

 

[DebIreland]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I am 27 and just had my tonsils taken out on March 30th. I would rather give birth to an elephant then have it done again. It was the worst pain I have ever felt in my life. It has been 13 days, and I think I may have eaten about 100 popsicles in that time frame. I have yet to be able to eat a "normal" meal, and it still is painful to yawn and swallow. Here is praying that if it can't wait, that your DH has the fastest recovery ever!!!!

Hugs for you. I wish I'd read this first before posting myself - recovery is different for everyone and I hope I didn't make it seem like a breeze in my post. I had mine out 2 years ago and I was lucky. I wanted to say to you to please do try to eat a "normal" meal because the longer you put it off, the harder it's gonna be and the longer it will take to fully recover. That was why I recovered fast - they made me eat regular food in the hospital. Your throat is now accustomed to soft food (I know that sounds crazy) - you need to re-introduce regular stuff. It won't be as bad as you think. Take your time and gargle a lot with salt and water. I found, by far, codeine-based soluble painkillers are best - they seem to hit the "spot" better than any other kind. Oh, drink lots and lots and lots of water (luke warm is easier to get down). Good luck - I hope you feel better soon.

 

[iLoveEeyore2]

YEAH!!! Hope hubby's tonsils can hold off until you return. Enjoy your trip. Maybe we'll see you there! (I'm going to look for some lime green ribbon to tie on something.) Here's some more pixie dust to keep things going in the right direction.

 

[erinch]

Hi -- didn't go back to read your first post again to find out where you're staying. If it's on Disney or a major chain property, you might think about faxing and phoning them and asking them to do a "special clean" of your room including changing the AC filter, if the room has one.

Our DS has severe asthma and allergies and chronic tonsillitis until we had them out (age 12). Whenever we went anywhere and stayed in a hotel room he would get sick. We finally realized it was sinus infections from all ther pollens and molds in the room. Once we had them change the AC filter and REALLY clean the tops and corners, things improved markedly.

 

[Race4fun]

So glad to hear that! I will keep my fingers crossed that you can go!



:thewave:

 

[MinnieM3]

Hurray for not having to change your vacation plans! Sorry, though, for DH! I had my tonsils out at 41 and it wasn't any fun! Ended up having a severe allergic reaaction to the pain meds (which I was diligently taking!) and back in the hospital in a couple of days for 3 more days. Worse part was having to buzz for the nurse and they expected me to SAY something! I'll never get over that..... no matter how many times I strained to say i can't talk, they'd still think I couold talk and would wait for me to say something. (this is a small community hospital, too). Oh well!

Tell DH to hang in there. After my tonsils came out..no more throat problems at all! Well worth it!

 

[kilee]

Looks like things are going to work out. Your DH should let the doctor know he will be traveling. He may be able to put him on a prophalactic (sp?) antibiotic just to cover him while traveling-- however that would be totally up to the doctor. Either way, he may have some suggestions on things your dh can do or avoid to get sick while away.

 

[areno79]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! DH will probably have the surgery done in June, so I'll make sure to let him know what he's in store for He's never had any surgery, so I think that's the thing that scares him the most. I'll make sure to get him back to regular food ASAP, Deb
Also, we're staying at POP, I'll have to give them a call and see if they can change the AC filter on our room. I didn't even think of that!

 

[erinch]

Amanda--
when you call about the AC filter, etc, use these exact words:
You have a MEDICAL need for them to "special clean" and change the AC filter in your MEDICALLY NECESSARY nonsmoking room. If it is entered as a medical need, then it won't be a "if we can grant it" request.

Since they have to pre-assign and spend some extra time in the room a room may not be ready if you attempt early check in. However I can testify that it makes all the difference in the world, especially if the POP has individual AC as opposed to central.

GOOD LUCK!

When my DS had his tonsils out he was really loopy from the morphine. He batted his big blue eyes at all the nurses and assured them that he wanted to take them all home with him. He couldn't believe later what he'd said.

 

[cra-z-4-dizney]

Hugs for you. I wish I'd read this first before posting myself - recovery is different for everyone and I hope I didn't make it seem like a breeze in my post. I had mine out 2 years ago and I was lucky. I wanted to say to you to please do try to eat a "normal" meal because the longer you put it off, the harder it's gonna be and the longer it will take to fully recover. That was why I recovered fast - they made me eat regular food in the hospital. Your throat is now accustomed to soft food (I know that sounds crazy) - you need to re-introduce regular stuff. It won't be as bad as you think. Take your time and gargle a lot with salt and water. I found, by far, codeine-based soluble painkillers are best - they seem to hit the "spot" better than any other kind. Oh, drink lots and lots and lots of water (luke warm is easier to get down). Good luck - I hope you feel better soon.

Thank you soooo much...Actually the Dr said gargle with gatorade...it is the same as salt water but taste a hecl of alot better. I was very stupid not to eat normal food, and that was even on my paper after I left the hospital...to get back to "normal" food as soon as possible...wish I had because it still is painful to even try and eat normally. I have been eating a little bit more solid foods like mashed potatoes. I also say drink lots and lots and lots of fluids, Doc said it helps keep the bleeding to a minimal, and it helps the healing process. And warm water is definatly (sp??) easier to get down. Anyway the one good thing about this whole process is that I lost 12 lbs. Thanks again!!!

PS they gave me liquid vicodine...I thought it was going to be nasty, but the pain was sooo bad I didn'tr care what it tasted like...oh one more thing, I sneezed for the first time today, and OMG how painful!!!!!