Let's start with the background info... I'm 34 and a momma of two. I switched jobs almost a year ago and started with our county school system. Two weeks into the school year and my throat is so store that I can hardly swallow. Tonsils are white and full of stones. Fever is out of control. Convinced I could possibly die.
New teacher illness. Totally normal.
Except it didn't go away. It progressed and when labs finally came back, I was blessed with both mono and strep.Fast forward many months and my voice is almost gone, all of my lymph nodes are enlarged in my neck, snoring is out control, and my tonsils are "massive." I literally tested positive for strep every single time I was tested.
And there comes the news that leads me to my post: My tonsils have got to go.
I visited the ENT in April. His personality was nothing to write home about. He was extremely dry and blunt in stating, " your tonsils are enlarged, your throat is very red, and this is going to hurt. Go ahead and get it scheduled."
So I did. I scheduled in summer, after vacation, but before our deductible started over:)
And begins this experience:
June 25th: The Day Before
Stress cleaning the entire house. Stress eating the entire pantry (before midnight). Anxiety at a high. I thought of cancelling several times, googled all the reviews on my doctor (a little late, I know), and cried - convinced that I was going to die.
June 26th: Surgery Day
The sweetest nurse ever inserted my IV. She assured me this would be cake compared to the mono/strep combo and I believed her. I remember being wheeled into the room and them telling me to breathe. I woke up and asked if it was over (it was) and heard a nurse tell another nurse "She looks like a teenager." THANK YOU
My husband was waiting on me with a smile. The gave me some ginger ale, coke, and ice. I was fine. Pain was minimal. I could talk. We stopped at Kroger on the way home to fill my meds and I ate a banana. This wasn't bad at all. I get two cups of Chik Fil A ice on the way home because it's the best ice ever and I'm convinced everyone exaggerated.
June 27th: Post-Op Day 1.
This is nothing. I've got this. I'm tough. I have found my voice and everyone else is a wuss. I will brag about my toughness. I can eat all the ice cream I want and binge watch every movie on Netflix and it's fine.
June 28th: Post-Op Day 2
I might have a bit of pain? It's still completely tolerable. My husband has surgery on this day for a deviated septum and is gone allllllllllllll day. He woke up very sick from anesthesia and I prepare myself to care for him because this tonsillectomy recovery is nothing.Today's diet: mashed potatoes, popsicles, pudding, and jello.
June 29th: Post-Op Day 3
My throat looks disgusting. There are two big white holes in the back of my mouth, my uvula is huge, and my tongue hurts. Yes, my tongue hurts. It's sore everytime I hit it against my teeth. It feels somewhat better when chewing gum. My father in law drives me to Wendy's for a frosty and it's amazing to get out of the house. We watch several more movies. Pretty sure we're up to 16 now. Energy is non-existent. Today's diet consists of applesauce, mashed potatoes, and a frosty. Pain level has creeped a bit, maybe 3-4/10?
June 30th: Post-Op Day 4
Holy. Hell. This is It. I am dying. My throat is on fire when I wake up and the first real tears hit. Hard. I immediately scramble to take some medicine, which hurts. I'm pretty sure there are shards of glass in there. The only saving grace is an ice pack to the neck and mashed potatoes. Again. Today's diet consisted of scrambled eggs, oatmeal, bananas, and pudding. Luke is doing okay, but we are both in sloth mode and still binging movies. Adam Sandler is still funny, I determine this after I watch every Netflix movie with him in it.... but it hurts to laugh. And cough. And Yawn. OMG. The Yawn is a special kind of hell. I have a spit cup today because I can hardly swallow and I know that really turns my husband on..... in sickness and in health.... in sickness and in health.
We cut up a watermelon and this feels like gold on my throat.
++Let me also note this is the first night I slept through a dose of medication/water drinking. I do NOT recommend this. I paid for it.
July 1st: Post-Op Day 5
Today is a better day. I woke up at 3 am to take pain medicine, did a little online shopping which is out of control since I've been laid up, and even made it to Walmart with Luke. This was stupid, but we survived. His nose only bled slightly and we both vegged on the couch for countless hours following. I weighed myself today - 5 lbs down. Luke has lost 9 and I once again rant about how unfair it is to be a woman. Whatever. Men and their weight loss. My kids come home this evening and it's awfully nice to have them snuggled with us since I'm pretty much neglected every mom thing ever in the last 6 days. Luke cooks quesadillas and I eat them very carefully and slowly.
This is why people lose weight. You can eat some foods, but it takes about 4x as long and your throat burns after. But I'm HANGRY HUNGRY at this point, even if all foods tastes like metal and blood.
July 2nd: Post-Op Day 6
HELLLLLLLLLLLLLL. This is by far the worst day I've had. Tears come full force. I am in bad shape today...…and I kick myself because this is what everyone warned me about. This is torture.The morning pain meds sent me into a coughing spell which did not ease for over an hour. I coughed and cried and peed on myself a little because my bladder is garbage and I'm shocked I haven't died from drinking too much water. I only eat mashed potatoes today and do not move from the recliner except to give the kids a bath. I nap on and off and stick to a med schedule. I have completely weened off the strong pain meds and am alternating good old Tylenol and Ibuprofen now which is working much better. I added in some throat numbing spray today and hunted the humidifier out of the attic. It goes all day. I should've done this sooner. My energy is still non-existent and I want to punch every person who is telling me this is a piece of cake. LIARRRRRRRS. I've also started eating hamburger buns. Very slowly.
July 3rd: Post-Op Day 7 ! Today
Today has been okay. My throat still looks pretty spectacular and white. It isn't quite as scabbed looking as I expected it to be at this point, but looks freshly burned (aww, the glory). My pain has been very manageable today (still alternating Tylenol/ibuprofen) and I'm still starving. I've eaten a bit more today, but I am dying for some real food. Today's diet has consisted of: jasmine rice, mashed potatoes, a breakfast essential, oatmeal, and pudding. I'd maybe give my pain a 3. I'm drinking lots of sweet icea tea, water, and coffee in the mornings (I let it cool quite a bit). I finally had a bit of energy today so I managed to actually clean the downstairs, pay a few bills, and get off my aching butt. My tongue still hurts. I don't have the ear pain I've read about aside from a very small ache...… I'm hoping it stays this way. I have gargled salt water today and it felt so much better after.
My voice is awesome. It's the best it has been in years!!!!
So that's today. I'll update, but I am surviving and hoping I am on the downhill side. The good news is that I don't have to rush back to work or anything really. Thankfully. I'm not sure I could do it.
Here's what I've found so far:
1. Take Medicine, You will need it. Don't skip pain meds. Even if you think you can, just don't do it. It's not smart. I feel better off the strong meds, so if you can survive on T/I alternation, do it.
2. Your bowels will suck. Between anesthesia, meds, and lack of nutrition, just know it's going to happen. Prepare. It hurts.
3. Drink. Even if you don't feel like it. Drink. Sip all day long.... it helps the throat. If your throat dries out, forget it. Go ahead and cry.
4. Ice packs around the neck are heaven. I have done this many times.
5. Humidifier. Run this sucker.
6. Chew gum, mints, and have chapstick. This is all essential.
7. Sleep in a recliner for a bit. It helps to be up and on your side.
8. Your energy is going to be zapped. Find childcare if you have kids because you simply won't feel like taking care of them.
9. I have slept a lot less than I thought I would. I'm almost an insomniac now. I take small cat naps, but sleep does not come easily.
#hideyourcreditcards because there's something about being down and sick that just makes you want to buy crap nobody needs. I've shopped all week. It's been bad!
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