28th October 2003
Well, I am off for my tonsillectomy tomorrow at noon. I'm having mine done for obstructive sleep apnea (139 events, 87% average oxygen saturation). Luckily it is not going to be a full UPPP as I already have a fairly high palate and my uvula is small. I'm 240lbs and 32 years old so I'm expecting it to take awhile to heal.
When I asked my ENT if my tonsils were larger than normal after having my sleep study he replied that out of 100 other folks my age who still have their tonsils, only about 1 would have larger tonsils. Ah-Hah ... I new my breathing couldn't be normal. Of course, I'm guessing that 1 percent is posting here [img]http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img]
I found this board while searching about how the healing process is after an adult tonsillectomy. Needless to say I'm a bit more nervous now than I was (finding pictures of a throat after electrocautery didn't help, either ... don't go looking for them). I had hoped to find someone locally who did the harmonic scalpel procedure, but the closest was an hour away and couldn't see me on the schedule I needed for work.
I'm hoping a couple of things will help me through ...
1) I have a humidified CPAP, so I'm hoping that will help me keep my throat moisturized at night as otherwise I'm a night breather.
2) Due to back pain (which is my next surgery in a month or so ... enlargement and possible fusion of L3-S1 for spinal stenosis and herniations) I have a perscription to Actiq, which is an orally absorbed form of Fentanyl. My hope is that is will help kill the extra pain that the percocet doesn't so that I can eat a bit faster (though a little weight loss won't hurt, I don't want to lose my immune system with a back surgery on the horizon).
Even though it's normally only for cancer patients and women in delivery, it has helped my back pain a LOT and since it is aborbed in the mouth (think of it as a narcotic lolly-pop) I won't have to swallow a pill to get the effect. It also works fast ... 10 minutes for initial effect, 20-30 for full benefit ... lasts for 4-5 hours (max). Maybe this will open a new market for Actiq. It's expensive stuff though, so you'll want insurance before you ask for it (I think it was over $10/dose before insurance).
3) Lots of Slimfast (for vitamins) and Benefiber (to mix in the Slimfast to avoid dieter's constipation). I don't like the stuff, but it seems to be good nutritionally so that I'm not just drinking broth.
If I feel good enough I'll try and keep a log of my progress and especially results on the Actiq. It isn't a medicine meant for 24/7 usage, only for pain spikes, but maybe it will accent the percocet enough to make meals more tolerable.
I'm just giving LOTS of thanks that my job has a good short term disability policy in that they provide 100% pay during leave ... I will probably only be working 1 week between now and the end of January, the rest is going to be healing from surgeries. But it -very- relieving to know that I won't lose pay or vacation for it.
/Geoff
When I asked my ENT if my tonsils were larger than normal after having my sleep study he replied that out of 100 other folks my age who still have their tonsils, only about 1 would have larger tonsils. Ah-Hah ... I new my breathing couldn't be normal. Of course, I'm guessing that 1 percent is posting here [img]http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img]
I found this board while searching about how the healing process is after an adult tonsillectomy. Needless to say I'm a bit more nervous now than I was (finding pictures of a throat after electrocautery didn't help, either ... don't go looking for them). I had hoped to find someone locally who did the harmonic scalpel procedure, but the closest was an hour away and couldn't see me on the schedule I needed for work.
I'm hoping a couple of things will help me through ...
1) I have a humidified CPAP, so I'm hoping that will help me keep my throat moisturized at night as otherwise I'm a night breather.
2) Due to back pain (which is my next surgery in a month or so ... enlargement and possible fusion of L3-S1 for spinal stenosis and herniations) I have a perscription to Actiq, which is an orally absorbed form of Fentanyl. My hope is that is will help kill the extra pain that the percocet doesn't so that I can eat a bit faster (though a little weight loss won't hurt, I don't want to lose my immune system with a back surgery on the horizon).
Even though it's normally only for cancer patients and women in delivery, it has helped my back pain a LOT and since it is aborbed in the mouth (think of it as a narcotic lolly-pop) I won't have to swallow a pill to get the effect. It also works fast ... 10 minutes for initial effect, 20-30 for full benefit ... lasts for 4-5 hours (max). Maybe this will open a new market for Actiq. It's expensive stuff though, so you'll want insurance before you ask for it (I think it was over $10/dose before insurance).
3) Lots of Slimfast (for vitamins) and Benefiber (to mix in the Slimfast to avoid dieter's constipation). I don't like the stuff, but it seems to be good nutritionally so that I'm not just drinking broth.
If I feel good enough I'll try and keep a log of my progress and especially results on the Actiq. It isn't a medicine meant for 24/7 usage, only for pain spikes, but maybe it will accent the percocet enough to make meals more tolerable.
I'm just giving LOTS of thanks that my job has a good short term disability policy in that they provide 100% pay during leave ... I will probably only be working 1 week between now and the end of January, the rest is going to be healing from surgeries. But it -very- relieving to know that I won't lose pay or vacation for it.
/Geoff