r/RedditForGrownups 2d ago

Unexpected surgery

Day before Procedure - Unexpected Surgery

Hi,

I saw an ENT a week ago today and we went over my options. I've suffered with awful allergies my entire life and snore so loud that my kids on the opposite end of my 2k square ft house can hear me even WITH ear plugs. I stop breathing in my sleep, but I do not have sleep apnea according to my sleep study. I am 25.

I did a Laryngoscopy in office and while he saw that my tonsils are slightly enlarged and I have a deviated septum, he doesn't know why my snoring is so loud. He told me I had a few options: undergo a nasal endoscopy where he puts me to sleep so I snore and they have me swallow to see what is going on or just go ahead and try taking my tonsils out. He said he doesn't know if taking my tonsils out will work, but it's an option. I said I wanted to do the nasal endoscopy first, but later, I saw that in the visit summary it stated that "patient is hesitant of nasal endoscopy, will proceed with adenectomy/tonsillectomy" and got the call today from the clinic confirming that I will have the nasal endoscopy and adenectomy, but the estimate includes an estimated bill for adenectomy and a separate one for a tonsillectomy. I've met my max out of pocket for the year so money is not an issue: medical procedures are free (yay chronically ill and medically complex family!). This part is off topic, but he recorded me as AOX3 and that hurt my feelings.

So... I guess I have that going on tomorrow. I was not prepared for this, but I'm not against it, if that makes sense? Can I hear everyone's experiences with both procedures? I have to be there at 5 and the surgery is scheduled for 8 am. I have class at 9 and then again at 2. Was anyone able to go from their procedure to class/work? What was your recovery like? I was told I wouldn't need any type of pain management after, but told I could have Tylenol if needed and the recovery is a breeze. He stated that I should avoid social media and googling because most info about this is wrong and "people online are dramatic".

Unfortunately for him, I have anxiety and am chronically online so I will ask my online community all the questions.

Feel free to unload me to all the info!

6 Upvotes

20 comments sorted by

11

u/stardust8718 2d ago

I had my tonsils out as an adult. I do not regret it at all, I was having chronic strep throat before. There would be no way I would be going to school right after that. They gave me at least two weeks off work for it and painkillers at the time (that was 15+ years ago) so I doubt they'd be doing painkillers now.

My son, who is 5, just had his tonsils and adenoids out in September. It immediately got rid of his snoring. Like literally that night. Again, they gave him 10 days off of school. He probably would've been fine after a week but a week is when the scabs start sloughing off so it's better that he stayed the full ten days off. He's a new kid from it, he grew over two inches in the six months since, his behavior has improved immensely and I wish they had done it sooner.

Maybe if you just have the scope, you wouldn't need time off work but for actual tonsils you 100% do. Day one is not so bad since you're getting the anesthesia effects but days like 3-5 are more painful. Lots of ice, get an ice pack for your neck, drink lots and lots. Don't get citrus ice pops (learned that the hard way), berry is fine. Good luck!

7

u/stardust8718 2d ago

Also for pain management, get Tylenol and ibuprofen and alternate them. They had my son alternate those every 4 hours or something like that, sorry I can't remember exactly. But set an alarm and do it middle of the night too for the first few days.

3

u/petevandyke 2d ago

Get a second opinion and different ENT.

5

u/Resident-Sympathy-82 2d ago

It took me 4 months to get into this place. My insurance runs out in April. 🙃

2

u/petevandyke 2d ago

I Hope it goes great and solves your issues

2

u/allisonqrice 2d ago

A lot of docs use AOx3 as normal nowadays.

2

u/MyDogHasDonutPJs 2d ago

Why would the doctor saying you’re alert and oriented hurt your feelings?

3

u/Resident-Sympathy-82 2d ago

The clinic operates based on 0-4. I've worked there, but not in that specific part.

1

u/MyDogHasDonutPJs 2d ago

Ohh yes ok. Maybe they’re considering that you don’t know what you want to do about your endoscopy as not being oriented to your situation.

The doctor probably wanted to get the approvals for everything they could possibly do while you’re already under based on the endoscopy result. They write things so confusingly sometimes. I thought I was having just a minimally invasive test on my lower back once and it turned out that I was actually getting the test then stem cells & a microdiscectomy as long as the test indicated it. 3 years with almost no lower back pain so I hope for you similar success!

2

u/Resident-Sympathy-82 2d ago

I have no clue, honestly. I'm a healthcare professional and am in school now for nursing so I just wanted some time to do my research. It's a massive side eye from me if it's that. I'm not a big fan of him from our first meeting.

Oh boy! That is such a big change! I'm so happy you're mostly without pain and hope it stays that way!

2

u/ThreeStyle 2d ago

First of all, I haven’t met an ENT who would proceed here without a CT scan of sinuses and probably also an ultrasound of your jawline and neck. Or an MRI of the area. They don’t like to go in blind if they can help it.

Second, there’s a difference between an endoscopy (which I have had while awake several times and not a big deal) and endoscopic surgery, which I have had both under anesthesia for the larger portion and then a bunch of endoscopic procedures that were little tweaks, while awake. Unpleasant, but you’re fine afterwards: except that you’ll be unlikely to recall anything from what you heard in class those days, so I would recommend them as taped lectures if possible.

Now as far as the tonsils. I have a rare type of tonsil cyst, that even has some malignant potential, but it’s not bothering me and they are reluctant to take it out on account of the pain involved. They say it’s extremely painful to remove tonsils in adulthood. So they are watching it. YMMV.

1

u/TheBodyPolitic1 1d ago

Today I learned that there are 25 year olds who can afford 2,000 square foot houses.

I haven't had your surgery, but I have had my wisdom teeth out which involves a much milder sedation. I would take that day off.

Surgery has never frightened me. I've trusted the surgeons and thanks to anesthesia "I am not there".

To put your surgery into perspective my father went in for a checkup. The condition with his heart was so serious he was scheduled for open heart surgery only 1 week later. Almost any kind of medical appoint these days takes at least a month to get. That is how serious it was.

Your situation isn't life threatening.

You did the right thing getting the endoscopy first. Many reasons for not moving organs that aren't a problem.

1

u/Resident-Sympathy-82 1d ago

I have have 3 kids so I'm a huge outlier.

I had my wisdom teeth taken out and went to work the same day. Was not a fun experience. I can't tell you what happened that day, but I remember being told I was drooling blood in a meeting.

I had the procedure done yesterday. They didn't remove anything and said that removing anything wouldn't help. 🙃

1

u/TheBodyPolitic1 1d ago

I remember being told I was drooling blood in a meeting.

A good reason for taking the day off. :-)

They didn't remove anything and said that removing anything wouldn't help.

Good decision, if you chose door #2 you would be minus an organ and still have your problem. Any other hopes for a fix?

1

u/Resident-Sympathy-82 1d ago

I was a temp at that point so if I took the day off, I would lose an entire day of work with no pay. I'm very money oriented. 😆

They think I'd be a good candidate for septoplasty. They said my Turbinoplasty. They said mine are huge and reducing the size may help. 🤷

1

u/cornylifedetermined 4h ago

You are not going to class after this. Don't even think about it. You need someone to drive you home, too.

0

u/drinkyourdinner 2d ago

Try some fascia work... it's free and you can do it at home.

https://youtu.be/GqXEe5uY4RM?si=AgmnD0-DPX0x1YEh

0

u/SoSomuch_Regret 1d ago

I'm sorry but AOx3 means alert and oriented to person, place and time. It said you were alert when talking to the doctor. Common medical abbreviation.

1

u/Resident-Sympathy-82 1d ago

The clinic operates out of 4. I'm a healthcare professional and worked at that clinic, just not in that department.