CUT THEM OUT! My tonsillectomy story.

So back around probably February or March I started getting this feeling in my throat that something was stuck. As much as I tried to dislodge whatever what stuck and then ignore it when I couldn't get it down, it was so annoying!  It was effecting my everyday life and I was so over it! I went to my primary care dr. and had them check it out.  We thought maybe it was left over strep throat, but I tested negative. Then we thought maybe it was tonsil stones so I was referred to an ENT. After that appt. he said he didn't see anything but that I did have deep pockets in my tonsils. I was sent to the hospital for an ultrasound on my thyroid just to be safe, and scheduled an appt. 3 weeks later to go over those results.

In that time I got strep and tonsillitis again while in Salt Lake City for Young Living's convention. I was miserable and ended up missing part of the convention because of a high fever.  It's by far the most sick I've been in many many years! Even on antibiotics I was still sick 5 days later when it was time for me to go back to the ENT. He confirmed I had strep and tonsilitis and I informed him that this was my 3rd round since the beginning of the year. He immediately recommended getting rid of my tonsils. I was more than happy to agree.

On June 10th, 2 days before my scheduled tonsillectomy I felt like I was getting sick again. I found some old antibiotics and decided to take them in hopes that the strep wouldn't get worse and prevent me from having surgery. (I do not recommend this!!!)

Finally the day came and I was so nervous, but so ready!!!! My mom came with me. She was such a comfort to me. I loved the "I don't care" meds they gave me before they took me back. I only remember a few seconds once I got on the operating table.

I wasn't in any pain when they woke me up after surgery. I did feel very tired, but that's normal. The dr. told my mom that my tonsils were definitely infected again and very large. He also said I had innie tonsils and that they had to put me out twice so he could go back in and dig them out. He said because of that the recovery may be harder. Before heading home we stopped by Sonic and got a grape slushie.  It felt so good on my throat. Greg also stopped by there on his lunch hour to check on me. It was very comforting to see him too!

When I got home I had already set up my little island, as we call it, in the the living room.
I borrowed a humidifier that I kept running 24/7 for the next 10 days. It was about 2 feet from me the whole time! I also had ice packs ready (I put these on the outside of my throat and held them on with the help of my neck pillow), ice water and of course my essential oils! I immediately put a drop of lavender and frankincense essential oils in my water. If you don't know about them, just google what they are good for! I drank so much ice water with these oils in it. After the first day the slushies burned my throat, so I stuck with water for the next two weeks.

I set the alarm on my phone for every 4 hours so I wouldn't forget to take my meds. I was given hydrocodone. I was mostly comfortable the first couple of days. My mom stayed with me during the day so Greg could go to work and I did have her ask the dr. about the pain meds because I felt like I was needing more after about 3 hours instead of the standard 4 hours.  They told us I could take ibuprofen 2 hours after the hydrocodone. So I reset my alarm for every two hours with pain meds and ibuprofen. I was much better after that. I know this is gross, but for anyone who may need this advice in the future, make sure you are taking a stool softener or laxative (of course ask your dr.) because a side effect of the meds I was on is constipation and it was no joke!!!!

Day 3 is when everything changed. I was only sleeping about 45 minutes at a time if that. After one of my naps I woke up and had HORRIBLE ear pain. This was my first freak out moment of "oh my gosh, what have I done!!" Now, I've given birth with no meds twice, so I feel like I have a pretty high pain tolerence, but I was in tears. I had to keep telling myself to breathe and calm down because the more upset I got the worse the pain in my throat got. Thankfully I had listened to that still small voice that had told me 4 days earlier to put some olive oil, onion and garlic on the stove and make a little something for ear pain. We warmed that up and dropped it in and it gave me instant relief. Not pain free, but so much better!!!  Then I wrapped the heating pad around the back of my neck and over my ears and I could finally relax. The ear pain lasted for the next week, getting better every day. In reality, in my case at least, the ear pain was so much worse than the throat pain. I do credit my essential oils to this though. Seriously, go google lavender and frankincense essential oils and you'll see why! I also but several oils in a roller ball bottle with a little bit of grapeseed oil to put on the outside of my throat. I put panaway, lavender, frankincense and thieves in it. It was amazing!

I ate chicken noodle soup, broths, white bread lightly toasted with lots of butter to soften it, lots of baby food, applesauce, and I'm sure there is more, but that is mainly what my diet consisted of. I lost a total of 13lbs.

Today I am 23 days post op and I still have scabs on the back of my throat. My throat doesn't hurt anymore, but it does still feel weird. (It actually still does hurt to yawn and sneeze.) Even though my throat is better I have been so tired. Just doing a little bit wipes me out! My energy is coming back more and more though everyday. I was actually able to eat tacos at my parents house yesterday with the shell and chips and it didn't hurt. It tasted amazing!!! (Thanks for making them dad!)

This was a rough experience but I can already tell that it is going to be so worth it. The feeling of something caught in my throat is pretty much gone. Still a little there because I'm still healing, but nothing like it was before. I expect that to be gone too eventually. From what I've read it can take months for your throat to feel normal after a tonsillectomy as an adult. So thankful this is something I won't ever have to go through again!!

I'm such a dork!  I totally forgot how to login to this blog and just haven't taken the time to reset everything until now. So that only took me...5 1/2 years. Geez!!!

So needless to say much has changed. We are now living in Missouri.  We moved back in May of 2012. We love it here!! The kids have adjusted wonderfully.  They have their friends and their activites.  We live in a small town of 4500. I've always wanted to live in a small town. Some people hate that everyone knows you, but I don't mind it.

Nate turned 15 in June and just got his driver's permit today!!!  So crazy!!!!

Eli is 13. He's still obsessed with all things Harry Potter.
Sam is 10 and still the life of the party!
Ruthie is 7 and as sweet as can be with a side of sassy.

Greg is the Creative Media Designer at GNPI and leading worship at our church.
We found an amazing church where the people are family! I can't imagine being anywhere else.

I am a stay at home mom still, even though all the kiddos are in school. I am working with a network marketing company, Young Living. It's an amazing company and even though I'm not making a lot of money right now it's worth it because I'm getting my products for free!  I hope to build an active team over the next year and start moving up in the company.