Dec 3, 2013 5 min read

On Dec. 11, I will wake up, get ready and head to Southwest Regional Medical Center. But instead of going to my office to begin a day of work, I will stop at the Express Check-In desk to register myself for a surgical procedure.

Yes, after many years of suffering, I have decided to have a tonsillectomy. This may seem unusual for someone my age, but considering I had my first outbreak of chicken pox at age 21 and a bout of mono at 35, it really seems somewhat appropriate.

My husband finds it humorous (and slightly embarrassing) and chooses to share that I am having some sinus surgery. Considering that my adenoids are also on the chopping block, I’ll call it a stretch rather than a fib, but after this article, there will be no hiding from the truth.

I didn’t make this decision lightly. I have suffered from recurring strep and sore throats for most of my life. During elementary school I would acquire strep four, six or even eight times each year. Despite many trips to an otolaryngologist (aka: ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist) removing my tonsils was never recommended. But there was a period of time when tonsillectomies went from being very commonly performed in the 60s and 70s to conservatively recommended (and only if there was a darn good medical reason) in the 80s and beyond. This conservative approach is likely the reason why more adults are having tonsillectomies.

Considering all my issues, I still think I should have qualified as a child and I can’t help wonder if I would have been better off having the procedure then rather than now. So here I am, 30-some years later and facing the dreaded adult tonsillectomy. Practically everyone I talk to makes “a face” and says something like, “Are you sure you want to do that?” Gee, thanks for the reassurance, as if I haven’t already pondered the pain and suffering, which is inevitable. However, I reply with a very hearty “Yes,” because I am convinced a couple weeks of agony is worth the long-term advantages. I am tired of sore throats and I am too busy to be sick.

So how bad is a tonsillectomy for adults? My ENT, Dr. Louis Felder, explained that in some regard, a tonsillectomy is actually less risky for adults than children.

“One of the most serious possible complications is loss of blood. As a child this blood loss can be proportionately higher than it would be for an adult, who has a significantly higher volume.”

That’s the good news, but overall, much of what I have learned is that there are some drawbacks to having a tonsillectomy as an adult.

First, and foremost, is the level of pain. According to Dr. Felder, even though it is the same exact surgery, the older you get the larger and more deeply rooted the tonsils become. Therefore, the trauma and pain is greater as an adult.

Another factor which makes a tonsillectomy more challenging for adults relates to healing. While the reasons are complicated and somewhat nebulous (I could dedicate a whole article to this alone), it is generally accepted that kids heal more quickly than adults. This makes recovery much faster and easier for children. While down time for kids may be just a week, for adults it can take up to three weeks or even longer to recover.

Because of the level of pain and the length of recovery, adults are also likely to lose more weight than children after a tonsillectomy. This is due to the altered diet and inability to comfortably swallow many foods.

Despite some differences, there are also similarities when it comes to both adult and child tonsillectomies. Both need to keep hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, chewing ice chips and, of course, eating ice cream. Both children and adults are also advised to avoid strenuous activity to reduce the risk of post-surgical bleeding.

In any case, I am ready, willing and confident I will be pleased with the result. I also feel confident that I am going to get the best care possible from Dr. Felder and my co-workers at Southwest Regional Medical Center, who provide excellent care for our community each and every day.

At the end of the day, having a tonsillectomy as an adult is not a decision to take lightly. But for someone like me who suffers regularly from sore throats, it can provide significant relief. While this would not have been the first choice on my list to Santa, I am hoping there may be one last advantage to having surgery, particularly at this time of year. I am optimistic that, for once, stepping on the scale after the holidays won’t be quite so painful!

Merry Christmas to you all! Please eat an extra Christmas cookie for me. n