HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Good idea or no?

Support Forums
>
GERD & Acid Reflux
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/21/2009 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
I went to the ENT today about getting my tonsils out since they are huge and cause alot of problems, breathing and swalling. He took one look and said they need to come out. I'm scheduled for the nissen on Dec 14th so I wanted to see if I could get them done at the same time. Basically because of the diet, it's pretty much the same and I would like one recovery period. The ENT said he would do it at the same time, the surgeon doing the nissen said he doesn't recommend it. For those of you who have had the nissen, how bad is the recovery? I've had 2 c-sections and a laproscopic surgery before and I bounced back pretty quick. I have a pre-op appt for the nissen on Dec 4th. I would get my tonsils out sooner but I have class until Dec 11th and can't miss any days. So I'm curious what you guys think.
Posted 11/21/2009 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
I'm not sure. It sound reasonable to have both at the same time. But I imagine the surgeon worried about too much on you.

Joy
Posted 11/21/2009 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
Babygirl-
I've had 4 C-sections and the lap Nissen ( actually mine was a Toupet), and believe me they are not equal! The stomach surgery is way more serious. I had my tonsils out as an older kid, so I remember that too. I wouldn't even consider doing them together.

C-sections are ordinarily done with spinal anesthesia. I was up taking care of babies the next day. Nissen is under general and can take up to 4 hours, depending on the complexity of the case. If you have a hiatal hernia being taken down, that is thoracic surgery on top of the abdominal compnent. You have all sorts of stuff shoved down your throat - the endoscope, ET tube for ventilation, a bougie for sizing the wrap, and you end up with an NG tube for the next day. You won't feel like getting up the next day.

You'll have general anesthesia for the tonsils too. You can swallow a lot of blood and be gagging and throwing up afterwards, although an NG tube could possibly help with that. This makes me think that it might be a good idea to get tonsils done first. You really don't want to throw up after your Nissen!! It could mess up the whole wrap and make them have to go in and do it over.

I'd trust the opinion of the surgeon doing the Nissen.
Posted 11/21/2009 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
Like I said, I've had a laproscopic surgery before, a colostomy to be exact. And I'm pretty good at tolerating pain. I don't have a HH so it would just be the nissen. The ENT said there is very minimal if any bleeding with the tonsilectomy. I really want to get the nissen done first if I can't do them together but I wouldn't want to screw it up either. How long is the recovery for a tonsilectomy?
Posted 11/21/2009 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
Baby-
My 25-year-old niece just had tonsillectomy. Recovery a couple of weeks with no complications. But that's the trick, not having complications. Minimal bleeding doesn't mean none. Part of the deal is the pain meds. Do you know if you tolerate most of them? I vomit like crazy from fentanyl and all opiods. At the least, insist on getting antinausea meds!

You are lucky to not have a HH. That makes the op more like an hour and a half to two hours. Do some searches, read, read, read. One thing they won't tell you is how small the stomach is after the wrap. Start out eating a pill cup size meal. Maybe a couple of tablespoons. Wait an hour before pushing anything more into your stomach no matter how hungry you think you are.
Posted 11/22/2009 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
Babygirl,
I can see why you'd like to get both surgeries over with at the same time. I'm not a baby about dealing with pain, etc. (ex. I had my last endoscopy without sedation), but I would definitely not recommend the tonsillectomy at the same time as the Nissen. The Nissen is very manageable, but the tonsillectomy is very painful. Doing them both at the same time is asking a lot of yourself. There are some surgeries you could combine, but two that relate to your throat and GI tract is not a good idea. Yes, the diet would be similar, but it would make your recovery from both that much harder. Each one separately would be challenging, but together you're probably asking for trouble. I'd take the advise of your surgeon.
Sorry I can't tell you what you'd like to hear, but you asked for opinions, and that's mine.
Good luck with your decision!
Take care, and best wishes with your surgeries.
Denise
Posted 11/22/2009 1:44 PM (GMT 0)
So which one would you ladies recommend I get first?
Posted 11/22/2009 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
tonsills.

Joy
Posted 11/25/2009 4:55 AM (GMT 0)
Baby-
I had my tonsils removed when I was 32. It was WAY worse pain wise than either of my nissens. With that you must asked for the liquid pain meds without alchohol. I think the name is Capitol. I didn't and believe me alchohol on raw tonsil beds is VERY painful. My daughter got the Capitol brand 9 days before I had mine removed. Same doctor too. Bit I got the normal stuff. Nothing like having to talk yourself into taking a pain meds that will eventually make tings feel so much better... after you get past the 2 minutes of BURNING!
Would I do one or the other first????? I would push for them both, but I also push for both EGD and Colonoscopy to be done at the same time if I need the other also. I they just won't do it, then get those nasty tonsils out of there!

Take care,
Bill

Post Edited (opnwhl4) : 11/25/2009 12:26:38 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/25/2009 9:16 AM (GMT 0)
I'll be sure to ask for that Bill! I would not have guessed that a tonsilectomy would be worse than a nissen. I'm going to call the ENT tomorrow. I have very limited time to get it done before my nissen. What would you say would be a good recovery time? I'm pretty sure I would have to do clinicals a few days after I get them taken out
Posted 11/25/2009 11:51 AM (GMT 0)
Tonsilectomy in an adult is known to be tough compared to having your tonsils removed as a child.

This is a tough decision...........I have seen adult patients go through this and the pain and sore throat are nasty.

Just lending my support to what ever  decision you choose.

Gentle Hugs

Kitt

Posted 11/25/2009 7:34 PM (GMT 0)
My ENT told me to take 2 weeks minimum off work for this. As Kitt said, it is a lot rougher on adults than kids. My daughter had hers out 9 days before mine and she was ready to go back to playing softball in 5 days. She had to stay out 2 weeks though. I had some bleeding on day 8 and had to go to my ENT's office at 2am so he could stop the bleeding. You have to remember at about day 8 you will get worse and your ears will probably hurt bad then also. Just as things start to feel better it gets a lot worse for about 3 days or so. I sure wish I wuld have had them removed at 15 when my family doctor wanted me to.
With all the bad things about it I am sure glad I finally got them removed. I have only about 10% of the issues I had when they were still there. I used to get throat infections several times a year. My daughter was a strep carrier and the only way to get rid of it was to remove her tonsils.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 11/25/2009 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
I called to make the appt but they don't have an opening before my nissen. I'm going to talk to the surgeon doing my nissen and find out what would be the best amount of time to allow for healing before I get them removed. I was supposed to get them out in middle school but my parents never brought me in. Since then I get strep throat a few times a year. It gets worse and worse. This last time my fever at it's highest was 105.8 and I couldn't even swallow my own saliva, had to spit in a kleenex.
Posted 11/26/2009 1:27 AM (GMT 0)
That sounds very familiar to how mine were. I would say that before another surgeon would remove them you would have to be released from the surgeon doing the Nissen unless it was an emergency.

Take care,
Bill
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply