... so why am I smiling? Because for the past two months I have been in a constant, exhausting cycle of throat infection, fever, fatigue, peritonsillar abscess, earache, antibiotics, short period of feeling better, repeat. At this point I am in the beginning stages of my third abscess and it's clear to everyone that the infection is in my lymph nodes and the tonsils need to come out ASAP. The original plan was to wait until all signs of infection were clear, but we keep missing the window of opportunity. I was seen by three otolaryngologists today and the consensus was "Fuck it. We gotta take 'em out". So, whizz, bang, boom they did up all the paperwork and now I'm in the schedule for surgery tomorrow afternoon.
Doing a tonsillectomy with an active infection is not the favorable circumstance, but since this infection has been so persistent they're afraid that they'll never get a "favorable" opportunity so we should just do it now and break this tedious infection cycle. With the abscess the operation is slightly more difficult, slightly higher chance of post-op infection, slightly higher chance that some tonsil tissue will be left behind, slightly higher risk of post-op bleeding. But only slightly on everything. It's such a simple operation that this wee complication is like... peanuts.
The operation will only take approximately 1.5 hours. It will be done with electrocauterization by this guy. He is the chief fancypants of the whole department.
Yes, I asked if I could keep my tonsils to put them in a jar but they said 'no'. They said they have to send them to pathology and that 'I wouldn't want them anyway'. FINE. Jerks. Actually they're not jerks at all. I've had very little experience with the ear, nose, and throat department before this and I'm very impressed. They're responsive, expeditious, great continuity of care, etcetera.
I have everything I need for a speedy recovery: pills, popsicles, sorbet, juice, cats, movies, and a very nice helper man. I'm so excited to just get it over with! I've been so tired and sick all the time for the past two months... enough already. 23 Skidoo!
6 comments:
Good luck tomorrow. They took my tonsils out when I was a wee lad of eight. They, too, wouldn't let me keep my tonsils when they were done. Not really sure why an eight-year-old would need to keep his ex-tonsils in a jar, so it's probably just as well...
Hope this little procedure will bring an end to some of your illness woes...
Good luck! I hope everything goes smoothly and you feel a lot better soon!
hope all went smoothly and you are merrily sucking on a popsicle! xo
mole skins, they're probably out by now! i'm thinking of you as i hack up gobbs of phlegm.
Break a throat-gonad. If the helper man is unavailable and you find yourself in need of sorbet, drop me a line!
Molly is home and doing well, she's just very sleepy. She's not speaking yet, but she's been smiling a lot. She said... er, wrote that she'll post something soon.
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