Internet Tonsil Trolls

Here we are. It is exactly 2 weeks before my surgery....

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY HAPPY DANCE

I'm actually pretty terrified, but I mean, who wouldn't be?

 Every website I look at has awful scary horror stories... Like, I'm not kidding, people say that it is worse pain then natural un-medicated childbirth....

 

  

OH MAN, OH GOD, OH MAN, OH MAN, OH GOD

That is the problem with these online open forums. It's impossible to weed through the good and bad reviews.

Here is what I'm starting to grasp: This surgery is not something to be taken lightly. You MUST follow doctors orders.  Although I'm not sure why you wouldn't....? You definitely know more then a person who went to like 10 years of medical school and have a doctorate degree practicing medicine... JOKES

I also find it funny that people don't think that you need to take care of yourself post-op... Here are some choice quotes from my reading today:

"It hurts to drink water so I'm not doing that, but I'm trying to stay hydrated."

-Seriously?-

"This is the worst pain of my life. It's been three weeks and I'm still not healed.  I'm only able to eat ice chips and I've lost 15 pounds"

-Think of it as a crash diet?-

"My scabs opened up the 6th day and then again on the 7th.  I went to the ENT, but then it opened up again that night.  It's pretty much healed but I'm still in pain.  I'm on week 3"

-You're kidding... right?!-

After reading about 300 posts much worse then these, I crawled into a fetal position and cried for 10 minutes sucking my thumb and humming Kumbaya... I then wiped away the tears/snot that had collected on my rosy little cheeks and picked myself up off the floor to start this blog post.

I realized something very important during my time rolling on the floor... If someone had a great surgery and isn't having problems with their recovery, why would they go online and try and figure out what was wrong?

The internet is a vast wasteland full of people stretching the truth, commiserating with each other, and not actually fixing their problems.  How is an online forum going to help you after a tonsillectomy...  Help you find a good jello recipe?

Of course if you don't stay hydrated you're going to feel terrible.... that's how our bodies work.  You would think half of the people online were raised by wolves with no sense of hygiene, self care, or pain control.... I MEAN COME ON PEOPLE.

HELPFUL THINGS I FOUND(FOR ALL OF MY TONSILLECTOMY FRIENDS):

• Gatorade mixed with water is good to help keep up your electrolytes

• Keep hydrated, or else

• Try and stay away from dairy for a little while, it can create a film in your mouth that can be uncomfortable

I will start taking donations of jello, Gatorade, and ice chips now, as I am trying to milk this for all it's worth... Just kidding... Sort of.


Moral of the story, don't believe everything you read on the internet.  There is such a thing as TMI, just type in tonsillectomy, you'll get a TON of information you didn't want to know...


Here is another poem about tonsils:

For you, only you
Am I writing this haiku
Tonsils are scary


Inspiration of the day:

The girl in the heals... Are you kidding me?

#explanationnumber1

Hi.
It's Katie.
I go to the Eastman School of Music, and am studying Voice Performance and Music Education.
Born and raised in Central New York(Yes there is a state outside of NYC).
Music is my passion, I couldn't live without it, and singing is how I express the things inside of me that I need to share...  Wow that was mushy I'll try to keep that to a minimum.
Some other stuff about me:

I like to dance. I like to paint my toenails. I like to read books and watch movies. I like do make up, and do other peoples make up.  I like to teach other people about things that I love and share what I know and..... oh gosh I'm getting mushy again someone slap me please.

WHY SHOULD YOU CARE ABOUT ALL THAT STUFF??

I'm getting my tonsils removed on December 12th 2012 in Rochester.

OMG I KNOW RIGHT?! IT REALLY SUCKS *TEARS STREAM... DOWN YOUR FACE*

Thanks for the thought but I don't need any pity. This is a tiny hurdle that I have to get over, and thats not what I'm writing about.  My circumstances could be much worse, and I am thankful that for now, this is all I have to deal with.  But again thank you for any empathy, I accept chocolate and big hugzzz.

Back on track.  My surgery is coming at a not so ideal time in my life. I'm getting them out now because the amount of times that I get a soar throat is pathetic.  In the past year alone, I have had either a viral or bacterial infection in my throat 7 times. Are you freakin kidding me?  My tonsils are so big, that they scare people when they see them, they freeze in fear. I could post pictures, but.... ew?

Last April I was hospitalized overnight with Peritonsillar Abscess.  This is when mucous and infected material collect and fills the area behind your tonsils and glands in your throat...

YUMMY RIGHT?

Anyway, the good doctors finally decided it was time to schedule an ENT appointment. As soon as he looked down my throat with that little light doctor thingy he skipped the questions and went right into explaining the surgery.

As I said before, this isn't ideal timing.  My classes end 5 days after surgery and my finals end 5 days after that.  I am also the lead in the winter opera, and opening night is January 31st.  That might seem like plenty of time to heal, but we are literally talking about getting a new instrument 2 months before it's opera role debut.... Halp me.

FINALLY SOME REAL EXPLANATION:

I'm making this blog because the information on the internet is awesome, and there are surprisingly a lot of websites where you can lament about your tonsils, but none of them are funny, none of them are from an opera singer, and none of them are from a college student who has the resources that I am blessed with. My teacher is a speech pathologist(which is so cool) and a smart one at that.  She has also gone through a tonsillectomy, and I'll be consulting her regularly throughout my recovery.

This blog(maybe) will:

1. Bring more information to those younger people who need a little bit more tact then "Everything hurts and I'm only eating popsicles."
2. Give me a place to tell the people I love how I'm doing in a detailed way without using 'la voce.' and 3. Force me to be accountable and actually learn more about the major surgery I'm having in less then a month....

So I know this is boring and long winded, but I mean, like, it's 2 and a half weeks before the surgery. Go easy on me?

I will leave you all with a poem I wrote:

Roses are red
Tonsils are red
Music is cool

And I can't rhyme

INSPIRATION OF THE DAY:

Beyonce with Operahshow - Listen

Watch that and try not to love her.... TRY