Aw He-ctomy

Five days after Patrick was released from the hospital we went to his pediatrician for a post-antibiotic deluge tonsil check. The upshot was that Patrick needed to stay inflammation free for about a month after which time his doctor would be willing to consider the severe bacterial infection more of a fluke and less of a trend. Patrick circled the day on the calendar.

Four and a half weeks later the pediatrician and I were peering into Patrick's mouth and tsk'ing over the scarlet and white masses that were on the verge of strangling his uvula.

"I agree," said his doctor, "his tonsils are enlarged again."

Patrick knows that his pediatrician said that he would give him one more shot with antibiotics to clear out those tonsils and after that he would probably need to get them taken out. That was even before he wound up in the hospital.

Patrick said, "OH NO!"

Patrick pointed out that it had been more than a month since he was sick the last time.

Patrick started to cry.

Despite all of these things his pediatrician called the ENT (the same one who treated Edward when he kept trying to drown himself in two ounces of milk. I really like her) and said he had a kid about whom he was worried. She agreed to squeeze Patrick in as soon as she could and today we saw her for a consult.

Actually, before we saw her I made three major directional errors (for those of you with a pop-up map of the Twin Cities in front of you, picture this: the appointment was in downtown Saint Paul and the mistakes I made forced me to make not one but two U-turns; one at the airport and one at the Mall of America. bear in mind that I approach Saint Paul from the east, which means I overshot things by about ten miles. yes. I know. I am an idiot.) Once we finally arrived at our appointment I discovered that I had gotten the time wrong and we were an entire hour early. Then I lost my parking ticket. Twice. When we returned at the actual appointment time after having lunch the receptionist asked "Are you checking in?"

Patrick said, "I have no idea what we are doing today. Going in circles mainly."

The ENT read over her notes from the pediatrician, listened to me explain what happened in the spring and early summer, and then took a look at Patrick's throat. 

It is always helpful when you show up with a handy visual, so the fact that Patrick is waltzing around like a dandelion seed in May despite his significantly inflamed tonsils made a nice counterpoint to his claim that he is Capital F-I-N-E Fiiiiiiiiiiine.

She said there is a clinical something something in which white blood cells simply cease to function in the presence of chronic infection. She said it appears that Patrick is playing host to a perpetual low-grade whatsit and that additional antibiotics would most likely be ineffective. She acknowledged that she has no crystal ball but in her considered opinion Patrick will continue to cycle through tonsillar infections of varying severity with the unlikely but possible risk of another hospital stay. She said she has seen several many dozen thousand tonsils and that she thinks Patrick will be healthier if his come out.

Patrick was sitting in the exam chair that looks a lot like a very old-fashioned dental ditto.

As she made her recommendation his eyes swam with tears, he gripped the seat arms and he said, brokenly, "This... this is not what we were hoping to hear."

I said, "Patrick, I... "

He waved one hand and dropped his face into the other. "I'll need a minute," he said.

Somewhere in the imaginary distance a violin held its plaintive note. 

I said, "Patrick, baby, I know it is a little scary right now but it will be ok. And I really don't want you getting so sick again. Neither do you."

The ENT told him exactly what she would do and how it would all go and feel. She admitted that he would have a very sore throat for a week. His major worry was the IV (god he hated that IV in June) and he was marginally reassured when she told him they would give him "goofy gas" (he liked this) and he would be unconscious when they put the IV in this time. Still, he wept as she talked.

He was mostly silent as she went through her description of the procedure and expected recovery times. When he did speak it was to make morbid observations, like, "But everyone at school will know I am not like them! I will walk among them... BUT I WILL HAVE NOOOOO TONSILLLLLSSS!"

At that point I stopped feeling quite so guilty because clearly he was enjoying himself on some level. When she asked if there was anything she said that had sounded confusing or especially scary he said, "I'm sorry but I haven't liked a single word you said since you walked in the room."

She was halfway out the door when she looked back at Patrick, still crying in the chair. She came over. She bent down.

She said, "Sweetie. When I was just about your age my parents decided not to have my tonsils taken out. And I missed every class trip. Every class party. My mom had to keep picking me up because I was sick again. And when I was seventeen I knew I wanted to go to college and I wanted to go to medical school and I knew that I could not keep missing school. So I had my tonsils out when I was seventeen and it... it was pretty hard because I was older and bigger. And when I went to med school I decided that no kid was going to go through what I went through. I really think that if we don't take your tonsils out now you are going to be sitting here when you are seventeen telling me you don't want to be sick anymore. And I don't want that. OK?"

Patrick stopped crying and said, "OK."

He is going in a week from Thursday. I feel bad for the poor little pumpkin but I believe that he is being worn down by battling a chronic infection and I am hopeful that his iron ability to disregard throat pain (to this day he has never ever once said his throat hurts) will serve him well.

Any tonsil experience to share? We (and by we I mean everyone I know - I just asked) have never had our tonsils out and are unsure how it will be. I could also use some recovery time help, namely: book suggestions (let's say ages 7 to 11 range?) movie suggestions (Patrick loves Tom & Jerry right now. also this is probably weird but Patrick has never watched a non-animated film. I think he is probably due although he prefers the sweet security of Pixar) and sit around on the floor while your throat hurts suggestions (my brother sent K'nex for his birthday. wow! highly recommended with the caveat that they are NOT for kids who are not pretty savvy with spatial relations. I literally could not follow the diagrams and I am 37 - of course I get lost when I drive to a hospital I have only been to like twenty times.) Oh and food! What sounds good when your throat hurts?

Hey, can you tell I am sort of stressed about this? I mean, look at him driving his brother around. He's so full of life! And tonsils! (oh golly, you can see his weird swollen lymph thing even in this picture, can't you?)

 

And Caroline, just because.

PS And for you, Patrick likes to read lots of things: A-Z mysteries, Weird School, Weird Planet, the Littles, he just started the Warriors series, very abstruse astrophysics stuff but ignore that, Calvin & Hobbes of course... I am drawing a blank.

Comments

[Penny]

Poor Patrick! I have never had my tonsils out, nor my husband or our three kids, so I am no help. Sorry. I really like how the ENT actually talked to Patrick. She sounds like someone I would want to take care of my child. I wish you luck. I am glad they will put the IV in after the Goofy Gas. I have always dreaded them, it was the worst part of my hysterectomy! (That tells you how bad I hate them!) Take Care and try not to worry too much.

[Anj]

I am absolutely of no use to you. I have no book suggestion, no post-tonsilitis entertainment suggestions. But I had to say that your kids are delicious. Patrick is just adorable. And the twins remind me of my twins at that age. They are 3.5 yrs old, non-stop entertainment and such a joy (of course I mean those few fleeting good behavior moments).

[cheryl]

I don't know Tiffany from Electric Boogaloo personally, but she seems like a good candidate for advice about abstruse astrophysics books for kids.

Other than that, I'll ask my eight year old for book suggestions and get back to you.

Also, you and Patrick have my sympathy.

[Kelly Lanley]

8 year old son had tonsils out, sore for 3 days - ate the usual: popsicles, pudding, applesauce, pudding, yogurt, pudding...he doesn't even remember it now (he's 12). Has Patrick read the Magic Tree House books? Historical fiction. My boys especially liked the civil war, revolutionary war, and ninja ones. Good luck!

[Amanda]

If Patrick hasn't read The Phantom Tollbooth yet, it is definitely time. That was my favorite book from age 7 until... okay, possibly until now.

My sister had her tonsils out when she was 8, and a friend of mine had hers out at 25. My sister definitely had an easier time of it. Both lived on smoothies, yogurt, Jello pudding, and ice cream. Lots of ice cream. To this day my sister reaches for lime sorbet when her throat hurts.

And I fully agree with Patrick on the IV-- it was the most painful and awkward part of my induced child birth.

[Alex]

Has he read the Mysterious Benedict Society yet? There's a sequel, too, and another one coming out sometime soon.

[Sydnew]

Ooh, how exciting, a useful experience to share. I had chronic strep and my tonsils came out when I was in first or second grade. As I recall, it hurt slightly worse than my typical sore throat, and the ice cream I was offered did not cheer me up. I refused to talk for about 24 hours. And then--I was better. And better than that, I was done with sore throats. If Patrick is used to having sore throats and never complains about them, this is going to be a walk in the park for him. You go to sleep, you wake up, your throat hurts and then it stops and actually really truly stops.

My only regret was that prior to my tonsillectomy I got to stay home from school all the time (which I liked, because I didn't like school.) All I had to do was open my mouth and show my mom my throat (she was a pediatric nurse) and I'd get to stay home for a couple days. After the tonsils came out, it was much much harder to convince her that I was sick enough to stay home. I had to resort to tricks with thermometers, and such things. But, uh, probably not necessary to tell Patrick that part. Seriously, though, by far the worst part of the actual tonsillectomy was being scared ahead of time. The recovery was nothing--it just felt like strep to me.

[Not My Mother]

What the ENT said to Patrick has to be just about the most perfect thing I've ever heard.

I never had problems with my tonsils as a kid. Never. Everyone else got them out and had jello and ice cream and I missed out. Then when I was about 20 they woke up and made up for lost time. I had them out then and apart from feeling like I'd swallowed razorblades when I first woke up, I was...fine. I think all the icecream helped. Cold things, slippery things, all sorts of treats.

Patrick (and you) won't regret having this done at all.

[Sydnew]

PS As I recall, my sister--who had her tonsils out at the same time as me--happily ate the ice cream and was playing outside in the yard the very next day, so I wouldn't put too much work into planning for a long recovery. Even I was outside showing off my red throat to the neighbor kids within 36 hours.

[Krissy Poopyhands]

I had adenoids out when I was 9. It hurt. I cried. Then three days later they were stapling me to the couch to keep me from running around the neighborhood. At this age, the tonsils are attached to the pharyngeal wall with the smallest of connections. Snip, cauterize, done.

I had my tonsils out when I was 23. At which point they had grown and expanded their connections to my entire throat and even some base of tongue. After they were gone I was in horrible pain for two weeks. I was stapling myself to the couch. It is a very, very good thing you are doing this.

Particluarly as I wound up with Strep B and after they were out discovered that I'd had a continual stomach ache for years that I didn't know about until after it was gone.

Books: Choose-your-own-adventure? Um... Harry.. Potter? Has he read those? Uh...The Outsiders? Or is he too young for that?

For Pete's sake, if you haven't gotten him into Star Wars yet, do that. Maybe Princess bride.

Food: Cold and soft. Ice cream, mostly. Seriously, for days. Popsicles and ice cream. His throat is going to hurt like hell for a day or two. Make him huge bowls of the stuff even if he can't really eat it. It will feel special.

Make sure you leave out the chunks, though!

I'm telling you, at his age it will be over before he knows it. Long-term infections like that are so bad for little bodies. You've made the absolute right decision.

Hang in there, mom!

Krissy

[Aunt Becky]

I got mine out when I was a teenager, and no, it's not pleasant (but, like the doc told him, it's worse when you're older and I would like to strangle my mother for not doing it sooner), but he'll be much better.

I was a sickly kid, like Patrick, and my tonsils, when they were excised, were necrotic inside. Yes, my tonsils were full of dead, black tissue, which was, of course, making me dreadfully sick.

My advice is the Magic Tree House books for him (if he isn't already hooked on them), lots of liquids and plenty of doting. He'll be just fine. The first few days are worst.

My mother, in an uncharacteristic move, made me flan. It was lovely. Maybe jello and ice cream?

Hang in there. If you want me to answer anything more specifically, my email address is below. And yes, that is my email address.

[Kelli]

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH.
A Wrinkle in Time (or any other book by Madeleine L'Engle - especially A Wind in the Door).
Bunnicula.
The Mouse and the Motorcycle (and the other Ralph Mouse books by Beverly Cleary).
Any Judy Blume book involving Fudge and Peter.

[Krissy Poopyhands]

Gah. I'm sorry. I read that email back and it sounded a LOT more adamant than I meant it. My apologies, those were suggestions only.

I'm on pain meds and apparently love too much. ;-)

[Kristin]

Poor Patrick. How about the Young Wizard books by Diane Duane? Patrick could probably handle the reading fine but you might want to browse one to check topics. The hero and heroine are around 10 to 11 in the first book and age as it goes on.

[Antikva]

Jelly & Ice cream [best!], ice blocks, smoothies, smashed potatoes/carrots etc. Pretty much what you feed babies,blended veges nothing really rough though. I don't know if you have weetbix cereal over there but mine loved that with tonnes of milk. Juice not so much to start with as the acidity burns unless it's highly diluted.

I had my tonsils out when I was 5 and to this day can't eat pumpkin as they kept trying to feed it to me LOL My son had his out at 3 and I found it easier just for the initial recovery time to feed him whatever he wanted.

He may throw up after surgery, so make sure you have a change of clothes for both of you handy. Good luck!

[Amie]

Frozen pudding pops (homemade if you feel like doing it!) and yogurt.

My son (11 years) like the book "James and the Giant Peach" but it's possible he liked it because his name is James...

Hope Patrick is feeling better soon!!!

[Anonymous New York]

I still have my tonsils, but when I had mono and I couldn't swallow my own saliva, I survived on milkshakes my dad would make me.

Some of my favorite books at Patrick's age were The Boxcar Children (Gertrude Warner), the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary (Ramona the Brave, etc.), Judy Blume books, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (Judith Viorst - maybe he's too old for this already) and Sarah Plain and Tall (Patricia McLaughlin). I also remember my mom reading Where the Red Fern Grows to me in 3rd grade and my sister was in 1st. She may have been holding her ears. She didn't like reading as much as I did.

Hope these help and aren't too girly.

[Jodi]

Anything by Roald Dahl, of course. The Tale of Despereaux. The Westing Game. A Cricket in Times Square and Tucker's Countryside. The 39 Clues series. And modeling clay, lots of it, with some good tools.

Wishing you and Patrick all the best luck.

[margot]

Oooh! I had my tonsils out at 24 (or was it 25?) after a similar battle w/ multiple infections. It was painful, but no worse than having regular strep. Plus, after the first day or two, aside from the pain & feeling tired, I didn't really FEEL sick. That made a big difference in my mind. Also watch his tongue for thrush if he's on antibiotics, wish I had supplemented w/ liquid acidopholus (sp?) to prevent that. Mostly just cause the mouthwash they gave me was vile even though it is made for kids, I found it nasty sweet. Oh, and maybe treat Patrick with some of his fave meals for when he's able to eat normally again? I couldn't WAIT to have real food again.

[Lisa B in Seattle]

No suggestions on books, but I didn't have my tonsils out until age 18, I had strep throat at least once a winter every year from the time I was 3 until I was 18, and hell yes I wish my parents could have afforded the surgery when I was younger. That doc was telling it straight! As for food, ice cream, milk shakes, yogurt, applesauce, fudgcicles. I eat fudgcicles every day. Makes me strong and beautiful. :)

[anyabeth]

I had mine out, with my adnoids, around age sixish? Seven? Really a non-event. My throat hurt for less than a week and the worst bit was the smell of blood in my nose--but that was from the adnoids so that should bother Patrick. Ice cream, pudding, mashed bananas, popcicles, etc. Applesauce once it heals a bit.

Maybe Patrick would like math worksheets? A suprising number of kids do like "homework" that they don't actually have to do.

[Jessica]

Okay, never posted before but I feel for the kid, so here is my tonsillectomy advice....

1) solid food may seem like a good idea after a day or two, because you are "FIIIIINE" and it doesn't hurt, but really it does more harm than good (think scabs coming off) so just stick with the soup and wait a week or so for the pizza.

2) i found (and my sister found-- we had tonsils out the same week (poor mom) as we kept passing infections back and forth ) that cold foods like slurpees/icees were the best thing because they kept you hydrated and numbed your throat. Bonus that your tongue would change colors....

3) hard to talk for the first day or so. have a dry erase board handy.

4) nose bleeds are not uncommon. don't freak out if, all of a sudden out of nowhere, a bloody nose appears while he is talking in the kitchen a week after the procedure. good times.

5) I had some prescription pain meds, but they made me sick (throwing up = bad) and it would have been nice to have an alternate prescription handy....

6) when you do start foods, go soft -- mashed potatoes with lots of gravy, refried beans, etc.

Best of luck to you both. Not fun, but he will be a trooper, I am sure.

(BTW, I was older than Patrick -- about 14, but that shouldn't make too much of a difference for the food advice)

[Michelle]

The books everyone offered are ones I would suggest, but as to movies that are not animated I would suggest "Lemony Snickets A series of unfortunate events" The books are wonderful too. "Nanny Mcfee" "black beauty" that water horse movie was pretty good and I was rather fond of the "Narnia" Movies and the books of course. Oh, and Princess Bride that one is fun. I don't know if he's gone through these yet, but The Harry Potter books I bet he'd like them if he hasn't read them already.
Best of best recoveries and I just wanted to let you know I love reading your blogs.

[Anne]

Laura Ingalls Wilders' Little House books? (Just in case he hasn't read them--they would be easy to read, and when he's in pain that might be excellent good).
He's so interested in everything--maybe an easy (like fairy tale) book that is German on one page with the English translation on the facing page? Would he enjoy seeing the language similarities?

[tsc]

I have no tonsil stories, but I do watch a lot of tv. Star Wars, for sure - start with the original (meaning, the one you think of as the original, which is actually number 4; but you know, with Harrison Ford and whatnot). The Princess Bride is a great one for Patrick's age, Lemony Snicket, Harry Potter, A Christmas Story (if you don't mind untimely), Transformers (if you don't mind shooty-upy).

As for books, can he read at a Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket level? The Boxcar Children? Any Beverly Cleary. Do you have those DK Eyewitness books? They are sophisticated and informative, but in short bursts, so they neither condescend nor go over their heads. My 4 year old repeatedly devours all the insect-related ones, and I'm certain you can find space/gem/mineral-related ones.

Good luck with the tonsils. I love to hear Patrick Stories, so I hope he resumes talking quickly after the surgery!

[Erin]

I had to have my tonsils out when I was Patrick's age after my adenoids had grown back (they had been removed like a year previously). I remember that freezer pops were better than ice cream because the ice cream just felt SO cold that it made it hurt worse. Yogurt and pudding were a plus too. Oh, and the old standby of mashed potatoes, only not too hot. As for entertainment? Have you thought of letting him watch something like Willow if you are looking to try live action things. I second the Harry Potter and Star Wars. Maybe Chronicles of Narnia? Also what about the book series, "A Series of Unfortunate Events" since Patrick likes to bemoan the state of things. Or you could park him in front of the Discovery Channel :)

[Stephanie O]

Has he read "The Number Devil?" My son Emmett (almost 7) *LOVES* it. There's a kid who has trouble sleeping at night, and he starts dreaming about the Number Devil who is cantankerous and tells him about strange properties of numbers. It's got interesting things about primes, Pascal's triangle, Fibonacci numbers, etc. Seems like it could be right up his alley.

Good luck with the tonsils - I'm sure it will be tough, and I'm sure you'll all come through just fine.

[Sharon B]

I had my tonsils removed when I was three. I can still remember being in hospital in my little pink nightgowns, but not 'the needle that THAT (pointing tearfully at said person) nasty nurse stuck in my bottom that came right out the other side' I told my Mother about.

Foods: oatmeal, soups, yoghurt, milkshakes, applesauce, jello and lots of ice cream.

Books:The Hobbit, the Borrowers series by Mary Norton may appeal if it's still around, Narnia, Phantom Tollbooth is brilliant, Tove Janssen's Moomins series is fun, The Never-Ending Story, anything by Roald Dahl and Harry Potter.

Good luck, he'll feel so much better once it's over and done with.

[Michelle]

I thought of another Movie Book combo "the Golden compass" I really liked the book and the movie was quite good too, lots of adventure.

[erin]

Never had my tonsils out so I'm no help in the food department, although I did see the episode of The Brady Bunch when Cindy & Carol had to have their tonsils out. Alice brought them ice cream. When I had my wisdom teeth out last year I ate a lot of (barely) warm cream of wheat and rainbow sherbet.

On the movie front, how about: ET, Because of Winn Dixie (maybe? My 7yr old niece enjoyed it and so did I, but me mostly b/c of Dave Matthews), The Swiss Family Robinson (the classic live version from the '60s - pirates, etc., and not too scary for a kid Patrick's age... he's probably the perfect age for it. Your library may be the best place to find a copy.) If he's into older cartoons like Tom & Jerry, how about some Bugs Bunny? 1,001 Rabbit Tales is great. Or even an older show on DVD like Alf - unless he won't be able to suspend his disbelief enough to get into it.

As for books: definitely The Magic Treehouse series if he isn't reading those already, Choose Your Own Adventure books, the Beverly Cleary books like Henry & Ribsy, maybe the Fudge books by Judy Bloom? The Little House books are great, and if he doesn't want to read a book where the main character is a girl, there's always Farmer Boy. The Wind in the Willows was a favorite of mine when I was around his age.

Also, is he into word searches, kids crossword puzzles, sudoku, etc? You may want to stock up on those. Or maybe a couple copies of National Geographic for kids?

Good luck!

[Isa]

My son Lucas had his tonsils out at 6. Lots of pudding, jello, ice cream, soft cold smooth foods. I made him smoothies but he wouldn't drink them because he wasn't allowed to use a straw (a big no-no after a tonsillectomy).

Here's my number-one warning: watch out for the false recovery after a few days. Lucas got better (or seemed to) and started being really active for a couple of days. Then he had the WORST relapse! He was worse the second time around than right after surgery.

He also had a really hard time with the anesthesia. I had to crawl in the hospital bed with him and hold him down so he wouldn't thrash around too much. The blood going down his throat apparently made him feel like he was choking, and he kept coughing and gagging. Gross, I know, but once the anesthesia wore off he was much better.

Books: Captain Underpants, Joey Pigza, Bunnicula, Junie B. Jones (they're not just for girls)...

Movies: Alvin & The Chipmunks, Firehouse Dog, Blast From the Past, Sky High, Benji, Game Plan, Princess Bride...

[Angela]

You might benefit from reading about Melissa's decision to have her tonsils out as an adult:

http://www.suburbanbliss.net/suburbanbliss/2009/05/tonsillectomy-update.html

If you read the history to see when she was deciding whether or not to have them removed, you can find lots of comments from others who had their tonsils out.

[mere]

Musicals! the classic ones---The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, The Music Man. I think Patrick would really enjoy them, although he might not be able to sing?

[terri c]

Poor Patrick!!! I too am glad about the IV although I don't mind IVs so very much. I'm no help on the movie front. I still love some of the "classic" children's books like the Winnie the Pooh ones and The Wind in the Willows (MUST have the "original" illustrations, not the cartoony ones). Although he might like abstruse astrophysics stuff better. Tell him he is ALREADY unlike his schoolmates in that none of them have a Mutated Lymph Node that is visible from as far away as Colorado. Thinking of you!

[Vanessa]

Books: My 10-year-old recommends the Septimus Heap series, Spiderwick Chronicles, Warriors, Tales from the House of Bunnicula, Harry Potter, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Geronimo Stilton, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Swordbird.

Movies: Goonies, E.T., Night at the Museum, the first two or three Harry Potters (the others are too scary/intense for Patrick's age), Labyrinth, National Treasure, The Neverending Story

[Alexis M]

I haven't gone through all the comments, so please excuse me if I repost a suggestion or two. When I was Patrick's age I loved the book Mr. Popper's penguins. You can't go wrong with penguins who live in a refrigerator. I also liked the Magic Schoolbus. I don't even know if they make those books anymore, but the videos are fabulous and also educational. Ms. Fritz (I believe that's her name) takes the Magic Schoolbus and shrinks it to pill size and goes on adventures like exploring the digestive tract with her class. Patrick is sure to love it.

[owlhaven]

I survived getting my tonsils out at age 6. It hurt for about 3-4 days, but I lived. And got to eat a lot of ice cream and jello.....

Hang in there Patrick!

Mary, mom to 10

[shannon b.]

Movies- When I was in elementary school my dad always rented me Ferris Bueller's Day Off. I knew it was an older kids film which made me love it even more. I haven't watched it in years, so maybe it was totally inappropriate for a kid my age, but lord was it fun to watch.

Food- Mashed potatoes and white gravy. You can eat it for every meal.

[carrie]

I had my tonsils out in first grade because i kept getting tonsillitis and ear infections. What I remember - and this is kind of gross - was throwing up blood after I woke up. It scared me. Not sure that happens anymore.

Then I was upset because I only got ice chips in the hospital.

Ice chips, Popsicles, ice cream. Great stuff. I don't remember much else. Except I was so happy to no longer get ear infections!

[Mary]

Here is a story you can tell Patrick. When I was 7, I had scarlet fever, and so did my younger brother. After that, we both got strep all the time, like monthly. At 8, I had my tonsils out. My brother never did. We are now in our late 40s, and I've never had strep again. My brother has it once or twice a year, and misses a week or more of work every time. True story.

Yes, it hurts to get your tonsils out, but compared to the big picture I see now, it is nothing. Popsicles for a couple of days. No big deal. My brother wishes he'd had his out, now.

[C.]

Had my tonsil out at 17 (like the MD) because my mom was against surgery. Had a similar experience as Patrick and right before I went to college out they came. Havent had a sore throat or strep since but the ear infections persist and I am 34.

Despite the rumor, ice cream is not good for tonsils. I practically lived on elbow pasta (room temp)and butter. Ice pops, italian ice in the little cups work too. Very cold hurts and nothing hot. Had to drink all liquids through a straw (im not sure why, dont remember). Was eating soft foods for a few weeks, not sure if that was because I was old and took longer to heal. Pain meds will likely be liquid tylenol with codine and fyi it hurts going down, so if it can be mixed with a non-hurty beverage or mixed in applesauce as someone else suggested. And lots of sleep.

[Brenda]

I had my tonsils out when I was 6. I don't remember anything about the recovery period except waking up the morning after the surgery. They offered me all the ice cream I could eat, but I refused; my throat hurt too much to swallow anything. My mom and dad ate my ice cream and also the breakfast that was brought in for me. I don't remember any problems after they let me go home later that day, though, so the recovery must have been pretty fast.

[Sun]

Poor Patrick. Poor you!

How about Lloyd Alexander's Prydain series? The copy of The Book of Three that my dad gave me had a scary picture on the cover, so I didn't read it for years, but once I did, it was love, so maybe a copy without a scary cover? How about The Littles or Mrs. Piggle Wiggle? Or Freddy the Pig? Or Adrian Mole?

Best of luck!

[Lisa]

I can very clearly remember the winter of doom. I was 7 and I kept getting strep throat, and every time I went to the doctor, I had to get a shot of penicillin in my bottom. And I was absolutely petrified of needles so from that moment I resolved to never tell my mother again when I had a sore throat. Luckily my strep issues went away, because if I had gotten it again and somehow hid it from my mother, it could have ended badly! I have had a lifelong history of sinus infections, however, wonder if that's related?

In terms of foods, I had my wisdom teeth taken out in two separate visits in the past two years so I am well accustomed to soft foods. I am all about the ice cream and the creamy soups. And cream of wheat. I think those were the things I enjoyed most. Good luck to Patrick, poor guy. It is for the best though.

[Crystal]

Drew had his tonsils out at the ripe old age of... buffering.... 2007. He's going to be 6... buffering (it's been a long night of sitting in a town hall listening to Republicons boo and hiss over things like quality health care, and you know, I want my Medicare, but THE GOVERNMENT DOES EVERYTHING WRONG! and Obama's recession. Um, yeah. Revisionist history, anyone?????????????????).

Anyway, sometime 2 years ago.

A) OHSU pointed me at several studies showing soft diet is not really necessary anymore, but having liquids for the first few days was nice. We stocked up on soup (clear liquids being somewhat better, particularly as far as anti-inflammatory issues), all fruit frozen treats of some sort, sorbet, and nice, icy cold juice.

Most of it went unused.

Eating solid foods actually helps in the healing process, and apparently that initial period of liquids is more because blood and pus tastes nasty, and they aren't so hungry initially, and cold stuff can feel nice and slippery and soothing. Basically they said 24 hours of liquid/soft if he'll go for it, but when he's hungry, feed him.

He lasted about 24 hours, and then ate like a piggly wiggly.

His doctors said often the pain of the surgery is less than the pain of chronic inflammation, and this seemed to be true in Drew's case. The liquid they gave him for pain tasted horrid, and he took one dose after we got him home, and refused any more saying his throat didn't hurt. He did accept ibuprofen, which worked well enough at night when I could tell it hurt more than he let on. Ibuprofen not being as likely to taste like it was harvested from some unmentionable part of the body. Second day he appeared to be fine, just still spotty on eating (ravenous sometimes, not really interested others).

All in all, far less traumatic than I had expected.

I'm so sorry your poor kiddo has to go through this, but glad he'll be feeling better soon.

Seconding Mrs. Piggle Wiggle. It can jolly my kids out of the foulest of moods in 2 pages.

[Justin]

I may be a terrible person but your description of Patrick's reaction made me laugh hysterically. It sounds like you have a great doctor and I'm sure he'll do great. I loved Return to Witch Mountain when I was that age. The book is great and the Disney movies still hold up.

[Mary]

I had my tonsils removed at age 8. It was largely incredibly boring. I wasn't really able to sleep during the night in hospital. I felt all at sea with nursing requests to, eg, tie something on like bikini bottoms (I was 8! WHAT?)

I do remember there being a fair bit of blood. I vomited it up a couple of times during the day after the operation. When I saw my sister after hers, the area around her mouth was covered in dried blood.

I wasn't warned about vomiting blood. The nurses were clearly expecting it because I recall them rushing over with a bowl before I'd even realised I felt nauseous. I was fairly matter of fact about it. I am not sure whether or not I would have preferred being warned. I would have liked to have been told afterwards that it was normal though.

The recovery sore throats weren't any worse than other kinds of sore throat, just a bit more persistent. Was mostly better in three days or so.

[Karishma]

lots of cold cold yogurt. flavor it, make it more interesting, but it'll be really soothing, especially mixed with some honey. is patrick a fan of boxcar children/magic tree house? loved those when i was a kid. phantom tollbooth, etc.

p.s. you started the partial feed in google reader! noooo no no no nononono! (watch me throw a tantrum.) my bandwidth issues are terrible already, it's so much easier to read an entire entry in a dressed down image-less blog application than load everyone's website individually.

[justdawn]

The Magic Treehouse books are excellent...and Junie B Jones (not just for girls;)My 7 year old son is rather smitten with Captain Underpants (Ai yi yi) and the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books.

Patrick needs to watch the Princess Bride!

Food...ice cream, ice cream and let's see...more ice cream:)

[Stephanie]

I had my tonsils removed the summer I turned 19. I think I had soup (cooled down) - mostly lipton extra noodle - very brothy. Probably ice cream. I don't remember what else.
The medicine I was on (roxicet - basically liquid percocit) made it difficult for me to stand for any length of time (I took baths after the first day) or read at all. So, I watched a lot of tv. Slept. Took my medicine every 4 hours. I took a dose at night, poured another dose which I left on my nightstand, so I did not have to get up during the night. Also, I would eat about a half hour after taking the medicine - as it would kick in then. And I generally did not eat for an hour before I was scheduled to take the medicine.
Because I was older and bigger (I had not needed my tonsils out prior to) it took a couple of weeks for me to recover. And stronger meds. I did not read the books my mom bought me until later that summer. But, I did get her to wash my hair for my in the sink every other day (I couldn't wash it in the bathtub easily). So, stock up on some movies. My niece and nephew like Pixar too. I picked up the Pixar Short Films for them (for after a rough doctor's appt) and they seem to quite like it. They already had anything else I though they may have liked.
Good luck.