I was talking to my grandma this morning, she is 99 yrs & 10mths old and has more stories than anyone could imagine. I told her that my middle daughter finally got approval to get her tonsils out. I took middle princess to the ENT earlier this week and the guy gave us the go ahead to get those nasty things out! Yippee!
She has been sick with tonsillitis a million times since she was born. But every doc I've taken her to says "We don't do that anymore". So she's been suffering and continuously sick for over 16 years. Finally, I found a doc who felt sorry for her and thinks her life shouldn't be spent with a sore throat.
We are waiting for the surgery center to verify our insurance and then call us with her surgery date.
My grandma says, "Back when I had my tonsils out we didn't have all that paperwork to worry about. And I didn't have to wait either. When I got my tonsils out they just put me in a chair and used a wire loop to pull them out. Then they sent me back to school. It hurt but it was quick and there wasn't any paperwork." She went on to say, "I was at boarding school so they didn't have to bother with insurance and things. They just took care of it. I was on soup for a week or so until it was healed up. They didn't take me to the hospital or give me pain medicine because they didn't think it was a big deal back then."
Then she added, "Don't tell Lexie that story or she'll faint." Shoot, I almost fainted!
Can you imagine the 1920 version of the tonsillectomy? yikes! Poor little unsuspecting school girl... sit here, open wide.... YANK! oh wow. Times were different weren't they? And no sympathy. Back to class you go.
My grandmother went to a convent boarding school from 1918 - 1925. That is from 5th grade thru 12th grade. I might be off on the dates, but she was 10 yrs old when she started and she was born in 1908 so I think I'm close anyway.
5 comments:
YIKES!!! I would have died for sure!! Good thing I live in the day & age where they have hospitals, pain killers & vacation days to sleep it off & wallow in my misery.
WOW!! Don't you love to hear stories like that from grandmas!! They are a wealth of knowledge. You need to get more stories like that and write them down mary!!
good luck. stock up on popcicles and pain meds.
can't wait to see you in the summer.
OUCH!!! Amen for painkillers.. I would never have survived back in the day. (painful medical procedures, no dishwashers, and outhouses.. No thankyou.)
In 1973, you were 3 days in the hospital. In one day, surgery second day, home third day. And there was definitely general anethesia. But you know what sucked? 6 years old, and a parent was not allowed to stay the night with me. I was so scared I was crying at night, and there was a really mean nurse who told me to shut up and go to sleep. I WAS SIX!! Not that I'm bitter or anything. However, my mom said up until I had the surgery, I was sick with tonsilitis or strep at least once a month, first six years of my life. After they yanked the tonsils, nothing. I even had perfect attendence in second grade. Weird, right? I think it's an outpatient thing now. I hope they give the ok, because the doc is right...going through life with a sore throat is just..sucky.
WOWZA! I am pretty sure I wouldn't of survived back then.
So glad your daughter will get some relief!
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