Oddly enough, one of the most exciting activities during my quarantine was getting a tonsillectomy. Throughout my whole time in quarantine, I've dealt with chronic tonsillitis and hypertrophy of my tonsils, to which staying at home was my only option.
Before leading up to the day of my surgery, there were two precautionary measures I had to accomplish: get a physical and get tested for Covid-19. The physical part I already accomplished from my previous doctor's appointments, but I still had to get tested for COVID, which unsettled me.
When I was on my way to get tested, I felt jittery and nervous because I kept replaying all the Twitter videos in my head of the large Q-Tips going in people's noses. Although it was quite that, it did not hurt nearly as bad as I thought it would. However, it was such an odd sensation, like Bengay in my nose which was slightly unsettling.
Since I was all clear for surgery, I was set for my tonsillectomy on May 26th. I was slightly nervous because my mother was not allowed in the facility or to be with me right before and after my surgery due to the restrictions because of the pandemic. As a result, my mom had to wait in the car until the whole procedure was over because of the safety precautions. On the brighter side of it all, I was allowed to text her up until I had to go in, but from there the nurse and doctor would give my mom all of the updates. For example, the nurse called as soon as I was put under and woke up or explained the recovery steps. Also, the doctor called right after surgery to discuss every step of what went on during the surgery, so it felt like she was there with me and made her comfort level at ease.
During the whole preparation for the surgery, it lasted a whole thirty minutes longer due to constant cleaning, changing gloves, and sterilizations. The surgery center also only allowed one surgery at a time, so to set-up your surgery and get in quick was a slight issue, but safety and reducing the risk of COVID came first.
Every precaution and step taken throughout the process made me so grateful for those who work in the medical field. The workers are put under so much stress as is, but adding a pandemic to it, they handled and adapted so quickly to not only make themselves feel comfortable but the patients.
