Why I'm getting a tonsillectomy (in Korea)

My tonsils have plagued me since I was a child.

From before I can remember, to age 19, I had tonsilitis or strep throat AT LEAST 2-3 times per year. It got to the point where I could tell my docter exactly what to prescribe me. Heck, it got to the point where I could probably diagnose OTHER people's throat problems.

Tonsilitis/strep were MY illnesses, I was totally used to them, and since I contracted them under 6-8 times per year, my docters wouldn't hear of removing them. It was just part of my life: not pleasant, but not dehabilitating either.

The August when I was 19 changed everything. I was sick for an ENTIRE month. After years of taking the same kinds of anti-biotics, my body no longer reacted to them. I'm allergic to penicillan, which limited my drug options even further. After a month my doctor finally found medicine to get rid of the tonsilitis.

Unfortunately, my left tonsil was never the same. It had swollen to the point where it was a hair's breadth away from touching my uvula. I'm 24 now, and it's still the same size.

Not to cause anyone to gag, but subsequent infections left the permanently swollen tonsil pitted, full of calcium stones, and prone to catching food.

Also, after the month-long infection, I started getting infections during times of stress: travel, exam periods, or even if I was feeling depressed. I'm not a doctor, but to me, those symptoms suggested a permenant infection in that tonsil.

My lowest point occured on a weekend getaway with some of my best girlfriends. I woke up in the middle of the night with my tonsils almost touching. I was terrified because I couldn't even swallow my own saliva.

That experience did it for me, I was getting those suckers out! Never mind that adult tonsilectomies are painful, nevermind that I didn't get ill 'enough', nevermind any of that jazz!

I went to my regular docter in May 2006 and laid out all of my greiviances. She said it wasn't enough to get them out. I argued. Finally, she agreed to schedule me an appointment with an Ear, Throat, and Nose (ENT) specialist. ENT specialists are the only ones who can schedule tonsilectomies. So that was fine...except the first appointment she could get me was in November 2006!

I dutifully went to my appointment. The ENT doctor agreed with me. He said the stones in my tonsils could potentially cause problems and scheduled my surgery... for ten months later on September 7th, 2007!

I REALLY planned to go to that appointment. What I hadn't counted on (in November 2006) was a two-month fabulous backpacking trip around Europe in the summer of 2007. I returned to Canada exhilarated, full of memories, and completely, utterly broke. There was no way I could skip a pay check for the two-week recovery time in September. (especially when my employers were kind enough to take me back after leaving them in the high-season).

Frustrated with the year and a half waiting time, I didn't bother making another appointment. I learned my lesson; planning something a year and a half away didn't suit my lifestyle.

Fast-forward to this year.

I'm spending August 2008-August 2009 in the small city of Suncheon, South Korea. I've been working as an English teacher in a public school. With my particular contract I got: a week off in September (this was coincidence, but still great)and the months of January, February, and August.

During January I explored South Korea, and generally relaxed. During February I made a (well-documented) trip through Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

But, what to do with August?

A lot of my friends went back to their homelands for a visit (because they are staying for another year). Other locations for a vacation included: India, China, and France.

Nothing appealed to me. I love traveling, but China and India are too crowded and hot this time of year, France is too far away (expensive!) and I didn't want to
go anywhere by myself.

And then,

Eureaka!

When else, in my ENTIRE life, will I be paid for a full MONTH with nothing to do?

When else, will I have ALL the time in the WORLD to recover from a painful surgery?

And that was that.

My decision was basically made for me.

Tonsils, watch out!