Post Tonsillectomy pain

Liza3 · Posted: 07/09/08 - 22:30 Post subject: Days 6-9

By the way Very Bored, days 6-9 may be your worst unfortunately but it does get better after that. Changes are very subtle but one day you just wake up and it is all better. Keep drinking that water and taking your meds , sounds like you are doing as well as you can.

Guest · Guest

I am running out of pain relief tablets, standard 500g paracetamol and 30g codeine. I am four days in, and have been taking pain killers every 4 hours. Already gone thru about 40 tablets. It is like my brain knows they last four hours, and then automatically it wants 2 more once the original ones wear off. Even when i sleep, i automatically wake up after 4 hrs, to have more medication.

I have basically forced myself to eat soft meat such as chicken, also rice, bread and anything else that is soft and cold, standard ice cream, jelly etc.

i am so god damn sick of this and can not wait for everything to feel normal without the tonsils. from what i have read this could be in one week or maybe two?

i had always had tonsillitis once a year in my adolescent years and early 20s. i had really big tonsils with scarring where white tonsiloths would sit inside the crypts... i think my bad tonsils and the germs and posion they stored contributed to me feeling run down and sluggish day-to-day. i am hoping that tonsillectomy will improve my general well-being, and i tell you what it better after this pain.

post surgery my doctor told me that the tonsils were really big and were full of germs and yellow crap... so it must be worthwhile to endure this pain for the greater good Smile

i dont know what else to write. i have read ppl think water is good so i might drink more, i also just iced the back of my neck which felt good.

luckily so far i have not experienced any bleeding problems since what was already stomached during operation. my throat where the tonsils had been cut out has all turned white and i assume that will turn to scabs, can't wait!!

anyways, i just rambled a whole lot of shit cause i am bored and in pain.
Very Happy

goodluck to you all. im sure this is something we can look back on when we hear about someone getting tonsillitis.

Guest · Guest

I had my tonsillectomy done on Wednesday 7/9/08... and so far it's been torture!

Luckily, now, I am starving but I can't open my jaw..
the pain on, around, and under my jaw is HORRIBLE!
I can open it, but I have tears in my eyes afterward.

I managed somehow to keep brushing my teeth, although that is terrible too!

My ears don't really hurt at all. Which from what I read, I am very lucky. My doctor said I didnt bleed at all during surgery, so he doesn't expect me to have bleeding post-op.

Basically, I want to know if my jaw pains are normal, or should I call my doctor?

Thanks!

Sarty24 · Newbie Joined: 13 Jul 2008 Posts: 4

Hello everyone,

I'm a 22 year old male. I kept getting frequent strep, so it was time to have them removed before school.

I had my tonsils removed on July 8th. I woke up from the surgery and was making jokes with the nurses about how I had a marathon to run at 4 o'clock and they were keeping me here too long. I came home and felt pretty good, I was eating Jell-O, broth, soup, and soft foods.

Days 2-3. Good days, still eating very well and drinking about 5-7 gatorades a day, I've been on my pain meds and am starting to think I am an exception to this pain stuff everyone is talking about.

Day 4-5. The pain sets in, and constipation from the pain meds. The pain, like everyone describes, feels like swallowing razors. I've been hydrating like crazy, but even water is extremely painful. I get a nice little taste of blood every once in a while, although I've noticed it only little. I'm running out of pain meds (Lortab), and it's Sunday, so I am rationing it as best as possible...which is making this whole pain management thing no better. I have a bit of phlem in the back of my throat which keeps popping when I breath, but I'm afraid to clear my throat and have it start bleeding like crazy. The only other surgery I've had is my wisdom teeth, which I think was a walk in the park compared to this. I feel rather hopeless actually, here's to hoping days 7-8 will have a refilled prescription and much less pain in stock.

Thank God I only have to have this surgery done once. Ear pains and jaw pains I've become accustomed too. I'm just hoping I don't drown in my own phlem. Sad

.

When is the average break in the pain cycle? When do you start feeling a little better? 7-8, 9-10, or days 11+

Liza3 · Posted: 07/13/08 - 21:12 Post subject: Post op Recovery

I would say from my experience that you will start to feel better days 11+. I thought the same thing about the plegm. I had the bubble popping sensation too. I did not have any jaw pain just the burning in the ears which to my surprise I am still experiencing somewhat. I had an incredible recovery and on day 14 I was amazed at how much better I felt. Some days I wake up with a mild sore throat but nothing terrible. I can still feel some awkwardness in my throat but I'm sure it is getting better everyday. My nose still burns a little from the septoplasty but it is only mild. I would never hesitate calling the doctor about any questions you have. All he can say is, that is normal or come in and let's check it out. Since everyones experience is different I would call just in case. Keep drinking. Cold tea was best for me, water did burn a lot. I ran out of my medicine two days before I could get a refill. That was rough. I don't think I ever got the pain under control like it was before I ran out. Someone on here said to add a Tbs. of water to the liquid Lortab and it wouldn't burn so much. I tried it and it worked. Also, I got some Magic Mouthwash from the doctor and it really helped as well. I chewed lots of gum and ate lots of Flavor Ice. It does get better. Just hang in there.

Sarty24 · Newbie Joined: 13 Jul 2008 Posts: 4

Thank you for the words of encouragement. I should have taken my pain meds at 8 PM, but I'm roughing it out until midnight, so I have enough for tomorrow morning too, and then hopefully I can get a refill. I'm going to rough it out, because there really is nothing else I can do Confused

Liza3 · Posted: 07/13/08 - 23:15 Post subject: Post op Encouragement

Sarty, you are very welcome. It seemed like every post I read on here was from people two years ago. It would have been nice to have had someone who had this procedure recently to talk to. I have children your age! However I believe our experience is probably the same since they say it is worse when you are older. Unfortunately you are probably going through the worst days right now. Six through nine are pretty hard. But just know that it passes. When the scabs come and go it hurts pretty much too. Just let them heal in their own time, dont help them. Keep drinking, chewing gum, and resting. The Dr told me that stitches in the mouth don't hold up so when they come out there is just an open sore there. ( Do you have stitches? I had a UPPP at the same time.) Anyway, if there is anything I can help you with just let me know. I am very sympathetic to this situation. It is still fresh in my mind.

Sarty24 · Newbie Joined: 13 Jul 2008 Posts: 4

Hey Liza,

Fortunately I didn't have to have stitches. I think I'm blessed in that regard. The procedure they did on me was w/ the harmonic scalpel so there wasn't as much bleeding as some of the older techniques, which again I am thankful for. It's another hard day, but I'm going to rough it out. No use whining or complaining because it isn't going to make it any better. I got a decent amount of sleep last night (4-5 hours), even on these bad days, which is more than some I've heard.

I needed to have it done because medical school is going to be all-nighters and studying late all the time, so having strep every time I do stay up late isn't acceptable.

Thank you for all of the support, I was wondering what to expect when these scabs come off, I think I've had a small piece come off "yellowish" in appearance and dry. Are the scabs that white-burned looking tissue at the back of my throat or is that something else?

Liza3 · Posted: 07/14/08 - 10:55 Post subject: Post Op Support

Yes, I beieve that is what that is. Since I had stitches it is was hard for me to tell what was scabs or stitches. Some scabs hung down at times and would gag me. That was very aggravating. Just make sure you let them be. Food and time will take care of them. And, make sure you keep drinking all the time. That will keep the scabs soft and create less pain. It was painful to me when the scabs formed and when they came off but that is just my experience. It wasn't unbearable just uncomfortable. You are very welcome for the support. It helps me to talk about it. I know everyone around here is tired of hearing about it and it is still a big deal to me. By the way I am so glad you are able to sleep that many hours! That will keep you from being so worn out. This is a great experience for a Dr. Maybe that will keep you sympathetic to your patients! Oh yes and before I forget, use cough drops. That helped my throat tremendously. Hope tonight is a good one for you.

Shan3316 · Newbie Joined: 14 Jul 2008 Posts: 2

In response to "Guest" above, I had my tonsillectomy on 7/9/08 as well. Day five of recovery is wrapping and wow, this is some intense pain. I've always had a high pain threshold; gave birth to two children, one naturally and the other c-section and I can honestly say that both births/recoveries were much easier than this! I can barely bring myself to swallow (will subconsciously wait as long as possible), don't want to eat or drink, or talk. I miss my "normal" life. Everyone tells me that I'll be glad in the long run, less illnesses, etc, but right now it is just really horrible. Thank God for hydrocodone, getting it down the gullet is awful, but once it's in the blood stream, better. Not perfect, but better.

Shannon, age 35

Post Tonsillectomy pain

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