Tonsillectomy - Day 9 - Feels Like Canker Sores

9211Jiss · Newbie Joined: 24 Dec 2006 Posts: 2

I am on Day 9 of recovery after my tonsillectomy surgery. While a lot of the pain has decreased and my tongue doesn't feel as swollen and I am not having as much pain in my throat when I swallow, my tongue and the back of my throat/roof of my mouth sometimes feel like they have canker sores on them when I swallow. It feels really raw, almost bruised, like I gave myself a sore from sucking with a straw or something. Has anyone else experienced this pain. I don't think they actually are canker sores (I hope they are not!), but I just want to check with other people, because this seems to be a new sensation and new pain that I haven't been feeling so far. Any advice? Thanks!

socialcarrie · Newbie Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 1

Hey guys-
My ENT has recommended a tonsillectomy for me. I have read some of your postings which scare the hell out of me. Last year at this time I had sinus surgery/deviated septum- which I thought was painful. This sounds beyond frustrating. Did you guys stay overnight in the hospital or were you outpatient? Thanks for any advice? Do you feel the outcomes were worth the pain and loss time?
Thanks- Carrie

vanessa22 · Newbie Joined: 10 May 2007 Posts: 2

I know exactly what you're talking about w/ the sores on your tongue. I'm only on day 2 and my tongue is just now getting like that. My tongue is extremely painful towards the back and the sides of it are numb... so much so that i can bite it and i don't feel anything, it's really white and it seems to be swelling. I'm curious if it's aggrivated by the constant popsciles.
Another problem I'm having is whenever i manage to swallow something it goes up my nose. the doctor says it's my palate not closing and it should go away quickly... anyone else having this problem??

mscoconut0 · Newbie Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 5

If you're still having problems with the canker sore feeling, you might try gargling with mild salt water to relieve the symptoms. I started doing this about 7 days after surgery and it made the sensations go away.

Socialcarrie, not sure if you've since had the tonsillectomy. I am 3 weeks post-op, and I was SCARED. But, I had bouts 2x/year from age 8-20, and left me w/one enlarged tonsil. Then it started back up when I returned to office work at age 29.

I had an outpatient surgery, from check-in to check-out was about 4 1/2 hours. I was eating crushed ice about 20 minutes after surgery but needed some demerol as initial pain was severe. I did have a bit of bleeding on day 6 and had to go back in. That was stressful. I took 10 days (using 2 wknds) off work and it wasn't quite enough. I worked 1/2 days that second week, and doing 6-7 hours a day this third week.

So far, I will say that it was not so traumatic that I wouldn't have had it done. Every other 'about 30 year old' that I've polled has said they were never sick in the same way again. I hope to have that same outcome.

Good luck in your decision.

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I'm so glad to find this out. I had the tonsilectomy due to almost constant canker sores on my tonsils and to see what looks and feels like one hanging around my uvula....arg! I'm on day 7 and had my first food and hopefully will be able to resume 'normal' soon!
I'm 33 and while this has been the most painful process I've gone through, I have managed quite well, and I'm a big ole wimp! The hardest thing is forcing myself to not go back to work and not become overzealous about my daily responsibilities.

sam2 · Newbie Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Posts: 1

Hello everyone, I am 45 y.o. and had my tonsells and uvula removed on 7/9. I went today for my one-week followup and I had a list of questions for my doc with the first being what was with all of the mucus that felt was stuck between my nasal passages and my throat and I haven't been able to get out. He informed me that it was mostly all due to the swelling as was my other concern of aching gums and teeth. He said the swelling was putting pressure on my gums but that it would take at least another three days for me to really start feeling better. He did switch my pain med from liquid lortab to tylenol with codeine at my request. I spoke with a friend and she reminded me that years ago I was given Lortab and it didn't do anything for me but the tylenol with codeine did. Oh well the pain is now better just after two doses and the canker sore feeling has even gone away. The pain is now just like a very bruised toungue and sore upper mouth. I have been drinking about 1 to 1/2 liters of water per day but sounds like I should be drinking more. I have been eating mostly cream-of-wheat, oatmeal, jell-o and applesauce but today I actually started craving real food and tried a small quantity of green beans, mashed potatoes and a a small piece of a hamburger patty. All went down with little pain except for the patty but it only hurt a little bit. I'm so glad my friend remembered about my history with Lortab and tylenol. Oh and yes, this has been the most physically painful thing I've been through but hope it's all ends up worse it. My ENT believes I will be glad I had it done even if I do hate him right now.

jevans · Newbie Joined: 05 May 2008 Posts: 1

Hello- My mother-in-law has been suffinging with cronic tinsillitus which creates pockets of "junk" in the back of her throat that cause lots of pain and ear pressure. The doctor would like to remove her tonsills. I'm a little concerned after reading what others have blogged about this subject.

Do the benifits out weigh the pain and suffering. I though having your tonsills removed was a piece of cake, now I know that is not the case.

Any feed back on elderly tonsillectomy would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Concerned daughter in law

Janice

tonsilssuck · Newbie Joined: 19 May 2008 Posts: 4

Hi - I'm 21 and this is day 9 of my recovery from a coblation method tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy (couting surg day as day 1). let me tell you... this experience has been awful. the first day in the hospital/at home wasnt too bad.. very misleading! I was on morphine in the hospital and was able to eat popsicles with some ease, but spent a few hours in recovery because my blood pressure was too elevated.

i was able to talk that night and even eat some creamy milky mashed potatoes that night. the first 5 days were very painful, but they alternated good/bad. At some points I was crying from the pain (typically after sleeping - even though I continued with the pain meds every 2 hours - because i wasn't taking in any fluid while i was sleeping). But at some points I felt "fine" - ie, not in tears and able to swallow with relative ease. At some points I have been able to eat some milky mashed potatoes or creamy soup but that's it as far as non-liquid, non-jello food goes.

days 6-8 so far have been the worst, and progressively so. Yesterday seemed to get better by late last night, but this morning I woke up in intense pain unable to swallow - taking my meds was terrible. My throat is completely covered over in the white scab, which my mom says is looking great (shes a doc). I was able to talk the first few days (with mild pain) but then couldnt talk day 6 and could only talk in the evening of day 7. The past couple of days i have been experiencing a lot of stinging sensations when i swallow/talk. (sharp pains like being poked with needles) and the area where my sinuses hit the top of my throat are particularly sore/irritated because I have begun to breathe mainly through my nose instead of with an open-mouth. also my gums/teeth/tongue are still very very sore.

anyone else experience any of these things and have any suggestions?? i feel like i'm going crazy and my family doesnt believe i could possibly STILL be in this much pain from such a "small surgery"!!!!!!! i would be crying incessantly right now if it didnt hurt so badly to cry!

I take a percocet (oxycodone with acetaminophen) every 2 hours, which really doesnt seem to do anything except keep the edge off. I also take benadryl because the pain meds make me itchy, chloraseptic spray works a little right before having to take the dissolved pills because they tend to burn (acetaminophen in powder form really burns the scabs). I've tried both ice packs and heating pads on my neck, each have helped on seperate occassions. I also bought a cold mist humidifier but i question how much it's helped. Something that really has helped with the nausea (from the pain pills) is zofran oral disintegrating tablets. Your doc can prescribe them to you, they dissolve on your tongue, go down easy (no hard swallowing!) and really work. Theyre the only reason i havent thrown up, even though I've come extremely close on several occassions.

Anyways, this is long i'll cut it off... just thought i'd let people know how my experience has been. So far i'm not feeling glad i had this done, but it was necessary as i had tonsillitis 7 times in the past year andmissed tremendous amounts of school/work. I'll maybe update again later... but for now i'm going to try to work on getting this pain im in under control.

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Tonsillectomy - Day 9 - Feels Like Canker Sores

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