Tuesday, our son had a tonsillectomy. For a week prior, I had researched options and read a number of posts of personal experiences. Needless to say, most were horrible. I just wanted to let people know that our fourteen year old's experience was not horrific, on the contrary. The surgeon did a blunt dissection with minimal cautery. The ped. anasetheologist was very careful to use anasethia that would reduce nausea, ( intavenous is better that way then gas). We were told that his tonsils were some of the largest they'd seen. They gave us vicaden and tylenol for pain. Our son took the pills not the liquid with out much discomfort. Within 24 hrs. he was eating scrabbled eggs and within 48 hrs. he was eating quiche and pancakes, etc. We were fortunate that we live close to the University of Iowa. Their Otolargology Dept is world renowned and Dr. Richard Smith, Ped. Oto., is regarded as probably the best in the world. The facility at the U of I is amazing. Choosing a great surgeon is probably the most important aspect to recovery. Do your homework first and ask questions of the anasetheologist. We our now at the beginning of the 3rd day and our son is taking 1 vicaden and 1 tylenol every six hours and his pain level is 2. I hope any of you who are going to undergo a tonsillectomy have the same results as our son.