post op tonsillectomy pain = excruciating

I'm 17 and on day 10 post op and pretty much everything you experienced is exactly the same as i did. i thought i was prepared for the pain but i was defiantly WRONG, im so happy the 8 days of hell are finally over. now i can actually eat almost normally and talk without to much pain. goodluck to anyone having a tonsillectomy!

I'm writing on behalf of my 28 year-old wife. I just translated your text (she's french) and she's on the verge of tears. She was operated on monday and today's thursday, so she's on day four... It was a great confort to read about somebody else's experience and to realise that she's not alone.

On a pain level, and I'm quoting, it's off the charts...this coming from someone whose cesarian scar got infected and litteraly exploded five days after giving birth to our son and they had to drain the pus by squeezing the wound.

"That was nothing compared to this!"

Respect to all of you.


Laure & Jonathan

I am 14 years old. I endured a Tonsillectomy eight days ago, and today I have had my first meal. I woke up in the recovery room on monday feeling a lot of pain. They told me I could go home in an hour - two hours. Then I was vomiting everytime I would drink something, so they made me stay longer. I went in at 11 AM, and left at a quarter to 9 PM. Because I was still vomiting, they sent me home with a large baison, and OxyContin pills, for pain. For the last eight days post-tonsillectomy I haven't been able to eat anything. Like I said, I have had my first meal today, eggs and mini crossants. mmmm... But, back to the point...a tonsillectomy is the worst possible pain that I've even gone through, people say, no, it's not going to hurt. You'll be fine... No. That's not it... Today, I'm still in excruciating pain. But now, it feels like someone is stabbing the inside of the back of my throat with a razor blade. Drinking doesn't help much. But I must keep drinking or I will never get better... I need help with this pain. I wake up in the morning in tears, not being able to breath.

I AM ON MY 4TH day post surgery and im ready to effing kill myself. I cant stand this excruciating pain anymore!!!...when i awoke in hospital i was screaming and crying and nightmares....i tore my throat worse...they have only given me liquid codeine which is doing NOTHING...i havent eaten in 4 days and if this continues I can only imagine how many more it will be..im very sad and depressed abotu this all....I never thought in a million years on my 4th day id feel just as bad as when i frist woke up from surgery. I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO. i cant stand this...i would NEVER suggest ANYONE get this- id take tonsilitis every day of my life instead of this.

hey, i am just recovering from a tonsilectomy
i am a teenager so im not sure how that should affect my recovery
but the day after my surgery i was feeling relatively fine and was up eating pasta and such i have been in a little bit of pain but nothing more serious than a pretty sore throat.
today is my fourth day in recovey and i am feeling much worse then i did at the start eating and drinking hurt my throat and ears extremly and i feel sick and dizzy whenever i get out of bed, i am still on the same pain killers
is this normal or am i infected of something

I'm 25 and I had my tonsels out 7 days ago. The first 3 days were pretty painful. But the last couple days have been just as painful due to the scabs falling off. I need to make sure I'm drinking and eating to ensure a normal recovery but it is awfully difficult. I have to take pain meds then cram down as much water and pureed food I can handle. I wasn't even able to chew until yesterday when I chewed some very soft potato soup. I am taking Lortab (Hyodro/tylenol liquid) and pink liquid antibiotic and the lortab burns goin down. My only advice is drinking muscle milk for intake of nutrients and protein to help healing.

Leading up to the operation I started to get psyched out about the surgery. Wife supported me, told me it would be good as I was sick every other week and had a sore throat for almost a year straight non-stop.

Tried to use the mind over matter, didn't work too well. Felt like family didn't believe me how painful it was, just sort of looked at me weird and expected me to keep up with stuff around the house. After the first two days my wife basically left me to take care of my daughter at will when she needed to run an errand, didn't even ask me if I could handle it. I was in excrutiating pain and couldn't eat or swallow, but I handled it, but I was just very fearful that my daughter would somehow get a hold of my meds. I tried to be super careful, but the meds made me loopy and drowsy, so I don't know how many times a double and triple checked to make sure I didn't leave my meds on the counter.

I am a 29 year old female, 3 months post op. It was very painful, but worth it. My first few days weren't awful, and then days 4-8 hit. Very bad pain. Then I started to feel better, and then the scabs fell off. It hurt. There is going to be a few very painful days, but let's keep this in perspective, you can handle a few really bad days for a life time free of tonsillitis, right? My husband recently had strep, and I didn't even get it! My advice: keep a positive attitude, drink at least 100-120 oz of water (or crystal light) per 24 hours (you should be peeing more often than a third trimester pregnant lady), swallow swallow swallow, set your alarm at night for every hour to drink and take your meds as prescribed (I know that sounds over kill, but trust me, it hurts a lot less to swallow after 1 hour of not doing it than 4 hours), tie ice packs to your neck with a scarf (I did this even at night and continued to do it for almost two weeks), chew minty sugar-free gum all the time. Good luck, you can do this!

Hi, it is my day 9 after the operation, I am 34 and have had other big surgeries ( my spleen was removed a few years ago and also had a long time ago my appendix remove). I thought I had a good pain tolerance, but I was wrong. This is he most extreme pain I have ever had. The surgeon and my doctor told me that it was going to be rather painful , I kept thinking: how bad can it be? I am sure it is not that bad.
The first 3 days after surgery where easy, I drunk and ate very well and had quite good sleeps, then out of blue just when I thought I was over it it started and it has only gotten worse. I set up my alarm at nighto take the painkillers and even so, if I have sleeping for an hour wihout drinking anything trying to swallow the pain killer is absolutely agony. Just a few hours ago I started crying like a baby because of the most severe pain I had so far (throat, ears). I have been taking dyxocline, tylex or cocodamol and antibiotics. the cocodamol upset my belly it gav me constipation for 3 days, my belly was so big that just added to the agony, even my kidneys have been in serious pain.

I found that the anti-inflamatorys/ painkiller diclophene or voltaren is the most effective, tylex is not doing trust much for me except for upset my stomach although the doctor says it is a very effective one, maybe if I would not take it I would be worse, it also makes me very sleepy or drowsie.

Also I have been running a fever of up to 37.7 cesious, which makes me feel eben worse.
Ice lollypops helps me, also soft things like custurd or trifle. The medical advise here onthe UK is to eat hard things like toast to remove all th dirt, aparently its the only way to get better.

I have been "sleeping" not much at all sitting up with 3 pillows and at times I wake up in ned of air. So playing scrabble in my iPhone while my husband is asleep it had been keeping my focus into something else other Than pain, which I think it is very important.

Over the last 2.5 years I have been getting sick so often, almost every other month or a dew months on a row, so I haba lot of faith that it all be worth it, all the pain and agony will forgotten once I can have my normal life back.

Good luck to all and stay positive, focus on the ultimate goal, your energy go

Eat while your painkillers are working and don't try to safe on them, you might regret it later.

I hope I wake up tomorrow morning and the pain is over

Hello all, I am an 18 year old female, who decided to get her tonsils out on christmas eve due to being sick countless times through the past 18 years. For starters, if you have any option whatsoever in getting your tonsils out, DO NOT DO IT. I am now 5 days post op, and for the past 5 days I have been in the worst pain of my life. I generally have a high tolerance for pain, so I continue to feel like I am being a baby through all of this. When I came to after the operation I did not feel horrible due to the morphine. They had me sip on a cup of water for two hours, then released me to go home. I was prescribed demerol w/nausea medicine, percocet 10's, and a lydocaine rinse for numbing.

Day of surgery: I was in a little bit of pain, forced down one bowl of sherbet, and slept the majority of the day. (not capable of talking)
Day 1: A little more painful than day 1, but slept most of the day as well. I was able to eat another bowl of sherbet and small amount of mashed potatoes. (still not capable of talking)
Day 2: Quite a bit better, less painful, I was able to walk around and talk a small amount as well. I quit taking the demerol, and started on the percocets because it was not seeming to do much for the pain. I ate one cup of yogurt.
Day 3: I woke up in the middle of the night with searing pain to my throat. I could not talk at all, and every time I swallowed anything it continuously felt like someone was stabbing me in the neck. I slept all day, waking up only to take my medicine. When it got to be the evening I had an allergic reaction to the percocet and began throwing up uncontrollably. Because of the lack of eating anything it was mostly stomach bile & dry heaving which put a horrible strain on my throat. Not to be a drama queen, but I literallly thought that I was dying. I woke up countless times that night in pain...
Day 4: After sleeping in very late, I felt quite a bit better. I began taking tylenol extra strength due to the stomach episode the night before. I was able to get up and move around and talk quite a bit more than I had been the previous days. The sore throat was not as severe at all. I slept most of the night only waking up a few times to drink a little water.
Day 5: The worst imaginable. I woke up this morning with searing pain to both ears and my throat. I try to sleep, but I feel like someone is taking a knife and stabbing my ear drums and throat. The tylenol was doing nothing for this, so I started on the demerol again. The demerol only helps for an hour or so, so for the other 3 hours I am left helpless until I can tak another one. I can't eat because every time I swallow searing pain shoots to my throat and ears. I would never wish this pain on anyone. All the pain in my ears and throat is giving me a thumping headache. My stomach is growling because I haven't barely eaten anything in 5 days.

I honestly would not reccommend anyone getting this surgery because I would of rather dealt with strep and tonsilitis, than dealt with this immense pain. If anyone has suggestions of things to help, PLEASE let me know. I keep seeing this toast idea, but I can't see how that would help. Right now, all I am doing is praying that tomorrow is a little better.

Hi. Im a 17 and tomorrow will be a week post op. My friend had told me everything that was going to happen. She told me that I was going to be in so much pain that I'm not going to want to do anything at all but, thats not how I felt at all. After the surgery, when I woke up, I was fine. My surgery only took 40 minutes and I woke up 15 minutes later. I looked at the nurse and told her to go get my brother. I was talking and smiling and eating the icey they had given me. I was hoping that it would be just like that - with no pain but I knew it was only because I was drugged up on morphine. The next day I woke up in pain I didnt want to eat or talk or anything. I just slept all day. So far the only bad pain I have had is last night and the night before - I woke up in a cold sweat with so much pain. It wasn't just my throat - it was my ear, mouth, throat, my whole head. Day 4, I had a french toast and half of a bagel. I went back to eating certain things. I tried eggs but I can only eat them with ketchup and that still burns - so thats not happening yet. I only took two off my pain killers because suprisingly it hasn't been that bad. I've been talking fine for the last couple days and today I was actually singing. The pain that you went threw I am sorry. Some people have different levels of pain tolerance. The only big problem I really had was my having to repierce my tongue yesterday. lol.
Good luck to everyone who gets a tonsillectomy. Everyone has difference pain levels, so it may not be as bad as others. Mine wasn't.

I had my tonsils out just over a month ago. I'm not going to lie and i agree with you all, the pain is nothing less than excruciating, by far the worst i have ever felt. :'( But i can promise you all it slowly gets better. Day 6 was by far the worst, ut things slowly improved from there, besides catching gastoenterritous on day 7,and being sick over 10times. My top tips for anyone who will be going through with the surgery:

1.YOU MUST EAT, i know it absolutly kills, but i was litterally force fed a few hours post-op and it helps to clean the wound and aids you recovery, it hurt but i honestly believe it helped me. Even just a packet of crisps would work wonders, i'm not going to pretend it didn't hurt, and that the painkillers worked, because they never really got rid of the pain, but they did dull it ever so slightly, so if you time your eating for half an hour after your painkillers eating is a little easier.

2.A RELIGIOUS PAINKILLER ROUTINE: I was taking, dihydrocodine, paracetamol and ibruprofen, i spaced them out over a 6 hour period, so maybe 2 dihydrocodine (which knocked me out!!!) and 2 paracetamol at a time. Then four hours later when these are wearing off, take 2 ibruprofen, by the time these are wearing off a few hours later it will be time for your next bout of (e.g.) dihydrocodine and paracetamol! Sorted!! :-)

3.DRINK: if you don't you'll end up back in hospital, de-hydrated. I found drinking warm drinks such as tea much easier than water. AVOID ORANGE JUICE, i found it really stung the wound and made me sick. Might not be the same for everyone, so just a warning!! I was able to manage apple juice as time progressed.

4. DON'T TALK UNLESS NEEDS BE!!!: Firstly if your family are anything like mine they will love this!!! Its hurts and causes you un-necessary pain! So keeping quiet is best! I used a pen and paper to communicate!!

5. BE LAZY: You heal faster when you sleep, so make the most of it!! I know its difficult and the pain wakes you up, so i napped after i had taken dihydrocodine, it knocked me out which helped, so i got a few hours sleep at a time.

6. THINGS WILL GET BETTER :-)
i had tonsilitis 9 times in 12 weeks. Not pleasant! I don't regret the surgery now, the pain is worth it, stick it out :-)

Hope i helped!! x

This reply was the most honest and most comforting that I found. I am 47 (yes there is a 4 in front of the 7) and am just over 2 weeks post op now and finally can see some light at the end of the tunnel.

The day of the operation was not too bad - just the expected sore throat but they gave me morphine in recovery, was given jelly and ice cream and ate a few crisps - was also told to chew chewing gum as often as possible as that helped keep the thoat moist (didnt seem to do much) - days 2 and 3 were not too bad and was sent home from hospital on the morning of day 3 with soluable co-codomol and voltorol (diclofenic) - day 4 started ok but but the end of the day i was in agony and the pain continued to get worse through day 5 - had been told by the dr that day 5 would be the worst. Had to speak to the dr during day 5 and was told no more pills (even though by then I was cheating and adding some neurofen into the mix - did not care about overdoses at that stage) - and was told extra co-codomol could be gargled but not swallowed - did offer some releif but not much.

pain is not just in throat - and worse when swallowing - but also in ear (particularly the left ear)

thought day 5 was the worst but pain continued to get worse and worse - day 7 was horrendous (nights were even worse) and even ended up with my husband having to take me to our local A&E at 6am in the morning i was in so much pain - did not care if it would do me long term harm - just wanted more co-codomol, in fact i did not care about anything - really just wanted to roll up and die (so unlike me). Best thing ever - got a triage nurse who just took hold of my hands and said "say nothing - i had my tonils out 2 years ago - i know what you are going through" - she even told my husband she nearly got divorced from her husband during the recovery process the pain was so bad - got me more (supervised under 6 hours) co-codomol AND an injection of Tramadol - i started to feel better (and very sleepy) within about 30 mins. saw a dr, no infection, sent back home with some Tramadol that could also be taken as necessary during the recovery

by day 10 started to had periods of feeling not too bad but still really sore to swallow, ear still ached and tired and unwell all the time - was trying to eat something every day - seems like the best diet i have ever been on - although the scales say i have lost no weight.

Day 13 went round to friends, had to come home after 2 hours as just too much - and had full compliment of co-codomol (had been trying to wean myself off the pills) but woke up day 14 with no pain for the first time. Pain came back but only needed half the co-codomol yesterday - and only 1 dose today. Saw dr yesterday and healing has only just really begun (apparently my tonsils and the area around were very scarred and i am far older than either children or most adults ----- maybe because i have been putting this off every time i have been told to have this op since i was in my early 30's!!!!) the worst thing now is the sloughing - it feels like something is stuck in my throat so i keep gagging.

i have had major abdominal surgery and would rather have that (or a baby) any day rather than go through this again - when told i would need to be off work for at least 2 weeks i though that by at least the middle of the 2nd week i would be able to be out and about and be "a lady that lunches" no such luck - here i am now on my 3rd week off work - but there is a light at the end of the tunnel - just make sure you ask for as much pain relief as you can possibly get and when in real pain don;t be scared to telephone/go back to the hospital - there is more they can do for you
good luck

Hi! I'm 17 years old amd I'm 5 days after my surgery.
The day of the op I was graand, had no bad reaction to the anesthetic and barely any pain. I managed to have 2 slices of toast and a cup of tea, Which made me feel much better.

That night, however, I was in agony:( I was given a morphine shot before I whent to sleep, but in a few hours it was totally gone. Managed to get some more painkillers a few hours after I had started begging for them. Stupid nurses:(

I got to go home the next day:) Pain wasn't too bad. slept a lot.

On day 3 and 4 the pain started to get waaay worse. Every morning when I woke up, I was in so much pain. I could barely swallow my painkillers, which seemed to have no effect. I couldn't swallow any food, and the little bit of mashed potato I could swallow, I vomited right back up again.
Day 5 wasn't too bad. I woke up In agony, but luckily i was given extra painkillers to start taking on day 5 till 10. I was able to eat a little.

The worst thing about all this, apart from the pain, Is all the bits of food stuck at the back of my throat, around the wound. It looks horrible, and I can feel all the food stuck up there. My entire mouth tastes like vomit. Yuck! I've been forced to eat a load of mints to try and get rid of the taste ( I HATE mints), but they only last a few minutes.:-(

I would recomend eating toast and tea as often as you can, Its about the only thing that makes me feel better. Try eating it a little while after you take some painkillers, about 20-30 minutes.

I'm on Difene and tylex. Not much help, but I'll take what I can get!

The pain is soo bad. The tonsilitis itself was nothing compared to this, But in some cases (like mine-the infetion had spread to my glands.) they had to go, so I'm just trying to deal with it as best I can.:-)

Good day
I completly symphathize with everyone. Just got my tonsils out yesterday, and so far it has been the most painful surgery yet. I maxed out the amount of pain killers the hospital could give. I'm now stuck with T3's which are useless and liquid codeine that burns more than anything. The only medicatin that doesn't hurt to take is my liquid antiboitics.
My mouth is flemmy and I can't swallow I've been wearing an ice pack but it does nothing feels like my whole thoat is swollen shut I have ensure that I have been trying to drink but anything I put in my month just burns. I can't talk at all. I haven't not eaten anything since two days ago, and am starting to have too much difficulty drinking. I haven't been able to sleep since yesterday. I tried to look inside my mouth but I can even open it, it hurts way too much.
I don't want to be one of those people who runs in to the doctors office the next day for better pain killers but if it doesn't improve by tomorrow I will have to seing as my doctor is closed on weekends. I also feel like I have a glob of blood and mucous stuck in the back of my throat which I complained to the nurses about yesterday but Iwas told it was a normal sensation from being frozen but this morning that feeling is still there. My ears and Jaw are in so much pain. When I put water in my mouth I cannot control my swallowing, and it just leaks in back of my throat.