POST TONSILLECTOMY SURGERY AND ACUTE EAR ACHES

I am on day 5 of my surgery. Each day I look forward to the next. Each day I look forward to the next day being better. I had extreme earaches on day 4. Days 1 and 2 were miserable. I found that sorbet works better than ice cream. I cream burns like something terrible. I have also found that sipping water does not work. So, I just gulp it down. I get could water and gulp it all down to stay hydrated. Sure, it hurts be I know that I must be orally hydrated. I have't been able to eat much in the past 5 days but boy would I like pizza. I have tried mashpotatoes but they are too thick and I have ate a few roman noodles but not alot. I am soo hungry for some gooooooood foood. I was given Tylenol with codeine but that has made me sleepy and sick..so I kinda feel like I am on my own..But I know it will get better soon.....It just have to.

I am now on day 7. I have found campbell chicken noodle soup and herbal tea to be wonderful. Before cold foods were great but now they just cause pain but hopefully that will change. I start to feel better physically but still weak when triying to do chores. The problem is most people don't realize how painful this surgery is. They really think you should be up an going in a few days. Rest is important. I haven't tried the gum thing but I would love a nice glass of refreshing water (pain free that is) What I have learn is you must stay hydrated. I was soooooo sick from being dehydrated, I felt dizzy and nausea weak and just plain terrible. I should have went to the er but I didn't. Contray to what people say do not eat toast or any hard foods to cleanse the throat---you will rub your scabs off! I wish I could do something about this bad breath though but that is a sign of healing.

Hi! I am new to the forum and for several days I have been reading the posts to see how I can relate to others. Just so you know.. I'm 19 and I have had chronic tonsilitis for the past four years and it has also obstructed my breathing passage...so I really needed this done!!

I am on DAY 6

Personally, I think the most frustrating part of this is that I can't do anything! I want to eat a prime rib, french fries, hamburgers, any thing that is basically not noodles or pudding!! And I want to go out and make use out of myself. Luckily my mom and dad have been taking very good care of me so that is a HUGE help... and now that I am on day 6 i can get up and do things myself.

I think the first day is so crucial. I drank and was already eating noodles and organic chicken broth the entire day. I was only on tylenol extra strength. Even though it hurt, i forced myself, because I rather be in pain than be dehydrated or have a fever.

Eating wise I have jello, pudding, noodle soup, egg drop soup (which is AWESOME because you dont have to chew it!), semi-melted icecream. Drinking wise I have water and green tea. I prefer warmer drinks and food. I actually feel better after having something warm.

PEOPLE, GUM AND COUGH DROPS ARE KEY! I find most of my pain to be post nasal drip while I am sleeping. During the middle of the night and mornings are the worst because of the mucus dripping down my throat. After I chew some gum or have a cough drop I feel better within 30min to an hour.

The second day I was taking my Vicoden every 4 hours. Now I am taking it every 7-71/2 hours. As long as I constantly drink water or tea, eat soft food, have a piece of gum, or a cough drop.. my throat is only sore during the day...which is better than being in a lot of pain

The only reason I can't have normal food is because my uvula is sooooo swollen (I'm scared food will get stuck!!!) and my scabs have not fallen off yet. I do not want to go this far and risk my scabs to fall off because I want to have a hamburger (even though I am dieeeeing for one)


I hope this helped some people who are going through the same thing or that are thinking about having surgery. The worst part is the length of the recovery.. not so much the pain... so you can relax. As long as you stay hydrated and eat whatever possible... then you will get better faster.


I will write back within the next 2 days...hopefully my scabs will start flaking off!!


ALTHOUGH IT IS FRUSTRATING AND I WANT TO KILL MY FAMILY WHILE THEY ARE EATING PORK CHOPS... ALWAYS TRY AND THINK POSITIVE!!!! GOOD LUCK


-Jenna

As I said in my previous post, the whole surgery itself was not as painful as I thought it would be, but sitting around all day doing the same thing again and again is really annoying! On day 7 I finally slept in my own bed and got 8 hours of sleep, instead of 4 or 5 like I have been getting every other night. Today was day 8 and I have to say.. I woke up feeling miserable. I had slept 9 hours (woke up 3 short moments during the night) and I guess from sleeping so long I had soooo much flem in my throat. I know.. EWWW! As usual it was so dry (which happens every night), but this time flem built up realllly bad. On a normal day I could have just spit it up, but I still have scabs in my throat so I do not want or CANT get it up. So while I was trying to breathe and swallow I felt like I was going to choke on it!!

I didn't have the best day.. and even though I've been trying hard to keep a positive attitude this whole time, I was very dissapointed. I thought I was supposed to be feeling BETTER.

Okay well I just took my vicoden (I only limited myself to 3 a day) and now I am going to sleep! Gniteeeeee

hi im caroline a 37 year old female, i am on day 8 :'( i have suffered 2 bouts of quinsy, thats why i had to have my procedure.I HAVE NEVER KNOWN PAIN LIKE IT.........my fiance rang dr last night who wanted to re admit me to hospital, but i said i will give it 24 more hours, it is now 2.08 am and i am wishing i went, the ear ache is killing me, and i feel like i am proper dying, i get comfort from brushing my teeth, and 30 mins after taking tramadol having some toast, the toast itches the back of my throat, also gargling with disolvable paracetamol is good.

i have found alot of comfort from this forum,and shall keep u all updated on my progress

cazi xx

hello, Im 25. :-(

I am on day 3 from my septoplasty and tonsillectomy… today I woke up with a terrible pain ears, but thanks to the advice of this forum passed the pain fast… I will try to sleep in the afternoons because at night the pain is much more strong…
The ice helps a lot! and tramadol in drops (20) every 6 hours too!

thank you!!!
i will checking!


Sorry for my english! XD

i have been taking vicadon every 3.5 hours around the clock but it barely takes the edge off. i was going through the pain meds so often that they were starting to make me ill and dizzy. so on day four i decided to dicontinue the pain meds. instead i use extra strength tylenol in stant release gel caps. though it does help the pain in my ears is killing me. the pain is actually eminating from two glands in the base of my jaw/throat. i have been producing a variable amount of flem but less then when i used the vicadon.

i have been running a small fever and nights are unbareable. i've been told things get better after the first week but from all the testimonials that doesn't seem to be the case at all. looks like you suffer the entire two weeks and then start to see relief.

i think the idea of recovery is greatly exaggerated in the medical community.

Im on day 5
The pain continue...but almost I have it controlled. The ice gel packs helps a lot!!, really is the best invention of the world at this moment.
Put it on the neck and chin.... ufff really good! :D USE COLD!


Smashing potatoes and eggs, is the only thing that i can eat...

i am on day 10.....WOW i never thought id be feeling like this
i am just gargling diflam now and soluable paracetamol, the only food i can manage is toast and biscuits

cazi xx

I am 22 years old, and on day 5 after my tonsillectomy, and all i have to say is OUCH!!! Right after the surgey i walked out of there feeling fine and impressing all the doctors and nurses. Boy did i have them fooled! After the first night at home, i was doomed. Ive already lost 10 lbs and im a very slender girl to begin, so losing weight isnt good! I try to eat but it just hurts my throat too much. My boyfriend brings me chocolate protein shakes from the gym where he works out, and even those are starting to hurt now.

I am taking liguid vicodin and extra strength tylenol .. both make me sick though. I went all day yesterday without any pain medicine because i didnt want to make myself puke again. I gave in today though!! I'd rather be sick to my stomach than go through this razor blade feeling.

My ears dont hurt too bad, but i yawn a lot - and BOY does that kill! Im just depressed because everyone around me is eating yummy food, and every commercial on TV is making me hungry. All i want is a burger and fries .. mmmmm.

It was nice to read everyones blogs. Glad to see im not alone! Good luck to everyone .. hope we all start feeling better!!!

i really swear on gargling soluable paracetamol before swallowing it, and difflam mouthwash gargle and spit, then eat 30 mins later, XD

I DONT THINK EATING CHOCOLATE IS A GOOD IDEA, IT HURTS o.O
i am still eating toast and biscuits dunked in coffee, and i have just ate a bowl of ready brek,

i also think the morphine(tramadol) was a waste of time, it didnt take the pain away, just knocked me out, %-)

i know its easier said than done, but try to drink plenty of fluids,to keep your throat hydrated, cos a dehydrated throat hurts like hell. :-P



My ears still hurt like hell, and i cannit yawn to save me life
:-(


hope everyone else is feeling better

cazi xxx

Yes!! It is wonderful to come across this post! All the research has been about children and that doesnt help me much. You all have a been a huge help! I am on day 8 and finally able to get liquids down and was able to get some mac and cheese down pretty well. The worst for me the last few days is not being ale to move my tongue well and i still talk like a frog (ive had to have co-workers return my calls at work). . . . . i havent heard anyone mention their voices really. . im ready to talk normally again. If anyone has a hard time getting the pain medicine down, i found relieve with milk ( i know it makes mucus, but just spit!). . . .i havent even been able to get ice cream or soup down so i pretty much was dehydrated until the other day. . . not good of course

Just like everyone else i am hoping that all this pain will be good in the long run!!

Too bad we all cant go out for some pizza. . ive been craving the same things everyone else has. . . add some boneless wings in there though. . . yummy!

Thanks again for everyones help!

my sister sent me here to see what everyone else was going through too. I had my tonsils out 13 days ago on jan 5. I have been in acute pain ever since. I had enough scar tissue that he had to remove a bit of my soft pallate as well, mostly on the right side. I cannot yawn without severe ear pain, Mornings should never happen. I almost cry every morning still at the pain. I am taking hycet (hydrocodone + acetometaphen) every 3 hours for pain. it takes the edge off but I am definately not pain free. I cannot eat anything too sweet, salty, no spice at all. too hot and too cold hurt extremely badly. room temperature is all I can handle now. I used to be able, for the first 5 or 6 days, to eat and drink cold stuff. now I'm basically stuck to lukewarm jello, apple juice, water and mashed potatoes (from scratch- the box kind is too sticky). I've lost approx. a pound a day. that's the only thing I'm not complaining about. I go in to be rechecked tomorrow morning. I had a bad problem on day 6. I couldn't even swallow my own saliva. not just because of pain, but because everything I had left in my throat was so swollen. I was re-admitted into the hospital where I was given IV fluids, antibiotics and morphine. I was supposed to stay longer, but I only stayed 2 full days. they had no food I could eat. their jello was sugar-free and the aspertame burned. that was the only menu item they constantly had. Now I can eat unsalted or peppered scrambled eggs, if it is not long after I take my meds. Sinus drainage is a problem for me. Was REALLY bad the first few days. like ly sinuses were plugged from draining by my tonsils or something. I'm 33. This sucks! almost want to say it would have been better to leave them in. I'll decide that better once I finally heal, If I ever do

So great to find this forum! Thought I was going mad by myself. Had my tonsils out on 12th Jan 07 and the pain has been monumental. My throat closed up so I couldn't swallow my own spit, ear ache, my tongue hurts, my teeth are really sensitive and the side of my face has swollen up attractively. Not to mention I sound like a frog too. Has anyone had the taste of burnt flesh as well? It's all I've been able to taste since the operation and is really grossing me out. Just want to taste something fresh.

At the moment I still can't swallow any liquids but I found ice really comforting and I've made some frozen apple juice lollies which are lovely.

Note to anyone just starting out on this - avoid anything with orange or lemon juice in. I tried some shop smoothies the other day and it was agony!

Unfortunately ended up with infection and was spitting mouthfulls of blood yesterday. On anti biotics now and feeling a bit better.

No one mentioned how long it was going to take to feel better - feel like I've plateaued at BAD for a week now. But hoping that the next few days will ease up and I can start eating chocolate cake again!

Only good thing is I've lost over a stone in a week. Not sure it's that healthy but quicker than weight watchers!

Good luck everyone - hope you all feel much better soon.

x

Hi all-

I'm on Day 10 post-tonsillectomy. It's so amazing how everyone's experiences vary... I still can't even eat hot or cold foods, and nothing that has to be chewed. No bleeding, thank god, but it's a slooooow path to recovery. I just started to get my voice back yesterday.

If you're not sure about your pain meds, ASK YOUR DOCTOR. Trust me. I had the surgery on a Friday, and I was in excruciating pain over the weekend... I was expecting it to be bad, but I couldn't swallow because my gag reflex would kick in from the intense pain (and I'm not a baby about stuff like that). On Monday, when the doc was finally available again, my boyfriend called about the prescription, and the doctor was like "No, I gave her a pretty hefty dose of liquid codiene. She should be in lala land, not gagging from pain." He called the pharmacy and it turns out they'd mis-filled my prescription... with CHILDREN'S liquid Tylenol, which is about 1/6th the strength of what I was sposed to be taking.

Since I actually GOT my meds, I'm doing much better, but that was an unbearable few days there. So if they're not working, double check! You never know unless you ask, and sometimes they can give you something stronger even if your scrip is right.

Oh, and I find Cream of Wheat to be awesome. That's what I've been living on... that and chicken broth.

Best of luck to everyone.

M