I had my tonsils and adenoids taken out 11/18/13. I was worried because of the stories I had heard. However. Here is my story.
Day 1: I had surgery at 11 am. It wasn't too bad. I remember waking up feeling like I swallowed a rock. I ate a Popsicle and some pudding and drank ice water. I was still sleepy so I tried to sleep in recovery. It was hard to talk. The pain was not unbearable just uncomfortable. I went home 2 hours later and was told it was best to sleep with a cough drop in the side of your cheek because your throat will stay moist. It helped A LOT!!!!! I recommend this!!!! I only took Advil for pain. I ate some chicken noodle soup, pudding and mashed banana for dinner and drank ice water.
Day 2: I felt ok. My throat was more sore and it was harder to swallow. I still ate soup and pudding with my Advil and water. No changes really.
Day 3: I felt like I was hit by a bus. My tongue hurt, my ears hurt and I didn't eat anything all that day because it was too painful. I drank water but that was it. Advil was no longer helping. I had to fill my pain meds.
Today is day 4: my throat feels ok. Much better. I feel like I had my wisdom teeth taken out again! I'm swollen and look like a chipmunk. My ears hurt so bad I want to rip them off my head. If it weren't for my ears , I probably could eat an actual meal today. Oh we'll. soup it is!
Wow, what an experience! I hope you are feeling back to your normal self again! The pointer about the cough drop sounds like a great idea to pass along to others, just so a person just try sucking on it. Sucking on straws is off limits so I know sucking on a cough drop would be as well. Leaving it on the side of your cheek where it dissolves should be helpful, however. I hope your ear pain went away soon after your post. I never heard anyone that experience ear pain, so I hope that it resolved quickly. Ear pain is awful!