Tonsillectomy scabs? I'm scared?!

Hi im 33 (f) i had my tonsils taken out on wed the 14th and today is 19th. The pain from my ears and my tongue is just the complete worst. I have noticed some pieces of scabs when i spit because i have to keep a spit cup next to my bed because its so frequent. There is a horrible taste in my mouth and my food tasted funny the first 3 days.The pain does seem to get worst at night. My pain meds make me feel terrible so i only take 1 instead of the 2 when i really need it (Percacet). It feels like its little pieces of something stuck in the back of my throat. NO, do not cough and do not try and clear your throat. This can irritate it more and cause scabs to come off early and bleed. When i swallow i can tolerate the throat soreness but oh me ears.....PAIN....PURE PAIN! I ate soup the first day home and i vomited twice the first day. The second day i actually ate a sandwich but the bread was soft along with grits and pancakes throughout the day. The third day i starting eating regular food but i just make sure its soft. I couldnt take the soup anymore...but know your limits. Like i baked pork chops and had alfredo noodles with it. Drink fluids and plenty of them. It helps. I hope this helps someone. I have heard many horror stories but so far it is not as bad as i have read. I wish someone would have warned me about the ear and tongue pain.

Hey I'm 25 on day 6 of my recovery and I feel everything you've described so much. Morphine made me so sick so I stopped it after day 4, the pain is unreal in my throat, jaw, ears and head. I just want to sleep for days but I can't breathe comfortably. Worst. Surgery. Ever. I can barely keep jello down too. I manage a popsicle from time to time. Lots of water, though even that seems disgusting right now. How long til your scabs came off? Mine haven't started shedding yet but it feels like I have a furry golf ball in my throat. Hope you are all recovered now!

I coughed a huge piece up on day 7. I made puking sounds too, but there was no vomit. That chunk was way too big to swallow. It was about the size of an acorn. I suggest just coughing it up. I have another chunk in there that's too big to swallow but it just won't come out. I know it's loose, because when I lay down on one side, it goes to that side. It's definitely too big to swallow, and it's difficult to breathe and swallow past it (but possible, so I'm not choking on it). Hopefully it does something soon. It's making my mouth and breath taste terrible. It's highly unpleasant. (I'm on day 8)

Absolutely! I am 34 and on day 7 and everything burns going down my throat except water! Any juice, smoothies slushies... They all burn... When the meds start to wear off... I am in excruciating pain.. No one prepared me for this!

Hi I'm on day 7 and just coughed up blood for the first time. Well day one I threw up and there was blood but that was expected. Days have become more manageable however nights are the hardest. You sleep with your mouth open which dries the cavities and the pain shoots to your ears. Then waking from the pain it's TOO painful to take the pain pill.. How ironic. I'm really hoping the next three days will be my worst, scabs fall out however and I start to sleep again because I'm lucky if I get a straight hour at night. Still on practically a liquid diet ( eat occasions noodle in soup). And cannot wait for solid food. I still have faith it will get better... But damn this sucks!!!

Day 7 including surgery. 25/female. Absolute misery. However....if you can find the Sobe Elixir Strawberry Daquari drinks I highly recommend them! I suppose the aloe in them is what helps but I started alternating them with ice water immediately after and they feel incredible without the burn that other juices give. A spoonful of honey every now and again also seems to help. I couldn't wait to eat any longer so I just chew every little bite excessively and wash it down with plenty of fluids! Hopefully this helps someone out there!

I'm 29 and on day 10 including surgery day. I had my tonsils and devated septum and other sinus surgery done at the same time. The pain hasn't been too bad for me, more tounge and neck pain the last few days. Eating is a chore and I'm usually tired after. As of right now I have a small sense of smell and taste, but that's more due to the sinises. Some of my scabs are gone, but I'm guessing I'm swallowing them. Haven't coughed anything up. My tip to get through this is drink lots of water. That is all I have had since the surgery and a slurpee. Ice was my best friend and used the trays that make small cubes. The first few days I was restless and my bed was the most uncomfortable place to be. I would keep water bottles in the freezer so the water nice and cold. Reading these boards before surgery scared me. Just drink lots of water and take the pain meds on time and rest.

Im on day 8 including surgery day. I have lost 18 pounds. I cant eat anything. I have diarrhea. The pain has let up a bit but not much. It seems much worse at night. I have stitches and they're cauterized me. When I eat food gets stuck in stitches and it is very painful. Having tonsils and adenoids out is the worst pain I have ever felt.

Hey, I'm 17 And Have gotten my tonsils removed Monday today is Saturday. Days 1 and 2 was fine because I was still Highed up on Anesthesia. Day 3 my throat was hurting so bad,so I decided to take the codeine I couldn't eat drink nothing. The Codeine just put me to sleep and when I woke up seems as though it caused more problems. My ears were in excutiating pain and I was very dizzy. Day 4 and 5 everything I ate or drunk my ears would hurt so bad the throat pain was painful too but NOTHING Like the ear pain. I woke up this morning with the worst pain ever but I drunk a lot of water Nd felt much better it's night right now and I've been feeling good all day. I have even eatin egg Fuu Yung from the local Carryout and a whole lot of cream of wheat lol Iguess that makes up from not eating all week. Now I'm just afraid of the scabs coming off it feels like it's something just sitting in my throat but I wouldn't dare cough it up. I'm So scared I hope I never notice them come off just look in my mouth one day and it'll all be pink again.lol But Goodluck to everyone unfortunately I return to school Monday.

Hi, 41 on day 7.  I've been getting scabs coming up in spit/near vomit for a couple days.  The further down the throat the scab is, the more it requires a gag reflex to cough up.  I don't care whether it goes up or down, as long as it goes when it's ready.  Also had a modified neck dissection and my tonsillectomy was a radical one (to remove cancer), and I am glad that I haven't been taking the narcotics like others or having the ear pain.  Good luck to everyone, almost there...

Hi Im 15 and on day 8, the doctor says that my scabs are thinner than normal and they shouldn't bee too bad, I would just stick with those soft foods, nothing that would rip them out ya know? Also, if the ice cream is driving you crazy for some salt, laughing cow, and even string cheese is really helping me out right now. Best of luck!

I am 27 and had my surgery on april 7th and today is the 11th. I knew it would be painful. The part i wasn't prepared for was the ear pain. I have been drinking water and sipping soup every now and then. Today I feel the best that I have since the surgery.There is pain but i can EAT!! i had a half can of soup and some pudding!!!! Not looking forward to the scab removal since it is supposed to be really painful. Ugh!!! cannot wait for this to be over.

I had my tonsils removed on the 7th and today is the 13th. My operation was more complicated as my tonsils were very infected and full of puss. I needed extra stitches and lost a lot of blood so needed a blood transfusion. The pain is bearable luckily it's the scabs that are driving me mad I can feel the hanging at the back of my throat. I have had this horrible cough since taking them out, it hurts so bad when I cough. But it's helped remove the scabs, bought a HUGE piece up the other day. It was gross and it stunk. My left side is scab free so hopefully it stays like that it's the right side now. If I could I'd poke them out as I really can't stand them but guess that's not happening.

Hi I'm 35 f and on day 14 post op and I have to say that this has been the worst surgery I have been through including two not very good labours/births. Although I had read a lot of horror stories it isn't until you go through this that you realise how bad it is! Unlike other times when you are ill and you can just does up and sleep away the pain this is so not the case after this op. I went 10 days with sleeping probably a max of 2 hours a day if I was lucky. I wasn't allowed to leave the hospital until I had eaten 2 pieces of toast and was told that by eating rough food this was the best way to recovery. On coming home I put my big girl pants on and I made sure that I ate a least two servings of toast and crisps a day as I was terrified of post op infection and bleeding. I can honestly say that I think this has helped with my recovery and with the scabs. I haven't once coughed up any scabs or had them hanging off and haven't experienced the bad taste smell that is talked about. I have practically lived off codeine 30/500 and ibuprofen and one of my best aides has been a v shaped pillow to help at night so you can rest without choking!! The pain in the ears is eye watering and at times (and I did take tramadol for this) I have been pacing the kitchen in the early hours sucking on ice cubes. On day 14 I now just feel like I have a real sore throat but there is light at the end of the tunnel. The pain is easily forgotten and you will get through this. I don't regret having this done at all .

I am a 46 m doctor and this is the 8th day . I had read and prepared myself for the worst senario . Fortunately the pain did not last more than 3 days . The key point is drinking and eating soft food as much as you can even if you have that killing pain in first days... Even when you dont eat chew a gum. The reason of the pain is neither dehydration nor the cut site. It is because of manipulation of your oral nerves and muscles . The more you swallow ( even your own saliva) the sooner rehabilitation of your oral muscles would be. Put 3-4 pillows under your head at the time of sleeping and this will prevent edema at the surgery site. Drink plenty of cold iced water (and the ice too!!!) during day and night. Avoid any hot beverage and food and foods with sharp edges during recovery time