:confused: I have a question. I am a 19 y/o female and I got my tonsils out Aug 30. I STILL havent lost my scabs. I still look like I have a wad of white cheesy stuff stuck in the back of my throat and I am still in alot of pain. I feel very weak and have had a steady 99.2 degree fever for the whole 11 days(thats so high for me, my norm temp is like 96.5). Today we looked at the scabs and they are bleeding...not bad, just you can see little red streaks of blood down their surface. Is this normal? I though you are supposed to loose the scabs on like day 6! HELP!


EDIT: Also cold still hurts. I have to drink room temp water/milk/juice or I have to let it sit in my mouth for a minute or so before I swallow. As well, sweet things still taste bitter, I had blueberry pancakes with syrup and they tasted SO bad!

Please help!!

Jezahb,

Don't panic or stress yourself it will only make you feel worse. Alright, now you say you are running a 99.2 degree fever when your normal temp is 96.5 degrees. This is a temperature differential of 2.7 degrees.

Normal temp is assumed to be 98.5 (I am about 97 myself) and the instructions state to return to your doctor if you have a temperature of 101.7+. This is a temperature differential of 3.2.

It is natural for your body to run a temperature for 3 - 4 weeks after such a surgery... after all you just attacked and hacked pieces out. I have a few questions for you to ask yourself that may help you in deciding what action you should take:

1) Are you on antibiotics? If yes this should be fighting any infection in the area.

2) Were you given antibiotics? If no, you should have been contact your doctor immediately.

3) Are you taking tylenol? If yes, is your fever 99.2 through the tylenol? If yes once more get to the doctor your actual temperature is above that 101.7 differential mark indicating you may have an infection that is resistant to your antibiotics or stronger than them.

Now as to why you haven't lost your scabs yet. Some people heal slower than others and your environment can add to that factor. If you are in a highly polluted environment or smoke/live with a smoker then these can all slow down the time table for recovery. I have heard it take 15 days for some to loose there scabs. My ENT told me to hope to be recovered at the end of 14 days, but that sometimes it takes 21. I get my tonsils and adnoids out in four weeks time. My experience comes from nursing my son, brother and mother through the after effects of T & A's.

The small tracks of bleeding may be a good sign, it could be indicating that your scabs are about to sluff off.

You can only make your own decisions. Think on how you feel, the questions I listed above and call and talk to your doctor's nurse. She will be able to offer the final advice you need to decide on whether to come in or not.

Wishing you the Best.
MG