Hi dsinned, thanks for the note. Actually I did get a script for anti nausea meds. They didn't help. I think it was a combo of the lortab and the mucus buildup that was making me sick. I have a very high gag reflex and I think it was just too much. Probably a bit TMI, but I have found that spitting all the gunk out is much easier than trying to deal with it in the back of my throat. My biggest thing is just keeping the water going. When I feel the buildup start, that's when the ice water works the best. As far as the pain meds, I guess just dealing with sore throats for so long, I am finding the pain tolerable. I am very lucky, I have a pretty high pain tolerance which is definetly helping too. Although, I did have to take a dose of liquid Tylenol around 3am this morning. I'm not sure if I'm at the point where the scabs are starting to slough off or not, but it does feel a bit clearer back there. Not too interested in looking though. Once again, thanks for the note, and good luck with your latest recovery!!
Ah, just an update, I have now encountered the real pain. Thankfully, my husband was able to interpret my "look" at him and knew I was ready for some meds. Took the anti-nausea med and waited about 15 minutes and then took some Lortab. Knock on wood, no tummy troubles and the meds have definitely taken the edge off...
Wow. While reading the boards does get you prepared for recovery, there is just no way to REALLY understand the pain of the "scab days".... Without a doubt, THE MOST painful think I have ever gone through. I've had two children, one natural with NO epidural and one cesarean, and neither come close to the pain I have endured the last few days. Today is Day 8 and I am hoping I am close to the end. I couldn't imagine it lasting too many more days, especially with Christmas right around the corner. Saturday night I woke to the a horrendous pain in the left side, took a few sips of water and could tell something was different. Sure enough, I had lost a scab and began bleeding. Thanks goodness my husband understood my frantic knocks on our bedroom door and got up and helped me through it all. While I have a decent pain tolerance, the whole blood thing is another thing, especially when it is coming out in mouthfuls from my own mouth. It took about fifteen minutes of rinsing with cold water but we got it stopped. I have definitely noticed since the scab coming off, the pain meds only work great for about an hour, after that it is only enough to take the edge off. Woke up about an hour ago with similar pains and it feels different again, so I'm thinking maybe more scabs came off. Sorry for the rambling post, but it is 4:30 in the morning so there's no one to talk to hear and it's just nice to ramble on for a while anyway.
Oh, and choirgirl, if you do read this, my diet the last couple of days has consisted of mashed potatoes and cream of chicken soup. You are right, the potatoes are about the only of substance tha works. The cream of chicken soup is perfect, very soothing on the raw throat.
Anyways, I think my meds have finally kicked in again so off to sleep for a couple more hours before the kids wake up! Thanks for listening...
Well it feels like my "de-scabbing" stage is going to take at least three days minimum. Oh, and I errored when I said it was the left side that had come off, it was the right. (I'll blame the Lortab...) I'm up in the middle of the night again, dealing with more de-scabbing. Woke up about 2 and took a couple sips of water and could feel the rest of the right one coming away. And, being it was also time when I was due for more meds, there was nothing to help take the edge off that... It definitely feels like there is still quite a bit on the left side, so I am expecting it will take at least one more full day. Blah!
On a posititve note, I did manage to eat three "meals" yesterday. Whoo hooo!!! Scrambled eggs for breakfast, mashed potatoes for lunch and a smushed up turkey pot pie for dinner. Although my meals were only about half a cup serving size each, at least I am forcing the foods to help the healing process. I'm not a big pot pie fan, but it was SO good, a nice change from the bland I've been eating. Although I skipped the best part, the crust. Speaking of tasting good, our Chicago Bears played tonight (or rather, last night...) so my husband decided he was going to order our favorite pizza for him and the kids. (Along with beer nuggets, mmmm!!) It smelled so good when we went to pick it up, I couldn't resist when he had late snack of a piece of cold pizza. It was only about two bites, but I did manage it. Simply heaven!! Although in hindsight, it was a bad idea as I believe the sauce (or maybe the pepperoni) ended up making my throat burn for a bit. But still worth it.
Well, meds have kicked in full force, so back to sleep I go. Oh yeah, and our Bears won!
Thanks for starting this thread. I am scheduled for my tonsillectomy on 1-11-11. Hope that is a lucky day! I just called my doctor to inquire about the coblation method and he told me he would do it on me, but that he doesn't prefer to use it. I am so worried about pain and recovery. It seems, MOM2S - that your recovery isn't any faster with the coblation and you are experiencing about the same recovery as other people? Maybe everyone is different?
My doc said he felt there were higher instances of post-operative bleeding with coblation and he uses something called, "dissection and snair." Ew....sounds like a real science experiment! LOL! In any case, other docs in the practice use coblation and he felt that recovery time was all about the same. Well, that just doesn't seem to be what I am reading! All this information is so confusing! To be honest, I didn't even KNOW I had a choice!!!!
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"There's a big difference in playing the victim than in causing your own personal drama." -BK
Last edited by Belly Kelly; 12-21-2010 at 10:38 AM.
Hi Belly Kelly! Yes, you are right. From all the reading I did prior to my surgery (and it was ALOT) it seems like my recovery has followed the same path as many others. I just don't think there is any getting around the pain. It is honestly excruciating at times. My thoughts though, going into it, were I would rather read all the horror stories and assume the worst and be prepared for anything. Although I have to tell you, and I hope not to gross you out, I'm assuming you've read the entire thread, the mucus build up in the back of my throat was as annoying as the throat pain. I did find that, when I felt is starting to build, if I chewed a piece of gum, the increase in saliva seemed to break up the mucus. Also, I do know that they say the older you are, the more rough it is too, so depending on your age, you may be okay.
I will keep checking this board even after I'm fully recovered, it's been great therapy to 1) compare to others' recoveries and 2) vent when you can't talk. Please let me know how you are doing and best of luck when it's your turn!!
Hey! Sorry I haven't been on to check on you the past few days! I have been out of town away from my computer, but my thoughts have been with you! How are you doing? Hopefully you will be recovered by Christmas! I'm starting to get nervous about my surgery. Less than a week away... My parents will be with me three nights after my surgery and then I will be on my own. Do you think I will be able to do it by myself?
Hey BPayne! Only a week to go now, wow! It's a good thing you will have your parents around the first few days. For me, the pain was pretty rough the first couple days, then I went about three without taking the pain meds. Once the scabs started coming off, yeah, then it's meds ON SCHEDULE! Everyone is so different, it's so hard to say how your recovery will go. I am very lucky in the fact that my husband is off for the winter so he's been with me every day. While it would have sucked, I'm sure I would have been able to manage after day 3 on my own, I just haven't had to. My husband checked everything tonight and he said the right side scabs are pretty much off and it looks like the left are "breaking down a bit". I'll be glad when it's over for sure, just so I can get some solid sleep at night. Many of the posts I read beforehand suggested setting alarms to wake up in the middle of the night to take meds on time. I tell ya, I haven't slept longer than two hours at a time. Wake up, chug some water, take meds if it's time, and back to sleep for another couple. A little hesitant to even attempt to go to sleep tonight, as the nights are the worst for me, and I know that darned left side is going to go soon.
I am 35 and wishing for the best. My good friend has coblation over the summer and was on a job interview 4 days later. She said she had little pain! Go figure!
My tonsils are large and I have sleep apnea. I am hoping the surgery helps my snoring and apnea.
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"There's a big difference in playing the victim than in causing your own personal drama." -BK
BellyKelly, If you've not had tonsil issues in the past, you may have a super easy recovery. I know my ENT said that every time you get strep, tonsillities or tonsil stones, it leaves scar tissue, and the more scar tissue, the rougher the recovery. I do think it's funny how different ENTs say different things.
Best of luck to you in curing your snoring and apnea!!
Thanks....good to hear! My tonsils have "craters" but don't have a history of infection. I don't even get the little white things that everyone talks about. They are just very big and I have a narrow airway as a result.
How are you feeling today? Is this day #9 for you?
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"There's a big difference in playing the victim than in causing your own personal drama." -BK
Well, when I woke up this morning, felt about the same....BUT as the day has gone along, things are definitely better. No pain meds today. I have one dose of Lortab left and I'm saving in just in case. I counted surgery day as day 1, so today is day 10. I just wish I could eat something decent. While I haven't needed any meds, the pain is still there and there is still some scabbing.
I can tell you one thing, after I'm eating normal again, it's going to be a LONG time before I even think about eating cream of chicken soup or mac-n-chz!!
DAY 14!!! I am going to call today my "turning point" day. I have been able to eat more today than I have in the last 14 days combined. While I've had some bad coughing fits (along with gagging and spitting), most of my scabs are gone. YAY!! The left side of my soft palette is still hanging low a bit and my uvula is still swollen, but this is nothing. I can deal with this. It's SO nice to FINALLY be able to eat fairly normal.
Choirgirl, thanks for the support during the recovery. It is incredibly reassuring, hearing from someone who has recently gone through it.
BPayne, I believe you are up tomorrow. If you read this, BEST OF LUCK to you!! I'm hoping you don't have them, but if you hit those "depressed and it's never going to end" days, just remember, IT WILL. I had a horribly depressing day when I was in tears most of the day, just because I kept coughing, then gagging, then getting sick and all I wanted to do was feel better and be able to eat. Hoping for the best for those who follow!!
Merry Christmas (a bit belated I know) and Happy New Year!!
So i never thought i would be one of these people to write about my experience with my tonsillectomy recovery, but now that I am going through it I completely understand why people do it. I am on my 6th night after surgery counting the day of surgery. Oh and I am 17 fyi. Today was by far my worst day, and I mean BY FAR. The right side of my throat feels like when you get rug-burn so bad it bleeds, and then someone poured lemons into the burn. I have had luck up till this point in that I have had no vomiting, but now i know what the pain is like. And whoa, this is the real deal for pain. I thought I was a tough guy, but this is the worst pain even I have felt. I am on liquid percocet and antibiotics. The surgery makes me feel worthless. I have only had minor bleeding, but I am wondering if even THAT is normal. My right side is in pain while the left is in virtually none. At the same time, the left side is pretty much still 100 scabbed over and the right side is making progress. Why is it that only one side is getting better? I also want to know if theres any way to stop the bleeding besides the ice water because that hurts tremendously
I didn't have any bleeding. Here's what my instruction sheet says about it:
"On about the 5th to 12th day, the membrane (scabs) will come off. This is usually accompanied by more severe throat pain (or earache) for 24 to 72 hours. Some bleeding, which is usually minimal, may occur at this time. Bleeding can usually be controlled by an ice collar to neck and bed rest. If there are more than 3 teaspoonfuls of bright red bleeding, or vomiting of coffee ground color old blood, please call your doctor. If you are unable to reach the doctor, go to the emergency room of the hospital."
Hang in there. The most painful stage will soon be over.
shmeelsybot8 - I understand what you're going through. I don't think there is anything "normal" as far as recovery, everyone has different experiences. What you are going through sounds like about the same issuesI had. My right side hurt worse also, with barely any pain on the left side. Today is day 15 for me, and my right side is still sore, but much more tolerable than last week. Nothing on the left side. Before surgery, my right tonsil was larger and I had more issues on that side. My ENT had said the more problems you have with it (strep, tonsillitis, stones, etc), the more scar tissue and the rougher the recovery. I know it sucks and there's really not much that helps. The pain meds just take the edge off, but it will get better. Keep up with the ice water for the bleeding, but since your scabs are probably starting to come off, you may want to switch to room temperature liquids for drinking. Keep that water going. One other thing I found that helped was chicken broth. I know it doesn't sound appetizing, but it totally soothed my throat on days 5-10. With you being younger, you should start feeling better very soon! Hang in there!!
Hey friends! I'm back from the hospital and resting semi-comfortably. Thanks for all your prayers and support. Everything in my mouth and lips are really swollen, so that is more annoying than anything. Doc said I had terrible tonsils and a lot of scar tissue, so that's fun!
It's painful to swallow, but nothing unexpected. I will update later today.
It took about fifteen minutes of rinsing with cold water but we got it stopped. I have definitely noticed since the scab coming off, the pain meds only work great for about an hour, after that it is only enough to take the edge off. Woke up about an hour ago with similar pains and it feels different again, so I'm thinking maybe more scabs came off. Sorry for the rambling post, but it is 4:30 in the morning so there's no one to talk to hear and it's just nice to ramble on for a while anyway. 
It definitely feels like there is still quite a bit on the left side, so I am expecting it will take at least one more full day. Blah!
