I had mine out 5 days ago.
I won't lie to you, you're in for an ordeal.
On about a 1-10 scale, the pain I had immediately after waking up was about a 4, but they gave me a shot of demorol, and I didn't complain much more that day. I slept through most of it.
The first two days are okay, you're usually drugged to the point where you don't feel too much. It's more of a dry, annoying pain then. The swelling is very noticable and its slightly distressing, because there will be moments you feel like you can't breathe.
The third day is when it hits you, and trust me, you'll feel it. I could feel everything after mine. My neck was stiff, my tongue was swollen, my throat felt the size of a buick. The pain in my ears kicked in, and it was terrible, like the most massive ear infections I've ever had.
My best advice, is DRINK. Water. Juice. Tea. As much of it as humanly possible. It does soothe your throat, and the pain always increases when your throat is dry.
It will be extremely hard at first, but FORCE YOURSELF.
Also, people told me that having pudding and ice cream would make it worse, but truthfully, they were exceptionally comforting, even on the first day.
I made cheesecake pudding with a little extra milk to make it thin, and it coated and cooled my throat so nicely.
Ice cream is a godsend as well. I've been living off milkshakes.
Stock up on pudding, jello, ice cream - it might be just me, but Peppermint Stick ice cream had a wonderful, cooling, effect on me - almost like menthol, it felt lovely - broth, tea, and the like.
Get yourself one of those bags of bargain twin popsicles from the grocery store, you know, the ones with 30 in a bag for like 2 bucks. They're wonderful, I've nearly finished my bag.
Prior to the surgery, I would make sure to tell the anesthesiologist to give you the anti-nausea cocktail, even if you don't have a sensitive stomach. I can't imagine how painful it would be to vomit with the scars in my throat. Burping alone is like little glass pieces.
They usually give that to people having tonsillectomies anyway, what with the bleeding and all, that usually makes some people throw up, but I would remind them, and insist on it.
I would definitely prepare yourself to be out of comission for at least a week. This is day 5 for me, and I'm just now able to get up and around without too much pain or dizziness.
Good luck to you, I hope you do well.
Linear Mode
