For everyone who is having one or going through recovery - there IS life after a tonsillectomy!!!
I am 37 and had mine 2 summers ago at 35. Let me tell you - I thought I would die the first week, second week was better but still painful and by the three week doing ok.
Two years later - no sore throat EVER AGAIN - it is so wonderful!!!!!! I have NO problems with colds anymore and I hardly ever have allergy issues either! Do it - and a month later you will have the rest of your life throat-pain free!!!!!!
Now, not only was old (as everyone had to tell me - thanks!), I also bit both sides of my tongue during recovery - so that had to heal too.
I was so disappointed that I was in so much pain coming out of recovery and the other younger people in recovery (in their 20s) were sitting up and seemed to be doing so much better. Kinda funny that at the one week checkup, I saw one of these spucky 20-something guy from the recovery room. He looked at me and told me he was dying. When I told him I was too - we both kinda laughed. But I bet he is SO GLAD he did it too now!!!!
Remember a 2 week bad time for a lifetime of health - you can't beat that!
I survived on several different dosages of hydrocodone and took them on time regardless if I was hurting - so I sometimes caught it BEFORE the pain could return.
I ate cream of wheat the second week and lived off the Cremesavers pudding and popsicles the first week. I did lose around 6-8 pounds those two weeks - wish it had been more, but once you're not hurting - you want to eat it all again!
Once again, just thought I would post and let you know - IT WAS WORTH IT!
hrtofluv (can find me on the bone board if you have questions)
P.S. I also had sinus surgery and think I was the first patient my ENT had done the surgery on (back in 1984 at 18). HORRIBLE - (I almost bleed to death, but I have a platelet disorder too) and it didn't do anything for my sinuses! Getting the tonsils out has helped me more with allergies than the sinus surgery. My BIL also had this done just last year at 40 and it has worked for him! Like one poster mentioned - check your surgeon and see their track record first!
GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE! Wishing you all easy breathing and swallowing!

Matt ~ I was thinking all along that I had Lortab when I had my tonsils out a year ago, but when you mentioned Roxicet that sounded familiar so I went and got my bottle out of the fridge (still has a little bit in it that I never finished from my 2nd bottle) and its Roxicet, so I had that instead of Lortab (dont know why I was thinking that is what I had) ANYWAY call your doctor and ask for the Roxicet if the Lortab isnt helping, it's AWESOME!!! it helped me so much! and gave me a very happy feeling also (lol) I think someone said Lortab is hydrocodone (???) this Roxicet says Oxycodone Hydrochloride and Acetaminophen ~ I highly recommend it!!! I took 2 teaspoons every 4 hours and then waited about 10-15 minutes for it to kick in then I'd eat something soft (like yogurt or jello or soft mashed potatoes) or else it made me feel nauseous ~ but if you eat about 15 minutes after taking it like I said, it's pretty easy to get food down cuz it really helps the pain and then you feel REALLY good! :) and you dont feel nauseous ~ good luck!!!
oh and I had lots of mucous too for a couple weeks ~ its just cuz its healing in there

Hi all...there is so much SUPPORT on this forum, I'm so glad I found it! :angel: This past Wednesday I had my tonsils and adenoids removed. So, I'm on day 5 and I had a sweet potato french fry and an ice pop today...woohoo! This was the first type of "solid food" I've had since day 1. I've been drinking water, apple juice, and iced green tea and have been chewing ice chips. I am still in a lot of pain. I'm on a liquid antibiotic and on liquid hydrocodone +aceteminophine (sp?). Taking the anti 2x per day and the painkiller every 3 hours. Here are my concerns (please let me know if they are normal):

--I'm completely grossed out by the white/yellow/green coating on the entire back of my throat and surrounding my uvula. :eek: Is it normal to have such a huge area of nastiness covering that space?

--My ears hurt terribly and I have been using heating pad/hot compresses...anything else I can try?

--My tongue, all the way in the back on both sides, feel like it's been cut. Can't really move it too much, especially to the sides. :p

--I've been brushing my teeth the best I can, but since I seem to have a lock-jaw situation going on, it's been tough getting my mouth clean. Any suggestions?

--I'm EXTREMELY mucusy and am basically hocking up at least once a minute. Anything I can do to reduce the congestion?

Thanks so much for listening and for the advice. Wishing a speedy recovery to every on the board! :D

ps. I hope I'm posting this correctly and it doesn't show up as a reply to someone else...this is my first time!

Sorry that I havent responded sooner. Thank you all for your responses and suggestions.

Yes, it is extremely frustrating having to deal with stupid doctors who will not prescribe anything more than Hydrocet (liquid hydrocodone & tylenol) and then after that didnt work, Percocet (in pill form).

I dont think I was very clear on the fact that I am not allergic to Percocet, it just isnt helping. Neither did the Hydrocet liquid. BOTH of these medicines have Tylenol in them so am I wondering why you all are saying to take the adult Tylenol sore throat syrup available at drugstores. If I were to take both a Percocet and the Tylenol sore throat stuff, that would be an extremely high amount of Tylenol which is toxic to my liver (if more than 3,500mg/day). I dont want to hurt my liver guys. Sorry but all of the pain medications available MUST have tylenol (a/k/a acetametaphin <---spelling) added to them, except a select few, OxyContin being one of those.

So, tomorrow, when I get up. What should I ask for at the doctor? It will be day 12 and another friend checked my throat tonight and I still have my tonsil scabs. My check up is scheduled for this Tuesday at 3pm. Should I wait until then to ask for anything? And explain that both medicines he has given me did not work? I have *never* had any luck with taking Tylenol for fevers, headaches, etc., so I did not expect for Percocet to help me. I DID tell him this but he CLAIMS that Percocet is "so strong, be careful taking it." I did not feel tired. For that matter, I did not feel ANY different. Even when I was at the hospital, I was given demoral (spelling?), it did NOTHING, so they switched my IV to Morphine, which helped my lower back (I have scoliosis) feel not so sore but i was in the hospital b/c of my freakin tonsils! I find it quite ironic that the Morphine would help my chronic pain but not even touch the ex-tonsils area pain. Does anyone know why???

Plus, I need to know about alcohol and cigarettes after surgery. Someone told me that if I were to drink a beer, I would get dehydrated right away. I am not saying that I want to go drink NOW, but in the long run, how long do i have to wait? And the same for smoking. I have not had a cigarette in 12 days and am a longtime smoker. How long do I need to wait b/c I have been seriously considering going to the gas station and buying MENTHOL cigarettes to see if THEY would help my throat. I am desperate.

In answer to one person's question, yes I have Yahoo IM. I havent used it in forever but I guess I can re-install it on my computer.

And to the person who suggested going to the ER. I dont think I will b/c I can call my doctor tomorrow. PLUS, sure I can say bill me later, but someone eventually has to pay that and I have $1000.00 to my name right now and even though I am in agonizing throat pain, I cannot go and spend money I do not have. Thank you for your suggestions though.

Please, someone here, do you have AOL IM??? Will you chat with me and explain things if you have gone through this and are well ahead of me on healing? Thank you.

~Heather

P.S. Can someone explain the whole SOFT Palette thing? I can drink fluids for the most part, but either my Uvula or my soft palette are getting in the way and I experience this gagging situation and sometimes the liquid goes up my nose or into my trachea... If it werent for that, and for my tongue feeling as if someone has stabbed it, on the back right side, I think I would be able to eat and drink somewhat normal, well, liquid/soft food that is.