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Original poster

Pain relief after tonsillectomy

25 replies

Bexjx3 · 09/02/2019 12:11

Hi all
New to this forum and had a tonsillectomy yesterday after years of waiting! I have one DD who is 7 and have got my mother to help out which is brilliant.
On the downside, I was sent away yesterday with run of the mill paracetomal and ibuprofen Calpol for kids! After hearing them say all day what a painful procedure it is 🤔 I'd say I have a fairly high pain threshold but if I can avoid suffering I will!
I asked before I left and the nurse said it was too late to get anytbing prescribed and i would have to go to my gp.
Has anyone any adult experiences in the uk could give me any advice on this. Online it appears, particularly in america that stronger pain relief is regularly prescribed and recommended. Will the gp be likely to see me if i was told i should avoud places with infection?
Cheers guys
Bex

OP posts:

MissConductUS · 09/02/2019 12:48

Online it appears, particularly in america that stronger pain relief is regularly prescribed and recommended. Will the gp be likely to see me if i was told i should avoud places with infection?

Yank RN here. Just based on what I see on MN, I think that we do tend to give stronger pain meds here, but that's changing somewhat as we see more and more opioid addictions that started that way.

Tell the GP's office when you call about the caution you've been given. Here there's frequently an entrance that allows you to avoid the waiting room, or they may be able to book you at a time when the chances of exposure are reduced.

What caused you to need the tonsillectomy?

HettieBettie · 09/02/2019 13:03

We were given diamorphone 1ml I think for our dd. And ibuprofen/paracetamol according to height/weight so much more than what we’d give normally e.g 15ml for a 5 yr old.

HettieBettie · 09/02/2019 13:04

Oh god sorry read that wrong whilstbgiving the babyva feed! No idea about adult arrangements but seems terrible!!

Original poster

Bexjx3 · 09/02/2019 13:21

Thanks for your reply missconduct, you're right about the opiode problems, also a bit of an issue here with some being sold otc!
I wont be able to get in touch with go until monday, and i dont know if its appropriate to ring 111. I dont want them getting arsey but its not adequate pain relief i didnt manage a wink last night!
Like you say hettiebettie it seems your dd got stronger pain relief 😂

OP posts:

itbemay1 · 09/02/2019 13:25

I feel your pain. I had mine out 3 years ago & it was so painful. Drink loads, salt water gargle and you will need much more than paracetamol. You can but co-codamol 15/500 OTC and take 2 every 6 hours - not with the paracetamol, but also get onto your GP Monday, difflam spray worked well for me, not sure if you can buy that OTC though, the hospital prescribed that.

I lost a stone in 2 weeks (silver lining!) was fully recovered after 3 weeks but those 3 weeks were hard.

3 years on and not even a sore throat! Try and rest and I wish you all the best

MissConductUS · 09/02/2019 13:26

Surgeons here have answering services you can ring if you want to talk to the doctor. Was there nothing in your post operative instructions about how to get in touch if things went badly?

SheldonSaysSo · 09/02/2019 13:31

I recently had this op so can sympathise with how painful it is. I was pre warned by my GP to ask for stronger pain killers as it is a nasty operation. However, I had to kick up an almighty fuss before being discharged to get anything other than paracetamol and ibuprofen. I got given oramorph with enough for a couple of days. This ran out and I was still struggling, so my GP gave me some for a few more days.

Definitely ring 111, while you are waiting see if you can get some over the counter cocodamol (don't take this with paracetamol though). Be prepared to be a bit pushy though.

Chocspreadandpb · 09/02/2019 13:31

I was using morphine and tramadol for 2 weeks after as it was the most unbearable thing I've ever experienced personally.

Chocspreadandpb · 09/02/2019 13:31

I called my GP and had a telephone consultation

Toddlerteaplease · 09/02/2019 13:36

I'm a paediatric nurse. We send out kids hoe with morphine. However I think we are in a minority, Ive never heard of other hospitals doing it.

Toddlerteaplease · 09/02/2019 13:37

Kids bounce back far quicker than adults do though.

LilQuim · 09/02/2019 13:38

I would speak to GP. I had mine done about 10 years ago & not to worry you, but prepare you, the consultant said day 4/5 post op you will feel worse. I thought it was bullshit. He was right. I almost wanted to go back to hospital.

GoldenBlue · 09/02/2019 13:38

I was just given paracetamol. Camomile tea was one of the best things alongside numbing throat lozenges. After 3 days I felt better than I had in years. I hope you are as lucky x

Cocolepew · 09/02/2019 13:40

I had dicolphenic(sp) for a few days, though I think you can buy this OTC now.
Best thing for me was to stay on top of the pain with regular pain relief rather than waiting for the pain to start.
I used anti inflammatory and paracetamol, but wrote down when I took it incase I took too much.

Cocolepew · 09/02/2019 13:40

Day 5 and 10 were the worse for ne.

AngelaStorm73 · 09/02/2019 14:01

I'm surprised they didn't send you home with something stronger. It's known to be worse in adults

TwoGinScentedTears · 09/02/2019 14:05

My Dbro had his out exactly this time last year.

He had a bottle of my dads oramorph that never got thrown away. I went to visit him on the second day after the op and he was hunting through every cupboard to find it-he was in agony. He found it and took 5 ml. It worked. There was only about 20ml left in the bottle and when on day three he ran out he cried.

But the difflam rinse he was prescribed was the best relief.

student26 · 09/02/2019 14:11

Sorry but when I had mine out the pain was horrendous. I ended up going to A and E because it was excruciating. All I was given when I left hospital the first time was paracetamol! And when i phoned up to ask for more painkillers at my GP they said take more paracetamol which I ended up overdosing on. I’m glad it didn’t affect my liver. At a and e I was given tramadol which was a massive relief and meant i could actually sleep. But one day the pain was thereand the next it was gone.

SheldonSaysSo · 09/02/2019 15:06

Do let us know if you have any luck. I just remembered ask for difflam mouthwash (you may be able to get it in the chemist) too as this helps to numb the area.

Original poster

Bexjx3 · 09/02/2019 15:16

Great thanks for your advice everyone. I rang 111 and theyre going to get me seen by one of the satellite surgeries, hopefully they can give me something to make me more comfortable!
As i say i have quite a high pain threshold but literally what is the point in suffering through when i can take something thag will allow me to rest and sleep..which i need to do to heal!
Cant believe they would send me away without even a back up stash haha
Thanks for the success stories too! Despite the pain im so glad i finally got it done! Strep throat every six weeks with a part time job and a 7 year old was getting a bit rediculous

OP posts:

givemehorses · 10/02/2019 13:46

I had mine out on January 2nd, I’m 22.

I have had complications after but they appear to be related to something else and the trauma of surgery has triggered them.

I was given cocodomol and ibuprofen (500mg) and told to take them 2x alternately throughout the day. I found I got more relief from the ibuprofen than the cocodomol.

Make sure you drink water and try and eat as much as you can! Water especially will hopefully help as constipation is common lol. I found anything too acidic or too alkaline would also hurt my throat. Same for anything very hot or very very cold.

My breathing also seems to have really improved, which is one thing I didn’t realise would happen.

thebings · 10/02/2019 15:52

I feel your pain, had mine out as an adult and it's excruciating. Worst for me was about day 3-8. I think I was given co-codamol but it made me nauseous. I ended up just taking paracetamol and ibuprofen, alternating them and taking the max amount possible. I barely ate and lost about 10lbs. Lived off miso soup and jelly - avoid ice cream as this creates more mucus in your throat.

The worst part for me was the severe ear ache, and the only thing that helped was putting a hot water bottle over each ear.

itbemay1 · 16/02/2019 20:56

How's you getting on OP? Hope you're ok

Original poster

Bexjx3 · 16/02/2019 23:59

Hi itbemay thanks for asking :) its day 8 today and the first day that i haven't taken any cocodamol or codeine 😁 still some pain but able to eat more comfortably so ive scoffed my face all day haha i think im the only person who's managed to put on weight after a tonsillectomy! All the icky scabs have fallen off now so im over the worst of it. 7 days of at times unbearable pain but i already think it was worth it! Anyone who is considering it i would say do it for sure but just make sure you have the right painkillers from the start!!
Also ive forced myself to eat crisps, toast and other crunchy foods from day one which i think has helped it heal without any major bleeding or any other complications
Thanks for all your advice guys

OP posts:

itbemay1 · 17/02/2019 13:46

So pleased to hear you're almost over it. I still remember the pain! Sounds like you've done all the right things, I wallowed a bit which didn't help!

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