My daughter had a tonsilectomy can anyone tell me how long will she be in pain for?

Question

hi my daughter had her tonsils out and adenoids out on saturday and she has been in pain ever since i have been giving her pain relief but it wakes her up through the night an she cries i feel so helpless she is nearly 8 i just want to take the pain away for her. has anyone had experience with this before

Answer 1

...she shouldn't still be hurting so much. I'd call the doctor.  A friend of mine got hers out as an adult (usually much riskier and more painful) and she was totally fine in about 3 days....

what did they give her for pain relief? Surgery isn't a tylenol kinda hurt, they should have given her something real (or at least perscription strenght ) for about a week.  Are you giving her things like water-ice and ice cream? The cold is helpful..

Answer 2

So glad I am not alone!

My 15 yr old daughter had her tonsils out on friday and I too, feel completely helpless. Night time is worse (I am guessing because her throat dries out which makes pain worse.

I have read a few things on line about post tonsillectomy pain and it seems this is all normal. One woman even said the pain of giving birth was preferable to post tonsillectomy pain!

I know two girls at work who had it done (as adults) and said the pain lasted for 3 weeks! (gulp) especially the ear pain that also occurs.

Added to that, I work in an ENT department so should have known better but I  just never envisaged patients suffered so much when they got home, but have been told its all normal!

At the moment my daughter is on 6+ Calpol (can't swallow the tablets) every 4 hours. Ibuprofen 600mgs every 6 hours (melt on tongue) and Codeine every 4 hours. All of this only makes the pain half bearable. I set an alarm to give her her medicine during the night as a missed dose leaves her crying in pain.

Today I made up hot water bottles to put either side of her head for the ear pain.

Its so so horrible. I am probably taking her to the drs tomorrow. Not so much because I think its abnormal. More because I need prescriptions for free meds! I am spending a fortune on Calpol and ibuprofen as she needs 4 teaspoons for the 1g she is allowed for her weight/age! I also need to check its ok for her body to receive so much paracetamol.

The one good thing is she is biding by the rules re - eating toast and crisps (ouch!) and drinking gallons of Ribena.

Apparently the pain does get worse before getting better :(

By day 10 there should be an improvement. Role on next Monday I say!!

Hope it helps to know you are not alone.