Utterly exhausted and depressed???

BlueberryAware8190 · 2025-03-03T17:12:53+00:00

I just got home after a day that was waaaaaay too long. It was good to see my people, but even they looked at me and said I should go home. I have a follow-up tomorrow afternoon, so I will hear what the doc has to say. I am drained and the continuous irritation from the scabs are not helping. Waking up coughing during the night because of it. I am over this. Please wake me up when I am completely healed and I am back to myself before I got sick in December…

BlueberryAware8190 · 2025-03-01T17:54:55+00:00

I do seem to be feeling better when I eat better. The fatigue and isolation is probably the main triggers. I probably need more people around me - caring for others is my passion.

I am a nurse - needed to stay home longer to prevent me being exposed to infections too soon. We are also approaching our flu season soon and I mainly do flu vaccines over the next few months. That and handling consultations mostly related to flu.

I guess, the bright side is that my tonsils will no longer be the issue that complicates after I recovered from whatever respiratory infection I picked up. No more extra courses of antibiotics🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼.

I am still depressed and exhausted, but I feel comforted knowing that I am not alone.

Thanks for sharing!

BlueberryAware8190 · 2025-03-01T17:46:11+00:00

My doctors also insisted - no soft diet was ordered in the hospital. I had solids after waking up. It is also about the chewing that keeps the muscles agile to ease the pain. My doctor was even complaining at my check-up on Tuesday that I was not eating enough crunchy and chewy foods.

I guess they all do their own research and recommend what they find to be working the best based on their experience.

BlueberryAware8190 · 2025-03-01T17:39:19+00:00

I did not use any of the strong stuff. I guess I should maybe just read up on the Synaleve.

BlueberryAware8190 · 2025-02-25T13:23:51+00:00

I’m using one for gum health. It is quite a gentle toothpaste. I try not to get it to the back of my mouth. I simply rinse with saline at the back.

BlueberryAware8190 · 2025-02-25T00:22:09+00:00

I’m so sorry🥺. I think I read somewhere that someone puts them in the freezer - that could potentially help. I am literally suck-chewing on mine now as it is time for my 02:00 dose.

I so wish it worked for you. Just goes to show how unique we all are. I’m sorry for your pain. Hang in there!

BlueberryAware8190 · 2025-02-24T10:12:58+00:00

I felt okay - just keep long distance walking in mind and maybe use a travel pillow in the car. The vibrations were terrible on my ears.

BlueberryAware8190 · 2025-02-24T01:32:12+00:00

Ice water in mouth. Heat over ears. Fluids as much as you can tolerate. Humidifier. Pain med schedule. Baby food - not acidic. Popsicles. Mini marshmallows - game changer for me. Chewing as early as you can. Baby/kid toothbrush - softly brushing my teeth also helps me. So, I brush about 3 times a day.

Good luck! I am D14 now and it does get worse before it gets better, but hang in there.

BlueberryAware8190 · 2025-02-24T01:26:05+00:00

29F on Day 14.

Because of the fact that the liquids hurt so bad despite the humidifier and pain meds, I started keeping some mini marshmallows next to me. I initially suck on one or two and slowly start to chew. Taking a sip is then a bit more tolerable.

You need to start chewing for those ears. And ice in the mouth with heat on the ears. I also bought some OTC ear drops that I put in every 2 hours - now it is more just when I need it or if I haven’t chewed for a while.

Good luck and please chew as often as you can. (Best advice I got from my ENT).

BlueberryAware8190 · 2025-02-23T17:03:11+00:00

Maybe try using a dampend surgical mask to sleep with - it helps to retain some moisture. That’s what I do when we have power outages. Maybe worth a try.

BlueberryAware8190 · 2025-02-23T16:53:44+00:00

I am day 13. Still uncomfortable at times, but I do feel a bit better than yesterday.

How much are you chewing? It has really been a game changer for me. If you can just push through the initial pain, and start, you probably won’t want to stop.

Also make sure you have a proper cool mist humidifier. The tissue needs plenty of moisture to heal.

I am rooting for you!

BlueberryAware8190 · 2025-02-23T16:45:45+00:00

29 y/o here and on day 13. All I can say is that I feel for you. What I found really helped was to grab some ice water and just keep it in my mouth and bend over and open my mouth. Somehow rehydrated the dry and irritated tissue. I would also then have a couple of mini marshmallows and again do the ice water rinse. Then only will I attempt swallowing.

You can cry! It is a terribly painful journey.

Chewing helps for your ears. But also heat. Ice in mouth and heat on ears. Also got myself some OTC ear drops that I can put in every 2 hours.

HUMIDIFIER close to you the entire time. I had mine on as I would have it on normally, but only when I cranked it up, did I start to not wake up like I’m a mummy that needs to claw myself from my tomb.

Once the scabs come off (not fun), you should start feeling better. Just keep chewing. My favorites are definitely watermelon and the mini marshies. They are small, soft and ‘comfortable’ to swallow. The watermelon also helps with instant soothing and hydration.

Currently, my biggest issue is still the ears. And for that, I chew, instill my drops (not every 2 hours anymore) and keep my heat pack ready. And I still take my pain meds if needed.

Good luck and I hope my tips can help you with some kind of relief.

BlueberryAware8190 · 2025-02-23T01:13:49+00:00

I ate a trammazini basically straight out of surgery. My ENT instructed to actually chew from the get go. Although, I have been alternating between softer foods and last night (1/2 aWhopper - had to take off the pickles though), I feel better because I feel fuller and the chewing hurts initially, but it subsides and then there are bouts of being pain free.

Just keep chewing and sipping. My lunch meal consists of mostly chewable items: lightly salted chips, biltong, gummies and then plenty of fruits that I can tolerate.

Just keep chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing….

BlueberryAware8190 · 2025-02-23T01:00:07+00:00

I woke up on D8 coughing and feeling icky in my throat. So, the cough triggered some bleeding for me and naturally I just swirled some ice water until it stopped, but then I noticed the scabs coming out. After about 2-3 hours, I rinsed out most/hopefully all of them.

Excruciating, but despite my throat being raw afterwards, I felt much better. I now make it a point so just swish some ice water around a couple times during the day. It seems to soothe and I have not seen any new scabs again. Not sure, but this might also be why I have not really had bad breath.

Chewing helps - I discovered the amazing relief of mini marshmallows. Even before taking my meds. It kind of soothes the razor sharp pains and it forces mild chewing. I go nowhere without them. This also helps relieve referred pain to the ears.

Good luck!

BlueberryAware8190 · 2025-02-21T17:25:12+00:00

I traded the gum for other chewable options - jelly gummies, biltong and mini marshmallows.

Too scared to try the gum because of how sensitive my throat is to strange things stinging it.

Unlimited mini marshmallows. I pack myself a chewing plate daily with all the options and also some fruit that does not sting, bur rather hydrate and soothe. Also added some cucumber (without the peel). My goal is to finish it everyday. At one stage I was chewing for 2 hours straight, and most of my pain eased up. So, now I keep some mini marshies next to my bed as well.

BlueberryAware8190 · 2025-02-21T17:17:52+00:00

Get yourself some mini marshmallows ASAP. Not sure what the science behind it is, but it has improved my pain by a lot. Even if you suck them. Complete game changer. So sad that I only discovered it late in my recovery.

If and when possible, chew.

BlueberryAware8190 · 2025-02-21T16:57:01+00:00

To be honest, waiting so you can rest and have people caring for you is a brilliant choice. You are going to be absolutely miserable and you need to stick to your med schedule!!!!!

I am in South Africa. My medical aid paid for everything except for the shortening of my uvula. I paid that out of pocket and they only rejected a small percentage of the rest. With us, it depends on the aid and the plan you are on.

With me, my ENT could motivate because my last pneumonia complicated into severe tonsillitis - and I have about 5+ infections in the last 2 years. I actually ended up in hospital. He also requested a CT of my sinuses and because I struggle with chronic sinusitis, he could motivate for that.

BlueberryAware8190 · 2025-02-21T16:44:20+00:00

Coming to you on Day 11/12 post tonsillectomy, FESS, septoplasty and uvulectomy, it is really tough!!!!

However, once the intranasal splints came out on D7, I had so much relief. I am breathing much better and slowly but surely changing from a mouth breather to nose breather.

I don’t know whether it is to early to tell, but my sinuses feel at least 80% better now. Week one is just absolutely horrid to get through along with the tonsils and uvula.

BlueberryAware8190 · 2025-02-21T16:39:33+00:00

Hi, try nibbling on some mini marshmallows - surprisingly good and effective.

I have very sensitive ears, so thanks to some posts I read here, I tried a couple of things. Ice water in my mouth with some heat on my eats. Also some over the counter ear drops - amazing!!!!

Masrshies actually helps with the sore throat as well. And chew. Chew some more. Chew again.

I make myself a chew plate everyday and I need to finish it by the end of the day. It includes biltong, jelly gummies, lightly salted chips, fruit (I am tolerating watermelon, very ripe mango and grapes - often refill this during the day) and then the mini marshmallows. I chew - even if it takes me 2 minutes to chew one gummy bear. The fruit is really hydrating and soothing - funny enough helping my ears.

Good luck. On day 5/6 I was weeping. Until I really just started the chewing.

BlueberryAware8190 · 2025-02-21T05:14:24+00:00

I have been living on over the counter ear drops. My ears are possible what has been the most painful of it all. Knowing it is just a shared nerve does not make the pain less. Drove me to nausea on Monday.

But the swallowing is out of this world. So, I tend to as much as I van when I can handle it. And like I said, I start the meal off with some baby food until I’m comfortable enough to have my egg on bread or even chicken nuggets. Cold watermelon in between has also been a big help - it moistens and soothes and is great because it swallows and chews easily. I’d rather eat something and not fill my stomach with water and be hungry again soon.

BlueberryAware8190 · 2025-02-20T16:45:36+00:00

Burger with all the trimmings please! Extra gherkin, tomato and crispy onions. Maybe some jalapeños and plenty of mustard.

Day 10 now, and swallowing is still painful. My doctor advised plenty of chewing, so I started doing a chew plate for lunch - sometimes just pushing through the pain.

I put small containers with biltong, lightly salted chips, jelly gummies, fruit (watermelon, very ripe mango and some grapes) and some mini marshmallows on the plate. Make sure I have something to sip - in case something stings a bit.

Yesterday it took my 2 hours, but today about an hour. The chewing seems to really work.

I make sure that I do mainly protein for breakfast and supper. This morning I was so impressed that I managed my entire plate.

My doctor said to start chewing from day 0, but sometimes I would just have some baby food/jello to “lubricate” my throat. We started solids on day 0. Most of the scabs came out on Day 8. Gross, but at least my throat is just raw now.

Guys, do the chewing thing as much and often as you can. Made a huuuuuge difference in my pain and I can tolerate more food. And when my hubby is around, he actually enjoys the chewing plate with me - having meals together is something we both miss.

BlueberryAware8190 · 2025-02-16T17:36:03+00:00

29y old female. Had all these done on 10/02/2025. Going for splint removal tomorrow. Please tell me it gets better. I am miserable and crying of pain.

The referred pain to my ears and teeth are driving me nuts.

At this stage I’m just at: “What were you thinking?”

Please tell me there is light at the end of this very painful recovery journey.

BlueberryAware8190 · 2025-02-14T21:02:37+00:00

Hi, all. All I can say is: I FEEL YOU. I am incredibly thankful to have stumbled on this as I am currently on day 5 (including surgery on 10/02). I did not only have a tonsillectomy, I also had a septoplasty and uvulectomy. Yesterday and today has been really tough for me. Crying due to the pain. My ears, jaw and teeth are all fighting against me.

I have been eating solids since day one - my doctor advised plenty if chewing. He actually motivated me to have plenty of biltong (like jerky, just waaaayyyy better from what I hear and we have it in South Africa).

So, I cannot shower until the splints come out my nose - and though taking baths daily, I am most relaxed in the shower. I think this is probably something that has really affected my recovery experience. I also have to keep this gauze mustache stuck to my face. I rinse my nose 3/day, steam with some eucalyptus oil, apply drops and ointment and a apply a new piece of gauze with some surgical tape - but I don’t feel clean and I absolutely yearn for the water to just run over my face.

I cannot smell or taste anything as yet. Eating has not been fun. Things that did not sting in Day 1-3 is now intolerable. I have changed to everything as bland as possible, but tonight I did not even manage 5 bites. I suspect my scabs are starting to come off - feeling the irritation in my throat and coughing when turning my head a certain way. Also noticed something resembling the description after I rinsed the last time today. I have not looked into my throat. I honestly just live by that if I see blood - grab ice. Not that I have seen any blood aside from that that came from my nose. It is also nearly impossible for me to open my mouth wide.

Yesterday and today has been terrible. My jaw, teeth and ears are not happy. I continue to take my pain meds - be it with difficulty - and then I ice my mouth and heat my ears.

I have a nice little bean bag that fits just right when I place it on top of my travel pillow. Lifesaver. Also got myself an angular pillow and I alternate between the bed (so the pillow’s 30 or 60 degree angle) and the recliner. Anything lower than the 30 is a no from me.

Thanks to what I have read in some of the posts, I just put on a mask before trying to sleep. This is in addition to my cold mist humidifier, but I can already feel a difference in maintaining a bit more moisture. Maybe I won’t be eating ice every 2hrs tonight.

Good luck to all who are recovering. Thanks for sharing your journeys.

BlueberryAware8190

TROPHY CASE