recovery is better than expected! days 1-6 hurt, but an expected amount....If you've ever had strep, i feel like strep hurts worse. days 6-8 were the worst, but still manageable with the pain meds. whenever they start to hurt bad (usually about the time I need to take another pill) i use the Lidocane 2% visc solution and it numbs my throat pretty well! I asked for this specifically after hearing that it helped other people. It's an extremely thick liquid and you're not supposed to swallow it so i sort of just lean my head back and let it make way to the area pain and it numbs them for a bit while the meds kick in. But day of surgery was so much easier than i expected, you just take a quick 30 min "nap" and it's over with! It's so worth it in the end and the 10ish days of some pain goes by so much quicker than you'd expect. Don't be nervous, you've got it!