My tongue and ears hurt worse than my throat after a tonsillectomy. Why?

My surgery was June 6th. I had my tonsils and adenoids removed.

My post-operation instructions say I should be able to eat things like rice and noodles now. My tongue hurts so badly I can barely get my mouth open for fluids. When I swallow, I almost cry because my ears will ache so badly. I feel like something is wrong.

I am at day 5 after my tonsillectomy. I have NOT gotten better like they say you do day after day. My tongue is so swollen and in pain as well. My ears share the same sentiments. The only thing we can think of for my tongue hurting as it does is they no doubt had a pretty good clamp on it to bring it to the side and out of their way while cutting and operating. My surgery went well, however 2 hours after I ruptured a blood vessel back there and had to be taken in again for another surgery for more cauterizing and stitches added too. Then they pumped my stomach for the amount of blood that was ingested...they didn't want to risk a vomit session and that would re-rupture. The surgeon said he hasn't seen a case like my bleeding in the last 11 years. He says it just doesn't happen. I just thought that since my tongue was clamped for more than one surgery that it's probably not a normal pain associated with a tonsillectomy. It's nice to know that it was going to happen anyways. Although, I'm surprised that your tongue and ears hurt worse....mine just all hurt the same. And man am I hungry. I've got a list going of foods I can't wait to have when I'm ready. They say food and plain water will taste better without my tonsils back there jacking up the food tastes. I'm sure you know what i'm talking about. I hope your work was more understanding than mine. They only wanted to give me 1 day off to heal from the surgery. I do hair and that means standing and running around all day. Then after lots of convincing they let me off for 4 days. But then after my surgery complications the doctor didn't want me even attempting leaving the house until 10 more days on top of my four already off. They made things so miserable for me that I had to quit. They accused me of faking all of this surgery stuff just so I don't have to work. Basically they would send me hateful emails about faking all of this until I got fed up and quit. Looks like my surgery was the day before yours. I feel for ya. And I'm convinced that the pain will never go away. Isn't it the worst waking up in the middle of the night with a dry throat? Wow..it's comparable to a kitten sliding down your throat and he's got a bottle of alcohol for a nice after mist spray for special effect. And then there's the panick feeling when you see your pain meds getting low. But don't cry...that causes lots of pressure back there!!! I tried to eat a soggy pancake yesterday because of my hunger level and I couldn't eat it from the pain...so I cried. That damn pancake.

It is normal to have pain around your jaw and ears after a tonsilectomy because of nerves that are in your head ( Sinuses)
( I had a tonsilectomy about a year ago, and the doctor told me to chew gum if I could tolerate it , because it would work the nerves around my jaw and ears, that did help) Report It

Gum will burn your throat! Watch out for your uvula, mine swelled to 4 times it's normal size and closed off my entire throat. Which leaves no room to pass water. Request a steroid. 3 weeks after my tonsillectomy I had surgery on my spinal cord and that was easier! Unquestionable!! Report It

Call your ENT doctor. Don't wait!!