I've not had it done but have nursed children who have. The myth probably comes from the observation that children can apparently be at death's door one minute then racing around the next. The older we get the more developed is our fear of pain which in turn can make us tense and increased tension can increase our perception of the level of pain. Just tell yourself that there will be some soreness afterwards but that it will not be so bad that you will not be able to cope with it.
Get in a good stock of thick soup such as chicken, plenty of crusty bread to go with it and lots of jelly and ice cream to see you through the first couple of days. If you like porridge have it for breakfast as the thickness and warmth will make it easier to swallow. A goodly stash of fruit gums or other chewy sweets will help keep your throat muscles moving - this was what a GP friend used to recommend to his patients of all ages. If your hospital has a leaflet with recommendations for the post-op period read it and put the recommendations into practice. They will probably suggest that you do not use aspirin as an analgesic. Hope all goes well for you.