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Removing Tonsils...
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
About the same time every year, usually winter time, I get tonsilitis. I've been 'isolated' for the best part of 2 years (gap year, being bum at home etc) but I've now been back at college since september. Since then I've had coughs, colds, laryngitis and 2 weeks later, tonsilitis. My GP has recommended I get a blood cell count done in case my immune system's low (which it must be).
The doc I saw this morning recommended I didn't have my tonsils removed and that the tonsilitis will eventually occur less and less.
I'm so sick and tired of getting tonsilitis every year, that I actually want them removed.
Has anyone had their tonsils out? and if so, how bad was it really?
The doc I saw this morning recommended I didn't have my tonsils removed and that the tonsilitis will eventually occur less and less.
I'm so sick and tired of getting tonsilitis every year, that I actually want them removed.
Has anyone had their tonsils out? and if so, how bad was it really?
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It hurt quite a lot afterwards, but not TOO bad really. The worst thing was being sick all night from the anasthetic.
However, it sorta got infected, because all I could eat was tuna sandwiches
I flew to amsterdam a week later, and I was fine by that time.
I still get a lot of sore throats though, so it hasn't made THAT much of a difference.
Aye, my mum had her tonsils out as a kid, and still gets what her doc calls 'tonsilitis-like' infections fairly often. Apparently it's the remaining tonsil bed getting infected.
Niiiice :thumb:
According to several websites:
Specific complications of tonsillectomy are rare but include those below.
Bleeding that starts within the first 24 hours after the operation. It may be necessary to be taken back to the operating theatre to have the bleeding stopped.1,2,3
Bleeding four to seven days after the operation. This is called a secondary haemorrhage and can be the result of an infection. If this happens you should contact the hospital immediately.3
There is a very small risk of accidental damage to the teeth or jaw, caused by the instruments used to keep the mouth open during surgery.1,2,3
If bits of blood and tissue from the operation get into the throat and down into the lungs it can cause a chest infection and breathing problems. If this happens, oxygen and antibiotics will be given.1
http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/tonsillectomy.html
I chose this one, but there are many other articles that state the same thing. The risks greatly are determined by what method is used to remove the tonsils. There are two ways of removing them that do have higher risks of bleeding but those are avoided, after 2002.
I do not understand these comments of the doctors don't like doing them or trying to avoid getting it done. Yes, avoiding any surgery is usually the first step, but in Illora's case, the poor girl suffers every single year. Why in the world would you try to avoid it? The risks are very minimal and the procedure is easy, quick and the recovery time is very quick. How do those risks outweigh the pain she suffers? Especially if the doctor is even reccomending it!
Do learn to read. It says the doctor doesn't recommend it. There are risks and it doesn't offer a guarenteed solution. They are still offered to patients who get recurrent tonsillitus and nothing else, because of the high success rate, but for those who have other similar problems as well it's usually deemed not worth it.
I'm fairly sure you're from USA so bear in mind things are slightly different in UK.
Gee forgive me for misreading... or I guess not reading at all because I never learned.
You missed the anaesthetic risks, which is another reason why they don't like doing it anymore.
TBH many ENT surgeons will point out that most people grow out of it. Yes it's annoying and frustrating, but surgery isn't an easy solution at all.
Had then removed and was no big deal, they give you ice cream .. it's all good.
Then you get less infections, colds, etc thereafter 0 at that's what happened in my case .. of course I weren't old like yourself .. :thumb:
Not any more (or at least they shouldn't) it was shown to help cause infections...
But I still get more throat problems than anyone else I know. So tbh, it hasn't helped me in the slightest.