To want my tonsils removed?

[Ibloodyhatethomasthetankengine]

Long story short, years of tonsil trouble now has come to a point where they're starting to affect my day-to-day life. Adult tonsil removal seems to be a pretty grim experience by all accounts (no seems to quite understand why when children don't seem to have as difficult a time of it with tonsillectomy) but I am now at a point where I am seriously considering the short-term agony for the long-term gain.

Has anyone else had this done as an adult and if so, would I be foolish to do it? I would likely have to go private as I don't think my local GP would be very supportive, but I am now at the end of my tether (sitting here with bleeding tonsils right now) and need to know there is light at the end of the tunnel!

X

[EggnogChai]

Hey there

I'm on day 7 after my tonsillectomy and I'm in agony... every swallow feels like I'm swallowing razor blades. I can take painkillers every 4 hours but they stop working after 1.5 hours. I've realised today although they told me that the worst days for pain are day 5 - 10 they have only given me 7 days worth so I'll have to beg the almighty gp receptionist for an appointment to get more.

Like I said painkillers every 4 hours including at night so I'm not sleeping properly.

My jaw is throbbing on the left side of my face from chin to ear from being priced open.

The painkillers have some unfortunate bowel side effects so I'm in pain there too.

Also you need 2 weeks off work minimum due to infection.

I'm not sure if this is going to be worth it 😭

[Boffered1]

I had mine removed when I was 38 after months of tonsil trouble. I stayed in hospital overnight and it was painful afterwards but not agony. It took about 2 weeks before I could eat and drink properly BUT for me it was worth it and I haven't had any problems since then.

[Ibloodyhatethomasthetankengine]

Oh shit eggnog you poor thing! Can I ask what the reason behind your removal was?

I am crap with pain. My pain threshold is nil.

[ConfessorKahlan]

Sorry this is a long story but it might help you decide....

I had my tonsils out when I was 5. I continued to suffer throat infections over the years, always awful and completely debillitating. About 6 years ago it got even worse, eventually being suspected throat cancer because I was so ill. Luckily it turned out not to be cancer. My job is one in which I need to use my voice a lot and I am exposed to various germs and illnesses. About 3 years ago, I became really ill again and again antibiotics were useless. I was off sick so much that the sickness absence policy had to be used. I ended up seeing a private ENT consultant. It turned out that I had tonsillar remnants, which are bits of tonsils left behind from the original surgery over 35 years earlier.

I had them removed and so far I have had no trouble with my throat at all since then (about 2 years).

However, it was extremely painful, and I have had numerous surgeries on different parts of my body, and given birth twice, so I know what severe pain is. It will be more painful than you realise and you will be so ill and it is a long recovery time. Only you can decide if about a month of feeling like you really cannot take any more pain in your throat is preferable to your current situation. It seems to have worked for me, but be prepared for feeling unbelievably shit for at least 3 weeks.

I hope that this helps you a bit. If you are at the end of your tether than maybe the 4 weeks of shittiness will be worth it in the end. I know it was for me. I would have had to leave my job if I had continued the way I was.

[GuinevereOfTheRoyalCourt]

I had my tonsils out when I was 20. Yes, post-op was very painful - it peaked about 4 days afterwards, but then it rapidly got better. However, my health improved immeasurably following it. I was getting tonsillitis at least once a month and also getting regular viral type bugs in between; but after having my tonsils removed I rarely got and get so much as a cold!

[PasDevantLesElephants]

Had mine done in April and it was very painful for a couple of weeks after, but the GP gave me Tramadol and liquid morphine which were very helpful!

I honestly haven't looked back though. It used to be that almost every time I was tired, stressed or even a little bit run down my tonsils would kick in and lay me out for a week. I'm now a vision of health generally, and so happy the bastards ended up in the hospital incinerator where they belonged!

[FredaFruitcake]

I had mine out at 37. I was in agony and had to have a month off work.

But it made a massive difference to me. I was ill one week in three with tonsillitis before, and although I've had sore throats since, nothing anywhere near as bad.

DH also had his out three years ago, and he had a heamorrhage and had to be rushed in to A&E. He took about three weeks to get better.

We would both have it done again in a heartbeat - it's well worth it in the end.

Eggnog take whatever painkillers they will give you and just keep telling yourself that one morning you will wake up and feel better, and it will be worth it.

[EggnogChai]

I've had tonsillitis twice a year for about 15 years which the doctors didn't really care about but about 2 months ago I got tonsillitis which then caused sepsis with me being so ill two bloody ambulances had to be called and had a spell in ear, nose and throat ward.

[BoiledSprouts]

I had mine out as an adult. Requested it done and my specialist (NHS) agreed. It did turn out to be a nightmare because the hospital accidentally send me home with painkillers I'm allergic to, had to be hospitalised for that, then I got an infection in the wound in hospital. But that's very rare and could happen in any surgery. For the first few days post-surgery I was just taking over the counter pain meds and it was fine. Gets a bit worse when it starts to heal as it kind of pulls on the stitches.

If I had to do it over I definitely would, despite all the problems. It's been a lifesaver not having those awful disgusting things in my throat anymore.

[PeanutJuice]

I had mine out as an adult and it was definitely the right decision. My GP wasn't supportive but I did not take no for an answer. Recovery was fine, they give you painkillers- just make sure you keep on top of them. I was mostly recovered after a week and completely back to normal after 2. Not even a sore throat since! I heard absolute horror stories before hand so was so scared, but very glad I did it. Good luck!

[ConfessorKahlan]

Obviously everyone is different, but I think that most people find recovery extremely painful and lengthy, but worth it in the end. I kept topped up on the strongest painkillers that the doctor was prepared to prescribe and it was still agony. the relief only lasted for about 1.5 hourrs before the agony started again.

Still worth it though.

[Ilovetorrentialrain]

Hi OP Just adding my tale. I had my tonsils out in my early thirties. I must have been one of the last where they whipped them out with only two or three instances of tonsilitis - I was quite surprised they suggested this but went for it.

Yes - be prepared for 3 - 4 weeks of grim pain & discomfort day & night. Staying on top of painkiller schedule is crucial - and I can't stress enough how you will need someone to look after you. Of the mix of painkillers I was prescribed, the best-working (and that I 'looked forward' to was soluble paracetamol as it worked on a local basis too.

I shouldn't have had mine out. However - in your circumstances I would not hesitate. It will be so worth it I'm sure. Tonsilitis that regularly must really be impacting your quality of life too much.

[whyohwhy000]

EggnogChai Could you alternate ibuprofen and paracetamol and take them every two hours to help with the pain?

[ConfessorKahlan]

Ice cubes and ice lollies are life safer!

[ConfessorKahlan]

Sorry for typos

life savers!

[Ilovetorrentialrain]

Eggnog stick with it. As I recall the pain seems to move to the ears around your stage - yes it's right it does peak but then you'll be on the home straight.

[dramaqueen]

i had more out when i was about 25. Until then i had repeated tonsillitis, at leat 4 times per year. Two weeks off work was enough, and yes it was fairly painful but no more so than a bad bout of tonsillitis. I can honestly say that i have a much better immune system now, and no sore throats since.

[hels71]

I had mine out as an adult as they were permanently infected and swollen. It took about 2 months to to recover reasonably and a year before I was totally ok BUT I have been so much healthier throat wise since. It was worth the pain...

[mrsmonkey14]

Had mine out at around age 26 I think after recurrent tonsillitis (every 10 days at that point, I was working v long hours). NHS wouldn't touch me but had health ins through work so went privately.
Had 2 weeks off work to recover and it was sore but seem to recall was totally fine after 2 wks so it was just the initial pain. As a bonus (for me anyway) I lost some weight as couldn't eat very much.
I'm quite surprised others found it massively painful (and I don't mean I have high pain threshold or anything - just obviously people have different experiences).
Like others I have been free of ENT issues since having them out, I rarely even get a cold. Honestly think they were poisoning me! So I'd say go for it.

[NE14T]

It wasn't worth it for me tbh, my tonsillectomy was about the worst experience even my adult life. The pain was horrendous. I couldn't eat/ drink, ended up severely dehydrated and then haemorrhaged and ended up in resus (where I bloody work!) and back in theatre.

BUT, I had mine out as I had 3 bouts of Quinsey within 5 years. No other tonsillitis in between. I did end up in hospital each of those three times but the op was worse tbh. I lost about 1.5 stone in 2 weeks and looked like a zombie.

[WildCherryBlossom]

I had mine out in my 20s after years of problems. Done on the NHS. All excellent. Yes the recovery was around 2 weeks and required loads of painkillers but totally worth it. Have been so much better ever since! Would thoroughly recommend it!

[BumpGoesBumpety]

I had mine out at 23, pain for 2 days, back at work after 4 days. I was encouraged to eat toast and anything crunchy. It was hands down the best thing I did.

[Silvercatowner]

I believe that there more scarring there is (from repeated serious infections and quinsys), the more painful is the recovery. OH had his out in his 40s - unfortunately the infection was soo embedded by the time he was operated on that he developed a massive post op infection. He was off work for 6 months and had a phased return. He was very poorly prior to the op but hasn't looked back since.

[Daisycat45]

My adult daughter had her tonsils out last year. It was a very painful recovery and she found it very hard. She was told to buy painkillers from the chemist which didn't touch the pain. However she does not regret having it done, she was generally run down all the time and had a bout of tonsillitis every month. I think you need to balance short term pain against the long term pain.

[MsPickle]

If you can go private have a look at this guy www.danieltweedie.com/. He did my Dd's last year (nhs) and was amazing. I had mine out at 21 and it was sore and uncomfortable for a week, not amazing for another week and then AMAZING not to have huge tonsils invading my mouth and causing me such trouble!