Straw poll: Tonsillectomy as a child & issues in adulthood

[waltonshipwreck]

Tonsils are apparently the first line of immune defence and make up the Waldeyer's Ring, along with the adenoids, that produces lymphocytes which are immune cells that help fight infection.

I'm writing this from my sick bed as I'm laid up with yet another respiratory infection.

During a previous bout of sickness, I, as I usually do, googled reasons for why I seem to be ill with viruses more often than others and why I'm always so unwell with them when others seem to shrug them off much more easily.

This led me to googling what on earth tonsils were even for. I was surprised I didn't know how important they were to the immune system, surely the removal of them must have some impact on how my body fights infection??

There has been some research done into this with some reports that removal of the tonsils, and adenoids, could have some bearing on an increase in allergies/asthma/respiratory issues when older.

I had my tonsils removed in the 80s when I was 3 as was so common back then, less so now. My adenoids weren't removed.

If you've had your tonsils removed as a child, please answer my unscientific straw poll:

1. Adenoids also removed?
2. Recurring allergies?
3. Asthma/Respiratory issues?
4. Other issues with your immune system?
5. Age of removal?

Thanks 😊

I've had tonsils and adenoids removed. No allergies or respiratory issues or immune issues. Was older end of primary school age but not sure of exact age.

1. Adenoids also removed?
2. Recurring allergies?
3. Asthma/Respiratory issues?
4. Other issues with your immune system?
5. Age of removal?

I can answer for my DH and DD. 1 DH yes, DD no 2 DH no, DD no 3 DH no, DD no 4 DH no DD no 5 DH 7, DD 6

Interestingly, neither DH nor DD seem to ever get ill to the point of needing time off work. Neither ever had Covid! They’re both generally fit and well. DH is 60 and DD is 30.

Tonsils are dreadful if you are an individual who is susceptible to Tonsillitis. Tonsillectomy as an adult is utterly, utterly grim, but revolutionises life thereafter.

I had both removed when I was 4. I wouldn't say I get any more illness than anyone else. I don't have allergies, apart from hay-fever. To be honest though most people I know have had hay fever at some point. My dh gets hay-fever and has his tonsils. My dd just started getting it this year, and her tonsils are in tact as well.

I got recurrent terrible bouts of tonsillitis as a child, roughly once a month with a week of high temperature, horrible sore.
Was due to have my tonsils removed when I was 7, by which point I hadn't had an infection for a few months.
The consultant told my mum, that I wouldn't get tonsillitis again, kids often grow out of it about this age, and he was completely correct.
I never had it again, and don't suffer from sore throat often at all.
I am glad that the consultant was obviously so experienced that he could say this with confidence, and I still have them, as you say I feel they offer protection.

On the flip side, I’m a bit younger and had tonsillitis a lot as a child once the NHS reached the stage of not really taking them out. It did improve in my teens but then after a bout of illness in my early twenties I was getting it at least once a month and ended up having them removed as an adult. Recovery from the op is far worse at that age and my parents say they regret not pushing the GP or going private when I was a child

Very much agree with @Oneearringlost that a tonsillectomy is life changing for those who need it. But wouldn’t recommend unless you really do need it, as recovery is grim

DD1 has tonsils removed at 5 after having recurring issues for months. No issues whatsoever at nearly 20 now.

I had mine out later at 19 and it was life changing. Again, no issues.

Will never forget the recovery though which was pretty rough.

Just to say as someone who did NOT get my tonsils removed as a child, and eventually had them removed as an adult after two decades of painful throat infections, that I do have allergies (which are lifelong, not recurring) and endless sinus and ENT problems. But getting the tonsils out instantly improved my health to an almost miraculous degree.

Some people just have allergies and asthma - it is probably genetic.

Adenoids also removed?
Well, tonsils removed as a bonus when my adenoids were removed.

Recurring allergies? No
Asthma/Respiratory issues? No
Other issues with your immune system? No
Age of removal? Not sure. Primary. Maybe 6 or 7?

I had mine out at 17 and it was life changing. Before that I had reoccurring tonsillitis monthly. Now, I’ve no reoccurring issues, no asthma or allergies and v rarely sick.

1. Adenoids also removed? Yes
2. Recurring allergies? No
3. Asthma/Respiratory issues? No
4. Other issues with your immune system? No
5. Age of removal? 4yo

If it helps, one of my kids had theirs out at 4yo and is now an adult. They were my healthiest child as far as bugs going around went and have stayed that way as an adult. My other kids all have their bits and bobs as there was no need to take them out in childhood or to date.

1. Adenoids also removed? Yes
2. Recurring allergies? No
3. Asthma/Respiratory issues? No
4. Other issues with your immune system? No
5. Age of removal? Not sure but young

I still have mine. I have to clean each and every hole daily - and they are completely pitted. Every day I push out about a fingernail of puss - if I don't it gets bigger and hardens and the stones fall out when I'm talking and that is more gross. I have a constant low level sore throat plus proper tonsillitis at least twice a year. I dream of having them out.

DD had her tonsils removed last year - she barely ever gets sick now, didn’t even get a typical winter cold this season! She used to get tonsillitis every few weeks without fail so for her it has been a massive improvement, no regrets.

Adenoids also removed? No
Recurring allergies? Yes - however she has always had these
Asthma/respiratory issues? No
Other issues with your immune system? No
Age of removal? 19

I’d look at getting some bloods done OP to check for any underlying reasons as to why you could be sick so often

Beware of correlation (even more so of anecdotal correlation) when drawing conclusions about causation!

It is possible for A) tonsillectomy and B) recurrent illness / atopy / impaired immunity to correlate not because A) leads to B), but rather B) may contribute to recurrent tonsillitis resulting in A).

It's also possible the causation works both ways (assuming there is a significant correlation - which I wouldn't be surprised by as you have pointed out the tonsils are immunologically active).

I had my adenoids removed as a child. Constant ear infections, glue ear etc.
I was about 10 years old.
Had my tonsils out when I was 27 years old. I was always getting tonsillitis, very debilitating, really was seriously affecting my life. They became infected after the op which wasn't nice but I got antibiotics and recovered ok. I am now 58, don't get sore throats anymore but have had many auto immune problems all my life, fibromyalgia being one of them. Live with constant chronic pain so who knows what has caused this. My diet is fine, and I try to keep my weight under control and walk when it's possible.

Had mine removed in the 80's. Had been very ill before. I do have asthma but we have a strong family history of it so do not think it is related. Both dc had them out by age 4, again one has asthma and allergies diagnosed by age 1 so no correlation i would think. Both dc had lives transformed by having it done. One dc hearing improved hugely and one was able to stop having antibiotics on a weekly basis.

Well, there goes my theory! 😂

I don't remember what it was like before I had them removed as I was so young so it's good to hear the benefit others have had.

I didn't realise recovery was so grim as an adult.

1. I've had T and A out.
2. I have food sensitivities, but I don't think tonsil removal would impact those.
3. No.
4. Autoimmune condition. A lot of that in my family.
5. 9

I feel I handle infections pretty well overall. I was always sick before I had them out, so I guess that was an improvement.

I still have my tonsils and adenoids. I still suffer lots of viruses, asthma etc.

I think untreated lung illness in childhood maybe leaves you more vulnerable in adulthood? My coughs would never clear up etc.

I have really enjoyed all the staying home stuff as I’ve barely been ill since!

1. Adenoids also removed? no
2. Recurring allergies? yes hayfever/rhinitus
3. Asthma/Respiratory issues? no
4. Other issues with your immune system? no
5. Age of removal? 10

1. Adenoids also removed? Yes
2. Recurring allergies? My allergies generally improved as I got older. My allergies are the result of genes - all my family have allergies
3. Asthma/Respiratory issues? My asthma improved after my tonsils were removed
4. Other issues with your immune system? Mine were removed due to frequesnt chest inffections. My tonsils were effectively going bad and causing infections. I never once had tonsilitis. In my first year of primary school, I was ill so often I missed the equivalent of a whole term of schooling. My health gradually improved post removal, and by the time I started secondary school I was ill at the same rate as my friends.
5. Age of removal? just 5, in the 1970s

I had terrible repeated tonsillitis as a child, loads of time off school extreme pain eating or even drinking at times. My mother was a nurse and refused to allow my tonsils to be removed. She considered it a dangerous operation due to potential blood loss, I don't know if she was correct this was 50s, 60s, 70s. My last really bad bout was when I was about 14 although I am still prone to throat infections whenever I come down with anything. I don't think I'm more or less prone to infections than anyone else.

If you've had your tonsils removed as a child, please answer my unscientific straw poll:

1. Adenoids also removed? - yes
2. Recurring allergies? - allergic to penicillin, hayfever
3. Asthma/Respiratory issues? - no
4. Other issues with your immune system? - not now (I’m in my 50s) but had recurring throat infections throughout my childhood & teens, and was given a course of penicillin at least 3 times a year. Developed huge allergy to it in my 20s, haven’t taken ANY meds since and I’m really healthy. I’ve just had Covid (3rd time) and was back running and swimming within a week
5. Age of removal? 6, in the 1970s

Reading through the replies makes me reflect on the illnesses I had growing up after the tonsillectomy.

I remember being poorly quite regularly with sore throats and ear infections and was often prescribed antibiotics (granted these were probably over prescribed back then).

To have my tonsils removed at 3 years old suggests severe recurring throat infections, so perhaps the cause of my shitty immune system isn't because of a tonsillectomy but something already genetically present.

In fairness, my immune system isn't too bad as I don't have any severe illnesses as a result of it, or any auto immune disorders. I just seem to be worse affected by viral infections compared to the general population, seen through severity of illness, symptoms, and recovery time.