Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Tonsils out at 25?

38 replies

Pinkbutton85 · 19/03/2019 12:35

I was told it's not usual to have them out at this age. But after getting tonsilitis every 6 weeks or so for a few years I'm finally having them out in a few weeks.

Anyone had it done around this age? How was recovery? Thanks!

OP posts:
tealcoat · 19/03/2019 12:48

I was 14. So not as old as you but it took doctors ages to agree to it because I was 'too old'. Apparently, they don't like doing it if you're older than 6.

I had a rough two weeks afterwards, had an infection that made my ears really hurt. And the medication I had for this had to be eaten with food, which tbh was horrendous because it hurt so much to swallow.

I think I was more or less back to normal after 2 weeks. Obviously, though being 14 I didn't have to cook or look after DC's! But I was back in school full time after 2 weeks.

In the long term, I am so so glad that I had it done. I will now go years without getting sick with the flu or anything annoying like that. Whereas before any whiff of a cold going around I'd get a sore throat and be in bed. 10+ years later I haven't had a sore throat since.

tealcoat · 19/03/2019 12:48

Best of luck!

Irelandfilly · 19/03/2019 12:50

My adult dc had them out at 21, she was off college for 2 weeks to recover.

Jebuschristchocolatebar · 19/03/2019 12:50

There was a thread about this maybe two weeks ago. I had them out as an adult and the recovery was horrific. No point in sugar coating it but on the plus side I don’t get tonsillitis any more

MountPheasant · 19/03/2019 12:51

My sister had hers out at 23, recovery was about 2-3 weeks, she’s fine now.

ErickBroch · 19/03/2019 12:52

Colleague had them done last year at 26, 2 weeks recovery.

Titsntats · 19/03/2019 12:54

I had mine out at 22 and my god it was horrific! Sorry to say that but they definitely don't prepare you for how bad it is! However the recovery is usually over quite quickly - around 2/3 weeks - and I found that after around the first 9/10 days it was nowhere near as bad as it had been. It's also so worth it to stop the constant bouts of tonsillitis. Good luck!

PasDevantLesElephants · 19/03/2019 12:54

I had mine out at 35 - best thing ever. The recovery is painful but if you keep asking they'll give you tramadol and liquid morphine. Also jelly is good as you can let it sit on the sore bits for a few seconds before you swallow.

I haven't had tonsillitis in coming up 4 years and it's turned my life around!

Titsntats · 19/03/2019 12:55

Also agree with @tealcoat, I would pick up anything and everything that was going round but in the years since having it done I haven't even had so much as a cold or a sore throat

FrustratedTeddyLamp · 19/03/2019 12:55

I wonder why its different when you are younger? I had mine out young like i remember having lots of Jelly, and i remember still being groggy and thinking i was walking through a door but actually into a wall.Blush

But anyway i remember having to eat a piece of toast the next day and then i could go. I dont remember anytime off school or feeling crap. I wonder why its different for adults?

joyfullittlehippo · 19/03/2019 12:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CIT80 · 19/03/2019 12:57

Had mine out at 19 - the recovery is painful and took a good two weeks - however it was worth it long term

CustardySergeant · 19/03/2019 13:01

FrustratedTeddyLamp the healing process is much quicker when you're young. If you've ever watched Supervet you will have noticed that he always says that young animals heal super-fast, which is normally a good thing of course, but occasionally the rapid healing is detrimental to certain procedures and implants working optimally. It applies to humans too. New tissue grows very rapidly in the young.

Whoopsies · 19/03/2019 13:02

I had mine out at 21, 10 years ago. I recovered very quickly, was back to work after a week. Hope it goes well for you, it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Original poster
Pinkbutton85 · 19/03/2019 13:02

Thank you for being honest!

OP posts:
DonPablo · 19/03/2019 13:03

My dsis had hers out at 35. She was in agony for the first 48 hours but after that, it got better every day. 2 weeks and she was right as rain. And she hasn't had a single sore throat since... Changed her life!

Wixi · 19/03/2019 13:07

My DSis had hers done at 27 and was initially quite ill. After a week or two though, once the scarring had settled she was, and has been since, fine.

pigsDOfly · 19/03/2019 13:07

Yes, I remember the thread about that pp mentions.

I had mine out when I was 21, nearly 50 years ago.

Very quick recovery, was in hospital for over a week, as was usual at the time, and was kept off work for six weeks in case of infection, which didn't happen, although I suppose being at home for six weeks, which was also usual at the time, or so my GP informed me, probably helped to keep potential infection at bay as I wasn't meeting anyone.

GetOffTheRoof · 19/03/2019 13:09

I was about 22. Not going to lie, it was pretty awful.

Make sure you have plenty of liquids, ice poles, ice lollies (not milk based), and scratchy foods like crisps, toast etc. The itch was as bad as the pain.

Avoid fresh tomato, lemon, lime etc - too alkali or acidic and burns like fury. Avoid salad dressing for at least 2 weeks. I made a big mistake in trying to be healthy one day.

Accept you may need every day of the 2 week recovery that is recommended. I couldn't leave the house in that 2 weeks, and had bleeds in the first few days requiring me to sit upright to sleep.

I needed it though, my tonsillitis was about 7-9 bouts a year and getting worse every time, with my throat closing up even when I was well :-/

Original poster
Pinkbutton85 · 19/03/2019 13:11

That's what's been happening to me, my throat has been closing up even without tonsilitis. It wells so much the dangly bit (for use or a better word) rests on the back of my tongue with my tonsils!

OP posts:
stellavisionandunderstanding · 19/03/2019 17:39

I was 30! Best thing I ever did!! Less sinus infections and over all health improvement!

Sweetpea55 · 19/03/2019 17:55

Iv seen them removed when I worked in the OT.
Good luck!!!

CoffeeMilkNoSugar · 19/03/2019 17:59

I'm 25, had mine out exactly one month ago.

Ok, so in my experience - the surgery was only 30 minutes long, my tonsils were the largest the surgeon had ever seen. It was pretty cool actually, I even got to see my tonsils floating in their little plastic tubs and oh my, they were big buggers.

As for the recovery. Yeah, it hurt. But it wasn't anywhere near as painful as I thought it would be. I kept up with my painkillers and it was actually really manageable. Of course I took my full 2 weeks to just rest and heal. By day 10 I was actually almost totally pain-free.

Make sure you eat and keep yourself well hydrated. Ensure you're well looked after. Take your time to heal, you will be just fine. I'm recovered now and honestly, I can already see a huge difference. It's easier to breathe, the foul smell and taste is gone, no more phlegm at the back of my throat... I don't regret it for a second!

user1493242132 · 19/03/2019 18:01

36 and got them out last year! I’ve also had 2 c sections, the pain in the 1st 2 weeks were worse then my c section but the pain I had every month with the tonsils were far worse. I’m a much happier person.

OhDiddums · 19/03/2019 18:02

I had my adenoids removed a few years ago so around the same age as you. Recovery is meant to be similar. Was signed off for 2 weeks due to the risk of infection. I felt fine within 2 days. Slight sore throat but felt fine.

Hope your op goes well and you feel better soon. 💐