Would you go for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in a "borderline" case?

[UmmingAndErring]

Hi. Just looking for opinions about the above.

DD(6)'s sleep has been quite disturbed on and off through snoring and (I think) apnoea for years. She has big tonsils. She does seem tired in the day, and has some attention problems, but I don't really know how much - if at all - this relates to poor sleep. And even if it does relate to poor sleep, I don't know how much this relates to snoring/possible apnoea.

She doesn't get infected tonsils very often, and doesn't miss any school.

I can't decide whether to push for tonsillectomy. Does anyone have any advice?

Many thanks in advance.

DS had his tonsils and adenoids out for apnea earlier this year and it's been the best thing we ever did. He's sleeping better, eating better, has put on weight etc. Despite the fact that he had dropped from 91st to 0.2nd centile and at one point stopped breathing and went blue (!) during a nap, we had to push and push to get the op done and as quickly as possible. In your shoes if be grateful that the ENT consultant wants to act quickly and would bite his hand off. DS is significantly healthier since the op - he's not longer full of green snot and minor colds don't knock him for six like they used to.

Janec what alternative approaches did you take? Totally appreciate you don't want to comment but anything might help OP and me at this point !

Hi. What I know is that the tonsils and adenoids are part of the lymphatic system, which contains fluid called lymph. Please excuse me if you know this and excuse my layman's understanding. The lymph fluid is higher in volume than blood and is not pumped by a heart like blood but manually pumped around the body by us as we move. The purpose of the fluid is to cleanse and protect the body. I believe some in the medical profession would believe this next bit in to be rubbish but . It contains amongst other things lymphocytes and other white blood cells (for immunity). The tonsils are part of this system along with the adenoids. I also believe tonsils are somehow linked to the gut. If you google earthclinic.com, there's information on there for natural remedies for enlarged adenoids in children. I was told the information regarding removal of my tonsils by a lady called DR Fi Dann of naturaldetoxsolutions.co.uk if you want to look at her website. She's a toxicologist (not medical doctor) with a couple of degrees and a couple of masters. She helped me most of all out of the people I saw including a private medical dr. and she is the one, who told me I made my recovery more difficult by having part of my immune system removed. I don't know of any medical information online and a quick google into ENT research says removal is fine but I don't truly think the medical profession knows everything about this complex system. My Chinese medical practitioner who is also a GP is outraged that the medical profession removes even more fundamental parts of the body such as the spleen, which is I believe the largest lymphatic organ. I hope the little I know will help.

Yes because the medical profession remove your spleen for fun. it's a major operation.

You can believe anything from Google.

Jane - I'm sorry about your Chronic Fatigue Syndrome but I have to correct the misinformation in your posts.

"apparently ME is caused by low grade infection"

Nobody knows what causes ME (CFC), or what it is, really. Whoever told you that is lying if they claim to know the cause of ME.

"tonsils are there for a reason and are a fundamental part of your immune system"

Tonsils are useful (if they are not causing breathing problems) but not essential. Loads of people (such as yours truly) live perfectly fine without them.

"medical profession would believe this next bit in to be rubbish but "

Sorry but that is complete rubbish. "The system can get a bit blocked" is as nonsense as it is possible to get about a physiological function of the human body. Does it work or not, then? If your immune system didn't work (1) your tonsils would not have been swollen, and (2) you would die of the first infection you got.

"I was told the information regarding removal of my tonsils by a lady called DR Fi Dann of naturaldetoxsolutions.co.uk"

You missed the * next to the "Dr" in her name, which is explained thus at the bottom of that page: "The use of the title 'Dr ' is a courtesy title attached to those who gain the qualifications as a chiropractor. The use of it on this site does not imply the ownership of a medical Qualification. Fi is not a medical doctor and does not diagnose and treat disease."

"She also had trained in kinesiology and crania-sacral therapy"

Kinesiology = Woo.

Crania-sacral therapy = Woo.

"My Chinese medical practitioner who is also a GP is outraged that the medical profession removes even more fundamental parts of the body such as the spleen, which is I believe the largest lymphatic organ."

"Outraged", no less? Does he think doctors remove spleens just because? Please tell your "Chinese medical practitioner" that my mum would have died if her spleen was not removed. Fat lot of good the largest lymphathic organ would have done to her as a corpse

I hope the little I know will help

A little knowledge is dangerous. All you'll do is succeed in scaremongering and worrying the OP further. 1000s of children and adults have their tonsils out every year safely (by actual medical professionals) and manage perfectly well without them. The OP is understandably worrying about her child having an operation which although may not be nice, in the long term will have massive benefits to their quality of life. Kinesiology and detox have no evidence behind it, it's all woo and could potentially just lead to the OP's child suffering for longer.

Janec I ll have a look at the info you sent! Thank you so much for taking the time
I totally believe into natural approach first ! DS2 had op for grommets and adenoids and got more infections after the op than before! One of the grommets fell out as well just 6 months after op and ear got full of fluid again! Just by following some 'natural'steps the fluid is gone and we don't have any more ear infections
I'm worried that tonsils will be hard to crack though but will look into your info
Again thank you

1000s of children and adults have their tonsils out every year safely (by actual medical professionals) and manage perfectly well without them.

Yes that's very true, but why do the doctors insist tonsils are part of immune ? There must be a connection with it hence they are removing them as late as possible

My DGS had his tonsils and adenoids out just a year ago, at age 2.5. It has made a vast difference. He did get lots of very nasty infections, with high temps. My DD had to work really hard to get him seen by an ENT consultant, but as soon as he did, his op was just 6 weeks later.
He has always been a lovely cheery little boy, but its as if someone has switched on his electricity supply. His speech is so much better, and now he runs everywhere.
We are all so glad he had it done. He just gets the odd , ordinary cold now.

I'm my trying to scaremonger anyone and I'm sorry if I have. Obviously if someone is going to die they have to do what the doctors say and I hope no one would take that I meant so. I was told by a medical doctor, Doctor kenyon of the dove clinic that all cfs (ME) is caused by low grade infection. The point I'm trying to make and perhaps not so eloquently as I were able if not for a crap internet connection here is that I try to find alternative stuff these days. I said fi isn't a medical Dr.

"why do the doctors insist tonsils are part of immune ? "

Tonsils are part of the immune system but don't necessarily work as they should in some people. It is not a normal part of the immune system to stop breathing many times in the night.

"hence they are removing them as late as possible"

Not true! Tonsils are preferably removed as children, not as adults. Not even as young adults, most of the time. That is because (as explained to me by DD's paediatrician), the anatomy of that area changes as we grow up and the operation becomes significantly more dangerous.

Ok thanks Cote makes sense

Hi all, OP here.

Thank you so much to everyone for all your advice, input and reassurance.

I may be making mountains out of molehills but I can't stop wondering if I'm doing the right thing. DD definitely has what I think is apnoea sometimes, and has seemed chronically tired often, but I think it might be better than it used to be and it's not every night.

The ENT surgeon has said he wants to take the tonsils out to biopsy due to asymmetry. I'm tempted to just go with this and hope it also helps DD's sleep. But am I being irresponsible not insisting on sleep study or anything first? Many thanks again to all. Really appreciate it. And to those with similar dilemmas, all the best.

OP please keep us updated - we have same asymmetry here. Seeing ENT next Wednesday so will let you know what he says as well
Good luck x

I will do, Another. Hope the appt goes well.

Dd had hers out age 2. She has developed rapidly since then. Before the op she was not sleeping properly with apnoea episodes causing her oxygen levels to drop significantly, constantly getting ill, not growing at the expected rate for her age, her speech was affected, her behaviour was affected, she was going blue in her naps, she had serious stridor because of them. Best decision we ever made and I am not one for unnecessary intervention.

When we saw the consultant with our daughter for enlarged tonsils, we showed her a video taken on my phone of her sleeping. The consultant agreed from that she did have apnea and recommended surgery.
I shared your concerns about unnecessary surgery, but the consultant explained that leaving it could lead to heart problems. I'm afraid I don't know more that but she said the risks of leaving her with tonsils and adanoids were far far greater than the risks of the surgery itself.
Dr also said the compromise of immune system is negligible.
Since surgery my daughter has slept well, gained weight, eats well, runs, and is in far better general health than she was previously.
I was terrified of putting her through it, but it has literally changed her life

OP just to let you know we saw the consultant who agreed that tonsils are almost blocking the airways so we booked an op for next month
He didn't believe he had an asymmetry he said it usually looks like it but it's not
He said he has a new way of doing it so recovery takes about 3 days
Wish you good luck with your appointment x

meredith I had the exact same experience as you (or rather, DS had the same as your DD). I was terrified too but I wouldn't change my decision seeing how well DS is now!

Another, good to hear it's going to get sorted. The new technique with 3 day recovery sounds great. Hope you're not feeling too apprehensive.