Tonsillectomy

[Tangofantastic]

Can anyone offer me a talking down?! My health anxiety stopping me seeing things clearly I think.
my DD7 is scheduled for a tonsillectomy in a few weeks. It
follows a year of recurrent tonsillitis, strep 2-3
times, scarlet fever twice. All awful and I was glad to get a plan in place when she finally saw ENT who said let’s take them out.

however, ironically since that appointment 2 months ago, she’s been fine. First time
in over a year she‘s gone longer than 3
weeks without a new infection. I’m now questioning if I’m making the right
decision to have them removed in case she finally
is growing out of it? i know it’s a rough recovery and she’ll be poorly so I’m just having an aaaargggh moment of am I doing
the right thing putting her in for it?

no idea If this is just my anxiety talking so wanted Some wise mama opinions! Thank you ☀️

I had mine removed when I was 13.
This was in 2001 so it might have changed a little bit since but this is my experience

I used to have 9+ episodes of tonsillitis a year. That was the threshold at the time it was more but I don't know how much more. When I was young it was only a few days off each time by the time I got to secondary school it was a week and some times more if I needed a second course of antibiotics

I had an overnight stay in hospital when I had them removed. I remember being in the recovery room and saying to the nurse in my not quite with it state "I think I have tonsillitis". To be discharged I had to eat a meal and I had a few failed attempts at that. First time the night before and my first breakfast the next day. The anaesthesia made me a bit nauseous. I was home for lunch (day 2) and ate a small amount but it was ok. The first few days were a mix of toast and ice cream. I picked up a mild post op infectious which made me sick but it only took a day of antibiotics for me to start to feel normal again. I had had to have two weeks off school and by the second half of the first week I was back doing normal things even popped into town with my older sister for some clothes shopping!

Since then I have had tonsillitis once possibly twice. One was a trip to a and e when I stopped being able to swallow. I'm so glad I had them out

I would absolutely advise going ahead with it, I had recurrent tonsillitis all through my childhood and teens and it was miserable. if you’re susceptible to it then it just keeps coming back relentlessly.

I was always being told that if I got it again the following month they’d take them out and then I’d suddenly have a break of a few months without it so they didn’t do it, and then the cycle would start again!

I finally had them removed when I was 21 and it was the best decision ever and the op and recovery was way less painful than actually having tonsillitis. Apparently recovery is a lot easier and quicker as a child too.

My advice for your DD would be to make sure you have some crisps you know she likes with you as they would only let me home afterwards once I’d eaten a bag of crisps (something about rough food helping with scar tissue) and only had cheese and onion available…. I was already feeling woozy from the anaesthetic and refused til my Mum came in with some twiglets 😂

My DS16 has finally got on the waiting list to get his tonsils removed, it's only taken 5 years.

We would dread every winter as he had recurrent bouts and trips to the doctor who told us that he would grow out of it and that it would never go ahead as it was expensive.

Thankfully we had a doctor who saw sense and finally referred him to ENT. At the appointment with the consultant he actually asked us why it had taken so long 😔.

The last straw was after reporting every bout of tonsillitis for 2 years, he had 2 bouts during his GCSE mocks and actual exams. Its was affecting his breathing, his nose was constantly blocked and he looked ill.

So yes you are definitely doing the right thing

It's the best thing to do. I finally had mine out at 19- I'd been have 8/9 lots of tonsillitis a year and it got to a point where I had to have two weeks of antibiotics and steroids.
The op was straight forward, I had it later in the day so was out of recovery about 5pm. The next morning I had to eat 2 slices of toast before going home. I'll be honest I'd heard that the pain was going to be horrendous but it really wasn't, keep up on the painkillers and she'll be fine.
I've not been properly poorly since having them out.

My daughter had her tonsils out,adenoids out and grommets put in when she was 6.
Honestly it was the best thing ever she has been fine with no infections ever since.
The day surgery went great and she was fine the next day even eating lamb chops 😂

Thank you all SO much. This was just the kick I needed to plough ahead. She has had 7-8 episodes this year and it’s so odd to have hit 6 weeks of no illness that I’m second guessing as I’m sooooo used to her being poorly on antibiotics. I’m so glad you all feel better for having them out and I’ll be stocking up on crisps, toast and painkillers like a madman. thank you xx

Just a quick update DS16 has had a date for his tonsillectomy at the beginning of Jan 2024. We are so relieved that finally something is being done.