tonsils out and the a/effect this has on general health

[PumpkinsCantDanceTheTango]

Its 5am and I have no idea if its affect or effect so err covered both bases

Anyway recurrent tonsillitis, sometimes I think more than I think as I sometimes have sore swollen tonsils with 3/4 white spots and I would class that as just ill, where as tonsillitis = covered white.

But aside from that seem to just catch everything, coldy things, throat things, sore ears, headaches. I work with children and babies - I know it goes with the job. Other people seem to build up some sort of immunity though.

I am interested in finding out about the benefit of a tonsilectomy on more than just tonsillitis - does it help or hinder the immune system? I know they are supposed to help but frankly my huge, cryptic tonsils that do nothing other than fill with white stone things and cause me pain don't seem to o much work.

hi pumpkins - sorry to hear that tonsillitis is making you so poorly.

I had my tonsils out as a child, after suffering from hideous tonsillitis every couple of months for years, after which I became a much healthier and happier child.

Nowadays children aren't routinely given tonsillectomies because the tonsils are considered the first line of defence against infections of the respiratory system - i.e. if you get tonsillitis, it should prevent you from getting more serious chest infections or bronchitis.

But in your case, with recurrent bouts of tonsillitis, I would ask to have the little blighters removed - they're of no use to you, they make you ill too often and I can only think that your health would improve greatly if they weren't constantly flaring up.

BTW, it's effect!

Thanks. People keep telling my how awful it is to have them out - I dont doubt that for a minute. But I had the most horrific tonsillitis I have had in my life last Feb, I was delerious, spewing constantly, was utter hell. I truley can't imagine it would be worse than that - plus you'd get better drugs!!

If it was just the bouts of definite tonsilitis and then I was fine rest of year I would leave it. But it seems to be constant flaring up of throat things with any illness. I spend my life peering at my throat with a headlamp to see if I have white spots.

I am at work at the moment but only because I have a nice (shes a Dr actually) boss who lets me do the bare minimum when I feel crap, as I usually do more than required when well.

I don't think having them out can be as bad as having to put up with the constant pain of tonsillitis - and you get to eat heaps of ice cream afterwards (or so I remember ).

What does your GP say?

Depends which GP I see. One told me horror stories about his friend who ha them out. Often then recoil in horror at the size of them and ask have I not considered having them out and then on further questioning realise I am just below the guieline number per year.

I tend to see a different GP each time as when I go its as an emergency appointment not preplanned. Might make one to chat about it, usual GP is lovely.

I have read there is no more icecream apparently you have to eat toast to scrape the pus off

Ugh!!!

I would go and see the usual GP and have a serious discussion about it - count up the number of days that you've been sick with tonsillitis, rather than just the number of bouts you've had, and if you're well into double figures, then that's surely evidence enough that this is having a really detrimental effect on you?

Why are you up so early, btw? Tonsils?

I have a stinking cold and can't breathe when I lie down. Grrr.

Pumpkins - sadly that is true about the ice cream / "hard" food. However - the 2 days of horrible pain, and 3 days of some pain and 5 days of very mild discomfort post op are utterly worth it for getting rid of the buggers. I had mine out last year, for the 18 years before that I had had a lot of colds, but for a year beforehand I had tonsillitis and sore throat and voice loss and cold symptoms every 3-4 weeks! I would just get over one then another would come along. Culminated in a huge abcess on my tonsils (had to go into hospital overnight to have IV abs and the thing drained - bleeurgh and ouch) which triggered the decision to have them out. Best thing I ever did. Over a year later and I have probably had ONE cold since, and not a particularly bad one. NO sore throats other than with that cold. It is amazing and I feel so much better as a result. Totally recommend it, can you tell?!

Pumpkins - I had my out at 30 and although I don´t regret it as I think I had a sore throat every day for a year or so before and tonsillitis once a month or so. I took AGES to recover. You are routinely signed off work for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks I was then signed off for another 2 weeks. I was a teacher and needed to be able to speak! I also needed stronger painkillers. I have never been in so much pain (and I gave birth with no gas and air or any other pain relief!) After a month off work I went back for a week and then was signed off again. I finally went back to work after 3 months and I can honestly say it took 6 months to a year to get back to full health. But I am now a much healthier person. As an aside I had the op at the exact same time as one of my 15 year old students, he was back to school in 10 days!

Yes am worried about that. What was the recover problem? - The pain? Or other complication?

Its something I was always completely against in the past but am getting fed up now, more often than not I am ill. I am not sure if the NHS will even consider removing them though unless I am even more ill Its that annoying low grade ill that I spend a lot of time at - the sort of coming down with/recovering from time. When you aren't ill enough to be laid up in bed but cant really do normal things. I spend my time worrying if I do too much I will be ill, special events/nights out end up missed or a blur of painkillers (my friends wedding :()

If I could pull them out with pliers I would.

Sorry I mean was the pain caused by something different that went wrong or was it "just" extreem pain?

Sorry, haven't had a chance to read all of the thread, but here's my story.

I had always suffered with throat infections, then in my late teens and early twenties I started getting tonsilitis a lot. Each time I would have to take a week off work as I got so ill.

My GP was a ENT man so he didn't hesitate in referring me to have my tonsils out. Infact he said the only thing my tonsils were doing was getting infected.

I had them out in my early 20's and the recovery was fine. And probably I have suffered from less colds, flu and sore throats since they have been taken out.

My DS2 who is almost 8, had his tonsils out 2 years ago because they were GINORMOUS rather than because he got tonsillitis. He did seem to be in generally poor health with one thing or another before he had them removed although strangely enough, not with the tonsillitis.

Anyway, we braced ourselves for a few weeks of discomfort/recovery and amazingly enough he was almost back to his normal self within a week. Only for it was August he would have wanted to go back to school after a couple of days!

And added to that his health has been great since they came out.

Of my 3 dc 2 have had their tonsils removed (with adenoid removal at the same time and bilateral grommets inserted).

DD was 4 - quite poorly after, kept up painkillers for 10 days.

DS was 2 - running about like a loony within a few hours. Painkillers for a couple of days.

With both of them, every time they had it so did I but now they've had theirs removed I have it maybe once a year . They have both had no long term effects and I am grateful that they no longer have 12-15 courses of antibiotics per year. DD was so unwell from antibiotics that our gp thought she had glandular fever. DS was on low dose antibiotics for a couple of months before the op to keep 'a lid' on his infections.

I would say go for it - push for removal. I was getting to that point myself. FWIW, it is something which can be done privately. Or do as we did - pay for a private consultancy then go back to the NHS for the op. That cost us about £100 but saved several months waiting.