Tonsillectomy in adults - please come and share your experiences

[Blatherskite]

In the last 12 months I've had tonsillitis 7 times. I had back-to-back episodes from March through to about November last year, then thankfully a break over Christmas and then I started getting symptoms again last Friday.

Each time I've had at least 1 course of antibiotics, sometimes two, and by November last year, they'd destroyed my gut flora so badly that I was getting tummy troubles too.

The severity of the tonsillitis has ranged from nothing more than a badly sore throat through to fever and shivers and being unable to get out of bed.

My doctor had said that after 5 swab confirmed cases, I would be able to get referred to a specialist to see about possibly getting them taken out but on one occasion when I had tonsillitis but he was on leave, the locum doctor told me that there was no way I would be able to get them taken out as they didn't do the operation for adults any more. She refused to take a swab and as I hadn't had a swab done for the first case, that left me with only 4 confirmed cases.

My doctor has left the practice now so I have a new doctor who I have not met yet and was unable to see this week as he is on leave but I did have my throat swabbed by a nurse.

I guess what I'm asking is should I make an appointment with the doctor when he gets back to ask about a tonsillectomy? They must still do them for adults in some areas as I've seen threads on here before about Mners having them. And if I can have one, do I really want one? I've heard that it is an awful operation for an adult and can be fraught with complications. I've also heard that it doesn't necessarily stop someone from getting infections - that with tonsils removed, the surrounding tissue gets infected instead and that this is harder to treat than bog-standard tonsillitis.

Right now, I feel like a tonsillectomy would be a good thing. My tonsils are really, really swollen and are pushing my tongue out of place, making it uncomfortable to turn my head and giving me a really painful ear and jaw, plus I have a headache and feel very run down - Eating and drinking hurt and I feel miserable and very, very lucky that DH has managed to take today and tomorrow off work to help me out over half term. I was on my own at the beginning of the week, including Wednesday when the pain was at it's worst (before I got the ABs as they wouldn't prescribe until they had the swab results back) and I was totally miserable and not a lot of fun for the Children. I'm not sure how I'll cope if we get back to the 2 weeks on/3 weeks off routine that I had last Summer with this infection:(

But in a week or so when the Abs have done their job, I'm sure I'll feel differently again - until the next time. Friends and relatives have been pushing me to see the doctor and push for the operation but I'm scared. If you've had recurrent tonsillitis - and have managed to stay with me through this huge post! - would you push for having them out?

Really don't worry about the GA, I was terrified before hand and it was honestly nothing to worry about at all. The last thing I remember was being in the pre-theatre room and the antithestist (Sp?) talking to me and telling me what he was doing, and the next thing I knew a nurse was calling my name and I was awake again. I tried to discharge myself within a few hours of the op and everything (little did I know what I had coming!)

I would honestly have it done again, because the relief it has brought to my life has been immeasurable. You are bound to be nervous but it really will be worth it :)

Yes, I've had thrush from the ABs too! I've had penicillin pretty much every time I've had ABs I think as they swab first and give me whatever the swab shows the infection is sensitive to. Even on 10 day course, it never seems to kill it off entirely though. I think maybe only 1 course was something else

I got shakey when I had the epidural for DS's EMCS but not with the spinal for DD's ELCS. I did throw up afterwards both times though which I think was a reaction to the Morphine. The needle in the back of the hand is horrible, couldn't agree more. What freaked me out is that my drips always went into the soft, fleshy bit between my thumb and forefinger rather than the back of my hand iyswim and therefore hurt whenever I moved my hands and got knocked a lot when I was trying to hold tiny newborns. I guess that bit would be easier at least :)

The ENT guy say that it's one of the few times he's cut and dried in favour of tonsillectomy in adults (apart from when you just have LOADS of bouts each year, which I don't).

DD had her tonsils out last summer (aged 8) because her tonsils were huge and causing sleep apnoea. She was full of beans within about 48 hours (boo hiss, was expecting at least a week of gentle dvd watching). SHe had codeine which I was very rigid about giving at night time and I basically set my clock to medicate her regardless of whether she was complaining of pain, to try and head it off at the pass. There were a couple of times in the night when she was really really sore, but it passed. I bought a humidifier to try and keep the air moist, and lots of ice lollies and banana milkshakes were made.

My tonsil infection appears to have shifted upwards, don't know whether is sinus or adenoids. Just have a horrible taste in my mouth and perm headache. Have had a cold recently but I just always feel like I'm under par at the moment, so all in all, I'm almost hoping that the blood test comes back positive for EBV antibodies. The ENT consultant said that if it does, we'll wait for one more bout of tonsillitis and then I'll be put on low dose of antibiotics for 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after the op to keep infection at bay. I've got BUPA.

Just to add, Blathers - my tonsillitis bouts were severe enough that it got to the point where my temperature was so high (42 deg) that my GP was going to admit me on the spot, fearing I was going to damage my heart muscles. That made my mind up for me.

oohi had mine out at 30 ,it was horrible had an infection so had to go bk in ,would not like to go through it again

I had quinsy which was the final straw. when I went to see the consultant she peered down my throat and said "oh your poor ragged tonsils" .

After the Dr said expect days 5 and 10 to be the sorest and he was right. I had a cocktail of painkillers and got and infection but was still up and about no problem before the full 2 weeks were up.

Yes I had a tonsillectomy at 30. I had recurrent tonsilitis as a child and then again in my 20s. I probably had six bouts in the year I finally got them taken out - in the end they were the size of plums in my throat. I remember the consultant looking at them when I didn't have an infection and exclaiming "gosh, they're huge!". They were swollen and useless so had to go - all the tissue had become useless. I was constantly on antibiotics and just ill all the time from constant infection.

I was in Belgium at the time so not a problem to fight for the op. Painful but nothing if you are used to tonsillitis (which people who've never had it think is a sore throat ).

Definitely the right decision. To be honest, I do get more upper respiratory tract infections now - I have one now in fact. I guess the bacteria just find somewhere different to colonise. But it's nowhere near as bad as tonsillitis. You can function with a cough or even a mild chest infection. With tonsillitis you cannot move.

My sis is now in the queue for a tonsillectomy at 39. She's had recurrent infections and a month ago, a quinsey which is quite the most disgusting thing I can possibly imagine and it was also agony for her. Her life will be much nicer when they are gone.

I had mine out aged 33 and I was terrified. It was honestly nothing like the horror stories I had heard. I didn't think the pain was any worse than a bout of tonsilitis. I did ask the anaesthetist for an anti-emetic which stopped me from being sick unlike the others on the ward who were all throwing up! The worse bit for me was the ear ache. I had never suffered before but the pain was awful. It might have been because I didn't chew gum as I can't stand the stuff.
Ask for heavy-duty soluble painkillers. I had two little ones and hubby only needed to take a day off.
Go for it
:)

I'm definitely scared. I've never had an op other than my c-sections before and the GA, plus the stories of pain and bleeding when the scabs come off are really worrying me.

All but one story has been positive overall though which is helping. Just got to phone the doctor now...

Get it done. I had it done - was terrified but it was worth it. I had bleeding after but had great treatment and care after, was readmitted twice with bleeding. Pain was bad but in hosp if you in pain buzz and they will give you more, and its not worse than tonsillitis at its worst. I had IV antibiotics after which helped.

All the stories freaked me out, really made me want to not get it done, but it wasn;t as bad as I had thought. And tbh even when bits did coem out/had some bleeding then the adrenaline makes it not as bad, you deal with it, you get medical help if needed, and by that time you are on the road to recovery and you know in a few weeks you will feel so much better.

You need to think about quality of life now, how much time off, hoe much missing events, how much worry over being ill.

I think I'm more freaked out because my only experience of our local hospital as a patient has been in the maternity ward and it's so bad in there, they were put into special measures not long after I had DD. DS and I were both really poorly after his mis-managed birth too. I was begging for the anti-clotting injections after DD and had DH bringing in bed mats as they'd never been changed with DS and I was sat in my own filth for days - no wonder I got an infection!

I think the main hospital is meant to be better but it still worries me. No cash to go private and the other local hospitals all a fair drive away.

Had mine out at 19 and it was the best decision ever made even though the two weeks after wasn't great. 39 now. My dd had hers out at 5.

I had mine out back in 2004 when I was 39, this was in Oxford. Although I did get a very painfull infection after that meant another set of AB's I dont regret having it done. Not only was I getting recurrent Tosillitus, it was having a knock on effect and I was getting lots of chest infections. I'm not sure if this was because I was run down or whatever...

I also had to have three lots of AB's for the last chest infection which hung around for months (and I put my back out coughing)... I just think the constant round of Tonsillitus and AB's wore me out..

The ABs were definitely making me poorly in their own right by the time I was on the last few doses of last year. I had some awful tummy problems and was uncomfortable a lot of the time.

Plus my old doctor was getting worried that I was becoming resistant to Penicillin.

I too had them out as an adult at 38. Had tonsillitis about ten times a year in the end, and then it just didnt go away. Was missing a lot of work.

It will be very hard to get it done on the NHS now. Its not that they dont do it for adults, its that they wont pay for it. You will really have to ham it up with your GP and beg them to refer you and let the consultant decide. In these days of austerity and cost cuts a tonsillectomy is not considered good value for money and lots of PCTs wont pay for it. I think the swab thing is a red herring, they should believe you if you say you have it.

My GP refused too but one day I went in and there was a locum who was about a million years old and I begged him and he made the referral! As soon as I saw the consultant he said they were hideous and needed removing straight away.

Keep a diary of every time you have had it and for how long, how ill it makes you, also how much extra childcare you have to pay for/get, any time your DP has to take off work, any events you miss, knock on health effects like tummy upset from antibiotics etc, etc. Take it to your GP written down and give them the paper. You will really have to make it hard for them NOT to refer you!

Oh and it is so worth doing, it is painful for two weeks but no worse than a bad dose of tonsillitis. But then you never have it again, hurrah!

Well at the moment, my throat is getting sorer and sorer again even though I'm 7 days into a 10 day course of antibiotics so it would seem that the tonsillitis is becoming resistant to the antibiotics.

If it's no better tomorrow I'm going to make an appointment to see my doctor.

I had my tonsils out at the age of 21. I am now 55 and have never, ever regretted it. I was getting tonsillitis about every 4/5 weeks in my teens and I was so grateful when the doctor suggested having them removed. It was painful for a few days but I was eating toast by the evening. I can remember it all as if it were yesterday.

Hi, I had mine out at the age of 40 after I had a horrendous episode of quinsy (in hospital for a week with daily cutting and draining of the absess which did take me to the brink of madness!). Anyway they recommended a tonsilectomy after (I think becasue of my nightmare experience more than anything). I have to say the pain was horrendous for two weeks and then unfortunately I too got an infection and haemorrhaged in the night (scary emergency trip to casualty) BUT after all that it was worth it as I never (thank God) should have to go through that again. I would recommend it though and fingers crossed you will be lucky enough to not have any complications..

Well, I went and I asked. While my throat may not be tonsillitis sore any more, it does still feel swollen, my entire body aches and I've had a headache for 4 days. New doctors solution.....

More antibiotics!

But different ones this time! Apparently, 9 lots of penicillin and still feeling poorly shows that it's obviously not working. Well D'uh!

So now I have erythromycin for another 10 days. He checked my notes and found the 5 confirmed cases of tonsillitis but said the 2 unswabbed ones were probably something else - even though the doctors at the time had said they were tonsillitis. My current aches and pains are apparently a result of the infection which has never been killed, just "put to sleep" between infections. The swabs showed the infection is also sensitive to erythromycin so we try that at a high dose next.

He has said if I get another case of tonsillitis that he will refer me so it's not all bad news I suppose just very frustrating.

I guess I'm relieved because I am very scared of having an op but I also feel like I'm being fobbed off a bit.

Had mine out at 22 after being on antibiotics constantly during last year at uni.....the virtually constant antibs (apparently, according to my dentist) were the reason the enamel on my front teeth completely wore away- literally came away in strips (about 3 yrs after having the tonsils out)

S'not a nice op. Your ears hurt like fuck for a few weeks after, but if needs must.....

Stripped tooth enamel!

Now I really am off for a cry

Someone else (a dental nurse) told me that what the dentist said was bollocks though,so I might just have had dodgy choppers as well as dangly bits!

I think the operation is much better these days as they use a laser wand. Quicker recovery. Good luck on your next inevitable visit to the GP.

Thanks Janmoomoo. I do think it's inevitable unfortunately. My plan is to get some probiotics and some multivitamins once this set of antibiotics are over and see if I can boost my immune system enough to see it off for a while