Tonsillitis AGAIN

[CinnamonPreztel]

I am miserable, I am on my 7th bout of it since last Sep. I am due to speak with ENT next month in the hope that they will remove them but I am well aware of the fight I am likely to have as I have heard how reluctant they are to do it. I do not believe any of the crap they spout such as "you'll only get chester infections" etc etc. I think they are just trying to save money. But this is debilitating, I work, am a single mum to a young child and am studying a masters. This is ruining my life. I am stuck in bed for 4/5 days at a time, spitting into a bowl because the pain of swallowing is unbearable and even hallucinating from fever. Not to mention having developed blood poisoning from it once. I have had doctors literally jump back and recoil on looking into my mouth!

Does any one have any ideas how I can prepare for this appointment with ENT and basically make them remove my tonsils?! I want to be fully clued up on what they will give as reasons not to take them out so I can respond appropriately. I do not want to be fobbed off! Apologies for the rant, I am, quite frankly, at my wits end.

I don't know about those objections. I kept getting tonsillitis, and then I got quinsy which is some sort of painful abscess.

Then they recommended their removal. Best thing ever, so much happier. I am 46, I had them out at 42 or so. I didn't really have to fight, so am unsure of the rationale.

Ps so sorry you are suffering like this, the pain is just horrendous, I am sure if you describe what you're going through they will need to do something!

I have had a quinsey

No joke that thing

I sympathise, I had mine out at 18 and it was the best thing I could have done. Notwithstanding the violent infection afterwards. I think it's quite a nasty op for adults - I don't mean to put you off, just warn you!

You could go down the route that your tonsils are disrupting your breathing, especially at night. Tell them you have obstructive sleep apnea - "Common symptoms include loud snoring, restless sleep, and sleepiness during the daytime." (from wikipedia). If you have sleep apnea, your breathing stops occasionally while you're asleep. I had this, and so did DD - our tonsils were very enlarged. I pushed for her tonsils to be taken out before she started school at age 5 - she had no problems afterwards, sleeps much better and is therefore more alert during the day.

Good luck. I think it's 7 episodes of tonsillitis in one year or 5 per year over two years, that they start looking at removing them, so it sounds like you're well on track!

I used to get what I was told was tonsillitis A LOT. Every couple of months. I then saw a dietitian (or was it a nutritionist - the proper qualified person anyway) on an unrelated issue and found out I had candida. Yeast in the mouth...due to a yeast build up. So I had to give up all yeast & sugar for a couple of months. That was 10 years ago & I've never had it since.

I am NOT saying this is the same as you - and hope you get the treatment you need - but thought I'd share my experience.

Good luck!

Thank you for you replies! It was my GP who warned me they barely do it, my friend has had it 9 times in one year but as the year changed (so from 2010/11) they said it had to be in the same calendar year?!?

Disrupting my sleeping is a good idea, I will definitely try that. Saw my gp today, I'm in early stages so tonsils are just red with little spots- she said this is what tonsillitis looks like in "normal" cases. Mine however look completely disgusting a few days in. Out of hours doc I saw a few months ago exclaimed "why did you let them get this bad you should have come earlier!"

Yes I am very nervous about the procedure if given the go ahead. Have heard about the risks, bleeding etc. And the older you are- the worse this is (I'm 23). But I am justifying it, this ongoing hell can be over after a few weeks of intense discomfort.

I have had to force myself into work the past few times because I will lose my job otherwise! Working in a college with teenagers is NO FUN when you are as ill as I am. I'm actually scared about what I'll wake up to tomorrow and dragging myself in- feeling very sorry for myself :(

I honestly wouldn't worry about the op itself. If you are used to the pain of tonsillitis itself, you won't find it too painful.

Yes, there are the risks of an operation- but that is the case with any op. I really didn't find it too bad. Quite painful for a few days- but no worse than tonsillitis, and such a relief afterwards.
Good luck

My DD had hers out in the spring because they were so large she had sleep apnoea. I asked the consultant about the increase in chest infections afterwards and he said there is no evidence that this happens at all. She has much more colour in her cheeks since the op and is not complaining of being tired all the time either.

I'm in a similar situation OP, have an appt with ENT next month after doctor referred me, however I've only had tonsilitis 6 times this year so don't fancy my chances :( its so hard trying to look after a young child when feeling that shite, and I started getting really depressed earlier this year as it felt like I was't getting a break at all and one of the tonsilitis bouts turned into scarlet fever, and I've been suffering with it since I was about 15, have missed lots of school, uni and work over the last few years.

Good luck, hope you get the outcome you're after, personally I think the pain of the operation would be worth it to NEVER have tonsilitis ever again!!

Thanks everyone. Yes I quite agree it is well worth it! highlandbird I only have 5 recorded cases- first 2 I didn't go to the doc because I knew they wouldn't give me anti-bs. That's interesting about lack of evidence it causes chest infections I am trying to find the source for this but struggling :S

We were told by the consultant that tonsils finish doing their job by about the age of 5 anyway, so they are not needed after this.

I had mine out when I was about 11. It was great for few years after but I find that I don't just get a mild sore throat now, I get the full works. Currently in bed now with horrendous sore throat. I'd say I'm like this once a year now . It's never tonsilitus though (or so gp tells me)

Def push for them out, 7 times a year is awful!