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Original poster

Tonsil removal as an adult- yes or no

22 replies

Nanodust · 19/10/2015 14:34

I've just seen a ENT specialist who has suggested I have my tonsils removed. Have constant tonsil stones and have previously experienced bouts of tonsilitis, last in Feb and not quite as frequent as a few years ago. I also tend to get swollen tonsils a lot when run down, not turning to tonsilitis every time though.

The specialist said it was ultimately up to me and I should speak to family/friends. No one knows, so turning to MN so see if anyone has any wisdom on this.

I've read about the post op complications and they scare me. The pain and the post op bleeding. I have two under 5's and worry about this. However maybe in the long run this is the best thing to do?

Anyone any tips or experience of this?

OP posts:

LeaveMyWingsBehindMe · 19/10/2015 14:36

I have had occasional (very small) tonsil stones but I've had several bouts of tonsillitis.

If I ever got this recurrently again I would not hesitate to have them out. Tonsil stones are GRIM.

But I don't really know anything about the risks or side effects of having the op.

Loraline · 19/10/2015 14:39

In had mine out at 18. Best decision ever. Pain was comparable to the endless throat infections I'd had but I recovered well and that was that. No operation is side effect or risk free but this is about as routine as they get.

Original poster

Nanodust · 19/10/2015 14:41

Thank you x

OP posts:

PGTip · 19/10/2015 14:48

I had mine out at 35 best thing I've ever done.

flanjabelle · 19/10/2015 14:50

I had mine out at 16, so a bit younger, but I have not regretted it for a second. I had endless bouts of tonsilitis and was constantly ill or recovering. The pain afterwards was unpleasant, but went after a week. Worth it, 100%. I haven't had a throat problem since.

Original poster

Nanodust · 19/10/2015 14:55

Thanks again, PGTip I'm a similar age so good to know. I am just finding horror stories on the internet so I'm going to stop googling!

OP posts:

PGTip · 19/10/2015 15:15

Don't google!!!! I was told to eat salty crisps/ cornflakes to help healing

Original poster

Nanodust · 19/10/2015 15:28

I also have jaw displacement so specialist said that will add to the pain :(

OP posts:

Original poster

Nanodust · 19/10/2015 16:24

Sorry, one more question. Did anyone suffer loss of taste or loss of smell? If so did it come back?

OP posts:

Floralnomad · 19/10/2015 16:31

My DS had his out just before he was 18 , he had been on antibiotics for literally 14 months due to constant tonsillitis . He came back from theatre at 2.30 ,was dx at 8 and we were back in A&E at 1.30 with a post op bleed ,he was re admitted for 2 days of IV antibiotics/ fluids . After that he made a rapid recovery .

goodiegoodieyumyum · 19/10/2015 16:45

My husband had them out three months ago it took a week of recovery and he was fine. He kept getting abcesses on his tonsils.

twirlypoo · 19/10/2015 16:51

I had mine out at 28 - was getting tonsillitis every 6 weeks without fail and was starting to need steroids as my throat was closing each time.

The operation was hard, I had to be re admitted for extra morphine about 10 days after and was off work 6 weeks (but I had complications) honestly? I would do it again tomorrow! It was 6 weeks that were super hard for a life time pain free. Wish I had had it done sooner!

For me, no loss of taste / smell. Post op I lost 2 stone as I could only eat Yorkshire pudding soaked in gravy to make it soft! DONT eat banana or mash potatoe, the starch makes it sting like a bitch!!

Preminstreltension · 19/10/2015 17:01

Had mine out at 30, almost 15 years ago. I had recurrent tonsillitis as a child and then again late 20s but it had got to the point of being really debilitating. Every six weeks, 40 degree temps, terrible pain. My tonsils were permanently swollen to the size of small plums.

Op recovery was very painful but not as bad as tonsillitis so worth it. Since then I have found that I still get sore throats - it's still my weak point. But they are just sore throats. The only down side is that now I am more likely to get upper respiratory tract infections following a sore throat - my layman's explanation is that the bacteria is going to settle somewhere and when my tonsils were so mucked up, they were attracting and providing a home for all the grimness. Now it's free to go wherever... But having an upper respiratory tract infection is nothing like having tonsillitis so it's still worth it.

NahItsOkTa · 19/10/2015 17:13

It made no difference to me, I'm still plagued with throat problems.

PGTip · 19/10/2015 17:20

No taste or smell issues. The throat pain from the surgery was far less severe then a bout of tonsillitis but I suffered very bad ear pain (not earache) which was an after effect of the surgery. Still the best surgery I've ever had

FishOn · 19/10/2015 17:23

I was 21. I was as sick as a dog for a week before I started feeling better, but I did get an infection so that might be part of it.

It was def worth it though. No taste or smell issues.

best diet I've ever been on

Original poster

Nanodust · 19/10/2015 19:29

Thank you for your personal stories. In my mind I've convinced myself I won't be able to taste it smell ever again and will have terrible blood loss- I'm such a wimp.
Still umming and ahhing about it......

OP posts:

simplydivine05 · 19/10/2015 21:45

Had mine out at 22 after having tonsillitis and quincies (spelt wrong I'm sure but it's absesses on the tonsils) several times a year for years. I've not looked back and am so pleased they did it. I was off work for 2.5 weeks recovering as I got an infection, but this was no worse than tonsillitis itself. Due to the quincies my operation was actually more complicated and took four times as long as it should because one of my tonsils had scarred. I was perfectly fine afterwards, ate a sandwich within a few hours of coming round (very slowly granted) and went home the day after. Only had to stay in due to standard monitoring after anaesthetic.
Since then, I still get ear ache and sore throat flare ups when run down, but I can pop a couple of paracetamol and get on with my day, whereas before I wouldn't be able to eat or drink for a week and end up on a drip in hospital. I've had no other effects.
Go for it! If tonsillitis is making your life a misery you won't regret it!

ThomasRichard · 19/10/2015 21:58

I'm contemplating having this done too but I'm a bit of a wimp pain-wise. I was going to have them out last year but the two dates they gave me were impossible childcare or work-wise so I got taken off the waiting list.

Still wussing.

Whatevva · 20/10/2015 12:50

My friend had it done at 52. She read all the stories on the internet. She read that the pain is worse the older you get. It was really bad for 2 weeks, just as she expected. She found it difficult to swallow her own saliva and only drank cool tea about half an hour after painkillers. Then after two weeks it was suddenly ok.

However, she says it was definitely worth it.

Karoleann · 20/10/2015 13:52

I've had mine removed twice (whether they weren't removed properly the first time, or they regrew no-one knows).
Second time I was 18 and it was MUCH worse than the first time at 10.

Don't let that put you off though!

StillMedusa · 21/10/2015 23:55

I had mine out at 35 (constant bouts of tonsilitis and always on antibiotics)
It hurt like HELL for the first 10 days... it gets worse as they start to heal and i was counting the minutes to the next painkiller. BUT I have been well ever since!

DD1 had hers out at 22 , a year ago, and again, couldn't believe the pain for the first week or so, but she was constantly ill with them and now she isn't. She had complications in the form of a series of massive tonic clonic seizures after the op... she's had a few before and the anaesthetic triggered them, but this is really rare and she is now SO much healthier.

It is defo worth it and we can both smell and taste just fine!

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