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General health

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Original poster

Tonsillectomy as an adult?

25 replies

MiniCooperLover · 06/02/2017 22:07

Can I get some stories from adults who have had their tonsils and/or adenoids out? DH has always complained about my snoring and I try to be considerate and sleep on side, etc but it seems to be getting worse. My nostrils always feel inflamed and slightly blocked and I wake up with a really bad dry throat. I am losing weight to try help (about 2st overweight). We have private healthcare and it's been suggested that a childhood of constant tonsillitis has left me with some tissue damage and getting them out could help but isn't it a huge deal as an adult ?!?

OP posts:

Dabisadancemove · 06/02/2017 22:11

I had my tonsils out in my late teens. I won't sugar coat it.....the recovery was unpleasant. But not as unpleasant as the debilitating episodes of tonsillitis I was suffering several times a year. And once they're out they're out!

Original poster

MiniCooperLover · 06/02/2017 22:11

Thank you. Did it help with any snoring (if you had any snoring issues?).

OP posts:

Squeegle · 06/02/2017 22:12

It stopped my snoring!

LittleCandle · 06/02/2017 22:13

I had mine out at 24. It helped the tonsillitis and the horrible sore throats, but i don't think it has affected the snoring at all. However, everyone is different so it might well help you.

Squeegle · 06/02/2017 22:14

Best thing I ever did, no tonsillitis, no snoring, and two weeks off Work! I was 40, couldn't recommend having it done highly enough.

Juveniledelinquent · 06/02/2017 22:14

I was 21, it was pretty horrid. Only have them out if a specialist says they need removing.

Runsforwine · 06/02/2017 22:14

I had my tonsils out at 26, I needed 2 weeks sick leave from work, developed thrush in my mouth and had to had suppository painkillers! It was horrendous BUT I lost loads of weight and found my waist again!!!! Not a great experience but the pain does pass I promise!

Dabisadancemove · 06/02/2017 22:14

No I didn't and still don't snore. But it got shut of the tonsillitis

VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 06/02/2017 22:16

Mine were removed aged 21. Awful awful recovery. Wouldn't do it again if I'm honest! No difference to my snoring, but I am much more overweight now than I was 14 years ago....

Begadsandbyjingo · 06/02/2017 22:25

I think I would think carefully about this. If you have recurrent tonsillitis then that could be a really good reason for tonsillectomy but I'm not sure about snoring. My son had terrible tonsillitis and general ENT issues plus was a terrible snorer and had massive adenoids. Post tonsillectomy and removal of adenoids he still snores (but no more nasty tonsillitis which is fab). I think I'd need a bit of convincing that it would work as it is painful!

ElizabethG81 · 06/02/2017 22:31

It was worth it for me to stop getting tonsillitis. But the recovery is very, very painful. It was more painful for me than recovery from a C-section (although much quicker). I think it's made worse by the fact that the pain builds for the first few days, which goes against what you naturally expect. Then, all of a sudden, the pain's gone.

Maudlinmaud · 06/02/2017 22:37

The recovery is brutal op. Brutal!
Had mine out 8 years ago, nothing has ever reached that pain before or since.

But on the upside no more tonsillitis.

UncleHerbie · 06/02/2017 22:43

I had a tonsillectomy and nasal polypectomy @ 27. Went in hospital feeling great, came out feeling like shit which lasted a fortnight. I don't regret it and the snoring stopped due to the polyp removal

eatingtomuch · 06/02/2017 22:47

Had mine out ages 21. I was really unwell but I swallowed lots of blood during the operation which made me sick. Then they got infected.
Would still do it again. No issues with sore throats or tonsillitis since and it stopped my snoring

c00k1e · 06/02/2017 22:52

I had mine out age late 30 using the Coblation® intracapsular tonsillectomy. a lot less painful then the traditional method. was home a few hours later and recovered within 10 days. Felt like a very sore throat. Would recommend if is an option

DoubleR · 06/02/2017 22:55

Also had mine out at 21, really horrible recovery too, mouth and throat were really beaten up, couldn't eat or drink ( it's the swallowing that hurts) for quite a few days. But I had more or less constant recurring septic tonsillitis and coughs and colds, so it had to be done. I didn't have a cough or cold for years after though, which was great. Only do it if it's medically essential, it's worse the older you are apparently.

DoubleR · 06/02/2017 22:58

Wow C00k1e that sounds way better, modern technology eh!

AddALemon · 07/02/2017 06:54

Im on a waiting list to have mine out due to constant tonsillitis, the final straw was when I ended up in hospital over Christmas unable to eat or drink, this thread hasn't filled me with confidence tbh

Someone I know from work who is a year younger than me has just had his out and he said the pain on day three is crazy, hes told me that if you push past it and eat as many rough things as you can, your recovery speeds up. Does anyone know if this is true? Or is it simply the fact that we are both 25/26?

I also snore alot, when I was pregnant apparently it sounded like a train was going past I wonder if this will help that aswell?

Original poster

MiniCooperLover · 07/02/2017 08:00

Thank you all, def things to think about. I get tonsillitis once a year or so, wipes me out at the time. I live in a constant state of 'bad throat about to start' kind of flux, it never develops into anything but I'm hugely congested all the time.

My DS had his tonsils and adenoids out last summer (when 5) and recovered really well by eating normal rough food and keeping up on Calpol and Neurofen. He was a dreadful
Snorer too but is silent now. I know it would don't be as simple for me.

OP posts:

VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 07/02/2017 09:03

I'm surprised they are agreeing it based on once a year - I was getting it up to 8 times a year and had to beg! Children's recover cannot be compared to adults, sadly. Two weeks from hell, wounds kept bleeding which made me very nauseous but I was too terrified to vomit.

Original poster

MiniCooperLover · 07/02/2017 09:27

Probably because it's private cover but the argument for it is more my breathing and snoring than the actual tonsils.

OP posts:

quarterpast · 07/02/2017 09:35

Hi OP. I had mine out last year at 34 after getting repeated bouts of tonsillitis requiring antibiotics to shift around 8 times in a year. The recovery was brutal I'm not going to lie. I read lots of things about eating scratchy foods to aid recovery but I couldn't swallow anything other than mushy Shreddies and lukewarm tea for about 10 days. It also took around six months for my sense of taste to come back as there was some nerve damage when they took the tonsils out due to scarring from all the bouts of tonsillitis I'd had.

However! Since then and after the two week recovery period I'm like a different person, it has literally changed my life, I now never get sore throats and am generally healthier and happier and SO pleased they're gone.

Rnb · 07/02/2017 10:57

I had them out as a child but just to warn you - that can grow back! I still remember the look on my doctors face when he saw another set of large swollen tonsils in my throat a few years after they were removed

Squeegle · 07/02/2017 20:20

Rnb Eeeeeek!

AddALemon · 07/02/2017 22:21

Rnb I never knew that dumb question but, did you feel them growing back?

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