re-occuring tonsilitus

[nappyzone]

I have had tonsilitus numerous times in adulthood. Normally i will get two to four times a year and generally feel pretty rotten and then get fixed with penicillin. Since Oct 19th this year i have had it 3 times- today i was back at the emergency docs (time 3) having only just finished my latest penicillin on Tues this week. I now have amoxycillin and whilst i do feel a toot better already i am mightily peeved and bored of soup! The doc last week discussed a tonsiliectomy not being a good option but maybe to be considered if i get a 3rd time in short period which has now happened, the nurse i spoke to today also said she prefered childbirth to her tonsilectomy. Is it really that bad as i am fed up of feeling like sh**, having time off my job which i only started in sept and generally being worried about passing it to my small children.

Also if anyone has any tips for combatting it without the aid of antibiotics or knows of any preventative measures im all ears as since my last episode i have eaten fruit, taken vit c and drank so much water its unreal as a preventative measure and obv it hasnt worked. Sorry for the rant.... i know people have much more serious medical issues but i need guidance apart from the gp grunts.

I have heard that the tonsllectomy can be pretty bad. If you search under yorkiegirl I'm pretty sure she had her tonsils out and was poorly just afterwards, but I think it all settled.

I think if I was in your position I would probably go for it though. But that is because I have never felt as ill as I did last Christmas when I had tonsillitis.

Have you gargled with soluble paracetomol when you feel your tonsils getting sore, so at the very first twinge? I heard that helps. You have to persist with it though.

Gargle with soluble aspirin or codis at first signs - it will take the inflammation down and you should be right as rain in 2 -3 days. My Dr stopped giving me antibiotics years ago and this does work. I would alos strongly recommend homeopathy - it works for a lot of us.

Your system will be really run down after all those meds so take acidophhillus to restore your gut flora and I would recommend a good multi-vit and mineral too.

Massage the base of the thumbs and big toes - reflex points for the throat/neck areas.

Hope this helps.

I was 15 when I got my tonsils out...the sore throat afterwards is just like a bad dose of tonsillitis, which I coped with by gargling Solpadeine, it is definitely worth going for the op!

at the first twinge i go on tcp overload, salt rinse overload, drink buckets of water and gargle with dissolve paras but its generally to no avail! last time (last week) i had it badly and all but passed out - anyway i gave it to my dh who held onto it long enough to reinfect me this weekend! charming! would be interested to hear from anyone who has had one and will go search out yorkigirl.

anyone - Is it just a day surgery as i have a one yr old and a 5 yr old to think off

I was in hospital afterwards, but it was 20 years ago, don't know what things are like now.

thanks santas i will write those down and hunt em out (boots or normal chemist??) i know the tonsils r there for a reason (other than to cause me hell) so am concerned that having them ripped out i would just get ill further down my tract iyswim. an alternative treatment would be good. going to go rub my toes....

I had my tonsils out in my early 20's. I used to have almost flu like symptoms when I had tonsilitis, so a sore throat for a few days after the tonsilectomy was nothing.

I was in for two nights, but the op wasn't done until the afternoon. So if I'd had it in the morning, and hadn't puked my guts up from the anesthetic, I probably would only have been in for one night.

Had mine out 2 years ago - wish I had done it early, one night stay and 2 week recovery, been much healthier since.

yes i have the flu symptoms going on so the sore throat is not the worse part for me its the feeling crud sweaty faint thinig. My gp mentioned risk of haemorage in adult resulting in itu after op which kinda worries me !! I asked if i would grow out of it also and they laughed (im only 32 so i dint think it was to funny to be honest)

Nappyzone - I would get the referral to the ENT consultant from your GP, then ask the consultant the risks - they will be able to give you a more balanced and informed opinion on risks and benefits than the GP.

And like KathG, my health has been better since I had them taken out.

I have never had a chest infection in the whole 20 years since I got my tonsils out!

thanks all that has been most helpful - going to get myself to the gp this week and get that referal with a bit of luck. thanks

I second having them out. I had mine out around age 16 and ds had his out this september.

Not a nice op, and can be quite poorly afterwards as would be expected form a surgical procedure. The long term benefit is that i havent been troubled with them for a loooong time and so far ds has been fine too.

Lol - I was just clicking on this so I could forward you the thread Not seen you on main MN before

oh thanks flamey! i started this baby! i generally lerk somewhere normally if its not sh* nappies its my guinea pigs lol!

Read somewhere to try echinacia (spelling!). My ds 16 has really bad tonslitus too he's been taking it and hasn't had for a while. You can't take all the time though, follow instructions on pack. Might be worth a try.

You can get acisophillus from holland and barratt or www.worldwideshoppingmall.com

RE worrying about getting infections elsewhere - my Dad and Aunt now get laryngitis or pharyngitis instead of tonisllitis, so you are right to be slightly concerned.

Echinacea boosts your immune system so that is why you shouldn't take it for long periods of time or if you have had any kind of transplant. Good if you are run down though.

My recommendation would be homeopathy or go see a herbalist (Western ones make remedies which are easier to stomach than Chinese).

In complementary medicine sore throats are often a 'symptom' of being unable to express yourself properly or unable to voice your opinions and witheld anger.

withheld anger - i have loads of that this week - better get ready for another attack lol!