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Original poster

Tonsillectomy vs C Section

14 replies

MSharp84 · 11/12/2016 19:26

Hi,
I have permanently swollen tonsils and at the slightest hint of a cold they swell further and almost meet in the middle. It's gotten so bad that even when they aren't 'extra swollen' I can't put my arms above my head as I can't breathe. I don't have time to be ill every couple of weeks anymore (I've completely lost this weekend with my daughter as I couldn't lift her so my husband's been on solo duty) so I'm going to ask my doctor about getting them out.
Has anyone had theirs out as an adult?
How bad was it?
I had a c section and didn't feel a thing, I even pulled stitches and it wasn't that painful, kinda hoping this means that I have a high pain tolerance!
Anyone had both?

OP posts:

Applesauce29 · 11/12/2016 19:30

I had mine out as a teenager and it was nothing compared to c-section recovery!

kimlo · 11/12/2016 19:30

no csection but getting my tonsills out was awful. I didnt feel ok for 2 weeks. But the only painkillers I could take were paracetamol, if I had been able to take the codine they gave me with out being sick it might have been a lot more comfortable.

I would still do it again if I had too though, the diffrence afterwards was amazing.

kimlo · 11/12/2016 19:31

oh and apparently I had a lot of scaring from the infectionswhich the doctor said made the recovery more difficult.

hugoagogo · 11/12/2016 19:35

I don't think anyone can tell you.
I have had two emcs; one I was up and about within 24 hours, the other I genuinely thought I would never recover, in reality it was a couple months.

Original poster

MSharp84 · 11/12/2016 19:36

My tonsils look like lattice weave they've been infected so often. Glad to hear it's worth it though. I'm such a wimp, I've never even had a tooth out before and I was in shock when they hauled me off for the section so didn't have time to panic. I'm hoping that getting them out sort of closes the gate to all the other stuff I seem to get with it, usually they swell up first and then come flu or a cold or a chest infection... always tonsillitis first!

OP posts:

BikeRunSki · 11/12/2016 19:55

I had my tonsils out at 14, and have also had 2 CS, one emergency, one crash.

The first (emergency) CS was the easiest recovery of all those surgeries, and the crash CS the worst. Tonsillectomy recovery was slow and painful, but it was 30 years ago, things may have improved since then.

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 11/12/2016 20:05

I had tonsillectomy in similar circumstances, but when I was 18. Mouth and throat so constantly infected all I could eat was baby custard.The relief was amazing. (Short lived as I actually had glandular fever) But I did puke blood all over my bf. Had three c sections, they were worse.

Maverickismywingman · 11/12/2016 20:08

I had my tonsils out 4 years ago (at 27).
It was awful but I feel much better now. It was affecting my sleep.

I didn't feel right for about 4 weeks and now when I get a cold it goes to my ears instead of anywhere else.
They will tell you there is a risk of haemorrhage after, that really put me off. But very glad I did it.

Panetulipani · 17/01/2017 16:53

DH had his tonsils out in his 20s. Op was fine, but he was in quite a bit of pain afterwards and then ended up with a bad reaction to the anti-inflammatories post-op... A and E, anaphylaxis... etc. No regrets on getting them out though. Far fewer head colds, sore throats, and ear infections since. It also helped a bit with his snoring. He spent a while eating crisps and mint choc chip icecream afterwards and had what felt like weeks off work.

I still have mine and they kick off from time to time, though not as badly as yours by the sound of it. Best thing I can recommend as a short-term solution if you really don't fancy surgery is pineapple juice and ultra chloraseptic throat spray (basically anaesthetic spray - sometimes cherry flavoured - you can get it in Boots - I've also seen it advertised on the back of buses - personally I think it tastes foul, but it does work well to numb the pain and reduce some of the irritation). Anti-histamines can sometimes help reduce swelling up to a point, but you don't really want to be on them long-term and they might not be strong enough to make much difference. To be honest, if it were me and it was obstructing my airway to this extent, I would have a chat with the GP and look at the options and risks for surgery.

Topseyt · 17/01/2017 17:08

I had mine removed at the grand old age of 37. I am now 50 and can honestly say that it was the best decision I could have made.

OK, it was painful enough as a procedure at the time, but I have a high pain threshold too. The recovery period while my throat was healing was about three or four weeks in total. It did feel like constant tonsillitis at that point, but then it subsided and I have had virtually no trouble with my throat since. Before that I had constant tonsillitis and regular quinsies (where the tonsils form abscesses, which can turn life threatening).

I have had a Caesarean too. No problems there either, though I would say that comparing them is like comparing apples and lemons. Too different.

eandh · 17/01/2017 17:13

Had 2 planned sections and tonsils out. Recovery different think physically I felt recovered earlier from sections as I was up and about seeing friends etc a week after the sections where as felt fought for 10-14 days after tonsils but the difference in my health mentally and physically after tonsils was the best thing and knowing now a sore throat won't go into tonsilitis is a lovely feeling. If you can get them out go for it but take all the drugs yell let you have

marshatp · 08/05/2017 11:19

Might you be interested in what research says about removing tonsils in adults?

No proper studies on removing tonsils for "breathing problems" or similar. Most likely the problem will get better over time.

There are only two studies comparing tonsillectomy with no tonsillectomy in adults with repeated sore throats. Here are the results of one.

Patients had at least 3 sore throats within the previous 12 months. They had to be bad enough to have led them to consult their doctor.

46 patients then had their tonsils removed and 40 did not.

Over the next 5 months, no patients who had their tonsils removed had a severe sore throat and 1 patient who didn't have their tonsils removed had a severe sore throat. This is very likely to be a chance difference between the groups. In other words there is nothing to say having tonsils removed was better at preventing severe sore throats.

Over the next 5 months 18 (of 46) patients who had their tonsils removed and 32 (of 40) patients who didn't have their tonsils removed reported having some sort of sore throat (mild or more severe). This is unlikely to be due to chance. So removing tonsils did reduce sore throats overall.

We don't really know what difference there is after more than 5 months.

You can find the paper here: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3652961/

It was carried out in Finland.

Toddlerteaplease · 08/05/2017 11:22

I hate to say that the post op advice now is crisps, toast and crunchier food. Living on ice cream and soft food increases the risk of bleeding. Our kids at work are very disappointed not to get to live on jelly and ice cream for two weeks!

welshweasel · 08/05/2017 11:25

Having my tonsils out was the best thing I ever did. It was extremely painful for 2 weeks (way worse than c section for me) but after that I felt like a new woman and have rarely been even slightly unwell since. It was like I got a whole new immune system at the same time!

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