Tonsils-should they be removed?

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Your tonsils are part of a filtering system but it is no big deal if they are removed...your body has an amazing way of compensating when some things are removed. If the tonsils are not doing what they are suppose to then you find out why...like your BF did and both doctors said to have them removed. I doubt they would simply say to remove them if there was nothing wrong with them. His Tonsils have probably stopped working and no long filter anything in fact they cause more problems. He probably had a lot of infections as a kid and now his tonsils are starting to shrivel up or become calcified and or pitted. So now he needs them removed and it is no big deal...he can take some pain meds and he'll be fine. Your throat is sore and but your boyfriend is young enough and healthy enough to sail through the process. Who ever said you gain and loose weight has their systems confused...that does not happen.
 
Hello,
I have some concerns and questions regarding the removal of tonsils in adults. My boyfriend is scheduled to have his tonsils removed in 2 weeks, but I am trying to persuade him to get a second opinion b/c I have heard that having them removed is not a great idea.
Once a year he suffers from a throat infection of some sort (not sure if its strep) and this year he had it on and off for about 2months. He tired 3 different types of medications and none of them seemed to clear it up, (mind you were traveling during one of his 'episodes' reoccurred). He had a swab test done 3 weeks ago and it turned out not to be strep throat , but the doc didn't say exactly what it was, instead she referred him to a ear and throat specialist. The specialist recommended that he remove his tonsils if he didn't want the reoccurring throat pain..but the specialist didn't even take a swab, he merely looked at the throat.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated as to whether or not my boyfriend should or shouldnt remove the tonsils.
 
This is my story - I had continual bouts of tonsilitis, pneumonia, strep, etc as a child. Was hospitalized many times. I missed out on lots of things as a child due to illness and being in the hospital numerous times was very scary. My mother refused to have my tonsils out as she felt I would outgrow it. Finally when I was 25, I had a sinus and ear infection which caused a blood vessel in front of my eardrum to puff up like a blood blister. The ENT had to lance it. They eventually gave me demerol for the pain it was so bad. It took 3 months to get me well enough for them to take my tonsils out. Today, and I'm 63 now, I am allergic to most antibiotics and hardly a doctor out there will give me one unless it is in a coltrolled setiing. I attribute that to all the antibiotics I took as a child and young adult before getting the tonsils removed.

Since then, almost 40 years ago, I have NEVER had strep throat again. No tonsilitis, of course. And one case of walking pneumonia, 1 sinus infection, no ear infections and one case of the flu - in 40 years!

Tell him to have them out.
 
Absolutely if he is having this much trouble as an adult! Tonsilitis - which is obviously what he had if it wasn't strep - is serious when recurring as an adult. Have them out and be done with it. You don't want him taking mega doses of antibiotics indefinitely.
 
I agree. Get them out! I still have my tonsils and haven't had tonsillitis since I was under 10 years old, but I remember begging to have them removed back then. My bf was battling constant infections as an adult and finally had his removed 12 years ago when he was 22. No problems since.
 
I had mine out when I was 19; it's harder as an adult because we take longer to heal, but I only had to stay 2 days. It's probably shorter now due to technology. I have not had strep throat since I got them out. I'm 46 now, so as you can see it was a big help. Very painful though, but again I think they have better pain management then 1982, they put me on T3 and I needed one refill, maybe 2-3 weeks that I needed pain meds, but again it could be less invasive now days. Do they use laser for removal? Mine were removed with a scalpel. Don't worry, you really don't need a second opinion, just make sure you ask the Dr all the questions you need to hear answers for.
 
I heard that the recovery is very painful and complicated. Does anyone know anything about the recovery? -i heard you first lose a lot of weight and then after recovery you gain it all back plus more...??
Also, is it a good idea to get a second opinion about the surgery???
 
Hello,
Thank you all for your opinions and advice.
Just to be more clear about my boyfriend and his situation...he is 28yrs old and as a child didnt have any problems with his tonsils at all. He has been getting swollen tonsils for the past 10yrs once a year usually in January/February. It hasnt interefered with any part of his life to any extreme at all. He is a smoker so maybe that is why @ times the infection takes a bit longer to clear up.
I spoke with my own family doctor and I was told that doctors usually reccommend tonsil removal if the person suffers from throat infections/strep throat 3/4 times a year...which my BF does not. He has the pre-op. appointment tomorrow which he is going to ,but he made an appointment with the same specialist for MOnday, just to discuss things further.
Shouldnt suregery be a last resort?:confused:
 
I'd still get them out. At that age, it's going to be tougher on him to have them out the older he gets. It doesn't compromise your system to have them out. It's just the 1 -2 weeks you're out from the surgery. And it's same day surgery. It can be painful but there are meds for that. I'd rather have them out and know that I'm not going tohave to take antibiotics at least once a year. I think the long term exposure to them is worse than having them out.
 
I lose weight, but I couldn't eat solid foods for a couple of weeks. Like I said in my other reply healing is probably faster now, and taking them out could be much simpler then when I had them. He may not have to avoid solid foods for as long as I did.
 
I don't believe any of us on here have enough information to tell you yes or no about tonsil removal, but if your boyfriend is having recurrent infections, there's a problem which needs to be treated in some way. I think removing tonsils is usually a last resort, but sometimes it's the only way to fix the problem. Sounds to me like you're still having some doubts and that's why people get second opinions. I believe you'd feel much more relaxed if you knew from more than one doctor that this is the right decision. It's not a simple procedure in adults like it is in children, the recovery is tougher. However, the weight loss/gain thing is something I've never heard. I think you should make an appt. with another ENT doctor and discuss your concerns. Two heads are better than one, you know! Good luck!
Soibhan
 
I agree that none of us can make this decision. (And I would not even consider a variety of opinions useful.) Even with your description, we do not know the degree to which this interferes with your boyfriend's life. If it will make you feel more comfortable, by all means get another opinion. But, again, it is your boyfriend's decision. I don't see any indication of his age, but does he have some thoughts that he might grow out of this? If so, wait a couple of years and see. I would not discount the ear/eyes/nosethroat guy just because he did not take a swab; he most probably was considering the recurrent infections more than the immediate situation.
 
The more antibiotics you take sets you up for one of the horrible big, bad, bugs that are resistant to ALL antibiotics.

My neighbor died a few days ago from Pseudomonas Bacteria in the lungs. He had been in and out of the hospital the past year, been on antibiotics thru the years. There is no cure for Pseudomonas bacteria, it is very antibiotic resistant. A combination of strong antibiotics cocktail IV did not phase it.

There are other antibiotic resistant bacterias out there and there is no cure for them.
 
So i know that im a little late on making a post to this question but I am 25 yrs old and had my tonsils removed about 3 years ago...For a long while I would have tonsilitis every month with out fail. After awhile I wouldnt even have to go to the doctors I would just call and they would know what the problem was, give me a prescription after awhile I voted to get a second opinion and I am glad I did..My second opinion doctor also did not take a swap of my tonsils because all he had to do was look at them and told me right away that they needed to come out..Ofcourse i was scared because I always heard having them removed as an adult was worse than a child (not to scare you) But I had to do what I had to do. I got the surgery...Obviously I couldnt eat solid foods for a while which got frustrating but I dont regret having the surgery at all..Im glad I did who knows how much longer I would of waited to have it done if I never would of gotten a second opinion...
 
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