Anyone NOT have their tonsils? (obv NTTGPR)

WorkinWeezel

I have such an issue with my tonsils.  I've had over 20 streps and 7 tonsilitis Dx and yet still have my tonsils.  I have just missed the recommended # of strep/year to have it be a medical necessity.

So, if you have your tonsils out, how old were you?  Would you do it again?  Do you think having them out at (almost) 29 is a bad idea?  Because of all the issues I'm now having, they say that's the only option but it's not technically a medical necessity. 

I'm thinking "no", but just wondering what you girls think, especially those who've had it done.

goodgalpal

Mine have been gone since I was five, along with my adenoids. I had been on antibiotics for 2 years prior to getting the surgery. Anytime they would try to take me off of the meds, I would get another infection.

My life is much less painful without the tonsils and adenoids! I'd do it if it were causing you a lot of trouble.

piper09

I had my tonsils removed when I was 27.  It was the best decision I could have made.  I hade chronic tonsiilitis and meds wouldn't even touch it anymore.  The recovery was not fun, but I haven't had strep since (8 years)!

Dwinalsinlove

I had mine removed when I was 14ish along with my adenoids. Mine were always huge and I often had strep and tonsilitis. However, my doctor never recorded how often. It is my understanding that they took them out more because it was causing sleep apnea. I snored like crazy when I had my tonsils. Also, I would sleep 9 hours and still need two naps during the day. However, my doctor never did a test to confirm I had sleep apnea.

I guess it would depend on the doctor or maybe your insurance on what would be considered a medical necessity. If they are bothering you that much that they are interfering with your life I would get a second opinion.

The surgery was not fun and my throat was sore for awhile afterwards. However, I am really glad they came out. I never get sore throats anymore even when I am sick.

MrsHteaching4life

I am going to butt in here because I had mine out as an adult.  I was about 22-23 when I had them out.  I always had strep and never found a doctor willing to take them from an adult.  They always tried to scare me out of it.  I was tired of being constantly ill.  The recovery was NOT fun, but I lost a shitton of weight!  I am SO glad I had it done and would absolutely do it over again, even as miserable as I was.  I don't get sick nearly as often and I used to get bad canker sores in my mouth, and rarely get them now.  I have no clue if they are related, but I assume having them out helped boost my immune system.

You will find people with all types of experiences, but I say do it if you really suffer from strep and chronic sore throat.

PhotoFan

I had mine out when I was 17 which is considered old to have them removed.  The Sergent said I should have had them out when I was 12 when the problem started but Kaiser, which was our insurance at the time, insisted they were O.K. 

After 5 years of constantly getting sick and missing tons of school and actually having to quit the swim team my mom went nuts and refused to leave the doctors office until they agreed to take them out.  When they removed them the left side was 75% scare tissue and the right side was 50% scar tissue.  I haven't had problems with my throat since!

If I were you I would have them out you'll notice a huge difference after.  Good luck with whatever you decide!

jillychris

I spent my senior year of college ridiculously sick, and finally had them taken out two weeks before my 22nd birthday. Huge improvement since then. When I get sick, it's nowhere near as bad as it was. GL to you!

jessican08

I had major ear/nose/throat issues when I was young. I had tubes in my ears twice, had MAJOR ear infections at least 2-3 x/year up until I was 12 or so and had several severe throat infections as a child.

I had my tonsils out at 6 years old. I just remember getting a needle, going to sleep and then waking up and getting to eat lots of pudding and popsicles! I don't know if having them out at 29 is a "bad idea" per se...it should reduce your risk of throat infections. I've only had strep Dx twice since I had them out...once when I was 16 or 17 and once when I was in my early twenties.

GL on your decision! 

lycih

I was 16 when I had mine out.  I was actually a strep "carrier" which meant I always tested positive for strep, so I couldn't follow the #/year protocol.  However, I got laryngitis (to the point where I hardly made noise when I tried to speak) and sore throats like 2-3 times a month for an entire year, and got mono in that same year, so they took them out then.

I would absolutely do it again.  I went from having near constant laryngitis/sore throats to only having them a few times a year.  

lovethoseleaves

I had mine removed a year and half ago, when I was 24.   I had it done when I had sinus surgery.    It was hell on earth. Worst pain of my life.  I existed with a cold pack wrapped around my  neck at all times, and was on vicodin for 2-3 weeks, which barely took the edge off.    You can't eat anything normal for 1-2 months, and forget ice cream, hot/cold was an assault on my throat.   On the plus side, I almost never get sore throats.  But I would never do it again.  I wouldn't wish that kind of pain on my worst enemy. 

 

ETA:  It would appear I'm in the minority...! 

curtandjod

I had mine out when I was 20, a few years ago. And I can't lie it was a horrible experience. I've always struggled with sore throats, and constant tonsillitis so the doctors decided to take them out and it was fine at first, just the usual swelling and pain but I then ended up in the hospital for over a week with a strep infection, dehydration, low protein, etc.

I still get sore throats/sinus infections now, but definately not how it was. Though the recovery was brutal I would probably do it again.

AnoraStar

I had mine taken out when I was eight due to constant strep/tonsilitis. I would totally do it again because since then I've only had strep once. (I'm 23 now)

I'm not sure of the affects of having strep while KU, so that might be something you want to discuss with your Dr. I'd rather have mine out now than have to deal with being sick a majority of the time while pregnant.

GL with whatever you do!

SandNSurf

I was 12. They say it's harder on you the older you are. But I'm glad and I'd do it again. Hope you get better. 

WorkinWeezel

Thanks girlies!  I definitely would wait until after baby #2 (hopefully sooner than later) and surgery is not really even on the table at this point, but worth asking.  Thanks for your input :-)

Moneypenny424

jillychris:

I spent my senior year of college ridiculously sick, and finally had them taken out two weeks before my 22nd birthday. Huge improvement since then. When I get sick, it's nowhere near as bad as it was. GL to you!

This is pretty much my exact story.  I was in and out of the hospital for a year with serious strep/tonsilitis.  You could look in my throat and just see I had a raging infection the whole time (even when i was "well," they were huge and usually had white spots.  

Once I was hospitalized and missed the LSAT, I had them removed. The doctor said in his 30+ years of practicing, he'd never seen tonsils more infected.  I had a ton of scar tissue too, so my recovery was probably a bit longer than most.

Fast forward 11 years:  haven't had strep since.  It took me over a week to recover (and be able to talk again.  I was mute for Y2K ), but it was absolutely worth it!

Good luck!

Moneypenny424

And by "over a week," I mean I couldn't eat normally for a few weeks, but after about 7-10 days, I was no longer limited to ice cream and pudding.