Medical, Tonsils - Remove or not to remove?

Tonsils - Remove or not to remove?

Author	Message
Ire #1 / 6	Tonsils - Remove or not to remove? I'm 39 and have throat infections from time to time. My GP was trying to convince me on a couple of occasions that I should have my tonsils removed as "at your age, they are useless anyway and tend to give problems only". Is it true? Should I remove them? Is there any risk of negative side effects i future? I'm sick of getting sick and taking antibiotics, but removing the tonsils is irreversible... Regards
Thu, 18 Aug 2005 20:24:11 GMT

J #2 / 6	Tonsils - Remove or not to remove? Quote: > I'm 39 and have throat infections from time to time. My GP was trying > to convince me on a couple of occasions that I should have my tonsils > removed as "at your age, they are useless anyway and tend to give > problems only". > Is it true? Should I remove them? Is there any risk of negative side > effects i future? > I'm sick of getting sick and taking antibiotics, but removing the > tonsils is irreversible... Do the tonsils get infected, or just your throat? Pluses: won't contribute to apnea, if applicable later, maybe no more infections, depending on how and where you get your infections from. You'll never get tonsil cancer If you're on/off antibiotics you could eventually develop antibiotic resistance. (not to mention side effects of antibiotics). Downside: Pain after the surgery for week to 10 days (so add the cost of the surgery to possible work time) Hemorrhage is IIRC the largest risk, so {filter}s perhaps have to stay in hospital a bit longer than kids Tonsils are part of the lymph system. My ENT said they're important during, but useless, after childhood. I have seen references to their being protective of some intestinal bacterial infections and (and/or a warning system) for (one type of?) pancreatic cancer at ACOR, but I've lost the urls. Perhaps better anyway. J - not a doctor
Fri, 19 Aug 2005 06:13:09 GMT

Kent H #3 / 6	Tonsils - Remove or not to remove? Are you having documented frequent streptococcal tonsillitis, or just culture negative pharyngitis. How large are you tonsils, and how cryptic are they? Have you ever had a peritonsillar abscess? Somewhere between fifty and a hundred people in the U.S. die annually from a complication of tonsillectomy, either from bleeding, or from an anesthetic catastrophe. This is a tiny number, but nontheless it is a number. A tonsillectomy in an {filter} can be done very safely with a local anaesthesic and mild sedation, much like a dental extraction. Find an ENT man who does them in this fashion, if given the above you are still thinking about it. To a slight degree, if you tonsils are large, the procedure will slightly affect your speech, leaving you with a slight nasal twang. Good Luck Kent Quote: > I'm 39 and have throat infections from time to time. My GP was trying > to convince me on a couple of occasions that I should have my tonsils > removed as "at your age, they are useless anyway and tend to give > problems only". > Is it true? Should I remove them? Is there any risk of negative side > effects i future? > I'm sick of getting sick and taking antibiotics, but removing the > tonsils is irreversible... > Regards
Sat, 20 Aug 2005 08:18:31 GMT

KPDOB #4 / 6	Tonsils - Remove or not to remove? I'm 62 and had a flap left over from having tonsils removed when I was 12. This flap became encrypted and infected twice. I went under full anesthesia and they used a laser to remove it. I'll never have THAT done again! That was the most painful surgery I ever had and that includes deep abdominal surgery, 3 childbirths and several repaired broken arms. Ten days my foot! My throat was seared white for weeks and it left the alveola{filter} lower in my throat which makes me crazy. Some said it would stop my snoring ..........................................NOT!
Sat, 20 Aug 2005 10:51:15 GMT

J #5 / 6	Tonsils - Remove or not to remove? Quote: > I'm 62 and had a flap left over from having tonsils removed when I was 12. 50 years ago. Was the surgeon incompetent? or was that adenoid tissue? Quote: > This flap became encrypted and infected twice. I went under full anesthesia > and they used a laser to remove it. I'll never have THAT done again! That was > the most painful surgery I ever had I imagine very similar to radiation for throat cancer. Quote: > and that includes deep abdominal surgery, 3 > childbirths and several repaired broken arms. Ten days my foot! My throat was > seared white for weeks and it left the alveola{filter} lower in my throat which > makes me crazy. Some said it would stop my snoring > ..........................................NOT! You "fell for" the LAUP? and when exactly was that done? Recent? or when you were still in your {filter}s? I don't think laser surgery was available back then, but I could be wrong. Are you using a CPAP for apnea now? Have they found the source of your snoring in your nose? J
Sat, 20 Aug 2005 15:11:10 GMT

Kent H #6 / 6	Tonsils - Remove or not to remove? Quote: > > I'm 62 and had a flap left over from having tonsils removed when I was 12. > 50 years ago. Was the surgeon incompetent? or was that adenoid tissue? He had some residual tonsil tissue left by the original surgery. It happens, to all hands. When it does, you go in and fix it. Quote: > > This flap became encrypted and infected twice. I went under full anesthesia > > and they used a laser to remove it. I'll never have THAT done again! That was > > the most painful surgery I ever had > I imagine very similar to radiation for throat cancer. > > and that includes deep abdominal surgery, 3 > > childbirths and several repaired broken arms. Ten days my foot! My throat was > > seared white for weeks and it left the alveola{filter} lower in my throat which > > makes me crazy. Some said it would stop my snoring > > ..........................................NOT! > You "fell for" the LAUP? and when exactly was that done? Recent? or when you were > still in your {filter}s? > I don't think laser surgery was available back then, but I could be wrong. > Are you using a CPAP for apnea now? Have they found the source of your snoring in > your nose? > J
Sun, 21 Aug 2005 14:20:27 GMT

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