Anyone Have Their Tonsils Removed as an Adult?

I was 58 when I consulted a Dr for ear ache and sore throat. The sore throats I had all my life and was supposed to have had my tonsils out as a child but my Dad was against it. I suffered many a sore throat with huge "white spots", swollen glands, etc all my life and several times a year. Finally, at 58, an eye, ear, nose Dr recommended I have a tonsillectomy. I just about did NOT make it out of recovery my wife thought I was dying before her eyes. After I did and got home the next WEEK was bad, very bad. I was using the liquid vicoden every 4 hrs and in such pain it was unreal. I recovered but still have sore throats throughout the year just not the white spots. Now it's more like "on fire" sore throat for maybe 24 hr but tonsil removal did not keep sore throats from me.

Hi Michelle,
I had mine out as an adult. Mine wasn't so much issues with tonsilitis, mine were just too big. Apparently your tonsils shrink when you go through puberty and mine never did - they got so big that they were almost touching.

So, the issue with getting them to agree wasn't really an issue, it was the doctors suggestion.

For me, the surgery was soo worth it. It was a rough recovery (a couple weeks before I was swallowing w/o pain), but my dr also did the sleep apnea surgery so my snoring decreased (I think its gone, my husband says I still do, but its not as bad!):-) It was over 10 years ago, but I remember the pain of having those big tonsils, and now I don't have any issues.

As a side note, my son had his tonsils out last year at the age of 3 because his were so big that they were almost touching (and he was having some sleep apnea issues). His dr said that big tonsils ARE genetic.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to send me a msg! I have a whole list of things to do for recovery compiled since my surgery, I have had other (adult) friends and children who have had them out and we all added things to aid in recovery.

Good Luck!
B.

Hi Michelle! I had my tonsils removed last year in April! I should of had it done a long time ago when I was younger but the ENT I seen then did not want to! Anyhow I have to be honest as an adult the pain is terrible! I did get to stay over night in the hospital too! I did not have to but I have a little boy who has Autism so my dr and I thought it was best! And thank God for that! But I will tell you it was sooooooo worth it! The recovery time was longer then I would have liked and the pain was terrible but you know it was so worth it! I never have had strep and did get sore throats and colds! My tonsils were huge and the dr couldn't believe I did not have it done a long time ago! I am 35 now! I would say you should get it done! You will feel so much better and my ENT is great and he was so good with everything and he had no problem doing this for me! Where do you live? I am in Aurora and if you want I can give you his contact information!
S. Bailey CLD
Aurora IL

My goodness I thought that me and my husband were the only ones that got tonsils stones, they are horrible. I want to get my tonsils removed for the same reasons, but my dr. wont let me. Good Luck.

I had my tonsils out when I was 30. The recovery time is a solid 10 days. The first day you feel ok because the anestesia hasn't worn off yet . If you manage the pain by keeping up with your meds you will be ok pain wise. I am allergic to codeine so I could only take tylenol liquid. You must keep drinking water to keep your throat moist or it will hurt.I also iced my neck for a few days(on 20 mins off 20 mins)even though the doc said to do it for first day. It helped. Make sure to have a water by your bedside when you go to sleep so you can drink if you wake up in the middle of the night and in the morning. Stay away from milk or tomato based products. jello is ok , popsicles,pasta without butter(after a few days)mashed potatoes.
You will feel like you aren't getting better and will get frustrated and then on the tenth day you will "turn the corner" and feel considerably better each day.
I would say it was worth it for me because I don't have throat problems anymore . I didn't have my twins at the time and can say I wouldn't have been able to do it now unless my husband was off for 10 days.
Growing up my doctor wouldn't take out my tonsils but my doctor now sent me to an ENT . They give you something to take the edge off, then give you an IV, then wheel you into the OR (and of course you are out during sugery) and wake up groggy and next thing you know you are home.
Good luck to you ! If you have any questions let me know .

I suffered from killer sore throats, laryngitis & chronic sinus infections for 30 years.
After trying different specialists & even a year of accupuncture treatment/Chinese herbs I found help by exploring the emotional connection to what I was feeling in my body. Sore throats are connected to repressed anger. You might consider what was going on in your life around the time you first had throat problems. I learned something called Self Acceptance Training with Cherie McCoy but you can also get help with a practitioner of EFT, Emotional Freedom Techniques. Check out emofree.com and get the book YOU CAN HEAL YOUR LIFE by Louise Hay.
Wishing you wellness.

I am 35, 34 at the time of surgery, and just had my tonsils removed this past February. I was getting constant sore throats and went and saw an ENT and he said they need to be removed. I had to stay overnight in the hospital and recovery was about a week. I couldn't eat anything for a few days. It hurt to even drink water just to take my medications for the first few days. But I am so glad it was done. No more sore throats for me since.
A.
Chicago, IL

About 2 mouths ago I was referred to a ENT specialist because yet again had another inflamed tonsils, so I decided to take them out. My surgery was on July 14, 2010 at 10:AM. Im on day 8, with my throat still in pain. My pain finally hit me on day 3, my ears and headache was minor, I could handle that. My pain in my throat is moderate, I can deal with it. I have woken up in the middle of the night because it hurt and felt like I was had razor blades stick in my throat. I couldn't eat think stuff like pudding, yogurt so I basically took my pain med and tryed to eat mashed potatoes with gravy (luke warm), popsicles and sherbet. I tryed to drink gaterode and slim fast, just for the vitaims and from the milk I could only drink half of the can. Yesterday was a good I added chix, but later that night my throat was in pain. I did have to call my ENT specialist to get more pain meds (roxicet). My pain med barely helps my pain the nurse said it isn't suppose to, its to help you eat. I can barely sleep (side effect from pain medicine) I have 4 children the pain I can manage but I think from taking and taking care of them that Im not getting enough rest. I've lost 11 pounds due to the surgery, the surgery was very worth it for me. GOOD LUCK....