I have a 6 1/2 year old son who has had tonsilitis at least 5 times in less than a year. At first our dr. said that they do not take them out very often anymore, because they serve a purpose with the immune system. Every time he starts to run a fever now I know he is getting it again. This time he had it within a month of the last time. Dr. prescribed a different antibiotic this time and made an appointment with an Ear Nose & Throat specialist (which is not until Dec. 3) to see if they recommend having his tonsils removed. He is better for now, but I am just wondering if anyone else has had experience with tonsilitis or having them removed? I did not have mine removed when I was a kid, but many people my age and older did and say it was no big deal. I know it used to be a very common procedure. I am just wondering if anyone else has had their childrens removed and if it has kept them from being sick so often, or if they had any problems afterward? Thanks.
I was sick often as a young child with tonsilitis and had to get tubes in my ears a few times. At age six, I had my tonsils and adnoids removed. After that, I was a very healthy child, hardly ever sick. As an adult now, I only get sick maybe two times a year(average), so I don't think that it messed up my immune system at all. I would say that he sounds like a good candidate for the surgery. And don't worry, it's not that bad.
In and out, then 2 weeks down time. I've heard that some people who have allergies and get there tonsils out don't suffer as bad w/ their allergies???? Not sure how true that is, anyone else heard that rumor?
I had tonsilitis and ear infections often as a child. I had my tonsils removed at age 12 and since have had little to no problems with illness. Many of my cousin's children have had them out and that has helped them ALOT. I would see what the specialist says but sounds like a perfect candidate for the surgery! Good luck!
I disagree with the previous advice. Every organ in our body has a purpose (yes, even the appendix), and removal should be avoided! Tonsils and adenoids are essential for your immune system to work properly. The reason they are inflamed is due to the fact that they must be constantly having to fight off disease/virus/illnesses - which means that the child's immune system is not working at 100% - have you ever considered getting his nervous system checked by a Chiropractor? The nervous system controls everything in the body, and if it isn't working properly the child will get ear infections, tonsilitis, bronchitis, etc... To remove the inflamed tonsil or adenoid would be removing one of the organs essential in keeping your child healthy when his immune system isn't compromised. My suggestion would be to get the child checked and adjusted by a chiropractor who works with kids and I guarantee that your child will not longer have those problems anymore.
Our babysitter, when she was about 7 had the same problem as your son - except she had lost hearing in one ear and 30% in the other. Her doctors suggested getting tubes and removing her tonsils and adenoids - the mom decided to try something less evasive -Chiropractic - and she fully recovered - she has full hearing in both ears and still has her tonsils, adenoids and rarely gets as much as a sniffle.
Hope this helps - let me know if you want a referral.
Christy
Holistic Moms Network
Green Bay Chapter
I do some what agree with Christy, BUT sometimes you have to have somethings removed. I suffered chronic tonsilitis as a child, this was right around the time the practice was not being done as regularly as it used to. I had had them for about a year at that point, and my mom was fed up, she finally forced the issue and our Dr. agreed, I was also about to undergo surgery for the removal of a tumor on my arm I had been born with and was suppossed to go away as I grew older, it didn't. I can say it wasn't very bad, you get a lot of ice cream and soft foods, but it was really no worse then a really bad sore throat and within a week I was pretty much back to normal, I haven't been sick more then once a year, and thats cause the kids bring everything and anything home, I am surprised I am not sick more! LOL. Force the issue if you feel this is what your child needs. No child should suffer any longer then they need to, if there is a way to make it stop.
I had cronic tonsilitus as a child too. I would get it at least every month from the time I was 6 years old until I was 8 when they finally removed my tonsils. I have to say, that since having them out I very rarely get sick. Definately talk to the specialist. You don't have to have the surgery if you feel you can find another solution.
My oldest daughter when she was under a year old had ear infections and tonsilitis all the time. She was on antibotics 9 times that i can cout during that time. Now most antibotics don't work for her. UGGGGG but that is okiee.
Last year in september she went through a sleep study. Come to find out she was having trouble breathing during the night cause her tonsils were HUGE !!! The sleep specialist sent her to a ENT and they took her tonsils out. I do have to say i would do it all over again. She since sept of 06 has not had a servere cold, ear infection nor tonsilitis. She doesn't snore no more nor have trouble during the night time. I say it depends on the child. Around here u hear of kids getting their tonsils out all the time. Infact there was a whole day worth of surgeries due to tonsils at the hospital when we were there. I would wait and see what the ENT says and make ur decision on that. I believe too that body parts like tonsils do have their jobs within the body but sometimes it makes things bad tooo. Good luck !!
Shellie
I know you might not get to many responses like this one but I would tell you to push to have those tonsils out. I had this problem when I was a child and wish I would have had them taken out then. The problem continued untill one time I got an infection that just wouldn't go away. They then had to take my tonsils out when I was 24 while they were still infected. It was a horrible ordeal that I should not have had to go through because they didn't think it was a good idea and the whole immune system thing. I'm 30 now and I've had two throat infections in the past 6 years as opposed to the 10 or 12 I used to get every year. I wish you luck and regardless of what you decide I hope your son gets better.
Jodi
hello shellie
i think i would talk to you child doc and ask them to refer your child to ent and have them take them out my daughter had her done and had not been sick at all the best thing we did i had mine out when i was 20 and it was so hard to get over where my daughter was eating real food two day after if your child getting them more and more get it done hope i helped
Shellie,
It seems like when I was young I had tonsilitis constantly. Both my parents smoked, so I am sure my immune system was compromised. Yet the doctor never removed my tonsils; at that time, the medical community did not agree that removal was the best option. After several infections back-to-back, he mentioned that we might want to consider removal; and oddly enough, I did not get tonsilitis again for eighteen months. I'd like to say that was the end of it, but I have had it a few times since I reached adulthood and it has completely knocked me out each time. I know that an adult friend had hers out after a bout of mononucleosis that settled in her tonsils--she developed tonsilitis every time she got a little run down--and it was awful for her. I also know the child next door had his out at three years and was up and running around the very next day. Considering this, it might be best if he had his tonsils out while he is still young. Honestly, I wish I had had mine out rather than suffer from tonsilitis repeatedly. Good luck!
Hi Shellie:
My daughter had her tonsils removed at 5 and has been pretty healthy since. Prior to her tonsillectomy, she was sick so much and missed so much school it was awful. Her tonsils were so big she would have sleep apnea at night.
Now, my youngest daughter is having trouble with extra large tonsils and snoring at night which is usually the first sign. She is usually sick this time of year as well. We will be having her tonsils removed at the beginning of the year due to insurance we're waiting until 2008.
Tonsillectomy is outpatient about a 20 to 60 minute procedure with child being put under, with pain medication and antibiotics for 2 weeks at home. Our daughter had to stay home from school about 10 days and could only eat popsicles and noodles the first 6 days following surgery. It was very difficult the first few days after surgery and then became easier. Of course she is much healthier now. It was necessary to have her tonsils removed and we're very happy we did.
Good Luck
~Kathi
Shellie-
I am a 35 year old mother of a 10 year old daughter who had her tonsils and adnoids taken out and tubes put in her ears at the age of 3 (I had mine removed at the age of 7). It was the best thing that we could have done for her. She does not get as sick as she did before the surgery (except for her hay-fever). Looking at the long term results, I have adult friends who still have their tonsils and get bronchitis at least 3-4 times a year, if not more. It is more dangerous for adults to get their tonsils removed than children. I would make up a list of questions to ask the ENT doctor so that you are able to make the decision. Make sure you find out the benefits of having them removed vs not, weigh the pros and cons allowing yourself to make a well informed decision. Good Luck!
Davey
Our little girl had her tonsils removed this summer due to recurring strep and extremely large tonsils. She has done well since. The first week was really hard--it is very painful--and to get them to drink and take their meds is difficult. I went to the dollar store and bought a bag of goodies that she liked and everytime she took her pain medication or her antibiotic she received a "prize". My tip is that after you give your little guy his pain medication--wait 20 minutes--ask how the pain is--then drink, drink, drink!!! Or popsicles. That helped us to keep her hydrated. After seven days she was back to herself! Best wishes mama--it's hard to see your little one ill or in pain.
Shellie,
My son had his tonsils taken out when he was almost 4. He is 7 now.
He was sick with ear infections and strep throat all of the time. I took him to a new dr. that recomended we go to an ear nose and throat Dr. We did that, it turned out he also had sleep apnea. So he had his tonsils taken out.
It was the best thing I could have done for him. He has not had an ear infection or strep throat since he has had them out.
Hopefully this helps
Traci
I have a 6 year old that kept getting headaches, stopped eating because he would choke when he swallowed and snored BAD! So we too brought him to the Ear,Nose and Throat doctor. They told us to take out his tonsils and adnodes as they were hugh! Its a tough surgery but its the best thing we have done for him as all his symptoms are gone. When we did the surgery though it was amazing how many people are doing it. In fact the nurse said that it is more common then ever these days! My advise is do it now, the yougner the better!
I had recurring tonsillitis all my life. I would get it 3-4 times every year until I finally had enough of it and had them removed a few years ago when I was 33 years old. I was sick of the antibiotics every couple of months and the "stones" that my tonsils would produce from all the abuse and pitting over the years. My tonsils were so sensitive that I couldn't walk through the perfume area of department stores without them swelling up. The best thing I ever did was to have them removed. I've gotten a couple of colds in the past few years but have yet to actually get sick. What a difference!
Shellie - I know my daughter had recurring ear infections from the time she was 1 through age 5, and eventually she was put on a maintenence drug to prevent and after awhile she stopped having them and came of the med. Maybe you could ask your MD about a maintenance drug for the tonsilitis?
Hi Shellie,
I was one of those kids that always had tonsilitis and was brought up at the time when they were trying not to remove them. Basically it was more of an annoyance as I grew up but other than the tonsilitis I was very healthy and didn't get many of the other things my sisters did like strep and have heard the same about the immune system. If they continue not to want to remove them as he gets older try to get him to gargle salt water. You have to use a good amount of salt and warm water and at first it is horrible but if you have cronic tonsilitis this is needed. When you first feel it comming on you can gargle and many times avoid the full blown problems and even not need antibiotics and eventually it is not too bad to gargle. One caution I have is to make sure they are checking his urine often. I finally had to have them removed at age 25 because the repeated infections and antibiotics were hard on my body and I was showing sugar in my urine. Since there was that sign that I was having Kidney damage they took them out but I still have a better immune system than many people I know. Hope this helps. - Sheri
when my oldest ( who is now 28 ) was little, tonsillectomy's were very rare, but my younger kids ( one is now 15 and the other is 11 ) both had theirs out in the same year
The reason was more because of their ear infections.
It is a big deal, so be prepared for some painful tears but I do think it helped them