Do swollen tonsils always have to be removed?

[CarlKillerMiller]

I was feeling sick all day, and never having considered looking at my tonsils, I took a look, and they're swollen to about 2.5x their normal size.

My question is, will this go away by itself, or do you always need surgery?

 

[CarlKillerMiller]

bump for help?

 

[dangereuxjeux]

You do not need surgery. In fact, surgery in 2004 on your tonsils is usually a choice. If you have recurrent infections, removal may be considered, but only then. If your tonsils are swollen, it's probaby in response to an infection, and they will return to normal... if they don't, then you might ask.

 

[compudog]

Tonsil removal in adults is very painful and generally not necessary. They are usually only removed if they are frequently infected or the swelling persists for weeks.

 

[Noirish]

good to have them around, you can detect early sign of sickness.
Unless it's a frequent recurring problem.

 

[agnitrate]

Usually they just swell when you have an infection.

-silver

 

[RbSX]

Originally posted by: Chraticn
I was feeling sick all day, and never having considered looking at my tonsils, I took a look, and they're swollen to about 2.5x their normal size.

My question is, will this go away by itself, or do you always need surgery?

Nope, I had tonsilitis twice when I was a little kid. Medication is all I needed.

 

[KarenMarie]

no, they do not need to be removed.

I am no doctor, but my nana used to tell me that it was nature's way of absorbing all the illness in your body.

Then she made me gargle with warm water and salt every hour on the hour.

Yuk, but it worked.
failing that... alka sheltza plus cold rules!!

 

[bigalt]

your tonsils swell when you have any kind of throat infection. it could just be from a cold virus, or it could be from strep or something.

if you go to a doctor they'll probably just prescribe you antibiotics just to be safe. if you don't it will probably go away on its own, unless you're running a fever or feel worse than usual.

gargling with salt water can help bring the swelling down due to osmosis. it doesn't actually cure anything but if your throat really hurts then it will help.

 

[Cashmoney995]

Yea your tonsils are really your first sign of an infection. They are now preffered by docters to be still inside rather than be removed. Unless of course there is somethin goin on up in there. But one thing for sure is that we aint doctors, swallow the fifty and see one.

 

[Pliablemoose]

http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=DS00273

Today, doctors are far more reluctant to remove tonsils. In part, that's because tonsillitis often can be treated effectively with home care or antibiotics, which reduce the risk of possible complications. It's also now known that tonsils ? specialized lymph nodes on either side of your throat ? are a normal part of your body's immune system. They help filter out harmful bacteria and viruses that could cause more serious infections.

If treated with antibiotics, the symptoms of bacterial tonsillitis should disappear in just a few days. Surgery is generally considered only if tonsillitis affects your child's breathing or is severe enough that bleeding is occurring from the tonsils, or if the condition occurs unusually often.

Most of the references are to children, same holds true for teens & adults.

 

[aphex]

For the past 3-4 years i would get tonsilitis 2-3 times per year... One per year which would be severe enough to send me to the hospital.

Starting last summer i had tonsilitis 3 times in a 2 month span, the last of which occured in August and my tonsils never got smaller after that last bout. I ended up getting them removed about 2 months ago and it was the best decision i could have ever made.

That being said, the surgery DEFINATELY isnt for everyone and i would avoid it unless you NEED it. The day of the surgery i was feeling fine, but the 2 weeks following were pretty rough. I couldnt swallow solid food (or hell ANY food) for nearly 9-10 days and ended up losing over 16lbs in that time span. Took me awhile to begin to talk again too.

I can now breathe easier, sleep better, and feel much more refreshed throughout the day. I guess my body was just used to constantly fighting my tonsils.

 

My sister actually had such bad tonsilitis that during one of her episodes, the tonsils actually abcessed (the body basically disconnected them from the immune system and filled them up with pus). They swelled so much she couldn't breathe, and she went to the ER. The doctors there actually took syringes and used them to puncture her tonsils to drain the fluid. She said it was the most painful experience she's ever had.

She got her tonsils removed at age 21 after that episode.

 

[dethman]

nope they don't. unless you're having problems breathing, or swallowing, now that's another matter altogether.

 

[TitanDiddly]

Back in the 40s they ripped em out all the times, sometime when people weren't even sick, just for routine. They always did it on the children. I'd say go to your doctor, and have him check it out- it's a case by case thing.

 

[Pepsei]

It's too late now, you should've remove them when you were younger. Tonsils are just as useless as that other piece of meat in your belly.