Tonsil removal advice?

[deadken]

I started a thread asking what those little pebbles that I'd occasionally cough up are. I learned that they are tonsil stones. In that thread, someone commented about maybe having his tonsils removed later this year.

I'm still considering getting my tonsils removed. One ENT doctor wanted to remove about %90 of my tonsils, while my regular doctor said that there is no reason not to remove %100. BTW: it used to be if they left any tonsil behind, it would grow back. Now, with laser removal that doesn't happen. I'm thinking that the ENT wanted to leave me about %10 because he felt that they serve a purpose (though, I'm not sure about that).

I decided that I'd keep them until they caused me problems. The thing is, I think I'd breath easier (which might help my sleeping and / or running). Most people say that having them done as an adult is really not fun. I'm still on the fence about having my tonsils removed.

Anyone opinions on keeping vs. removal vs. partial removal?

Anyone with personal experience about the before, procedure, and after experiences?

Any pros vs. cons suggestions?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

ENT is the specialist who does years and years of extra education and work experience in the field. If you're going to go for a surgical option, I'd sure as hell listen to him over your general practitioner.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

^
Listen to this man.

As to experience, I had my right tonsil removed 13 years ago. My GP referred me to an ENT because 1 of the lymph nodes in my neck had been swollen for over 6 months at that point. And the tonsil on that side was evidently very abnormal. Long story short, and after CT scan and other stuff, I had surgery involving needle biopsies, laryngoscopy, tracheoscopy, some other procedures I no longer remember the names of, and removal and testing of the tonsil.

I was eventually given a clean bill of health. And my throat (on the rare occasion I get a sore throat) only hurts on the left side now.

The surgery itself is nothing to fret about. The anesthesiologist talks with you. They start an IV, standard stuff. After the surgery will be easier for you than it was for me. Because he was searching for malignancy, they throat raped me pretty good. So the next week was tough. the act of swallowing was something I did very reluctantly. It was the last time I weighed under 200lbs. I went into surgery at 241 iirc.

It is definitely something that will make you pensive. And yes, it is going to be painful for awhile. But don't let that deter you from making the best decision for your long term well being and happiness.

 

[deadken]

Thanks for the replies. While I'm not really nervous about having my tonsils removed, I just don't see any / much benefit to having them taken out. I don't know if they perform some sort of first line of defense for illness or if they are more like an appendix in that they don't perform a function for us anymore.

I figure: if I'm sleeping ok (which, I'm not entirely sure about, I'd need to go to get tested to see if I have a problem sleeping / breathing while sleeping), if I don't get sore throats regularly, etc... Why have them removed?

I'm not too worried about suffering after surgery. I just figured I'd ask so if there were horror stories, I'd hear about them and be better prepared.

I figure that the ENT Dr said he'd leave about %10 behind for a reason. I just don't know that reason.

 

[Spamela]

when i was in my 20's i used to get tonsillitis every few months & had a tonsillectomy.
in the recovery room i coughed up blood & felt chilled. i was also weak for a few days. the hospital staff tried to feed me ice cream & jello every meal, but i got tired of the non-stop sugar.

i did have to learn to swallow liquids differently (there's nothing like coffee coming up & out of your nose in a big room full of people).

considering that i'd been in bed wiped out for 1-2 weeks every time i'd had tonsillitis, it was worth it.

 

[jessieqwert]

Had it done. No complaints

 

[chin311]

I got my tonsils + adenoids removed when I was 10-12 years old, can't exactly recall, that's a while ago!

I do know that it was pure MISERY, that is all I remember, eating ice cream after hurt lol

I'm glad they are gone now though, I had lot of problems with snoring while sleeping, lots of issues related to my tonsils.