Tonsils: To remove or not to remove

[vdol52]

Tonsils: To remove or not to remove. That is the question.
I did a search for tonsils and didn't really get a definitive answer.

Has anyone had good results from the removal of either/or tonsils, anenoids, turbinates?
This would be without any alteration to the uvula/soft pallette area.

My OTO said that my passages were narrow and that he could roto-rooter them out. Didn't sound to appealing to me but I am now reconsidering.

[Babette]

I've been told - in the past - that removing tonsils in adults is discouraged. In my particular case, my chronically swollen tonsils worry my docs, because they don't know what's making them swell, and they are afraid whatever it is will migrate to another organ.

So, I live with it.

But if anyone has any up to date info on tonsil removal from a 44 yo female, please bring it on!!!!

Good luck!
Babs

[skittles]

I don't how revelant this is, but I have neither tonsils or adenoids, neither does my oldest son, and we have the worse sinus and allergies out of the whole family.

I don't think having tonsils matters, unless they are cronically swollen or infected.

My 2 cents

Take Care

Skittles

[Babette]

Skittles, were you born without them, or did you both have them removed? If removed, I'm definitely going to keep mine. I can't tolerate getting WORSE!

Thanks!
B.

[skittles]

Had them both removed, and so did my son Brandon, because he was getting alot of strep throat, and now is getting allergy shots every other week. I don't think it helped at all.

Skittles

[Babette]

YOWZA! Well, that's what my docs have been telling me for years. Okay....

Sorry for you, but thanks for letting me and others know!!!!
B.

[vdol52]

I used to have alot of colds and strep even with tonsils. Go figure.

[packitin]

Well, please forgive me. I'm not sure what OTO is - is that a doctor?
I assume it is someone of the nature of an ENT.
I went to one recently, and it was a waste of time. He looked down my throat for 15 seconds.
I said "Awwwhh" and he said "good"
Then he said "You're not a candidate."
I asked him how I looked down there. He said everything looked normal.
I left, and wondered what that was all about.

Personally, I wouldn't get anything taken out. I still have everything (even is some of them don't work as well as they once did)
The closest I ever came to a roto-rooter was on my prostrate. He "reamed me out" as he put it.
Everything's still there, but it works a little differently now. But, gosh, I can now knock the bark off a tree.
But roto-rooter a throat??? I wouldn't do it.

[Babette]

Packitin...........

YOU WIN!

Glad to hear about that tree barking.

LOL,
B.

[ozij]

Considering its effect on apnea:
Click on advanced search, look for the term tonsilectomy and socknitster as the author -it was very good for socknitster (Jen), also for her 4 year old son.
Snork1 had a roto rootering of his nose and was very happy.

It stands to reason that huge tonsils can obstruct your airway, and having them removed will help you breathe.

O.

[NeurosurgeryNP]

My neice was diagnosed with sleep apnea at age 6 on PSG. Had huge tonsills that "kissed" each other. Had them removed and was free of the obstructive apnea following that.

It is my understanding that kids are particulalry sensitive to tonsillectomy in this setting.

[roster]

Tonsils: To remove or not to remove. That is the question.
I did a search for tonsils and didn't really get a definitive answer.

Has anyone had good results from the removal of either/or tonsils, anenoids, turbinates?
This would be without any alteration to the uvula/soft pallette area.

My OTO said that my passages were narrow and that he could roto-rooter them out. Didn't sound to appealing to me but I am now reconsidering.

Tonsils: What is their state? Are they large and partially or totally blocking air flow? Do they often get infected?

Turbinate reduction: I had all six turbinates resectioned and a double deviated septum corrected one year ago. I still need the same cpap pressure but the flow is much better through my nostrils day and night. I had a stuffy nose with blood in the Kleenex every morning for decades. Now that is all gone. Make sure you get a good ENT surgeon using the latest techniques.

[nate fry]

I had mine removed oct 21. I actually had lots of things done. I told the doctor to do everything to give me a best result. He said I had large tonsils and it is amazing that they could reduce your passage by a third. I had them tonsil removed uvala reconstructed tongue advancement ( to prevent tongue from falling into throat) this worked good. And I had septum straightened turbinated fixed and radiofrequency tissue reduction in my nose. .It was a lot to do but the tonsil removal really hurt. One thing , you will lose weight, haha. I dropped 22 pounds. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I am still somewhat swollen , but am sleeping better than ever and can sleep without cpap. I still use it though. But I turned it way down. After the swelling is all gone I will have another sleep study to see if I can safely sleep with out it. It used to be like a wind tunnel in my nose the air howling threw. Now I have to put my hand in front of mask to even tell if it is on. I have 14,000 hours on my cpap and I have to say I wish I wouldn't have waited so long . It is amazing what they can do for you now and I want to prolong my life. If you have a good ent doc they can change your life. nate


P.S. PEOPLE CONSIDER THE SURGERY, IT DOES HELP.I see everyone on here talking about data. Your body isn't a computer and sleep apnea is a killer. I am sure it played a part in my father and grandfathers death. I asked my brother and uncle to check it out and they have it ( apnea) also. So it is hereditary.

[Babette]

Nate, thank you for that report. It's the stories by people who went through all the pain and expense, and now are SICKER afterwards that scare me.

I'd really like to have the surgery and have a good outcome, but there just aren't any guarantees.

How does one shop for a GOOD ENT surgeon? Just ask everyone you know?

Hopefully,
B.

[roster]

.........

How does one shop for a GOOD ENT surgeon? Just ask everyone you know?

Hopefully,
B.

Yep. And only trust people who have recently had the same surgery by the doctor they are recommending. Get two references. Ask them details. Ask them open ended questions and let them talk. One guy recommended a doc who had done surgery on him. As he talked more and more about it the details got gorier and he revealed he had a lot of problems that took months to heal. I would not even consider the doc he enthusiastically recommended. I think some people like certain doctors' personalities and stay loyal to them even when they screw up badly.

Also research the doc online. Ask the doc how many procedures he has done recently. If he doesn't volunteer information about the results then ask him.