Anyone considering getting their own tonsils out?

[matis_mom]

About a month ago I actually had a positive swab. Before that, when the kids were sick, I would get a bit of pain in the throat, but by the time I got to go to the doc, I always was negative. Now I've been treated for that last infection, and I've been off antibiotics a few weeks. ASO went from 250 down to 167. A couple of nights ago I felt mild pain on the right side of my throat, and have a swollen lymph node. I looked today and it's a bit red, and I can see my right tonsils (but not the left, which was the one that had pus on it last time and it was very visible). I'll try to get to the doctor tomorrow or Friday, but I have the feeling it's strep again. Even if it's negative, I'll ask them to run ASO again to see if the trend continues.

 

Now, have any of you considered getting your own tonsils out? My husband's are already out from when he was little (but I guess that didn't help so much because he also has elevated ASO, he'll get it re-checked soon). I am thinking if I keep having problems I'll just get them out. Hopefully I will find a sympathetic surgeon. Our local ENT was very quick to agree to ds's tonsillectomy. He said, "oh, there is no question about it, if he's having problems with strep, the tonsils have to come out."

 

Any thoughts?

[Fixit]

About a month ago I actually had a positive swab. Before that, when the kids were sick, I would get a bit of pain in the throat, but by the time I got to go to the doc, I always was negative. Now I've been treated for that last infection, and I've been off antibiotics a few weeks. ASO went from 250 down to 167. A couple of nights ago I felt mild pain on the right side of my throat, and have a swollen lymph node. I looked today and it's a bit red, and I can see my right tonsils (but not the left, which was the one that had pus on it last time and it was very visible). I'll try to get to the doctor tomorrow or Friday, but I have the feeling it's strep again. Even if it's negative, I'll ask them to run ASO again to see if the trend continues.

 

Now, have any of you considered getting your own tonsils out? My husband's are already out from when he was little (but I guess that didn't help so much because he also has elevated ASO, he'll get it re-checked soon). I am thinking if I keep having problems I'll just get them out. Hopefully I will find a sympathetic surgeon. Our local ENT was very quick to agree to ds's tonsillectomy. He said, "oh, there is no question about it, if he's having problems with strep, the tonsils have to come out."

 

Any thoughts?

 

dh now considering it.....

but this lets me ask these questions...

 

if your dh had his out and is still getting strep...well...isnt' that the purpose...or is that maybe at least you get less strep...

or is it that if the tonsils come out..you may still get strep, but at least the abx can get to it and it cant hide..

just trying to understand..at one point i remember...there was a back lash about getting the tonsils out(not necessarily here, but more with the medical community)....i dont know or remember the reason for the turn in thinking

 

thanks

[AmySLP]

Just had strep myself again last week, 21 years after having my tonsils & adenoids removed-This is not the root of strep for everybody. We changed pediatricians b/c all that doc wanted to do was to talk about the need for taking out my dd's tonsils. After we saw 2 ENTs who said it was not necessary-she had no infection or enlargement of the tonsils in all her bouts with strep. Dr. B also confirmed that it would not have made any difference for her.

[Fixit]

Just had strep myself again last week, 21 years after having my tonsils & adenoids removed-This is not the root of strep for everybody. We changed pediatricians b/c all that doc wanted to do was to talk about the need for taking out my dd's tonsils. After we saw 2 ENTs who said it was not necessary-she had no infection or enlargement of the tonsils in all her bouts with strep. Dr. B also confirmed that it would not have made any difference for her.

 

ok..now more confused...as i am sure most here..i do not want to do any unnecceary procedures or meds....

 

but when i saw doc L she asked why ds tonsils weren't out..as per prior streps...

we have not had a pos strep in about 3 years now...(last onset myco p...other onsets, though not pos, we did get full remission with abx)

so i asked doc b about this and he said they essentially become ineffective and we may benefit from removal.....

maybe as per docs thoughts, even though not "strep" maybe other bac/vir caught in there????

 

if i am to procede with pex or ivig..i want to make sure all mircobes are reachable...isn't that the essenece of the t&a..or the fact that they may harbor,be the source of the infection...or that bad tonsils just make the bacteria harder to erradicate because it is hard to encompass the tonsil...

 

idk..just asking....i am trying to understand...i don't fully know or understand the anatomy, and why abx cant'seem to reach that area..as so many have cultures or obvoius infection just upon removal of them..

 

you did not have them removed for your dd?

are you totally against it?

maybe for yourself you were spare more infectins if you hadn't had them removed??

 

i would like all thoughts on this

[Fixit]

let me twist this another way...

is there any reason to NOT take them out...other than anesthesia

[thereishope]

As for adults and t and a, I have heard it can be a harder recovery on an adult. I have considered it just because my tonsils are on the larger size and pitted due to many bouts with tonsilitis as a child. However, I will probably never have it done since I do wonder how the recovery would be and I can't afford to be out of commission.

 

My PANDAS son has had his tonsils out and I dont regret it. My 2 non PANDAS kids still have their tonsils and I see no reason to remove them since they do not have recurring strep. They've each had it once.

Edited September 2, 2010 by Vickie

[Fixit]

As for adults and t and a, I have heard it can be a harder recovery on an adult. I have considered it just because my tonsils are on the larger size and pitted due to many bouts with tonsilitis as a child. However, I will probably never have it done since I do wonder how the recovery would be and I can't afford to be out of commission.

 

My PANDAS son has had his tonsils out and I dont regret it. My 2 non PANDAS kids still have their tonsils and I see no reason to remove them since they do not have recurring strep. They've each had it once.

 

did you have them cultured...did they look odd?

[thereishope]

I still have my tonsils.

 

As for adults and t and a, I have heard it can be a harder recovery on an adult. I have considered it just because my tonsils are on the larger size and pitted due to many bouts with tonsilitis as a child. However, I will probably never have it done since I do wonder how the recovery would be and I can't afford to be out of commission.

 

My PANDAS son has had his tonsils out and I dont regret it. My 2 non PANDAS kids still have their tonsils and I see no reason to remove them since they do not have recurring strep. They've each had it once.

 

did you have them cultured...did they look odd?

[Fixit]

I still have my tonsils.

 

As for adults and t and a, I have heard it can be a harder recovery on an adult. I have considered it just because my tonsils are on the larger size and pitted due to many bouts with tonsilitis as a child. However, I will probably never have it done since I do wonder how the recovery would be and I can't afford to be out of commission.

 

My PANDAS son has had his tonsils out and I dont regret it. My 2 non PANDAS kids still have their tonsils and I see no reason to remove them since they do not have recurring strep. They've each had it once.

 

did you have them cultured...did they look odd?

 

your ds?

[pixiesmommy]

Pixie, DH, and I all have our tonsils out. Mine and Pixie's taken out due to strep infections, but we still have constant strep. (DH due to apnea.)

 

Anesthesia can cause more probs than just PANDAS flares- it can trigger Bipolar too if you are genetically predisposed, as well as a myriad of other ill effects because of the chemicals.

 

Knowing what I know now, I would not have it done. Mine were removed when I was 23 and it took me 2 years to recover. I thought I had a constant sore throat BEFORE they were removed (they were cryptic as well), but I had SEVERE sore throats, weakness and extreme brain fog for 2 years after. I have a constant sore throat still, so it did nothing for me but prevent me from coughing up hunks of tonsils now and then. Yum.

[mkur]

Any thoughts?

 

http://www.snoringcenter.com/

One of the news show did a segment on this procedure called Laser Tonsil Ablation done in this clinic. It is an alternative to t&a surgery. This was a couple of years ago and I was considering it for my son because the recovery time is short. This clinic did not take insurance but I'm sure there are other doctors who do this procedure by now and maybe able to get insurance to pay for it.

 

This is my 2 cents: If your child has an immune problem then t&a will not prevent strep throat but it can help prevent colonization. I think abx before and after t&a is necessary just like with dental work.

[thereishope]

Yes, my PANDAS son had his tonsils out. They were not cultured. He had strep one month after surgery, but has not had it since that last infection. His last infection was March 2009. So, I don't know if the t and a helped, but I think it helps my sanity to know I've done something that might help him stay healthy.

 

 

I still have my tonsils.

 

As for adults and t and a, I have heard it can be a harder recovery on an adult. I have considered it just because my tonsils are on the larger size and pitted due to many bouts with tonsilitis as a child. However, I will probably never have it done since I do wonder how the recovery would be and I can't afford to be out of commission.

 

My PANDAS son has had his tonsils out and I dont regret it. My 2 non PANDAS kids still have their tonsils and I see no reason to remove them since they do not have recurring strep. They've each had it once.

 

did you have them cultured...did they look odd?

 

your ds?

[JAG10]

I had my T&A surgery as an adult (21 y.o.)

 

Dr. T found it significant that I had chronic pharyngitis and needed that procedure into adulthood. He said it was an indicator.

[dcmom]

Both of my pandas kids had their tonsils out, both were large and juicy. One's tonsils had appeared unremarkable prior to T&A. It did cause a pandas flare in one of them.

 

If your child is doing well, trending positive- I would not rock the boat . If your child isn't doing well, and you are considering pex or ivig- I would absolutely have the tonsils done first.

 

I would get strong abx prior, iv abx during, and high dose abx for at least 2 weeks post. I would also have an Rx for a 30 day taper of prednisone on hand.

[Fixit]

Pixie, DH, and I all have our tonsils out. Mine and Pixie's taken out due to strep infections, but we still have constant strep. (DH due to apnea.)

 

Anesthesia can cause more probs than just PANDAS flares- it can trigger Bipolar too if you are genetically predisposed, as well as a myriad of other ill effects because of the chemicals.

 

Knowing what I know now, I would not have it done. Mine were removed when I was 23 and it took me 2 years to recover. I thought I had a constant sore throat BEFORE they were removed (they were cryptic as well), but I had SEVERE sore throats, weakness and extreme brain fog for 2 years after. I have a constant sore throat still, so it did nothing for me but prevent me from coughing up hunks of tonsils now and then. Yum.

 

i never heard of that...that is scarey...nothing like that in the family but still who nows...

(but i will say...as i'm pretty sure i'm the wild card on board..i think that bipolar and schizopharaina are infectous/autoimmune too)..people just waking up with such conditions..i've heard of 2 people...think about it

 

anyway..were you on abx prior, during and after

maybe the cut something else while they were in there....

that's scarey...

 

how about your dd...and how did she fare?