as an adult have you have your tonsils out?ot!

[Brandi]

I am having problems with my tonsils. I am considering having then out. My right tonsil gets infected a lot. And the dr thinks it migt have some play in all my allergy problems. But Do you have your tonsils removed as an adult or not? Just looking for opinions. Thanks!

[KnottedYet]

My tonsils go nuts every time I catch a bug. I wanted them out at one point, and my doc said "No."

Apparently they can be a very important part of your immune system.

If yours are malfunctioning and the doc wants them out, then that's another story.

I don't know anyone who had them taken out as an adult.

[Trek420]

Still have most of my orriginal parts: tonsils, wisdom teeth (they are not there! I'm an evolutionary missing link) and appendix. All I've lost is my mind sometimes.

[KnottedYet]

You're not a missing link, you're an evolutionary advancement! We humans are trying to get rid of our wisdom teeth. You are highly evolved!

[Trek420]

Unfortunately...the family tree ends here as I forgot to have children

Knew I forgot something

Maybe my neice UK Eliphant, her brother and/or my other niece have no wisdom....teeth gene.

UK obviously has the wisdom part.

[withm]

My dad was a MD and his thoughts were that your tonsils are the first line of defense. If you get sore throats - so what. That's way better than getting lung infections every few months, which is where the bugs will end up if there are no tonsils to munch on. Tonsillitis is definitely the lesser of the evils. Work on building up your resistance - lots of sleep, eat nutritious meals. That is, real food, - lots of fruits, vegies, not "energy bars" or chemical food substitutes. Good luck.

[Brandi]

My dad was a MD and his thoughts were that your tonsils are the first line of defense. If you get sore throats - so what. That's way better than getting lung infections every few months, which is where the bugs will end up if there are no tonsils to munch on. Tonsillitis is definitely the lesser of the evils. Work on building up your resistance - lots of sleep, eat nutritious meals. That is, real food, - lots of fruits, vegies, not "energy bars" or chemical food substitutes. Good luck.

I eat pretty healthy. And i am a sack rat cause no one wants to be around me if I don't get at least 8 to 9 hours. My tonsil keeps getting pockets (sorry to much info) (and kinda gross) of stuff which cause these infections. I haven't discussed this yet with my Dr but plane too just want have a lot of info when i go in.

[fatbottomedgurl]

I used to get strep throat every year. Only once was it mentioned I *might* need to lose the tonsils. I mentioned to my kids' pediatrician that I got strep every year, and he said once you hit 35-40 strep is rare, and almost never seen in seniors. I asked "why?" and he said "I dunno, I'm a pediatrician."
Well, I am now 43 and have not had strep for at least six years. I vote to keep 'em.

[Aggie_Ama]

I don't know the merits of having them or not. I have heard the surgery is supposed to be much worse for adults. Adults take longer to recover from it for some reason. I would keep mine unless a doctor felt it would be beneficial. Just my opinion.

[uk elephant]

Unfortunately...the family tree ends here as I forgot to have children

Knew I forgot something

Maybe my neice UK Eliphant, her brother and/or my other niece have no wisdom....teeth gene.

UK obviously has the wisdom part.

Actually, I'm missing some wisdom (teeth) too, but I'm not having children either so I guess that gene may not last very long.

I do know someone who has taken their tonsils out as an adult though. A friend has had a lot of problems with tonsils and sinus issues and had them removed at the age of 20-something. Don't know much more than that unfortunately, but she seems healthy enough now....

[Trek420]

uk elephant "I'm not having children either so I guess that gene may not last very long."

Well, guess it's up to your brother, or maybe Lindsey carries the gene. She's reproducing as we speak.

But then if we don't stop global warming this kind of dental improvement won't matter.

[Bella]

I was 35 last year when I had my tonsils out. Did not suffer strep but the doc believed they played havoc with my other glands and were responsible for the inner ear infections I often had.

It is a simple procedure but a brutal recovery. However, I am a much, much happier person without them. If you want more information, feel free to PM me anytime and we'll chat.

[Bella]

I eat pretty healthy. And i am a sack rat cause no one wants to be around me if I don't get at least 8 to 9 hours. My tonsil keeps getting pockets (sorry to much info) (and kinda gross) of stuff which cause these infections. I haven't discussed this yet with my Dr but plane too just want have a lot of info when i go in.

These are tonsil stones. Some tonsils are pourous and some are very smooth. I had the same problem. Very dedicated to flossing and brushing but had DRAGON breath and sore throats because of tonsil stones. In and of itself, they are not dangerous to overall health and most docs will play conservative and tell you how to "manage" this condition (salt water garge, usage of pick to clean, etc).

Insurance plans also will not take them out because of this. If you want them out bad enough, you and the doctor will have to link the tonsils to a larger issue - like chronic sinus or ear or glandular infections.

Good luck.

[mtbdarby]

Brandi,
I had them out when I was 22. Chronic sore throats my entire life, repeat streps, they couldn't figure it out. So they removed them. I would not recommend it. I second that recovery is brutal, but for me it didn't solve my sore throat problems. I still get strep occasionally. I developed hyperthyroidism last year along with allergies, so my immune system has been struggling lately although I can't link it to my tonsils. I STILL need at least 8 hours of sleep a night to be a happy camper.

I personally think my sore throats are more linked to sinus problems and drainage but that's just me. I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on tv....

Best of luck to you!

[Brandi]

Wow, ok i am having secound thoughts now on removing them. The "stones" are annoying that is for sure. But it sounds like the end result of aving them removed is not a good choice. I will just endure them I guess. Thanks for all the feed back!