Should I Have My Sons Tonsils Removed?

I can't tell you what to do, but I can share my experience with you. Two of my children (now ages 42 and 40) had strep that wouldn't go away. The doctors told me that tonsilectomies were pretty much proven to not be helpful.Nevertheless, I opted to have their tonsils out because there was a chance it would help and they were very sick. This was on two different occasions with two different doctors. both children were greatly benefitted by having their tonsils out. So, when my youngest son began having the same problems I had him get his out , too. It worked beautifully. I don't know what doctors are saying these days, but I know it worked for 3 of my children.

Some children get better after their tonsils are removed, not all.

I have three sons, all suffered from serious winter colds, tonsilitis, and all three have asthma.

Doctors told me (over 30 years ago now) that they would suffer less asthma attacks with their tonsils out.

The two older boys, yup, it worked great. But the youngest, nope, his asthma got worse and his winter colds, flu etc also got more severe.

So it depends.
Good luck,
M.

Doctors used to recommend having children's tonsils out almost routinely -it cleared up so many cases of strep, etc. They stopped doing it routinely because somebody noticed that children with their tonsils out would get really, really sick when they did get sick - though it was much less often. That's why most doctors will not recommend it unless there have been repeated infections of a particular sort - the sort that are avoided by removing that particular tissue. Good luck.
-N. Wilson

Poor little guy, I know that is painful experience, but I definitely recommend it. In the long run, he'll be much better. I used to get sick alot as a child, and in 3rd grade I had mine taken out. I can't really say I remember the surgery, I know that I did get sick a bit from the anesthea they gave me, but other than that, it was just alot of popsicles and I'm sure since he's only four, you'll be doing alot of babying...:). I can say that after taking out my huge tonsils, I rarely had to go to the doctor, and if I did it wasn't for nething severe. I believe they say the younger the easier it is, so good luck, and remember to have those popsicles and ice cream ready:).

We had our daughter's out when she was 7 and she hasn't caught alot of bugs since then. She was getting strep throat all of the time. Not since then. BUT it is a rough couple of weeks after. Earaches, sore throat and just pplain miserable. She would make it through half day of school and then come home. We did ice and heat. Chewed lots of gum and popsicles. But I think in the long run she is much better off. She hasn't had strep again and just this last week she did get a little cold. Now she is ten. So I am pretty pleased with the decision. I guess it depends on if you think he could handle that much pain. If you choose to do it just make sure that he understands that he has to do what the doctor says. And the doctor will tell him what he can and should do. Like what to eat and what to drink. What to do when it hurts and all kinds of stuff.
I just read the other responses. If they are big then I agree. This is the time to do it. When they are older it is alot more streesfull and painful.

I know opinions vary, and any surgery has risks, but I had my tonsils and adenoids removed when I was 7 yrs. old. It really did make me healthier. It also helped me hear better. My adenoids were so big they were blocking my eustacian tubes and making me hard of hearing. Perhaps my case was extreme, but it really benefitted me. My sister never had hers removed and still has so many problems her doctor is advising it now in her adult years.

my son (age 11) just got his tonsils and adnoids out about a month ago and I am noticing huge improvements in both his energy level and overall health. I should have done it years ago. A word of warning, the recovery is very rough. Though I had heard it from others, it really was that bad!! It took about 10 days before the pain started getting better than the day before and about 2 and a half weeks before his energy was back. If you live in the south denver area, I would highly recommend our ENT- Dr Randy Taylor.You can tell he absolutely loves what he does and he has a great rapore with kids.
Good Luck !!!

I would go to an ENT doctor and ask them. My daughter had strepp throat three times in one month and then of course her brother got in also. The doctor told me that the tonsils serve as protection against all kinds of germs. She also told me that unless a child has strepp four or five times in the same month that they won't do it. On the other hand, I got my tonsils out when I was in kindergarten and it made quite a difference. My mom said that I was sick all the time. (That was a few years ago) You can actually see the difference in my school pictures. Things change so fast in the medical world and our technology is getting so advanced that it is really something to discuss with a doctor. Ask around and find a reputable doctor and get the ins and outs.

The reason that tonsils and adnoids are removed sometimes is because they are cronically infected and/or enlarged. If his tonsils and adnoids are healthy then removing them will not improve your child's health at all. Any type of surgery involves risks, removing any organ of the body is a serious undertaking. Conjsult an ENT (ear, nose, and throat specialist) about your son to see if it is nessesary to remove his tonsils and adnoids. Be very causious about doing any unesssesary surgery, I believe that every organ in our bodies has a purpose and that no organ should be removed or tampered with unless there is a good medical reason to do so.

I still have my tonsils and I WISH I had them removed as a child. I get Strep Throat ALL THE TIME (at least 2-3x a year, sometimes more!) and I looked into getting them removed as an adult, and the procedure is much riskier for an adult, so I haven't down it. If your doctor says it will h elp your son stay well, I think you should go ahead and do it. Kids recover quickly!

Well now is the time to do it. I was 17 when I had mine out and it was a lot harder to recover. I was not an overly sick child but I can say I have not had as many sicknesses since I have had them removed. With him I think I would go ahead and have them taken out. What does the doctor say? It is better to do it now just from my own experience. Even when I do get sick, it does not get worse. They are more of little colds. Good Luck!

I can attest that it is a huge positive at least it was for us. If a child continues to hold infection in their tonsils it will be a constant battle with their immune system. Tonsils are made to hold the infection however if it is constant it can cause a lot of problems for a child.

My daughter had the same issues, constantly getting sick from 1 1/2 to 2 1/2, tonsils held the infection so it was hard to fight anything else off. She never had strep but had swollen glands ongoing and got every little thing.
So they finally decided to have her tonsils and adnoids out at almost 3 years of age. It was scary from the standpoint of surgery on your little one, however it was a miracle for her. I talked to her about it beforehand, we visited the OR where she would have surgery, she met the staff there, we walked her through how the surgery process would go, they let me stay in until she was asleep and there right when she woke up, she took a stuffed friend with her and it was really not a big deal.

Her ENT said her tonsils were HUGE and adnoids were HUGE especially for such a petite little girl. Her sleeping imporoved tenfold (she had suffered some sleep apnea prior) she was so healthy and I can honestly say she is now seven and in the second grade and missed two days last year of school and only one this year (and she wasn't really that ill). She is healthier, sleeps better and seems so much better off. I am on the fence now as my son has huge tonsils, had strep only once but seems to have sleep apnea issues and I am going to consult over the summer with an ENT to see if he will just grow into his huge tonsils. He has had his adnoids out and that helped him some but still on the fence. I would rather by far have them out young then later.

I suffered through my childhood with strep, tonsilitiis and my mom didn't have mine removed until I was 18 and it was HORRIBLE! Kids young can bounce back so much easier.
My daughter stayed overnight make sure you can do that and sleep on a cot in the room with him. Those first 24 hours are huge and getting a nurse to help monitor him is the best. Then after that it is about keeping them comfortable, hydrated and by day four my daughter was asking for foods and by day five she was herself again.
When I was 18 it took me three weeks to recover!

Sorry for the drawn out post reply however I am a huge advocate if the child continues to get sick, the tonsils are enlarged constantly that they really will be so much better off.

Hi J.
I had my sons tonsils and adenoids removed and also tubes put in his ears at 10 months old. He was having chronic ear infections, sinus problems and trouble breathing. The doctors gave me the run around and put him on every kind of medicine for every kind of illness. So I took it upon my self to go to a specialist. They have the best one here in Denver. The # is ###-###-#### see dr. Pachly. He is world renown and fabulous. He can tell you right away what you should do. My sons adenoids were 5x the size and his tonsils 3x once they were removed he had one minor ear infection but it just drains out and you treat it with drops instead of antibiotics and that has been it. He is almost 3 now. Dr. Pachly is the best. It was fast and easy and I would do it over and over again to give my son the health, sleep and no medicine intake. It was the best decision for us. Good luck. L.

Three of my four children have had this procedure done. My oldest two had it done a couple years apart and my younger daugther had it done at 5. They have been alot healthier since it was done. I am not hoping one of the dr will do that for my 3 year old as he is sick ALL the time. He has 4 ear infections a month, strep, bronchitis, and his asthma is flaired up ALL the time. Good luck. I would really recommend this!

HI J.,

I just had to chime in. I had my tonsils out at age 2 and had tons of sore throats and strep afterwards, throughout childhood.

I would look into Chinese medicine or a homeopathic solution one more time before the surgery. A Chinese physician asks, "why so many infections?" and treats THAT problem, rather than just taking organs out. Why is the immune system down? And he addresses that issue. It makes more sense to me. I have been going to an acupuncturist and I stopped my medication and feel a lot better. Also, an RN friend of mine uses homeopathic cures rather than antibiotics on herself and children and has been healthy for 20 years doing this.
http://www.drhomeo.com/tonsillitis/tonsillitis-and-homeop...

Just some things to think over and look into.

Hope your son gets well soon,

Marci

My boys suffered from strep throat, 3 times in 4 months. One of them had their tonsils removed the other had tonsils and anoids. Neither one has had strep since (knock on wood) even when they are exposed to it.

You can check with an ENT to see if they see reason to. If the adenoids are too big, it can cause problems with the ears draining. It worked well for me as a kid, and now we're looking at doing it for our 5yo for hearing issues due to lack of the eustachian tubes draining. I haven't gotten strep at all since having it done, and my husband gets it very badly every few years, so I think I would have if I were going to. GL!

It is not up to you it's up to your ENT doctor.
There has to be a history of tonsilist on going. It is not an easy to recover from surgery.
I had three of five my children have their out each one was a good experance in the long run. i also know people have had problems like a loss of taste.
Again talk to an ENT they are the ONLY one that can tell you if it is needed

We had our sons removed when he was almost 4 he has hardly been sick since. He is now almost 9. The surgery was rough just seeing him like that and having to be put out, the first day was the worst but I would do it again if I had to since the results were so worth it! Best of luck to you and your son.

Have you ever thought about taking your son in for a Chiropractic exam? Your son could have what is called a "Subluxation" which is a fancy term for the vertebrae in his spine being out of alignment. If for example a vertebrae was pressing on a nerve that deals with ear infections and other immune functions, then it could potentially explain the problems your sons having.

Might be worth checking into before considering anything so serious as surgery. Most chiropractors would do a free consultation and exam. It couldn't hurt to at least know the condition of your child's spine.

My son had his removed when he was about 13 months old. The younger they are the better it is, but explain to him exactly what will happen. This will help him not be so scared with it all. At Primary Children Medical Center, they give the kids a tour of the hospital before a few days to a week before the surgery. I didn't do this with mine as he was very young, but it might help him (and you) not to be so nervous and scared.

Hi there, I do not have any experience with a child having this done but I did have it done myself as a teen. I can tell you that as a child and teen I was very sick a lot, between the ear infections and the sinus infections and everything in between! I had a sinus surgery prior to having my tonsils and adenoids removed and it obviously did not work as planned. Once I had them removed at age 17 it took maybe 6 months and I have been so much better ever since! I still get REALLY bad colds and ear aches once in a while but I have not had an ear infection or pneumonia or any of the worse illnesses that I did have prior. Not to mention I can breathe now through my nose....which is not big to most people but when you couldn't before - its huge! I do want to say that it would be a rough surgery for your son - just because of the tonsils - the adenoids did not bother me. But ice cream cures a lot with kids! I hope this helps and I hope your son has a speedy recovery should you decide to go through with it. If you have any questions just let me know.

Thanks,
K.

Hi J.,
I had my tonsils and adnoids out when I was 5. My mom says it was the best thing ever. My neice is now 10 and she had her tonsil only removed about 6 months ago. They say that it is easier on someone to have them removed at the younger ages than as an adult. A friend of mine had a 3 year old loved to talk but you couldn't understand him. When they remove the tonsils he was talking clear as day.
I know that its a quick procedure and your out with in 24 hours, and that they don't remove adnoids unless needed. I hope this helps and gl.
M.