Recurrent Strep = Tonsillectomy?

[zakatak]

Hi Everyone!

I need some opinions = both sides would be great!

My dd (9) is on her 4th bout of Strep this season. She has always been very healthy until this winter. The Ped has left it up to us if we want to proceed with an ENT for a tonsillectomy.

Timing wise, end of school is probably not a good time but neither is 5th grade! Summer???

I would love any experience with recurrent Strep and if you decided to go with a Tonsillectomy or wait it out. Did they ever stop?

She was on Amoxicillian twice and now Celfsil (sp?) twice...

We have changed her toothbrushes, etc...

Thanks!

Karen

 

[mdrob214]

My DD went thru this in 4th grade. She had strep 7-8 times that year. We finally talked to the ENT who recommended tonsillectomy. She did it in June and it took about a week to recover and a total of 2 weeks before she could return to playing softball. Since the surgery she has had no sore throats and has only missed 2 days of school. She's just finishing 8th grade now. As an added benefit, she now doesn't snore (they took her adenoids, too) and she can swim (she couldn't before because she couldn't breathe thru her nose--in or out) The first couple days after the surgery were rough because she didn't take in enough fluids. Almost had to return her to the hospital, but she finally started on the popsicles and jello. (She never did and still doesn't drink much)

 

[SpecialK]

On the flip side, I had recurrent strep in my teens and the doc recommended against tonsillectomy. She said she preferred that the strep stay in the tonsils rather than settle somewhere else in my body. Of course, I was a teen in the Dark Ages so medical science may have advanced since then... (However, DH just lost a friend to a strep infection that settled in his heart.)

 

[Pooh67_68]

Never had a doctor willing to take out my tonsils until I was 30. He thought having strep as much as I did was not good. Best thing I ever did.

 

[mamacatnv]

My DS had 5 bouts of strep in 5th grade. We had his tonsils taken out on the last day of school. Our decision was made based on the advice of the ENT and the thought of more years of him missing so much school.

Fast forward to 10th grade, he got sick, we thought it was a flu bug and didn't react like we would have back when he had strep. Well, he did have strep and our lack of quick response caused him to be very sick and it took him several weeks to recover.

Lack of tonsils does not mean they will never get strep again, but for us it certainly lessened the frequency. Now, when he is sick, we don't rush to the Dr. but we don't let it go very long either. He has not had another bout of it since the episode in 10th grade.

We would do it the same way if we had it to do over. Good luck

 

[rileyroosmom]

After 7-8 bouts in the 1st grade, my son had his tonsils out. He tested positive as a carrier for strep so I had them removed. Took a little more than a week and he was back at school. It was done as an out patient. He's now 15 and has never had strep again.

 

[kimisabella]

I just had my tonsils out last summer at 33 years old - I was having strept every couple of months and the dr told me that strept can effect your heart and I should get them removed - as I was "older" it was a more difficult procedure and I was literally in horrible pain for 3 weeks after the surgery and couldn't talk for the whole time. (I did lose some weight though ) If they need the tonsils to be taken out, better when they are younger than have to do it later in life

 

[Tinks]

My DS had 4 + cases of strep in one year. It was then that his pediatrician recommended that we be evaluated for tonsillectomy. He told us that when a child/adult has 4 or more cases of strep in one year, he qualifies for tonsillectomy.

Our ENT told us that the strep bacteria can hide in the deep, deep crevices of our tonsils. The antibiotics in our bloodstream don't always reach that area effectively and so the strep stays and recurs often in some people.

We opted for tonsillectomy and it was the best decision we ever made for DS. He hasn't had strep since and it's been 2 or 3 years.

Hope that helps!

 

[golfgal]

DD13 had her tonsils taken out at the end of kindergarten after having 10 cases of step that year. The ENT actually took her tonsils out with an active case of strep because they couldn't get it to go away. She hasn't had it since then. I say go for it!!

 

[auntie]

I think I'd give it more time. If she's been healthy up to this point. I wait and see what the next season brings. It just might be that it's in the classroom and she's gonna keep getting it until it's out.
Our pediatrician doesn't rush to take the tonsils out..three to four streps in a year isn't really unheard of. Which is probably why they're leaving it up to you at this point. If for next year this seems she is revisitng the same scenario..then I'd reconsider.

 

[mamacatnv]

I think I'd give it more time. If she's been healthy up to this point. I wait and see what the next season brings. It just might be that it's in the classroom and she's gonna keep getting it until it's out.
Our pediatrician doesn't rush to take the tonsils out..three to four streps in a year isn't really unheard of. Which is probably why they're leaving it up to you at this point. If for next year this seems she is revisitng the same scenario..then I'd reconsider.

You are right and our Ped. was the same way. DS had issues with Strep throughout his life and this 5th grade year was the preverbial straw. We had had it, so had he and his Ped. agreed, enough was enough.

As a side note, one winter when I was in my late 20's I got 5 bouts of strep. Dr. told me one more and the tonsils were going. Didn't get it again for well over 10 years and at 43 I still have my tonsils.

 

[krcit]

Both of my dds had their tonsils removed in 1st grade. My older dd had strep 13 times in less than a year so we had no choice and then when she was in Kindergarten, my second dd started getting it and had it about 8 times in a year so we got hers out. I think my oldest had strep once since getting them out and that was 6 years ago. The recovery was pretty easy for them both. You HAVE to make them eat and drink-it really helps the throat heal. They needed the yucky tylenol w/ codeine for the pain the first day or two but after that they were ok. Good luck

 

[bunnyscootles]

I had a sore throat all the time, tonsillitis at least a couple of times a year, they were also the size of golf balls all the time.

I had mine taken out in 6th grade over christmas break. I've really noticed a difference, maybe a sore throat with a cold - but that's it. This was at the tail end of every doctor doing them for even the slightest sore throat, but I really think that mine improved my quality of life.

 

[minnie56]

All of my life I have suffered from Tonsillitis, Strep and once-Qunicy I believe it's called. After that --normal protocol dictates that the tonsils be removed...but I was in my 30's and the Surgeon said No. I was now at greater risk having them removed---so I still have them. Finally---I am at a place where I seldom have problems..maybe once a year-year and a half- or so? They have caused me a LOT of grief in my life. I wish I had had them out--trust me.

 

[Cool-Beans]

You know, I remember reading something about strep and "tonsil" removal. Something real. Medical. Not something on the DIS or WebMD.

I *think* they came to the conclusion that way too many folks were having their tonsils removed for no good reason and that doctors need to cut back on this and follow different guidelines. But I just don't remember because it was two or three years ago. Maybe more.

So, as usual, my advice is to have a good doctor and ask them about it.

 

[Southern4sure]

Been there, done that. Oldest DS had Recurrent Strep 7 times in the first 6 months of 2nd grade. The dr alternated Suprax and Celor (allergic to pen) then referred us to the ENT. The ENT didnt recommend taking the tonsils out becue it was a hit or miss if it would stop the strep. We didnt have it done.

The dr put ds on a 2 antibiotics which were stronger. Now he rarely gets step.

 

[zakatak]

So, as usual, my advice is to have a good doctor and ask them about it.

I know that. Her pediatrician has left the decision up to us. She has an appointment with a Board Certified ENT on May 20th.

I wanted to get some experiences with this outside of my friends and family. Is that so bad? Trust me, I would never take the advice of someone off an internet message board that I don't know.

Give me a break. This isn't a "Geez, my neck is sliced open and bleeding profusely. Do you think I should go to the ER?" question.

Thank you everyone else for your experiences. I do believe she is at the end of the season so we may wait until next year to see how she does. But, I am going to see what that Board Certified ENT says as well.

 

[Rence]

A long time ago (late 60s) I started to get strep and the doctor talked about maybe I would need to have my tonsils out, but he preferred to wait. Well it got worse and soon I was sick constantly. I would get another bout within a couple of days of recovering from the last bout. It was to the point where they couldn't schedule surgery because I was never healthy enough.

Finally they were able to get me in. I'm not sure if it was related or not, but I came out of the surgery so sick that I was out of school for a month. Since I recovered, I've been fine, I'm in my 50s and I think I've had Strep maybe a half dozen times since then.

Because of all the school I missed, I technically never completed 7th grade. There is a state-mandated minimum number of days you must attend, and I didn't come anywhere near getting enough days in. Because I was doing work at home, the school essentially listed me and not completing 7th grade and then processed the paperwork to have my skip 7th grade so I could stay with my class.

 

[Feralpeg]

This happened with DD. She had strep so many times by the time she was five, there were very few antibiotics that would still work for her. She had her tonsils out and only had strep one time since. She is now 20.

 

[mommaU4]

I keep toying with the idea of getting my tonsils out. I'm 36 and have had many issues with strep over the last 2 years. But then I go online and read all the horror stories involved with recovery and I always chicken out.

Plus the nurse at the ENT office I went to, said it doesn't prevent you from getting strep and I don't know if this has been mentioned, but they can grow back. Happened to her. She had to have hers removed twice.

It's a tough decision. For now, I'm keeping mine. I hope I don't regret it.