Recurrent Strep = Tonsillectomy?

[golfgal]

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.

I had mine out when I was 4, never have had strep since, they never grew back--I am a lot older then you too .

 

[pittypat]

My DS had strep pretty much constantly for about 3 months when he was 4. We had his tonsils out and the improvement was remarkable. Not only does he not get strep anymore (he's 17 now) his appetite improved, he grew, he slept better and seemed to have alot more energy in general. We never realized how bad he felt until he didn't feel that way anymore.

 

[mommaU4]

I had mine out when I was 4, never have had strep since, they never grew back--I am a lot older then you too .

Well, that's good. Can you imagine going through that twice??

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

I am 47 and have had strep my whole life. My parents never had my tonsils out. I am so sick when I have a strep throat. My tonsils swell so much, they cause my throat to close up and then I have become deydrated to the point of going to the hospital because I can't get anything down. In addition to the antibiotics I have to take a steroid. I wish mine had come out.

 

[eeyoremum]

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.)

Same story here. I am a carrier. I now can tell if a sore throat will turn to strep by how I feel. Usually I can fight it off myself but sometimes need medication.

 

[disneychrista]

My oldest Dd had recurring strep. She would go off the antibiotics and it would come back. She was referred to an ENT and it was advised to not only remove the tonsils & adnoids but to keep her on the anti-biotics until surgery (about 3 weeks). In addition to all the time she missed from school because of illness, she wa out a total of 12 school days; surgery on Thursday and then off for full weeks.

My younger Dd was battling recurring strep but she would stay well for a period inbetween. We waited it out and finally kicked it and did not need to have the removed.

So it really depends on your child and just how long you want to wait to see if she/he can get well w/o the surgery.

 

[clh2]

DD had her tonsils out when she was 4 - this was not related to strep.

She got strep in 4th grade, and again in 6th grade.

 

[Regina]

My two oldest kids had recurring strep and had their tonsils removed when they were 6 and 5 respectively. Never had strep again.

My youngest constantly had strep, but the Doctor said that the insurance companies had made it too difficult to do tonsilectomies anymore. She seemed to be on a neverending run of antibiotics, she was always getting strep.

She's in her 20's now and still has problems with her tonsils swelling up, but the strep has eased. I always regret not pushing for her to have them removed.

 

[decaff38]

DD had strep 6 times in 1 year when she was 13. She always had the shot rather than the pills. My father and sister are pharmacists and both reccomended removal. They felt that the constant anitbiotics can make her resistant and then you are really in for a fight. I had to fight the EMT but won. She has not had strep once since and she is 21.

Son got tonselitis 2 times while he was in a private college. He almost died with one bout. I again had to fight with the EMT and won. He is 28 and never another bout. I am a firm believer that once they start getting bad, get them out!!!

I want to be able to use the smallest doses to fight anything.

 

[aprilgail2]

My daughter missed 36 days of school due to strep that just kept coming back over and over- she would get it , go on antibioitcs and be clear for a week then she would have it again, finally she stayed on antibiotics for 30 straight days and on day 32 she had strep again!! So then they finally said they have to come out!! The surgery went very easy for her, I didn't want to mess with her summer since she goes to camp so I had it done the 2nd week of June (school ends the end of june here) and she missed one week of school and went back for the last week- she couldn't play gym or run around at recess but she felt fine after 2 days and it was torture trying to keep her home for even the one week! She has not had strep since then- it also put an end to her getting such high fevers that she ended up in the ER a few times a year, she has almost stopped using a neublizer completely and her general health has just gotten so much better. Her darn teeth at yellow as heck from all the antibiotics though!

 

[5 for WDW]

All three of mine have had their tonsills and adenoids out because of severe sleep apnea and many, many sinus infections in my middle son's case. He also had to have his adenoids taken out twice, they grew back.

Both of my sons started getting Strep once they started school, after their tonsills were taken out. My daughter has never had it..knock on wood.

Our Ped gives them shots of Rocephin each time they have it. That usually works quite well.

I have had Strep three times in the last two years. I never had it as a child. I also have sleep apnea. The ENT has recommended having my tonsills and adenoids out but, I am not sure if I am going to yet.

 

[jackson66]

good luck!