UPDATE-Tonsils are coming out-post #36 (was Peeling palms...)

[ptcruisermom]

My DS 20 had his out when he was 5 and in kindergarten. Before school started that year he had mono, a very mild case, then right after christmas he got a really bad sore throat, not strep though, was on antibiotics for 10 days cleared up, but three days later was sick again, this went on for 3-4 cycles don't remember, i even joked with the dr. to save us a reserved seat in waiting room every two weeks, she referred to ENT doc and the tonsils came out. Now the day he had them out he weighed 40lbs and was 41 inches tall ( he was a 9lbs 10 oz baby). We used to get upset with him because he would chew and chew and chew his meat before swallowing, we thought he was messing around, when in all actuality he was having a hard time swallowing, but he was not a complainer. After the tonsils came out and healing period was over, he gained a pound a week for the next year and a half and had no problem swallowing his meat. He didn't complain once but then again he was/isn't a complainer. WEnt from wearing slim pants in kindergarten to wearing regular by the time the next school year rolled around. best thing we ever did Five months later my then 1.5 year old had his out, he was always getting infections and sounded like a breathing machine through the whole house. DD 13 still has hers but one in quit enlarged at times, a couple years ago there was talk of taking hers out but infections calmed down. On the other hand when i was a child they wouldn't take mine out, then when i was 15 i had several infections and that christmas i got my tonsils out, it wasn't bad but it wasn't fun either.

 

[MelodyMack]

I am so glad this thread was started!!!

I had a case of mono in my teens. Ever since then I come down with (usually) at least one yearly case of strep throat.

Every doctor I talk to has a differenent opinion on removing my tonsils. Half of them say "do it" and the ever half give me the "devil you know is better then the devil you don't". So obivously, I have left them in for fear of serious respitory problems.

However, I do suffer with this yearly infection. Antibiotics don't help, and even when I try them the strep will usually reappear within 2 or 3 days. It has to run it's nasty little course through my body for 3 or 4 days and is extremely uncomfortable. I can't swallow water and usually wind up in the hospital with an IV. Keep in mind, I am healthy 31 year old woman, with no other medical problems, no prescritions, no other medical problems other then this strep.

I am VERY interested in everybody's experience with this!!! Thanks OP, you have inadvertently really helped ME out!

 

[wilderness01]

My daughter had her tonsils out at a young age due to reoccuring sinus/ear/throat infections. We let 8 months of trying different methods, medicines, etc. go by before we agreed to the surgery. It was the very best thing we could have done for her. Good luck.

 

[Gillian]

Thanks for this thread.

DD 4 had a high fever, sore throat, cough & upset stomach about a month ago. The fast strep test was negative but we ended up doing amoxicillian anyway which quickly brought down her fever. Since then she's still not quite right. She's tired, sensitive/cries a lot, and having a bad time both in school and at home. She's developing reddish circles under her eyes. I'm bringing her back to the Dr tomorrow to discuss it. At least now I have some idea of things they can check for if I get a "she's perfectly fine."

 

[KeepSwimming]

This thread reminded me of an experience my cousin had with mono.

She had streps all the time, but her 3 different throat cultures for mono all came back negative for mono. Finally she saw a ear, nose, and throat specialist who told her those throat cultures will often give a "false negative" for mono and when she had blood drawn BINGO it was mono.

 

[Feralpeg]

Well, the ENT read DD's history, asked me a few questions--

1. how long has she been getting strep yearly? - this is the 5th year
2. if she's had stomach trouble with the strep? - sometimes, yes, very much two years ago
3. any rashes? not often, but one just a couple of days ago all down the left side of her body
4. is there any improvement with antibiotics? how soon symptoms return after first course of antibiotics? yes, but symptoms return within 3-4 days.

Then he says, I can make a very strong case for removing her tonsils. Her ASO titer was not high enough to make him think acute infection, but more likely that she is constantly infected. He agrees that she is very pale, listless and washed out looking. He thinks that removing the tonsils will improve her overall quality of life and end the yearly battle with strep. She will have the surgery as an outpatient on December 27.

The ENT is also testing for for Epstein Barr and exposure to mono, which he thinks is possible looking at her. (Her ped said she was running this, but somehow it didn't wind up in her blood work.)

DD continues to be very fatigued, but has trooped through school all week--and actually had a fantastic week academically. She is in a magnet school that is academically accelerated, so doing the surgery over break makes a lot of sense. No work to make up while she's recuperating. Plus, she'll be missing a week in March for a family reunion cruise, so I would like to limit other absences.

DD is very excited and hopes that she will "never be sick again." I hope so too. I'm a little nervous, as she's never had any sort of surgery, but I am confident that all will go well and this will be a very positive thing for her.

Thanks to everyone for their help and advice. We are looking forward to no strep next year!

You DD's experience sounds so similar to what my DD went through only she was younger. She had strep over and over. She had Scarlet Fever once. As soon as she came of the antibiotic, the strep would come back. She would vomit and often had to be taken in for fluids to get it stopped. Finally, she had her tonsils out. She has only had strep once since and that was many years ago. I hope your DD does as well following her surgery.