Tonsillectomy?

[DaveJ]

Hi, my wife seems to think she needs a tonsillectomy or similar procedure due to repeated bouts of strep throat and tonsillitis (at least 3 times this year so far). However it appears that tonsillectomies are performed much less often these days, and her doctors has ignored he request saying something about the surgery being elective (not sure about the details since I wasn't there).

She's getting these infections about every 2 or 3 months on a consistent basis and her throat swells up to the point, making it very difficult for her to speak. They have been seriously interfering with her work and threatening her job.

I don't know if a tonsillectomy would prevent the actual infections, so I'm not sure if it is necessary. I don't like disagreeing with a doctor since I have a lack of medical knowledge, but my wife seems to think that these doctors are trained to provide the minimum care possible due to insurance issues. We have Blue Cross insurance and pay a lot of money for it, but most her doctor's patients have public aid -- nothing wrong with that, we had public aid for a long time too.

So I'm just asking if it's possible this doctor is being short sighted and stubborn, and whether we should get another opinion?

[sabbat hunter]

1. I would go to

an ENT (Ear nose throat) doctor. Get an opinion from them.

[knowbody0]

2. i did, for the recurring infections

and bothersome taste in my mouth.

my health improved greatly. operation was swift as well as recovery. i have never missed my tonsils.

[hedgehog]

3. It used to be routine in some places for every kid to lose their tonsils by

age 10. Then again, it used to be routine in some places for the sky to be dark at noon from all the pollution!

[lizerdbits]

4. I had one when I was 14

I had tonsillitis literally 11 times in a row. Antibiotics really helped but I could feel when I swallowed that it wasn't gone after the 10 days was up, and sure enough a couple days later it was back. When they removed them there was apparently a really deep abscess in one of them. I later wondered if being on antibiotics longer would have helped but I can't guess since I'm not a doctor.

I think the ENT is a good idea. There's nothing wrong with getting a second opinion, I think that's a good idea. There's always disagreement among professionals.

[DaveJ]

5. Thanks everyone!

I had no idea to try something as common sensical as a ENT. Goes to show I've been relatively lucky healthwise so far but my wife seems to have a pretty weak immune system.

Okay, we'll see if we can find one through our insurance. Thanks again for all your great help!

[pansypoo53219]

6. have your wife eat what falls on the floor.

i have a great immune system. tho, mainly dry stuff. also barefoot all the time.

[Warpy]

7. She needs to consult a specialist

meaning an ENT (Ear Nose and Throat) doc.

The one pediatrician my mother listened to when I was growing up was opposed to tonsillectomies--the big moneymaker in the 50s. I was one of the few kids I knew who still had them by high school and I too had frequent infections. They eventually tapered off in my 30s.

One thing she might consider is the pneumonia vaccine which protects against 23 varieties of pneumonia bugs, strep. pneumoniae among them.

An ENT doc is her best ally in this. Infected tonsils are horrible and the doc is her best bet on learning how to avoid so many of them.

Surgery is the last resort in this case. Very few are done, especially on adults.

[Tumbulu]

8. Can you tell me more about the pneumonia vaccine for adults?

Is it a single shot or one with a booster?

Maybe I should get one.

Thanks for the informative posts.

[Heddi]

9. It is one shot

Hurts like heck for a day (it's an intramuscular shot, so you'll get a shot in the butt or arm), but we give them to everyone who is admitted to the hospital that is over the age of 21, I believe. (I only work with populations over 21, so I don't know about the kiddos).

No booster. You can get it at the dr's office, and many pharmacies offer them as well. Should be cheap, around $15 or $30 or so I believe.

Check out the flu shot as well. I get one every year because I work in a hospital and deal with a sensitive patient population---I don't get the flu shot for ME, I get it for my PATIENTS.

[Tumbulu]

10. thanks ! nt