So far I have contracted tonsilitus at the very least 8 times, six of those times have occured in this year starting back around February. I have got tonsilitus again currently and have been effectively grounded for other peoples health as well as my own for as long as the course of antibiotic lasts...
Thing is I am desperate to get the ruddy things removed, and many may ask why I havent already and the answer... Drs claiming its a bad year for tonsilitus and Im just unlucky to keep catching it, not recovering fully from it, and the parental unit being annoyingly overbearing!!!
Now the Drs are pretty much on my side, think theyre fed up of seeing me in the waiting room practically every month. I want them removed (the tonsils not the Drs) asap, however...

One Im at work and because of my many weeks off work in the past (due to tonsils) I am no longer eligable for SSP apparantly so I cant really afford to keep taking anymore time off work.

Two I am in my final year at uni, and after battling through last semster, again with tonsils, and therefore missing a great deal of lectures etc, Im amazed I scraped a 2.1 but understandably do not want to jeopordise anything at uni any further.
Time and money therefore being a bit of a problem.

Does anyone know if I would get referred immediately to have tonsils removed, or be stuck on a waiting list? Also how long in your experience does the procedure including recuperation take?
Heard from some that they take tonsils out and in the morning youre expected to eat a full breakfast and bugger off home, heard from others being laid up in hospital for a good week after following "complications"
Off to see the Dr shortly for a conflab, but any other opinions would be greatly appreciated

Ta xxxxxx

cant answer any of your questions but i notice you are a student, get to bed at a decent time, and avoid playing tonsil hockey with every one you bump into!


only kidding, hope you get it sorted and good luck with your final year

I had my tonsils out 2 years ago and on reflection now I'm glad I did - I was getting tonsilitis very frequently and it was playing havoc with work etc.

I was advised to have 2 weeks off work after the op, and this is pretty important as you need to be really careful to avoid sources of infection. Eating and drinking normally apparently helps guard against infection and aids the healing process, though I think you will probably also get given some mouthwash stuff which you should use. You'll probably also get a strongish painkiller to use as required.

Be warned though. It's a more 'risky' operation for adults than for kids, and this is at least partly due to the fact that our larger blood vessels don't heal quite as easily. It'll be fine for most people, but unfortunately I was one of the '1 in 200' for whom this was a real problem. I'll spare you the details, but in the end I was off work for 5 weeks, had numerous trips to A&E, and had quite a traumatic time of it. It would be just as well to be aware of this in advance, though be assured that I would still recommend going ahead with it, as I haven't had any throat problems in the 2 years since the operation.

The scheduled stay in hospital was 2 nights. The operation itself was very quick, but it really was pretty painful afterwards.

Hmm, don't know if this sounds encouraging or not, but honestly, it's worth it!!! Best of luck!

Oh, I suspect you are unlikely to referred immediately. I was on a waiting list for over a year, and I was getting tonsilitis every couple of months. :(

Lymphatic drainage - you need to do this regularly to keep your lymphatic system clear. When poor lymph drainage is persistant this can cause problems with sore throats, sinus and a whole host of other problems. You can do this yourself and I suggest you get a book or look on the Internet for some help. As a youngster I had lots of problems with my throat - infections and the like but as I have grown older my problems have abated. I'm not saying you don't need to get your tonsils removed but you can help yourself in the meantime.

Antibiotics are fine if used infrequently but used on a regular basis do more harm than good. Your system will become immune to certain types and you may find that your doctor is forever trying you on different types.

Good luck with uni and keep well.

Ohhhh I so don't envy you. The information you will receive on here will vary enormously. I can't say anything is right or wrong. I can tell you what worked for me.
I often had tonsilitis until - as a student and eating cack food I developed Quinseys disease which is an antiquated disease associated with 'olden day' sailors due to lack of vitamins and malnourishment.
Quinseys is infection of the tonsil area which grows and is full of the most gruesome gunk till it blocks your throat. I had to have mine drained in hospital and didn't eat for weeks .
I almost suffocated to death and spent all xmas and new year in hospital as a result. ( One melon ball for xmas dinner yum!)
I don't get on with doctors drugs so I use alternative treatment.
One of which is not eating dairy foods the first inkling I'm ill.
Dairy is a coagulant which increases mucus production and maintains it within the system. Contrary to popular opinion oranges are no good either, citrus fruits also create more mucus. Apple juice, black coffee etc are best, avoid cheese, milk, yoghurt etc. This helps reduce the duration of a cold.
I haven't had antibiotics for around 11 or 12 years now and I suffer much less.
The number of times I became ill reduced dramatically when I stopped using buses too. People sneeze and it floats all round the bus and you inhale it. Not many people are bright enough to contain the spray in a hankie so we all catch it.
That info might help you reduce the number of times you are ill until you can have a tonsillectomy.
You can help yourself by taking echinacea supplements to boost your immune system, using tea tree oil in a burner which cleans the atmosphere literally, its more effective than bleach in some areas.
Can't help you about hurrying things along but maybe that could help you in the meantime.
Same applies to colds and flu.
I had a tonsillectomy, threw up vast amounts of clotted blood from my stomach and had to stay in a few nights despite eating well. It isn't too bad. I felt well in myself, just major league sore throat and you are advised to stay away from smokers and so on while you heal.
Best of luck with it!

You could pay to see a doctor/ consultant about them which could knock some waiting time off thats what I did when I had mine out, a years ago

Unfortunately I am now waiting to see a consultant at northern general about something different and was told if I paid to see them I would then have to wait 15 weeks before I could be placed on any other waiting lists if I needed further treatment ( I can only afford the first consultantion so I've just had to wait!) It depends how long the waiting time is to see a consultant: if it is more than 15 weeks it may be quicker to pay if not it's cheaper and quicker to wait!

I was 8 when I had mine out, I had no problems and I've never even a sore throat since!

Hope you get it sorted soon :-)

I have just had some time off work due to this, I get it bad every year but nothing will be done, I sometimes don't even bother with antibiotics sometimes and just let it run it's course, don't want to over do the medicine.

Me too!!!

I have had it twice in the last two months. It makes you feel awful.

I went to the docs again and she told me I have strange tonsils for my age. They are large and very scarred from constant bouts of it when 17 (just before glandular fever set in)

She has told me if I get it again it would be wise for me to have mine removed too.

i'm never ill and have not had it since I was 17 (32 now), it really knocks your duck off!

I went to the GP and after going through with her what I had wrote on here and making her look at my notes (cos it seems Dr's never do) she agrees that a tonsilectemy would probably be a good idea and being as I was already referred to the Hallamshire because one of my tonsils decided to inflate about 4 times larger than it should be overnight, this would weigh in my favour to get them removed as they dont often do the operation these days.
She's writing off to the ENT lot at Hallamshire and I should hear back within four weeks about whether or not they'll remove them. In the meantime Ive been told to carry on taking penecillin (which Im sure Im becoming immune to due to the amount of times Ive had to take it) gargle with soluble asprin and take pro-biotic yoghurt such as Actimel

...Whoo

Hopefully all will be well soon

Ta everyone xxxxxx

:gag: It took me three weeks to get rid of my tonsilitus so i dont envy you :thumbsup: get well soon

Originally posted by Mosherchik
I went to the GP and after going through with her what I had wrote on here and making her look at my notes (cos it seems Dr's never do) she agrees that a tonsilectemy would probably be a good idea and being as I was already referred to the Hallamshire because one of my tonsils decided to inflate about 4 times larger than it should be overnight, this would weigh in my favour to get them removed as they dont often do the operation these days.
She's writing off to the ENT lot at Hallamshire and I should hear back within four weeks about whether or not they'll remove them. In the meantime Ive been told to carry on taking penecillin (which Im sure Im becoming immune to due to the amount of times Ive had to take it) gargle with soluble asprin and take pro-biotic yoghurt such as Actimel

...Whoo

Hopefully all will be well soon

Ta everyone xxxxxx

I don't think you will have a problem, My doc said they are more sympathetic towards adults with problems. It's just children that they don't like to give the op to willy nilly these days.

As a kid I used to get quite a bit. Not had it for years though.

I really, really sympathise with you, it is so horrible. I started having problems just before i did my GCSE's, then found out had glandular fever. Since then I have had tonsillitis during exams, when on holiday or any other very inconvenient time. People who have never had it don't understand that it is not just a sore throat, but awful headache, high fever (i was admitted 2 hospital twice because my temperature was so high, not that i remember much about it), earache, sore back and neck, trouble swallowing even water and difficulty breathing because throat so swollen and I'm sure many people will add to that list!
I'm 22 now, and have had it 4 times in the last year (which of course is a good year), but not too seriously. I was on a waiting list to have them taken out, but because I have kept moving it has never happened. My mum was the same as me, until she was about 24, and has never had it since. So I'm hoping I will eventually grow out of it.
Zebra offered lots of very useful advice, have printed it out to refer to next time i wake up with that knowing feeling... thankyou!
Only things I would say are (and I'm sure you know all this allready): you know your symptoms, just be careful. Can't always be helped, but don't burn the candle at both ends, when you are tired listen to yourself and rest. Go to the doctor STRAIGHT away, as soon as you start feeling you are getting it. Don't wait until you feel really poo. And talk to your parents or other relatives, find out if they have ever had problems. My bouts do seem to be becoming slightly less frequent and severe... so fingers crossed.
And to anyone else with the same problems, I wish you all the luck and health you may need!
One thing that really bugs me though and i have to get this off my chest, is like I said , when people just don't understand. Thisis a huge problem, why isn't more being done about it, rather than just a resigned sigh from the doctor every time you go?? And people at work who think just skiving... grrrr!

Iv suffered really badly the past 5 years, all through school.I gave up smoing 4 months ago as i smoked the past 5 yrs, nothing changed. the prob has now got worse and im currently getting tonsilitus every 3 and a half weeks. i was in the states for xmas and spent it in bed and i just finished antibiotic 5th january and had the doctor up last nite and now have another antibiotic. im due to have them removed in february sometime. hopefully all will go well as they say the older u are the worse the experience is. im 19.

Hi,

Got tonsilitius 2 years ago, first time since childhood and it was bad, almost passed out while driving, throat got really sore, very hard to breathe and gradually over the past two years it's gotten worse. From once in my childhood now to every few months I get tonsilitus, (quincey things in the past also, think they were an abscess in the tonsils?) and various antibiotics to stem the infection (cause it's never really went away the past year) and tablets for my tummy as my tummy get's sore, as the doctors say it's the stuff from my tonsils leaking down. Also feel like cr** the past year, don't know if it's cause my system is putting up with my tonsils. They said it's chronic and I've been to see the ENT earlier in the year, due to go back in September but all the recent visits to the doctors they've said the tonsils are due to come out, and to be honest I'll be quite glad as they can make you feel quite terriable.

Has anybody else had they're tonsils that bad that it's infected they're system and just made them feel like cr** constantly?

Will keep you posted. In my 30's by the way... doctor says I have a young persons disease:-)

Thomsop