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Do You Need Your Tonsils Removed? What to Expect:Guide to Tonsil Removal Surgery - What is that dangling ball at the back of your throat actually for? The human body is a complex machine, and what may look like an extra piece of flesh indiscriminately placed is actually a central figure in our immune systems. Tonsils are filters; they help keep viruses, bacteria, and germs from entering the body through the mouth or nose. Infections are common, especially during cold and flu season, and the tonsils can become inflamed, irritated, and sore. We all suffer from sore throats occasionally, but when those occasional sore throats turn into chronic irritation or we develop tonsil stones, it may be necessary to remove the tonsils. Medicine changes as technology and understanding advances; a few generations ago, tonsils were removed as a matter of routine. Sore throat? Tonsillectomy! Strep? Tonsillectomy! Today, doctors are much more selective in choosing patients for whom tonsillectomies are appropriate. Are you one of these patients? What should you know about getting your tonsils removed?
When Good Tonsils Go Bad - The sore throat is back; your tonsils are swollen and red. It is difficult to swallow. You may have a fever, bad breath, or swollen lymph glands. Your tonsils may be enlarged or covered with a yellow or white coating. It hurts; it's irritating; it's inconvenient; you've had enough. Tonsils are irritated and inflamed because of a virus or bacteria. This can spread, like colds, through sneezing or coughing. When children have tonsillitis, it is most commonly caused by the common cold or flu. In adults, it is more likely that bacteria, including streptococcus, staphylocci, and pneumococci, are the culprit. Strep throat is not the same thing as tonsillitis; you can have one without the other, though strep may accompany tonsillitis. A sore throat may warrant a trip to the doctor, but it doesn't usually warrant tonsil removal surgery. Your doctor will take a culture to test for strep. In rare cases, untreated strep can turn into rheumatic fever. A correct diagnosis is important so your doctor can determine the best course of treatment. Many times, sore throats and infections can be taken care of with home remedies, including salt water gargles, more fluid intake, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines. The goal is to alleviate the symptoms. When will your doctor prescribe antibiotics? Antibiotics do not do any good, and may in fact do some harm, if they are used in an effort to fight a sore throat that is caused by a virus, as is the case with most sore throats. Overusing antibiotics can cause resistance and make even more common infections more difficult to treat. If your strep test comes up positive, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics; otherwise, home remedies are sufficient. But they aren't sufficient remedies for everyone. When might a tonsillectomy be a viable option? In general, doctors consider it when:
*You have a sore throat or strep five or more times a year. Children who have repeated infections, disturbed sleep or sleep apnea, difficulty breathing or swallowing, fever, "hot potato" voice, enlarged or tender lymph nodes, a pus-like coating in the tonsils and/or throat, and/or abscesses around the tonsils are usually good candidates for tonsil removal surgery. It is important to understand that not everyone with sore throats will be approved for a tonsillectomy. Today, doctors try to avoid the surgery in order to try less invasive treatments. While the surgery is not thought to have implications for the immune system, it does have an unexpected side effect in children. Studies show that when a child has a tonsillectomy without adenoidectomy, the risk of becoming overweight or obese increases by as much as 61 percent. In children who had both tonsils and adenoids removed, the risk increased to up to 136 percent. Research also shows that the risks of surgery do not provide enough benefit to compensate in most children, so many doctors recommend forgoing the tonsillectomy and trying other treatment options..
Getting Ready for Your Tonsillectomy: What to Expect:If you and your doctor determine that a tonsillectomy is the best choice for you (or your child), what should you expect? The biggest cause of fear is the lack of information. Surgery can be terrifying, especially for a child who doesn't really understand what is going on. The best way to deal with this fear, whether it is your fear or your child's, is with information. It will help if you are very clear about what is going to happen, how you can be expected to feel, and what you will feel like after the surgery. The surgery itself is done as an outpatient procedure, meaning that you should be able to go home the same day. You will be under general anesthesia so you won't feel any pain during the procedure, when the surgeon will use a scalpel or specialized tool (which uses heat or high energy sound waves) to remove your tonsils (and possibly your adenoids as well). It's after you wake up that the real fun begins; this is the part you are probably most apprehensive of. Most people experience pain and discomfort in the throat. You may also experience pain in the neck, jaw, or ears. You may be prescribed antibiotics to fend off post-surgery infection or pain relievers, and it is important to take these as directed. You can help yourself feel better by drinking plenty of clear fluids. Water, ice pops, and Jell-o will become staples of your diet. Limit food to those that are bland - fun, we know - and easy to swallow, like apple sauce or broth. After 24 hours, you can add ice cream...see, it does get better. Plan on taking several days to rest. This is good, old-fashioned bed rest; no cleaning, no laundry, no dishes, no playing with the children. When you feel ready, you can resume mild activity, but take it slow so you don't overwhelm your body. During this time, keep on the watch for fever, bleeding, dehydration, and difficulty breathing. Any of these warning signs warrant a call or trip to your doctor. When you can sleep through the night, go without pain medication, and eat a normal diet, you can return to work (or you child can return to school). Maybe it's not the fear of surgery you're feeling, but the fear of the surgery's price tag. Insurance will typically cover the cost of a tonsillectomy, leaving you with your co-pay. If you are self-paying, plan on shelling out between $4100 and $6400. This should include your pre-surgery visit, hospital admission, anesthesia, and removal of the tonsils. Also plan on paying (or paying your co-pay) for antibiotics and pain medication. Another associated cost is the time you'll miss from work. Plan on at least a week or two of leave. Do you need to have your tonsils removed? It may be the best treatment option for you. If so, learn as much as you can so you can be prepared for surgery and its outcomes..
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