You Might Need A Tonsillectomy If…
A tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgeries performed on children, but there are also adults that could benefit from the procedure. Despite your age, having your tonsils removed can prevent recurring sore throats or tonsillitis. How do you know if a tonsillectomy is the right treatment for you? Of course, you will want to discuss the matter with your doctor, but there are several signs that can help you recognize if this might be the right option for you.
You Have Chronic Tonsillitis Pain
Tonsillitis occurs when your tonsils are inflamed and infected. If you get tonsillitis often, you will usually have a fever along with a sore throat that makes it painful to swallow. The fever will also make you feel weak. Tonsillitis is often treated with antibiotics, but if you get it often, it can be a chronic condition that is better treated with a tonsillectomy. If you have five or more infections in one year, you have a chronic condition that needs to be evaluated to see if removing your tonsils is the best option.
You Have Antibiotic Issues
If the infections do not respond to antibiotics, or if you are allergic to the antibiotics that are generally used for inflamed tonsils, then removing them might be the best option for you. You won’t have to worry about further inflammation or medication issues in the future.
You Have Enlarged Tonsil Problems
If your tonsils are enlarged, you could have trouble swallowing and you could also have sleep apnea, where you stop breathing when you sleep. The tonsils can be removed to help treat the condition and take the obstruction out of your throat. Tonsillectomy will more likely cure sleep apnea completely in children than in adults, but it is a good start even for adults.
There Are Abnormal Growths In The Area
Tonsil cancer is on the rise today and if you have a growth on your tonsils, you might need a tonsillectomy to rule out cancer as the cause. If there is a mass on the tonsils or chronic pain on one side that leads to asymmetry or trouble swallowing, a tonsillectomy is a good choice. If there is any cause for concern, the tonsils would be removed instead of doing a biopsy.
See Your Doctor For Advice On A Tonsillectomy
Sore throats are not uncommon, so it can be hard to know when you need to see the ENT doctors at Breathe Clear Institute about a possible tonsillectomy. If you have pain on just one side of the throat and it is hard to swallow, fevers, as well as recurring sore throats, you will want to come into the Breathe Clear Institute. Also, watch for swollen lymph nodes and a white or yellow coating on the tonsils. When in doubt, come see us and we’ll do a thorough examination and provide recommendations for you.