Conference moira::parenting_v3

    Karen,  Talking from experience, I was pleged with Strep most of my
    life and finally had my tonsils out when I was 25, was out of work for
    a little more than 2 weeks, They took both tonsils and adnois out,
    because I suffer from acute sinus ittis also.  So taking my adnois out
    helped me alot.  I havn't had a bout of strep since then and I am 31
    years old.  So I would suggest having your son's tonsils out.  Maybe
    they can do it when you are planning to take a vacation.
    
    
    Liz

    I had problems with strep throat and tonsilitis (sp) often enough
    when I was younger that I had my tonsils out when I was 10.
    I still suffered from strep throat just as much as before I had
    them out.
    

    Good questions without any good answers ...
    
    Having had numerous bouts of infected tonsils a couple years ago, I
    can say that it is important to make sure that the infection really
    has been cleared, especially with grossly large tonsils -- getting
    the right antibiotic helps.  My dr won't prescribe the same one more
    than twice on the grounds that if it didn't do a full job twice, it
    probably won't a third time either, so try something different.
    
    Another useful thing to check for is any other infectin source in the
    mouth, like tooth cavities.  About 10 years ago, I went through bad
    bouts of tonsilitis and discovered that after having a couple of
    teeth fixed, the tonsilitis went away.
    
    How long out of school ... maybe 1-2-3 days ... tonsillectomy is
    done as day surgery now in many hospitals ... in in the morning
    out in the afternoon when everything is stable.  I remember my
    brother back in about '63 having his out in day surgery, and when
    he finally shook off the groginess he felt hungry ... offered ice
    cream ... no ... he wanted PEANUTS! (Suffice it to say what he wanted
    and what he got were two different things!) He was out of school for 2 
    days only.
    
    Stuart
    
    

    Another thing to make sure is under control: allergies. Allergic 
    swelling in ear and nose passages can also cause tonsils to swell
    and not drain and then get infected.  
    
    When Kat used to get tonsillitis, we found that having her gargle
    with warm salt water made them heal faster and get infected less
    often.  They cleared up when she was about six.
    
    I personally would hesitate to have them removed now if this is
    the first bout of infection he's had. 
    
    --bonnie

    
    
    My son was six years old when we had his taken out.
    
    Reasons for it. 
    Missed so much school that he almost did not pass. 
    Had strip throat (sp) 5 times within 6 mos.
    Was given three types of of medince (sp) none work.
    My wife and I became experts on it, because we could tell before
    he started to get strip throat(sp).
    Missed Zero days of school for operation because we did it during
    the summer.
    Went in early for operation spent the night came out next day.
    Was one of the meanest kids you'd ever meet when they first came out,
    for two weeks. 
    
    Good news:
    Is now a very nice little boy.
    Has missed two days of school this year.
    My wife and I have quit looking down his throat ever other day.
    Has had no strip at all this year.
    
    Conculsion:
    
    If my little girl has the same problem my wife and I will not waste
    any sleep about getting it done to her.

    My daughter, Sarah, had her tonsils and adnoids out last sept when she
    was 2-1/2yrs old, after being sick most of the spring and summer with
    tonsillitis.  She would get off of the medicine and it would be back
    within 1 to 2 weeks.  After spending the previous winter with hundreds
    of ear infections and getting tubes for the 2nd time, we were not about
    to go thru another winter with tonsillitis - so out they came.
    
    She went to the hospital in the early morning and was out by 8:30PM the
    same day.  Her doctor said that having tonsils and adnoids out were not
    the same as having tubes put in the ears, which I had expected it would
    be.  He said that it would be a full 10 days recovery and he was right.
    For 10 FULL days she was miserable.  She wouldn't eat or drink and
    we were afraid of dehyration.  She wanted to be held most if not all
    of the time.  If she feel asleep in my arms, I would try and put her
    down, but she'd wake up - it was awful - for everyone....
    
    But on the 11th day, it was like nothing ever happened to her - she was
    herself again and healthy.  She stayed pretty healthy thru this past
    winter with no ear infections (still has the tubes in) and no throat
    infections, except one (just this past monday, in fact).
    
    We're glad we had her tonsils and adnoids removed even though her 
    recovery was long and painful, it's the best thing in the long run.
    
    /debbie

    My 4 year old had his adnoids and tonsils out in Feb.  His adnoids
    because they were big and affecting his breathing and speech.  His
    tonsils because they were so big and they were removing his adnoids,
    they might as well remove tonsils.  John hadn't had any real history of
    sore throats but he had the tendency to choke alot.
    
    Well, the Dr. said that he'd be miserable for 10 days and also said
    give him whatever he wants to eat.  He may not eat eat, but at least
    let him try.  Well, he was operated on at 11:15 a.m. and at 4:30 he was
    eating dorito's!  Didn't eat a lot but mostly he did a lot of drinking
    of juice.  (He loves to drink water and juice and milk too anyway.)  He
    did wake during the night crying for two nights but a little tylenol
    helped.  John tends to be a "trooper" anyway.  But he really wasn't
    "miserable" as I thought he would be when he woke in recovery.  
    
    We are glad we did it.  He doesn't choke and we don't have that fear
    anymore, plus he can eat without sounding in distress like when you
    have a cold.  He is also talking better.
    
    Good luck. Remember, the little ones bounce back faster than us big
    ones.
    
    

    My daughter had strep throat every three weeks for 5 months and finally
    I went to see a specialist and he recommended taking her tonsils and
    adnoids out. Believe me it was the best things that could of happen.
    She was also 5 years old when they removed them and this month will
    be 1 year since. She has had 1 cold and I didn't end up at the doctors
    like I had always before this. She had it done on a Monday morning and
    we took her home at 7:30 the same day. She vomitted for 3 days after
    and kept nothing down but after speaking with the doctor we turned
    things around and she starting drinking and eating. She returned to
    the daycare Monday morning the following week. I can't start to tell
    you how great it is to see her healthy. She had had problems from 10
    months on starting with tubes in the ears, tonsolitis and finally
    strep throat every three weeks. 
    
    It wasn't a fun recovery but it was all worth it. She's healthy
    and has not missed school and I haven't had to miss work like I
    did before.
    
    Good luck in your decision
    
    PS
    

Well we have seen the specialist/surgeon.  He did recommend a tonsillectory 
because they are so enlarged.  He suspects that the anenoids would also be
enlarged.  My son snores and since this last bout, I think his voice has 
changed - he sounds like he is straining to talk.  My husband and I have 
decided to wait until August (after his birthday and when I have a little
bit more vacation time accrued) and see if his tonsils are still enlarged.
If so, I think we'll have it done.  

thanks for everyone's input.  There were some issues we hadn't considered -
like allergies (doesn't seem to be a problem) and dental care (I'm fanatical
about dental care so he very regularly visits the dentist).  I did mention
those possibilities to the ENT when we met.

Karen