A male asked:
Tonsils i am 51, in good health however the winter months i suffer from severe sore throats, ear aches. my lymph nodes/tonsils swell excessively. i was told by an er doc a few years ago that i should have my tonsils removed. i have been experiencing muc
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Joseph Jeuanswered
Family Medicine 46 years experience
Patients : Patients with recurrent chronic tonsillitis often benefit from a tonsillectomy. They often then have less throat infections.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Tal Dagananswered
Facial Plastic Surgery 26 years experience
The : The decision to remove your tonsils is not trivial and should never be taken lightly. The fact that an emergency room doctor talked to you about taking out your tonsils doesn't necessarily mean that this surgery is indicated. It is important to first establish your sore throats consistently are due to tonsil infections, how frequent those tonsil infections are, whether they are due to streptococcal infection, whether the tonsils are chronically enlarged or carry bacteria within them and what kind of complications you may have had from tonsil infections in the past. Although tonsillectomy is a routine surgical procedure, it is weighed on a case by case basis in order to avoid surgery that may not achieve the desired result - in your case no more sore throats.
I suggest visiting with your ear nos and throat doctor to ensure that your tonsils are examined, a throat culture is possibly obtained, and a more comprehensive medical history is taken. It is also helpful to be seen by the ear nose and throat doctor during an active sore throat which allows the physician to appreciate the type of physical findings present.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Oct 4, 2016
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