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TONSILLECTOMY - How does this affect the immune system

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/20/2014 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
I was just wondering how and if a tonsillectomy affects the immune system? Does it send it into overdrive.
I had mine removed when I was 19. This was something I was thinking about when my younger daughter was referred for a tonsillectomy, which made me wonder if removing her tonsils would affect her down the track, resulting in UC.

Has anyone else had their tonsils removed prior to UC (anytime prior)?

Just a thought ??
Posted 10/20/2014 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
Never heard that before but antibiotic use is strongly connected to many uc cases.
Posted 10/20/2014 2:17 AM (GMT 0)
The strange thing is that both my daughter were referred for a tonsillectomy due to tonsil stones (the white/yellow smelly gunk). Neither of us had antibiotics for this reason.

I am holding off her tonsillectomy at the moment as she is experiencing chest pains and a racing heart.
I think her tonsillectomy can wait.
Posted 10/20/2014 2:50 AM (GMT 0)
Naaah, you already passed on a "possible" immunity disorder to her.
Posted 10/20/2014 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
If I had my tonsillectomy sooner, and did not have so much antibiotics, I think I wouldn't have gotten UC.

You should also think about that. The longer you wait, your daughter may be forced on more antibiotics.
Posted 10/20/2014 9:36 AM (GMT 0)
still have my tonsils and uc
Posted 10/20/2014 10:43 AM (GMT 0)
I had my tonsils out when I was 18 and diagnosed with UC when I was 24 (though symptoms starting when I was about 21).
Never though about there being a correlation besides the amount of antibiotics I was on for tonsillitis up until I had them out!
Posted 10/20/2014 12:03 PM (GMT 0)
I had my tonsils out when I was 30 (yeah, absolutely NO fun as an adult!) and I already had UC at that point. But what I found out is that by removing my tonsils that I actually got sick less.

The tonsils are basically filters. If they stop working right, it leaves you more prone to infections like strep throat, tonsillitis etc. but if the tonsillectomy is solely for tonsil stones, the tonsils are still working so why take them out?

Btw, it is thought that UC can be hereditary so if that's the case, your daughter has the chance of getting UC because you already have it. And there can be various triggers to activate it but I've never heard of a tonsillectomy being one of those causes.
Posted 10/20/2014 12:11 PM (GMT 0)
I had my tonsils taken out when I was five, because if I wasn't on penicillin, I had raging strep throat. I didn't develop UC until I was 30. If anything, being on abx so much as a young child contributed to my UC, not having my tonsils removed.
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