Tonsillitis and antibiotics

[monkeytoes]

I've been getting tonsillitis on and off for about 6 months. Each time I've gone to to GP and have been given antibiotics. In the past I have wanted the antibiotics as I had a baby and toddler and we were sleep deprived etc and I just wanted a quick fix. This time I am no longer sleep deprived, am feeling stronger and I would rather avoid taking more antibiotics (I've had 8 courses in 9 months, 4 for tonsillitis and 4 for C/S scar infection).

Does anyone know do you have to have antibiotics for tonsilitis or will my body fight it off? And at what point do they suggest removing your tonsils?

[Izy]

I tried the whole avoiding antibiotics thing... Meant I had to take 3 courses in a row and 2 weeks off work

Definitely get into the natural remedies to try and avoid it, but once you have the heavy infection your body is past the point of fixing itself IYKWIM.

As for when do they suggest removal... well it depends on your Dr.

I had chronic tonsilitis, and I got to a point where I would only have a week between antibiotic scripts, so I asked my Dr for a referal.

He hates the whole idea of removal of tonsils as he believes it's the bodies first line of defence, which it is. But if you get to the point that you have chronic tonsilitis, that first line of defence is actually harbouring more problems. You don't actually get rid of the infection anymore, it just gets undercontrol for a little while.

Having my tonsils out was the best thing I ever did. I had them out in August and I won't pretend it was simple recovery. The pain was so intense and unrelenting that at one point I chose to stop breathing (didn't last long. DH looked at me so I started again). But I have my life back! And so many things have improved. My sinuses, my throat, my allergies, my energy, my concentration and my moods!

[sam's mum]

we were up at the emergency room on Christmas Eve with DH with his tonsils. The ER doctor told us that antibiotics are good at stopping the infection spreading from the tonsils, but no so good at helping the tonsils. the most important thing (so he said) was to keep eating, especially rougher foods, that will scrape the tonsils clean so it can heal. So that you can eat, you need to make sure that you manage the pain.

good luck!

[TeenyT]

Gargling with salt water at the first sign of a sore throat can sometimes help avoid it going further. Strep bacteria hate salt. Once its kicked in try mashing a Panadol up in some honey for relief but as Izy said, once it has turned to full blown tonsillitis, you need to consider the course of ABs.

[Tam-I-Am]

Have you tried any of the natural antibiotic preparations? Ie Olive Leaf Extract and/or Grapeseed Extract? They're both gentler in that they don't harm gut flora the same way that chemical antibiotics do (which is the main issue - they kill off all the good bacteria as well as the bad bacteria!) Olive Leaf Extract in particular can be taken daily as a preventative and general health tonic.....I don't think it would 'cure' a case of tonsilitis, but it will help with recovery time and help prevent it in the future...

[lovingmotheract]

i had this years ago every months so as soon as i got off my med's it would start back up again i hated it and my gp said after 7months of doing this she sent me off to get them out.
but i was on the waiting list for over 2 3 years and just gave up as it was to long to wait and i stopped working full time as that is what made get it all the time.

i would ask your gp if you could got them out.

[Lastcenturymum]

I'm a big fan of the Olive Leaf Extract too! I'm living on it! (just had to have ab's though last week)-so far haven't got the usual side effects with probiotics.

Have you considered seeing a naturopath to get your immune system some support?

DD2 had tonsillitis for over a year and far too many antibiotics..after she had them out she ended up off yeast/sugar/wheat/diary to try and sort her system out.