Adult tonsillectomy and turbinate reduction - worth it? Skip the tonsillectomy?

[mrrossi]

Hi all

Posting on behalf of my wife (38). She's booked in for a tonsillectomy and turbinate reduction and she's absolutely terrified of the pain and the recovery time. The max time she can get off work is 2 weeks and it sounds like recovery could be longer; she hates her job as it is (I won't say what it is for anonymity, but it's brutal, and the management are bullies - we are looking at a change of job and/or career, but that's another topic & not so easily addressed!). She'd be scheduled to give a verbal presentation too the first day back.

Thing is, the reason she's having the op is due to sneezing fits (often in the middle of the night, so they affect sleeping). All the research we've done suggest turbinate reduction usually does help (related to allergies; she is sensitive to dust and animal hair). However, that doesn't seem to be the case with the tonsillectomy; if anything, some research suggests it can CAUSE more sneezing!

The doctor had suggested removing them as they are huge and he did say it "could" help with sneezing too, but I feel it was a bit of an offhand remark and more of a "let's rip 'em out while we're in there" kinda comment!!

Note: she does NOT get tonsillitis.

So, our question is: why suffer the pain and long recovery of a tonsillectomy if she doesn't really need them removing?? Can't we just say "do the turbinate reduction" ONLY (it's private healthcare through my work, so surely we can ask??) and leave the tonsils in, if that's the main cause of the sneezing issue.

The recovery for that seems nowhere near as bad (long term recovery can be longer but she'd be back at work ok and the pain levels sound much more manageable)

Thoughts/opinions?

Thanks all

x

[Dolphin14]

mrrossi

Have you considered a second opinion?

🐬

[hedgehogan]

Your wife should be able to choose what she is comfortable doing especially given this is done privately. They can make a recommendation but they can't force you to take it