| Although many people have had their tonsils | | | | Due to the success of antibiotics, surgery is no |
| removed or know somebody who has, not | | | | longer the standard treatment like it was many |
| everybody knows exactly what the tonsils do. | | | | years ago. If you leave the tonsils alone, they |
| The nurse wearing women's scrubs can tell you all | | | | may eventually shrink on their own. If you get |
| about the procedure when you go see her at | | | | tonsillitis often or your swollen tonsils make it hard |
| your local doctor's office. | | | | to breathe or swallow the doctor wearing scrub |
| Tonsils are lumps of tissue that are located on | | | | jackets will most likely recommend that you |
| either side of the back of the throat. They trap | | | | receive a tonsillectomy. If you don't get your |
| bacteria and viruses that are entering the throat | | | | swollen tonsils removed you could find yourself |
| and help to fight infections. If you need to have a | | | | with obstructive sleep apnea. This is a condition |
| tonsillectomy, that means that you need to have | | | | that causes you to stop breathing during your |
| your tonsils removed. You will need to have a | | | | sleep. |
| tonsillectomy if you have tonsillitis. Tonsillitis is | | | | If you need a tonsillectomy, your doctor will place |
| what happens when tonsils become infected by | | | | you under general anesthesia to begin the |
| the bacteria or viruses. When they become | | | | procedure. The surgeon will then remove your |
| infected, the tonsils become red and swollen or | | | | tonsils through the mouth without making a cut |
| they may have a white or yellow coating on | | | | on the skin. After the tonsils are removed you will |
| them. Sore throat, pain or discomfort when | | | | be taken to recovery. Most people are only in the |
| swallowing, fever, raspy white, swollen glands in | | | | hospital for a total of five to ten hours, but some |
| the neck are all other symptoms of tonsillitis. If | | | | extreme cases will require an overnight stay at |
| you are experiencing any of these symptoms | | | | the hospital. After the tonsillectomy, your throat |
| you need to see your doctor as soon as possible. | | | | will be extremely sore and sensitive. Eating things |
| Your nurse wearing sale scrubs will run some | | | | like popsicles, ice cream, pudding and plenty of |
| tests to determine whether you have tonsillitis or | | | | fruit juice will go down the easiest. It could take |
| if your tonsils are just normally large. | | | | up to a week or more to fully recover from your |
| If you do find out that you have tonsillitis, you | | | | procedure. |
| may not actually have to have a tonsillectomy. | | | | |