I had my tonsils out when I was 5 years old and was skinny as a rail when I went into the hospital. By the time I was 9 I weighed about 100 pounds. i looked like I was 9 months pregnant. I have had to fight weight all my life.
I gave up the fight in my 40's and now I'm severly overweight.
I also know I don't eat as much as alot of people my age.
I gave up the fight in my 40's and now I'm severly overweight.
I also know I don't eat as much as alot of people my age.
Mu son had his tonsils taken out when he was 5 and at that time he was a very healthy looking and was in the 40th percentile in weight. He is now 8 and is 93 pounds and is in the 94th percentile in weight. He is a very active child and eats like any normal child his age. He does sleep better and is doesn't get sick nearly as often now, but I'm very concerned over his rapid weight gain. We have yet to address this concern with our doctor, but we are planning on it soon. I believe too that there might be something happening with the thyroid after his surgery. It's the only conclusion I can come up with.
Just curious here - what is the plan of treatment for this?
Is it working?
Thanks!
Is it working?
Thanks!
Wow! I love these boards. I just made the connection this weekend and figured I would look it up on a medical board like this. I've just recently been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and I've been suffering from weight gain over the past two years.
Anyhow, my daughter was 6 when she had her tonsils and adenoids removed. Since then she has gained about 30 pounds. Prior to the surgery she was very thin and had the deep circles under her eyes, ate healthy and plenty of it. After her surgery, no activities changed, still doing soccer, playing outside, etc. I brought her to the dr. in Nov. due to gaining 20 pounds in one year. They told me to watch what she eats, but that they didn't see any reason for a blood test or anything. Reminded her to eat healthy and get plenty of exercise. She never sits still... she's very active. Anyhow, my sister ( a breast cancer survivor), told me about women that have gone through radiation and now have problems with their thyroid. Which led me to start thinking about surgery and led to my daughter's current situation.
I'm glad (sort of...) to see that others are concerned about this as well and have seen some sort of correlation with weight gain and tonsilectomy. 8-|
Anyhow, my daughter was 6 when she had her tonsils and adenoids removed. Since then she has gained about 30 pounds. Prior to the surgery she was very thin and had the deep circles under her eyes, ate healthy and plenty of it. After her surgery, no activities changed, still doing soccer, playing outside, etc. I brought her to the dr. in Nov. due to gaining 20 pounds in one year. They told me to watch what she eats, but that they didn't see any reason for a blood test or anything. Reminded her to eat healthy and get plenty of exercise. She never sits still... she's very active. Anyhow, my sister ( a breast cancer survivor), told me about women that have gone through radiation and now have problems with their thyroid. Which led me to start thinking about surgery and led to my daughter's current situation.
I'm glad (sort of...) to see that others are concerned about this as well and have seen some sort of correlation with weight gain and tonsilectomy. 8-|
^ What kind of problems with your thyroid do radiation treatments give?
Some people gain weight and have thryoid problems after surgery and some don't. I've known people with both scenarios and I can only conclude that this is either due to luck or the surgeon's skill. If the thyriod gland is so close to the tonsils, it is no wonder that it would be affected by the complete removal of the tonsils.
I was wondering though, there is a new treatment out that shrinks the tonsils with radio-frequency called somnoplasty. What do you guys think of it? Do you think that it would still disrupt the thyroid gland? And do you think that the radiation from would cause thyroid problems?
Some people gain weight and have thryoid problems after surgery and some don't. I've known people with both scenarios and I can only conclude that this is either due to luck or the surgeon's skill. If the thyriod gland is so close to the tonsils, it is no wonder that it would be affected by the complete removal of the tonsils.
I was wondering though, there is a new treatment out that shrinks the tonsils with radio-frequency called somnoplasty. What do you guys think of it? Do you think that it would still disrupt the thyroid gland? And do you think that the radiation from would cause thyroid problems?
My 8 year old daughter had her tonsils out a month ago. She has always been very lean and somewhat of a picky eater...now she is eating almost nonstop. Her clothes are getting tight and it is almost like she can't get filled up. I just think it has to be related, she had some complications after surgery and went back to hosptial for 2 days. She barely ate or drank the first day or so but once she found out she could, she has not stopped to the point even my husband has noticed.
I am so glad I've found this post. I've been trying to prove to too many doctors about weight gain after tonsillectomy and not single one said it is related. Well, this happens to me and my 3 year old. I had tonsillectomy when I was 5 and after that starts to gain weight quickly. I cannot stop eating and am hungry all the time. I am 33 years old now and has been on all the diet on the market with no luck. My 3 year old son was born premature (10 weeks early) and he was always under the weight chart. After he had the surgery, he started eating non stop too. He has gain so much that right now his weight percentile is 60%...from 3% jump to 60% is a short period of time is not right. The doctor said may be he can eat more but the problem his his tonsils were not big but he had apnea that was why he needed the surgery.
I hope one day I will find one doctor that is willing to collect the data, so others does not have to go through it like us.
I hope one day I will find one doctor that is willing to collect the data, so others does not have to go through it like us.
I have a 9 year old who was very thin when he got his tonsils out at the age of 6....since then he has "blossomed" tremendously.
He is almost 95 pounds and gaining! He was thin as a rail before this operation, and my doctor also has never heard of any connection between the two. His thyroid was checked last month and came back normal. It breaks my heart to think that this may carry with him for the rest of his life. My husband and I are both thin built and never had a weight problem, so it is even harder on my son.
I just wish someone could come out with an answer as to how to reverse this....it's absolutely heart breaking to see my son going thru this!
He is almost 95 pounds and gaining! He was thin as a rail before this operation, and my doctor also has never heard of any connection between the two. His thyroid was checked last month and came back normal. It breaks my heart to think that this may carry with him for the rest of his life. My husband and I are both thin built and never had a weight problem, so it is even harder on my son.
I just wish someone could come out with an answer as to how to reverse this....it's absolutely heart breaking to see my son going thru this!
I'm not sure if it's was even a thyroid issue--it sounds to me like perhaps he was able to grow in size because being unable to eat while having his tonsils in prevented growth. Does that make sense or sound plausible?
I can't see that this is the answer. For example...my son went to a babysitter for the summer who was very strict on the food consumption for all the kids, lunch and one small snack. Also at this time my son was going to Tae Kwon Do 4 days a week and also taking part in summer baseball. Needless to say he is very active and had limited calorie intake...yet still continued to gain weight.
We make sure his snacks are pretzles, goldfish, ect. and I cannot even imagine if I let him eat pizza and cookies everyday where his weight would be!
His appetite was healthy before he had his tonsils out...so I really can't attribute it just to "he's eating more now".
There has to be some kind of real medical reason for all these posts.
We make sure his snacks are pretzles, goldfish, ect. and I cannot even imagine if I let him eat pizza and cookies everyday where his weight would be!
His appetite was healthy before he had his tonsils out...so I really can't attribute it just to "he's eating more now".
There has to be some kind of real medical reason for all these posts.
I can relate. I have an 8 year old son who had a tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy at age 5. He was always very slim until a few months after his surgery. We have struggled with his weight tremendously; he gained 20lbs just in the last year. We do not allow fast food in our diets he does not eat hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, we limit carbs (pasta, mac and cheese) and sweets are rare, maybe a cookie or 1 scoop of ice cream over the course of a week. My husband and I have never had weight issues and were slender throughout childhood. We have been to a nutritionist and journal his daily meals and she can't seem to be able to explain the weight gain either. He is involved with team sports, football in fall, and baseball in summer, soccer in spring and swimming all year.
I am heavily frustrated because doctors continue to tell me to improve his diet and make sure he gets more exercise, what more can I do????
I am genuinely concerned because I know as he gets to be a teen he won't want to stick to the strict diet we have him on. Kids can be mean as they get into third grade on up and even some coaches treat him different because of his size, which breaks my heart. I know, things could be worse and I am truly greatful for my son being in great health otherwise.
I read an article at the following link showing a study relating tonsillectomies to weight gain:
Not sure what to think but I HIGHLY recommend second opinions and other options to tonsillectomies after what my son has been through...I feel like his childhood have been limited. I hope doctors prepare patients and families of what to expect as a result of tonsillectomies.
I am heavily frustrated because doctors continue to tell me to improve his diet and make sure he gets more exercise, what more can I do????
I am genuinely concerned because I know as he gets to be a teen he won't want to stick to the strict diet we have him on. Kids can be mean as they get into third grade on up and even some coaches treat him different because of his size, which breaks my heart. I know, things could be worse and I am truly greatful for my son being in great health otherwise.
I read an article at the following link showing a study relating tonsillectomies to weight gain:
Not sure what to think but I HIGHLY recommend second opinions and other options to tonsillectomies after what my son has been through...I feel like his childhood have been limited. I hope doctors prepare patients and families of what to expect as a result of tonsillectomies.
I have hypothyroidism. I am not huge, but I did always have a little extra until it was diagnosed. Blaming getting fat on a thyroid condition is a cop out. The diagnosis is a simple run of the mill blood test -T3 & T4- it's probably the first thing a doctor would check and it's also always checked yearly during the physical. So take another look at what your sons are eating and maybe it's not a thyroid problem but just the simple fact that their getting older and gearing up for puberty.
This also happened to my son!!! he use to be thin, and when he had this surgery he gained a lot of weight. He is now considered obese, this only took about 7 months. I am really mad, that no one warned about this. I hope I didn't ruin his life
Hello,
I have just had my tonislls out myself and did a lot of research beforehand to see the costs/benefits of such surgery.
It is true that there is a corrolation between childhood tonsillectomies and weight gain. The theory is that it doesn't have anything to do with the thyroid but is a result of the body desparately trying to "catch up" the lost growth that has not been allowed to happen over the last years due to bacterial infections.
A second theory is (and having had my tonsils out I can also believe this) is that the food tastes better after the surgery than before. WIth constant bactiria in the tonsils and tonsil stones etc, your mouth really does not taste good and so food is not particually interesting to kids as it tastes odd. After the tonsillectomy I have lost that funkey taste in my mouth and enjoy food more than before.
So...You are not going crazy. I would advise that you keep a close eye on your childrens' diet and make sure thy are not eating sugary or fatty foods. Drinks such as gatorade, coke/pepsi (even diet), sprite,and juices contain a LOT of sugars (fruit sugar in juices also pack on the weight) in them and your child should drink these in moderation (ie one glass a day).
Try weighing the portions that you give your kids....sometimes food packaging can be very missleading with a pizza in a box actually being enough for 2 adults if you read the portion sizing. And exercise is important too of course.
Best of luck...
***edited by moderator*** web addresses not allowed
I have just had my tonislls out myself and did a lot of research beforehand to see the costs/benefits of such surgery.
It is true that there is a corrolation between childhood tonsillectomies and weight gain. The theory is that it doesn't have anything to do with the thyroid but is a result of the body desparately trying to "catch up" the lost growth that has not been allowed to happen over the last years due to bacterial infections.
A second theory is (and having had my tonsils out I can also believe this) is that the food tastes better after the surgery than before. WIth constant bactiria in the tonsils and tonsil stones etc, your mouth really does not taste good and so food is not particually interesting to kids as it tastes odd. After the tonsillectomy I have lost that funkey taste in my mouth and enjoy food more than before.
So...You are not going crazy. I would advise that you keep a close eye on your childrens' diet and make sure thy are not eating sugary or fatty foods. Drinks such as gatorade, coke/pepsi (even diet), sprite,and juices contain a LOT of sugars (fruit sugar in juices also pack on the weight) in them and your child should drink these in moderation (ie one glass a day).
Try weighing the portions that you give your kids....sometimes food packaging can be very missleading with a pizza in a box actually being enough for 2 adults if you read the portion sizing. And exercise is important too of course.
Best of luck...
***edited by moderator*** web addresses not allowed
Same issue here. My son has gained 18 pounds since he had his tonsils removed a year ago. Has anyone had a Dr. actually confirm this? Every Doctor we talk to says it coudnt be the related to his tonsil removal but ther sure seems to be a correlation here. If anyone has any updated information please email me at ***this post is edited by moderator *** *** private e-mails not allowed **
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