Removing your adenoids does slightly weaken the immune system, but removing your adenoids does not weaken your immune system significantly, as other parts of your immune system will take over.
Your body has other immune tissues like your lymph nodes and tonsils that learn to recognize germs and produce antibodies and the remaining lymphoid tissue can take over the function, and immune markers often also return to normal levels over time.
After your adenoids are removed, what happens is that you often experience some temporary discomfort including ear pain, bad breath, sore throat, voice changes and stuffy nose as the area where the adenoids were heals.
Healing after adenoids are removed often takes 1 to 2 weeks.
Although the worst pain after the adenoids are removed should go away within the first 2 days after the adenoids are removed.
The surgery to remove the adenoids also improves your breathing issues like sleep apnea and snoring long term.
During recovery after adenoid removal surgery, you need to manage the pain properly and stay hydrated for a smoother recovery.
Your immune function is also minimally affected after adenoid removal, but you should also monitor for any severe bleeding or dehydration.
The common symptoms during the first 1 to 2 weeks during recovery after adenoid removal includes.
Nausea and or vomiting within the first 24 hours, fatigue, small specks of blood in your mucus or saliva.
A low grade fever up to 101.5 F can happen and is normal during recovery of adenoid removal.
Voice changes like a muffled or nasal or higher pitched voice can also occur after adenoid removal, although it usually resolves itself within a few weeks.
You may also have a stuffy nose, runny nose or even an increase in congestion as the area where the adenoids were removed heals.
And a sore throat, ear pain, "referred pain" and neck soreness are also common during the recovery of adenoid removal surgery.
To manage pain after adenoids are removed, give or take pain medication as prescribed, even if you or the person seems fine, which prevents spikes in pain.
And drink or give plenty of fluids, like water and clear liquids to avoid dehydration and if you or someone has darker urine it's a sign that you need to drink more water and fluids.
After your adenoids are removed you want to eat soft foods initially, although chewing is still encouraged as your appetite returns, but avoid spicy, crunchy or acidic foods, which can irritate your throat.
And rest and stay home from school or work for a few days to a week after the adenoid removal and avoid crowded places to prevent an infection and avoid swimming or strenuous activity for around 2 weeks after your adenoids have been removed to prevent infection.
Removing your adenoids does not weaken your immune system significantly, as other parts of your immune system will take over.
The main benefit of removing adenoids are to improve breathing, improve sleep and reduce ear infections.
If you notice any bright red blood from the nose or mouth or blood clots, have difficulty breathing, have signs of dehydration like no tears or sunken eyes and no urine for 8 or more hours or have a high fever of over 102 F that does not respond to medication you should seek immediate medical care.