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I have yellow hard clumps that come out of the back of my throat that smell horrible. This happens about 4 or 5 days a week. This condition has troubled me for many of my thirty one years of my life, and has caused me much trepidation engaging in in-person conversations due to the foul smell of these things. From researching on the web and this site I have found the name, tonsilloliths, that applies to this condition. I had asked doctors for years what this was, even an otolaryngologist, but they basically shrugged their shoulders. Anyhow, I found out from some research that these "stones" are from bacteria, food debris and mucosal skin shedding accumulating in the crypts of the tonsills and then being coughed or spit out. When I finally found out what these horrible smelling clumps were I thought I finally had a possible solution, though not a perfect one. I thought if I had my tonsills removed I would no longer have these clumps; that's when my mother told me that she has a similar condition but it is not coming from her tonsills as they have atrophied. It is coming from her eustachian tube that drains from the ear into the mouth. The reason this troubles me is that removing the tonsills will not necessarily stop these foul formations :( Also I worry that if my tonsills are possibly catching possible infections, what happens when they are not there to "catch" these infections. Will the infections occur in the next gland further inside of my body?
thanks for any information or thoughts on this matter.
tidal-wave@prodigy.net
In Reply to: tonsilloliths - smelly clumps coming out of my throat posted by Yvonne Dawson on March 03, 2002 at 22:51:53:
I got to wondering about what you said, and started looking myself. Go here and let me know what you think.
Walking In The Light,
Gregory
In Reply to: tonsilloliths - smelly clumps coming out of my throat posted by Yvonne Dawson on March 03, 2002 at 22:51:53:
I get these too, or started noticing them at least 3-4 years ago (I'm 29 now). I had mentioned them to my primary care doctor and also, I think, my dentist -- but not knowing these were an actual medical phenomenon, whatever I said ("Well, see, I cough up these little white things and they smell bad...") apparently didn't ring any bells. After I found the term "tonsil stones" on the Web one day and read several articles, I felt SO relieved... then at the next dentist visit I mentioned them to my hygienist and she went, "Oh, those, sure, we learned about them in school..."
The stones are not themselves indicative of infection; it's just that your tonsils have some little crevices in them and stuff gets trapped in there and decays... that's what stinks. (I suspect the tonsils go on to secrete something around the foreign material and that's what makes the stones white and waxy, but I don't know anything about the physiology of it.)
As you probably know, the stones appear first as white spots on the tonsils before they get dislodged. So, my dental hygienist did say that people often can scrape these spots out -- GENTLY! try it with a Q-tip! -- as a cleaning process, to dislodge the stones, and it should be safe. She also said routinely brushing the back of the tongue, if you can manage it, and gargling (even with plain water) will help keep things cleaner. Once every couple of days I rinse with hydrogen peroxide before brushing, and I find that if I gargle a little with that, it often brings out a stone shortly thereafter, so that's something to consider.
I guess my case is milder than yours -- usually only one every week or two -- but the basic principles are probably the same. From what I've read, the admittedly nasty smell of the stones really is *not* reflected in one's breath so please don't fret over that!
But please, please do NOT look to removing the tonsils as a way to prevent the stones; that is just looking to make your problems much worse, as you can guess.
hang in there!
-- Erica
In Reply to: Re: tonsilloliths - I found this page. It would seem all is not lost posted by Gregory on March 04, 2002 at 03:05:07:
I am relieved to know that there are others with this curious and stinky phenomenon. I first discovered my tonsilloliths shortly after returning to the U.S. from Southeast Asia where I lived for over two years. My first thought was "hmmm, I don't remember food getting caught in there. Must just be a weird fluke!" I removed it as best as I could with a q-tip and went on my merry way. But then it happened again, and again. Then my thinking turned toward the worse. Naturally, I assumed I contracted some horrible infection while I was overseas. I did get a bad case of laryngitis once and had a chronic dry cough for months at a time. So I saw a Physician's Assistant at an ENT office. Without even looking in my mouth, based on my description only, he said I had "tomsilloliths" which is caused by a chronic indolent tonsil infection. He had confirmed my fear... well, sort of. That was all. No culture, he wouldn't have even looked in my mouth had I not asked him to since I WAS paying him $60 for a 5 minute visit. So here I am about a year and half later still plucking tonsilloliths out of my left tonsil with a little fancy metal-played pick suited for holding martini olives (works better than q-tips because it easier to pluck them OUT then potentially jab them in as happend occassionally with the q-tip. To date, with the exception of last night they've been the size of bulghur wheat. Last night was a big shock when it was the size of a small peppercorn! I can live with these strange little secretions but I would like to know if I really have this "chronic indolent tonsil infection!" It sounds so terminal - and how would he know? Others of you have said these stones are normal dead cells and food. All along I was believing I had them as a result of this so-called infection. I haven't had real throat problems aside from a dry one in the mornings but I live in Montana where it's very dry. This PA, by the way, most definitely suggested a tonsillectomy as an option. But it sounds very risky and unnecessary in my case, doesn't it? I'd love to hear if any of my ramblings spur any more thinking on this subject. Be well.
In Reply to: Re: tonsilloliths - I found this page. It would seem all is not lost posted by Gregory on March 04, 2002 at 03:05:07:
Hi, Gregory -
Thanks for posting that link! Walt, could you please tell us what your opinion is of laser therapy for this? My daughter has these but definitely would not have a tonsillectomy to get rid of them. But, I wonder whether laser treatments would be advised? Thanks. Raisa
In Reply to: Tonsilloliths... another story posted by Angie on April 16, 2002 at 01:04:00:
Hi, Angie.
The normal "pits" have been stretched all out of shape by this happening and the longer it goes on the more stretched they will become--that is why the tonsoliths are getting bigger.
This is an anatomical deformity that is self-perpetuating and your only option to resolve it is to have your tonsils removed surgically.
Hope this helps.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: tonsilloliths - I found this page. It would seem all is not lost posted by Raisa on April 16, 2002 at 10:01:30:
Hi, Raisa.
No experience.
Anything that would shrink the stretched out crypts would work.
Let us know her experience.
Walt
In Reply to: tonsilloliths - smelly clumps coming out of my throat posted by Yvonne Dawson on March 03, 2002 at 22:51:53:
When I was 19 years old( about 20 years ago). I had the same thing. I called them chick peas ( because that's what they looked like. I also called them puss balls. I got them out with a Q-tip. I went to a ear nose and throat specialist. I had my tonsills removed and I never had the problem again. Good luck and God bless.
In Reply to: Re: tonsilloliths - smelly clumps coming out of my throat posted by Erica on March 04, 2002 at 16:46:29:
Oh my goodness! I thought I was the only one with this problem! My boyfriend thinks I am nuts! I am nauseated by these little things, especially when I cant cough them up. I heard you can get laser surgery to stop it forever. Guess I dont need to get rid of it that badly!
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