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Dear Dr. Stoll,
I have suffered from recurrent throat infections in the past. I used to smoke off and on for 7 years, but have just quit and have not smoked for 6 months. My throat infections usually would occur one, once a year and I've taken ceclor, amoxicillian, biaxin, etc... to cure the throat infection.(taken quite a bit of antibiotics in my time) I have not had a throat infection for about 1 year now and am probably sure I will not get another one because I do not smoke anymore nor will I ever again.
However, my lymph nodes on the sides of my neck are enlarged and tender to the touch, but are not painful. In the morning when I wake my entire throat feels a bit uncomfortable but no pain, maybe a bit dry. When I swallow I feel as though there is something stuck in my throat not big but just like small it's more annoying than anything. I don't have difficulty breathing and swallowing is not painful or uncomfortable. When I swallow I can taste a foul taste in the back of my throat. The taste is almost like "rotting food" It's faint but I taste it.
Along with the lymph and throat situation I also have a strange tonsil discharge. Both my tonsils do not look normal. One on the right has like a small white scabbish looking thing on it about the size of half a pea. The one on the left has a small split in it cause by a screaming incedent long ago. I've taken q-tips and moved the slit to carefully examine what's going on inside and these little(size of 1/2 a pea, maybe smaller(just bits) of this lite yellowish white foul smelling bacteria type stuff comes out of the tonsil where the split is. When I brush my teeth or clear my throat sometimes the discharge stuff from the tonsil comes out. It smells aweful just like the taste in the back of my throat. (almost like feces)
When I take a q-tip and lightly wipe the right tonsil the q-tip wipes off like a light yellowish film from the outside of the tonsil. I'm a bit worried...okay very worried. I don't have throat pain anymore and am not sick, no fever, no fatigue, I feel really great otherwise. I go to the gym twice a week and can power walk for 1 hour and feel like a million bucks. I don't know what's wrong with my neck lymph nodes or tonsils or throat. Please help, I'm a student studying abroad in China(24 years old) I'm limited on funds and the hospitals here do not take my american insurance so I can't afford to see a doctor, also my communication is limited because of the language barrier so I'm reluctant to seek medical attention. I know it may be necessary for me to return to the states to seek attention, but I need to finish out my obligations here until January at least. Do you think if I wait until then it will be harmful to my health. What should I do...? What's wrong with my tonsils and neck lymph. What's the foul-smelling bits coming from the inside of my tonsil?
Sincerely,
Christine LaFrankie
In Reply to: enlarged neck lymph nodes/tonsil discharge posted by Chrissy LaFrankie on October 27, 2002 at 00:52:11:
Hi, Chrissy.
All those years of smoking really put a stress on your tonsils and their current condition is probably permanent. You may need a tonsillectomy. Your lymph nodes (You know, tonsils are just big lymph nodes that are exposed to your sight.) are just enlarged to take care of what your tonsils no longer do so efficiently--PLUS the chronic infection still contained in those tonsils.
If you live in the north, you realy would be helped by doing the humidification thing ASAP. See the colds article on the home page.
Hope this helps. Let us know what you decide and how you do.
Congratulations on kicking the "feelthy habit".
Walt
In Reply to: Re: enlarged neck lymph nodes/tonsil discharge (Archive in smoking.) posted by Walt Stoll on October 28, 2002 at 07:55:54:
Dear Dr. Stoll,
Thank you so much for your prompt reply. I had a women reply back to me on this and told me that my smelly bits that come out from the tonsils is "crypts" which is related to a weak immune system and that I need to begin taking reliv supplements which are soy-based immediately. Is this true? She said if I don't the condition will worsen and my immune sytem will gradually become less and less. If I take the "reliv" supplements she said it will build my immune system back up again soon and My condition will disapear.
Also, is any of what I have cancer related??? Please reply, thank you
In Reply to: Re: enlarged neck lymph nodes/tonsil discharge (Archive in smoking.) posted by christine LaFrankie on October 29, 2002 at 03:32:43:
Thanks, Christine.
Tonsillar crypts are normal. When they get stretched out from over stress, they get large enough to hold inspissated material that then ferments and causes an odor, unpleasant taste and increased local inflammation for your poor tomsils to have to try to cope with.
Since this is a structural problem (stretched out crypts) anything but surgical removal is not likely to have a permanent effect.
To your last question: I seriously doubt it.
Walt
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