White on tonsil normal? - Ear, Nose & Throat Message Board

wiltingflower · 04-06-2006, 01:03 PM

Speaking of tonsil stones..I get those occasionally; not so much but I do have white 'plaques'/ irregular streaks on my tonsils that keep resurfacing. They just sort of disappear then reappear in the same area. I know that food can get lodged in the crypts but this doesn't appear as that. This is actually on the flat surface area of the tonsil. Is this normal for tonsils to have this going on. It seems all this activity so to speak only occurs on the right side. This has been ongoing for several months now. And yes I have been to the doctor and they don't seem so concerned as at the time it was thought I had an infection but this was like months ago and certainly I feel fine now except that the fear is plaguing me now.

LisaMP · 04-06-2006, 05:07 PM

I think I know what you're talking about - the white streaks, are they sort of like lines on your tonsils?? If so, this is likely pus...not wanting to freak you out, but I have had seven cases of strep this past year (since June 2005). The first case was really bad last June and I had scarlet fever with it... the second bout I had in August and then reoccurrences in November, January (x2), twice in February and once in March. By November I think I had burnt out all of the pain sensors in my throat and didn't realize I was sick until I literally couldn't swallow anymore...after that point I learned to check my throat regularly because the only symptoms I had of strep were white streaks on my tonsils and swollen glans, which have basically stayed swollen since last summer. Strep will cure itself on its own, however can remain in your blood, even though your tonsils seem to have subsided. Have your doctor do a swab. I've often noticed that only one of my tonsils swells, while the other gets streaky, and at other times, they are both streaky...there is no rhyme or reason, it seems. You might find one tonsil seems terrible while the other one seems normal. If you feel your doctor isn't paying proper attention to your symptoms, then ask for a referral to an ENT for a proper assessment. I'm scheduled for surgery in two weeks and I haven't had any significant pain in my throat for almost a year, but the risk of not feeling the discomfort right away is the damage that can be done to your organs (kidney, heart, etc.). The best way to figure this out is to either have a strep throat swap or a referral to an ENT who can diagnosis you better than your general practitioner. Good luck!

wiltingflower · 04-07-2006, 07:42 AM

Funny I have wondered if the nerves were dead because the past two times of infection the throat only mildly hurt. Then when I looked at the suckers they certainly looked worse than they felt. *knock on wood* they have not looked that bad in 8 months but the right tonsil looks familiar like it did back then. Just not as much. I thought it might be just irritated. But like last time my throat looked like hell the cultures came back negative for strep. Who knows anymore. I even had to go to an ENT because the first infection didn't seem to be clearing up. They didn't recomment surgery, just said they were cryptic and such. I don't know, maybe the tonsils are just starting to fall out of my mouth like teeth do in some people. Yea gads.
Seven cases of strep. Wow.

LisaMP · 04-07-2006, 07:39 PM

Your comment about tonsils falling out like teeth is eerily familiar, I was joking with my co-workers in January that I suspected one of my tonsils fell out because the other one remained swollen (and now has become my new baseline, it seems!), while the other one I could not find! I half-joking suggested to my co-workers that maybe I had swallowed my tonsil in my sleep! I was beginning to wonder if I had become so accustomed to having strep that I didn't recognize my tonsils when they weren't swollen! The other thing to keep in mind is there are two different kinds of throat infections - viral and bacterial. The viral throat infection will come up negative for strep in a swab, but can still affect the tonsils and have similar symptoms. I'm not familiar with the term "cryptic" but have read that term in other posts. I am from Canada and I believe our ENTs are more reluctant to perform tonsillectomies on adults, possibly because of our universal health care system, instead of private...but my doctor told me that my throat is a mess. I suggest you keep an eye on your throat...like I mentioned before, I no longer have the typical "strep throat" pain sensation, just overall fatigue and flu like feelings in addition to swollen glans, etc. Hopefully your throat will clear up on its own...I know my doctor had me on Clydamiacin (sp?) for three weeks in January which is a non- penicillan antibiotic to try and kick it out of my system. All that did was make me nausiated and exhausted and the strep came back a couple weeks later...very frustrating....listen to your gut...you know your body better than anyone else... I know that mono also has very similar symptoms, and it's only the swab test that distinguishes between strep and mono. If you continue to notice the white streaks, maybe ask for a mono test instead of a strep swab... Good luck!!

2catfans · 04-08-2006, 11:58 PM

Hi LisaMP,
Your symptoms sound just like mine did before I had my tonsils and adenoids removed in February. I felt like that for 6 to 8 months. It turned out that I had chronic tonsillitis. The night of my surgery, I felt normal, not sick and didn't have the symptoms I had for the last 6 months. Maybe you should get another opinion. I would keep going to different doctors until they find the cause. I hope you feel well soon.