Sign Up Today!

ChristinaD · 12-04-2002, 07:25 AM

This is gross but common.
They are small yellowish hard pieces of matter that smell awful and sometimes look like cauliflower. Usually just cough them up or they dislodge themselves.
Anyone else have these and what do you do about them besides removing your tonsils. They also make your thoat sore.
I just wondered if anyone else knew had to avoid them.

Trooper · 12-04-2002, 11:22 AM

Funny that this topic turned up... my brother just had his tonsils removed on Monday of this week because of the pockets and the problems that it was causing. So, actually, it might be necessary to remove your tonsils. My brother has had pockets in his tonsils for a couple of years now (they kept getting bigger). It caused all problems, including a very sore/burning throat. The food would get in there, start to 'decompose', turn hard, cause bad breath, irritation, infections, etc. When I spoke to his doctor (I had to take him to the hospital), she said that they absolutely needed to come out because they were so bad. He is older, so his recovery is going to be a little longer, but it needed to be done. His case got pretty bad over time. I suggest getting a good ENT and have them monitor the size/problems of your pockets.

ChristinaD · 12-04-2002, 11:54 AM

Thanks guys for the response!
Interesting, I have always had them, just small ones and rarely like once every couple months or so.
Now, at 27, I hadn't had them for a long time and all of a sudden I am getting them everyday and it is leaving a bad taste in my mouth along with a sore throat. Maybe my "pockets" are getting bigger.
Thank for the advice!!!

Christina

Mila21ca · 12-06-2002, 08:58 PM

I have experienced this as well, for as long as I can remember. I don't know if they are actually on my tonsils, but definitly on my throat. Anyway, I once asked a doctor about them and he told me that is was simply a "hard saliva build-up". I know what you mean be it hurting your throat. I find that it hurts my throat if I try to take it off and it's not ready. Anyway, I also haven't experienced this in a while and recently it has begun again! Weird!
Anyway, I wouldn't be too worried about it; if it's the same as what I have, it has nothing to do with tonsil pockets.

wattagirl · 12-07-2002, 06:18 PM

did you like my topic name-lol-i didn't know what to call them-anyway mine come and go but i would love to end the problem-i asked a doc about my tonsils one time and he said they were rotting out on their own and i shouldn't worry about them-gross huh-he also said because of my age-31-it would be hard to recover-wish i had had them taken out

MarlinSmith · 12-10-2002, 08:36 PM

My tonsils were full of holes and white smelly chunky crud. I put up with it for years. For one thing, the regular MD's that I went to didn't understand the problem. I went to a specialist and he said that they were chronically infected and had to come out. The surgery wasn't any fun, but it should have been done sooner. I had them out when I was 23, a couple days after I graduated from college. Not much of a graduation gift, but it had to be done.

ChristinaD · 12-11-2002, 07:17 AM

Do you'all see the chunks in there? I can't see them but I sometimes feel them when I swallow and sometimes have a weird taste until they come out so I know they are in there. Will it go away on its own? It has been about a month now and I don't want my breath to smell or anything!

MarlinSmith · 12-12-2002, 08:28 PM

Oh, yes! Get yourself a flashlight and something to do some digging with and have some fun! I used the file on a toenail clipper since you could straighten the three parts out and the angle and length was about right. In my case, there were holes all over the place and you could dig the white junk out of them. Sorry for the graphic details, but you asked for it!

PS-I'm glad that those days are gone!

ChristinaD · 12-13-2002, 05:15 AM

I have looked at them and stuck a Q-tip in the biggest hole that I think is causing the problems but nothing comes out only a weird smell?!?! I can't see any chunks! Could they just be really far into my tonsils?

MarlinSmith · 12-13-2002, 04:28 PM

I'd say that the chunks are still hidden inside your tonsils. Keep checking back there and I bet that they will rear their ugly heads sooner or later. They seem to appear in their own due course. They'd often just end up in my mouth. They smell and taste terrible!

Look for a speck of white. (White indicates an infection.) Usually, that's just the head of a bigger nugget. I don't know how big your mouth is (HA!) but I was able to see things pretty well back there.

I was told that I had chronically infected tonsils, as opposed to tonsilitis. Before going to a specialist, an MD told me "you definately don't want to have your tonsils taken out" and that the white stuff "was just some food like a piece of potato." Wrong on both counts! The specialist said that my tonsils were too far gone and had to be taken out. I agreed. It wasn't any fun, but it was for the best.

I'm pretty big into alternative health but if your tonsils are as bad as mine were, I'm not sure what the solution would be other than surgery. If they stay in, I'm afraid that they will only cause you lingering problems. Often, I was functional but didn't feel well and it went on for years! I should have had them taken out when I was a little kid but that was in an era when doctors were reluctant to take them out.

wattagirl · 12-13-2002, 07:14 PM

marlin-i went to a doc over throat problems-i asked him about the white things and never got an answer-that was several years ago-he told me that my tonsils were rotting out-can you believe that-i asked him if i should have them removed and he said nature was taking it's course-i wonder now after reading your post if i should see a specialist and ask about having mine removed-

MarlinSmith · 12-16-2002, 12:18 AM

I'd say that would depend on how much trouble they seem to be causing you. I know one person who seems to be getting by with the problem. She doesn't want surgery. In my case, they were bad enough that the decision to take them out was a good one.

ChristinaD · 12-16-2002, 06:04 AM

Thanks Marlin for the input. I can see a little white on my tonsils just like two little specs but it does not go away. I have one main hole on my left tonsil and I know that that is where those litte buggers are hiding!! I usually don't see them unless they end up in my mouth too. When I do "dislodge" them, they smell like the bad taste I sometimes get in my mouth. It is a little better when I gargle salt water but I am going to the doctor this week. It is to disgusting! I am afraid to get my tonsils out since they say it is painful as an adult.
I'll let you know what the doc says!!
Christina

Merrida · 12-17-2002, 07:21 AM

Ahh! So THAT is what they are! I've always wondered. I thought I was the only person to get these. I wondered if they were being coughed up from my lungs. It never occured to me that they could be from my tonsils.

I knew by the odor it was decay, so I was afraid it meant decay of lung tissue, not decay of food lodged in a pocket in my tonsils.

Well it sure makes a lot of sense, after reading the posts!

Jazzmyne · 12-20-2002, 12:29 PM

I'm glad I stumbled upon this website. I've been suffering with these little nasties for a couple of years now. Unfortunately they seem to be getting worse, or maybe because I'm more aware of them and am actively seeking them, I'm seeing them more. As I am a vocalist, I'm terrified about getting surgery, so I've been looking for alternate ways of dealing with them. I've learned that I can use a Q-tip to gently squeeze the tonsil to pop them out. (I say gently because I accidently was too rough once and caused one to start bleeding a little) So far, most of the sites of seen encourage people with these tonsiloliths (technical name) to try and deal with them before surgery, if you can. Some of the things suggested to help were... 1. gargling with warm salt water after meals 2. Getting a water pik (which i will be getting soon as it must work better than the Q-tips) 3. A round of antibiotics might help 4. A new laser procedure which is said to shrink the pits on your tonsils, so food and bacteria can no longer get trapped in them to cause the tonsil stones. If you know of any other helpful things please let me know, and good luck to all of you dealing with these little buggers!

Tigernpooh2001 · 01-02-2003, 09:59 AM

I just had my tonsil removed 3 weeks ago. I went to the ENT Dr. in Oct. because I had these whitish nasty smelling abcesses that were coming off for a year. They kept getting bigger and bigger. She suggested I either deal with it for the rest of my life or have my tonsils removed also to mention the fact my tonsils where the size of golf balls. I chose to have them out. I am still not 100% recovered but believe it is well worth it. I suggest you go see an ENT Dr. and se what he/she has to say.

ChristinaD · 01-02-2003, 10:09 AM

Tiger,
What do you mean you aren't recovered yet? Are you still in pain or what? I want my tonsils out due to these little buggers but have heard that getting them out as an adult can be horrid!

Tigernpooh2001 · 01-02-2003, 11:28 AM

I had my 2 week check up last Friday and my ENT Dr. said I still have scabs that haven't come off. Some people take longer. Over the weekend I developed a Sinus infection which has infected the area where my tonsils were removed a little bit. They told me today that I need to finish my Anitbiotic I recieved for my sinus infection and it should clear up.

Adults do have a harder time with a tonsillectomy. They say a good 2 to 3 weeks for recovery. I was in severe pain for the first 6 days. I couldn't eat at all or really drink anything. But again I am a wimp. It all depends on the person.
Good luck with your decision.

silvershado1 · 01-21-2003, 02:27 AM

Well I have had this problem since 1995. I went to my doc and he commented that I had large tonsils, but at that stage there was no crap in them. But I found out years later in 98 that I had chronic tonsillitis and I had it every month even after a dose of antibiotics. I don't have a problem with it right now and have not had a problem since my last lot of antibiotics. Which was around Christmas. But even now if I press my Tongue against my tonsils I get that yucky taste. Here in Australia we have a 5 year wait to get your tonsils out through public hospitals, to go private its over $1000.00 and a 3 month wait. I don';t have the time or the money so I am putting up with it and making sure I don't run myself down or get sick, for a bad attack to come.

Merrida · 01-21-2003, 08:07 AM

A five year wait? For regular insurance coverage?

Dang,....I guess you have to be really healthy to live in Oz! Wowza!

Sign Up Today!

Join Our Newsletter

Whoops,

Thank You