My gross tonsils

[purple2067]

About a month and a half ago I developed a really bad strep infection. It took 20 days and two different anti-biotics to clear it up. It was very severe. Now it is gone, but my tonsils have huge craters in them. There are these gross, nasty smelling, hard green things in them. My breath is terrible. If I look in the mirror I can see them. Sometimes I stick a q-tip back there and get them out. But then my tonsils bleed. I don't want to give myself an infection by picking at my tonsils. I gargle with Listerine afterwards. Ia it OK that I do this? Am I going to hurt myself?

Should I be seeing an ear, nose and throat specialist?

[needsomehelpbad]

Originally Posted by purple2067

About a month and a half ago I developed a really bad strep infection. It took 20 days and two different anti-biotics to clear it up. It was very severe. Now it is gone, but my tonsils have huge craters in them. There are these gross, nasty smelling, hard green things in them. My breath is terrible. If I look in the mirror I can see them. Sometimes I stick a q-tip back there and get them out. But then my tonsils bleed. I don't want to give myself an infection by picking at my tonsils. I gargle with Listerine afterwards. Ia it OK that I do this? Am I going to hurt myself?

Should I be seeing an ear, nose and throat specialist?

After numerous strep/tonsillitis illnesses myself, Ive developed those craters in my tonsils....Ive had them since ive been about 10....im 21 now..every now and then ill get little white things that smell bad in them, but dont affect my breath...my guess as time progresses you will develop less bacteria/food in these holes which cuase bad breath....dont over pick at them to the point where they bleed...i can usually get them off with my tounge if i lightly scrape at it enough......anyhow, go to a doctor if youd like, but i think having them isn't that abnormal and its jsut a collection of bacteria and food...

[Simps23]

I have the same craters, too. Do a search for "tonsil stones" on this board. There's a lot of posts about them! GL and don't worry.

[star12300]

I had quinsey twice when I was about 7 and was in hospital seriously ill. I had craters in my tonsils after too. But I had my tonsils out so I'm not really sure if you could be doing yourself harm. I think the best thing to do is see your doctor. Maybe you need to have your tonsils out

[purple2067]

Well, I made an appointment to see an ear, nose and throat specialist for tomorrow. My left tonsil is huge again, and it is painful to swallow.

It has a crater in it that is about the size of two peas put together, and is fairly deep. It also has lots of white stuff coming out of it, and it hurts. The right one also has a fairly large crater as well but not too much coming out of it. I feel like there is something stuck in the back of my throat all the time. Food gets caught back there and I choke.

I am afraid he is going to tell me I need to have my tonsils taken out. I am not afraid of the surgery, but I don't have time for it! I am a teacher! I can't have throat surgery! But if I have to, at least the summer is coming up. I'll let you know what the doctor says tomorrow night. Thanks.