tonsilloliths (tonsil stones) and chronic throat clearing

TIzor82884 · Newbie Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 2

I can relate completely to all of the comments posted here. I have had a cough/clearing of the throat for about 12 years now. I have tried all of the inhalers, medication and surgeries that might of cured this symptom, but none have worked. I had my tonsils out, didn't help. I had a EGD done and they put a 48 hour pH monitor in me that told me that I had acid reflux and had surgery, a lapascopic nissin, to help fix the acid that was coming back up, but that didn't work either. I have tried taking Maalox and Mylanta for my acid reflux, but doesn't help at all. The only thing that has really helped is constantly eating or drinking all of the time to help subside the clearing of the throat sensation, but if I eat all of the time, I would weigh quite a bit. I have even went to the Cleveland Clinic and seen a doctor that specializes in chronic coughs and she still didn't have a reason why I do this and the way it sounds, no other doctor can provide a reason either. I would just wish to get rid of the constant headache and stomach pain from constantly coughing all of the time and actually be able to have a conversation or go to the movies and not cough constantly.

sexyasschino · Newbie Joined: 29 Jun 2007 Posts: 1

I had the same problem as everyone is describing. Bad breath and coughing up pieces of white chunks. It came and went and when it came had seriously bad breath....I went to a ENT doctor and they wanted to pull my tonsils. Very painful I hear. I began to look in the mirror and found that the white pieces came from "a cave" in the tonsils at the back of the throat. A piece of skin covered a hole that was in the tonsil. I got a q tip and used the bottom side of my toothbrush to move the piece of skin at the back of my throat up and find the hole in my tonsil. This is where I found the white chunks, or stones at. I removed and now it is like brushing teeth. I check back there daily. NOW NO MORE BAD BREATH OR STONES. No need to have your tonsils removed. Try this method before getting your tonsils removed. email me if you have anymore questions at sexyasschino@hotmail.com if you have any questions.

Guest · Guest

tonsil stone sufferers should try using a neti pot as shown on Oprah with dr. Oz. Saline soution washes out the sinuses which I believe is the cause of the stones

SDGuest · Newbie Joined: 09 Jul 2007 Posts: 2

Hi All,

I have all these same problems, tonsiloliths, constant throat clearing, and the worst of all.. bad breath! yuck!

Problem is my ENT who I have gone to only once so far, and my general doctor are completely blowing me off on this issue. Frustrating!!

My Question: Has ANYONE found a good ENT for this issue in the San Diego area?

Help much appreciated!!

navyraine · Newbie Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

Hi there,

I too am experiencing all of these symptoms (tonsil stones, constant throat clearing/post-nasal drip), but I've also noticed that my ears always pop when I swallow (just lightly, but enough to hear it). Actually, I noticed the ear-popping months ago, but I'm starting to wonder if it has anything to do with all of these other symptoms, especially since ear problems often go with nose/throat symptoms. So, anyone else here experiencing uncomfortable/annoying ear-popping?

My background: I had a lot of issues with my ears when I was a child (regular, horrifically painful earaches, which led to an operation to have tubes put in my ears). Also, I think I hold the world record for number of strep throat infections... My throat/tonsils have been a constant bother since I was a child (but I still have my tonsils). The tonsil rocks have come and gone as long as I can remember, but it wasn't until recently (when they resurfaced this past year) that I actually discovered they had a name, thanks to the Internet (I thought it was only my sister & I that experienced it!). While the ear/throat infections have subsided, I still have ENT symptoms due to seasonal allergies and my doc says it's the allergies that are causing the post-nasal drip and "related" ear-popping (I haven't mentioned the stones). I suppose it's possible that it's allergies, but I've had allergies for years and they've never caused this much discomfort (allergy pills are not helping). Plus, I've done a thorough cleaning of the house...purchased allergen guard pillowcases, as well as an allergen cover for the mattress... And we don't have pets. To top it off, I remember feeling choked by this post-nasal drip in the winter months.... When there was no where for the allergens to come from (again, this is when the place had been well cleaned, dusted, pillows/mattress covered, etc...). I’m just really starting to think that this is all tied together somehow…

Looking forward to reading any feedback you might have!

Guest · Guest

I'm 48 and had my tonsils removed 43 years ago. I have two small spots about the size of a pencil eraser on each side of my throat that must be residual "tonsils" or something. They have little pockets in them that collect nasty tonsil stones from time to time. It has been my experience through the years that they usually develop when I'm having allergy problems and my sinuses are draining a lot. Right now the ragweed and mold is really bad where I live and I have been coughing and clearing my throat frequently because of the constant sinus drainage in the back of my throat. I have also had these nasty tonsil stone things pop up the last few days. If you get them early they don't get real hard and don't smell as bad. If they are in there for a long time and get yellowish and hard they smell like something has crawled in your throat and died! I just get a Q tip, moisten the tip and push around until they dislodge. I check for them frequently and keep on top of it and just include checking for them in my usual oral hygiene regimen. Since I had my tonsils removed and still get them I'm not sure a tonsillectomy is the answer.

Guest · Guest

Sounds like you have a delayed reaction food allergy, ie celiac disease.

I had tonsil stones until going off of gluten.

The lymphatic tissues of the nose and throat (lymph nodes, tonsils, adenoids) are the primary sites of immune response to in-coming food materials. It is not surprising then to find the tonsils and adenoids enlarged in a food allergic child.

This lymph node swelling is often attributed to infection - either bacterial or viral. Antibiotics are often prescribed in vain and repeatedly without the physician realizing the diagnostic error (it is food allergy, not infection!). The allergic origin of the lymphatic enlargement becomes more apparent after repeated or prolonged enlargement. When children have large lymph nodes and physicians are inclined to check for serious disease such as lymphomas or leukemia. It actually makes sense to think that prolonged stimulation of lymphatic tissue by food proteins could contribute by some unlucky misadventure to the development of lymphatic malignancies.

The best idea in any case is to assume food allergy and do diet revision to remove the cause of the lymph node activity.

nutramed.com/children/tonsils_nodes.htm

TinGermany · Newbie Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 2

I have been plagued by tonsilloliths since I was around 10. But I could not figure out what the little, smelly, cheesy-textured things were. When I brought it up to my mom, she looked in the back of my throat, didn't see any and shrugged it off. I've asked doctors about them over the years, but when I described them, the doctors either had no idea what I was talking about, or they looked at me like I was really gross and gave me a flip answer about tonsillitis and white "patches" over the tonsills. Then they'd usually give me some anti-biotics (that never worked) and sent me home.

But I knew these weren't "patches"--they could be squeezed out and they were actually OBJECTS. I just couldn't make them see that! Even when there was actually one sticking out during a doctor's visit (usually they'd "conveniently" disappear when I had an appointment), the docs would take a quick look and not recognize that these were actually stones that would come out if the tonsil around them was manipulated. They kept calling them "patches" as if they couldn't tell they were more than a thin coating. If I said, "Please use a swab and push them out, and you'll see what I'm talking about", they'd look at me like I was genuinely crazy.

Over time, I became very embarassed about this problem and, due to the doctor's reactions, believed that this was a problem that only I had, and that no doctor was going to listen or care. I felt like my throat was somehow disgusting and unclean (despite the fact that I have excellent dental hygiene) compared to other people's. So I lived with it for years without ever bringing it up again.

But this year, the tonsilloliths became more frequent and more often came with pain and swelling in my tonsils. I have started getting them nearly every day and when I went to sqeeze them out, they started coming out with blood and even more bad odor than ever before. So I sucked up my pride and decided to see one more doctor to see if I could get some satisfaction in finding out what these disgusting little things were, and why they kept happening to me, and why, why, why I happened to have such deep crypts in my tonsils.

I saw a German doctor this time who not only examined my mouth thoroughly, but treated me like a normal, clean, intelligent person. He also immediately referred me to an ENT after examing me himself.

I saw that ENT today and he, for once in my life (I'm 33) explained to me what was happening to me, and why I keep getting these tonsilloliths. He told me that it is common to have these, but that if it is happening as often as it is, I have some options. He told me that they won't kill me and usually don't cause major problems, but that most patients find them annoying and hard to live with because they cause bad breath and, obviously, they're just highly unpleasant for the person who has them. He told me that I can keep living with them and just cleaning them out with a cotton swab and gargling with salt water (as I've been doing for years), OR that I could just have a tonsillectomy, and that this would rid me of them permanently.

He told me that a tonsillectomy for an adult is a major operation here in Germany. I would have to stay in the hospital for at least 7 days following the operation, and would have to stay in the area for the 5 weeks following, with frequent checkups, due to the 10% chance of post-op bleeding and complications. But he also said that most adults who have this problem and use the solution of surgery have no complications and are generally happy with the results.

I have opted to have the surgery. I feel I am way to young to have chronic bad breath, and I'm SO VERY tired of having to make frequent trips to the restroom to poke and prod my throat to clear it of these little buggers. I am a young, attractive woman, and now that I have been taken seriously and treated respectfully by my doctor, I realize that again. I could not be happier and I cannot wait 'till this operation.

Thrilled in Germany,
T

TinGermany · Newbie Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 2

I'm sorry, I've only just noticed the posts from people saying that tonsillitis doesn't necessarily help and that occasionally they still get stones. Ok, I can accept that. I really hope mine will work though. I guess we'll see, huh?

I can't see how it could make anything worse, and to me it's worth a shot.

Guest · Guest

hi im 12 , and my name is taylor , i have been experiencing tonsil stones for 2 years , ive tried everything except get my tonsils out! i hope it works , im counting on this! Sad

tonsilloliths (tonsil stones) and chronic throat clearing

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