Tonsil stones

[worried0817]

For the past few months I have been noticing that when I would wake up I would have tiny little balls of stuff...it would happen every so often.  I have bad allergies with constant post nasal drip and flem (phlegm), so I was just thinking it was something like that. Just this past week, I had had a sore throat for about a week withmy left tonsil totally swollen and red.  After a few days I really tried to look at them with a flash light and I saw two white dots.  i automatically thought it was an infection, but the more I looked and felt them, they seemed wierd.  Finally they both came out, they were larger than I had had before, about the size of a large pea... well I have them often , but obviously cant see them till I'm in pain.  I'm 24 years old and hate having this feeling in my throat with the bad taste in the back of my throat.. is this really tonsil stones? Thanks!

[higgy]

What you're referring to is tonsilloths....they're benign, but do cause some discomfort, and some worry with those who have them.  I have had them most of my life...the cause comes from having cryptic tonsils...either genetically, or becuase of recurrent infections...a water pik is wonderful at removing them...there's really not a treatment for it...but if they keep coming back and are bothersome, the only treatment is a tonsilectomy.  Good luck!

[niksmom]

Hi there i just read your post and i am experiencing the same thing. i've had it for years and i can understand your discomfort in the matter.  i have been told that having your tonsils removed will not help, it will only cause the stones to form further down your throat.  Gargling with salt and warm water on a daily basis will really help, or try mouthwash.good luck

[freshbreath1]

Hi there,

Usually after eating potatoe chip, french fries or cassava I get tonsil stones.  When i asked my Dentist about it, he said usaully this happens after eating starchy foods.  So, I try to cleans my palette with yogurt after eating a starchy meal.  Or just gargle with salt H20.  Knowing is half the battle....

[massolteron]

I get them all the time. They stink--literally and figuratively. Every one one of my brothers and sisters has them too, along with my father. We all inherited my dad's wonderful post nasal drip, allergies, and sinus issues.

I, too, use a water pick. Gargle each day. They are a nuisance but there's not much you can do, and you could be severely worse off :) Just another non-life-threatening annoyance to live with.

Good luck, and get a water pick to help flush them away.

[Jemmy]

I have the exact same problem and it is getting me really down, about 10 minutes ago I managed to bring up yet another bundle of joy!  Have been trying all day and have given myself a sore throat and coughing up blood.

I try to fish them out with my finger but I cannot even see them when looking into my throat.  Am going to the doctors in the morning as I want something done about it.  I hate the constant bad taste and bad breath when the balls get rather big.

Any other tips on getting them out without wretching all the time???

[coco222oo7]

I have those and my doctor removed my tonsels he couldn't believe what they looked like if you have had mutiple infections it should be easier to get them removed. Take arnica a herb that prevents swelling it really works.

[lizzystoned]

Has anyone ever had ear problems or vertigo from these stones?  I have been getting them for about six months.  Recently I had severe vertigo-- went to the doc and asked if it could be related to this -- he says no, but then a few days later one came out and poof my vertigo was gone.  Doc says its a coincidence.  I think not.

[Nisi]

yes - i think it's related, but indirectly.  if you get the tonsil stones, likely from the excess mucus - ergo sinus issues.... then ear problems are not far behind.  for me, having sinuses prone to infection, it never surprises me when i fly that i always have problems with my ears - pain, clogging that i can't ever seem to unclog (sometimes take a couple days after we land before the ears decide they want to unclog on their own)...   so earlier this year when i went on a 3 day cruise, and i had mysterious dizziness and random lightheadedness and feeling like i was going to faint for TWO WEEKS after the cruise, somehow this didn't shock me, given my ear history.  I wasn't even sure if it was from the cruise, the plane trip to/from the cruise, or both.  i should note that in my efforts to avoid ear pain on the plane, i wore these industrial ear plugs (factory worker-grade), which helped with the clogging problems, but when i got the dizziness, i started to wonder if i screwed up my equilibrium.
just some things to think about, but personally i don't think it's a coincidence either.  if you find a method that works best for you that clears up sinus issues, therefore drying up the mucus ( = less tonsil stony grossness), perhaps the vertigo will abate in time.  good luck :)

[Wear/a/Jimmy]

not related

[Lisa Atley]

I was also told there was nothing to be done except maybe removing the tonsils which my doctor does not recommend.  I also has a very bad case of Vertigo and an ear infection right before this all started.  I love the waterpick idea.  It is really a royal pain so anyway like someone else said it could be so much worse.  Thanks for your ideas.

[Cleghorn]

I feel like a popcorn kernal stuck in the back of my throat (dead center).  I cannot see it with a flashlight and I gag when I use a q-tip and have been unsuccessful.  Any advise on what this might be and how to get it out?

[Nancy T]

I agree that tonsoliths have nothing to do with vertigo. It was a coincidence.

I hate those yucky things!! Gag.

[lorri642]

Just found this site and i just have to tell you guys this! I had sinus problems for about 7 months. Headaches, pressure, pain, dizziness, even thought i was going to collapse a few times and then oneday when I was running on a treadmill I coughed up a tonsil stone! Guess what? no more sinus problems!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lindsey355]

I have tonsil stones. Or at least I think I do. They are the same things everyone else is talking about. I can pick them out with a Q-Tip but sometimes when I do I also get blood that comes out with it. Or just blood and no stone. Its quite a bit of blood. Im gonna see I doc I just wondered if anyone else had the same thing?

Thanks

[Jen729]

Wow...I just went to the ER for mine.  I had a 1/2" stone sticking out of my tonsil on the right side.  I took a q-tip to it which I thought would just easily pop it out.  Well it took about 5 minutes of me trying to just knock it off then trying to press all around it and pop it out like I usually do.  It finally popped out and I felt much better...although seriously grossed out!  I have NEVER had one that large before!  About an hour later I felt like something was stuck in the back of my throat again.  I went to look in the mirror and it looked like more stones (or perhaps part of the first) was coming out again.  When I went to try and pop it out I noticed a large blackish bump right behind it.  After I saw that I figured I'd just leave it alone for a while and try to get it out at home instead.  When I got home and looked in the mirror the black bulge had gotten HUGE!  I moved it around (very gently) with a q-tip to try to see what it was.  It honestly looked like a vein or artery had popped through the skin into my mouth.  Just as I thought that, poof, it started gushing blood!  It freaked me and my fiancé out so bad we immediately went to the hospital.  It turns out it was a tonsil stone to begin with and then (let's see if I remember the term) necrotic tissue because the stone had aggravated the tissue on its way out.  When I told the doctor that I was getting the tonsil stones 2-3 times a week she flipped.  She said I should REALLY think about getting my tonsils out and that I would probably be getting this necrotic tissue thing at least twice a month if I didn’t.  Has anyone else experienced any problems like this?

[sftsb]

I've been getting tonsil stones. I went to my family doctor and he said it was from allergies, not to mess with them, gargle with salt water. He said if if should ever bleed then I should go to an ENT. Another internal medicine doctor said that it just happens because food particles gets stuck back there and he said it was fine to pick them out with toothpicks. Is it okay or not to pick them out? I don't know what to think and certainly don't want to have tonsils removed unless absolutely necessary. My other tonsil is perfectly normal so no probs there.

[vetnurse138]

Wow, just found this page because I finally decided to try and do somethign about my problem.
I have had them for a while but have become more concious of them lately. I'm a chronic allergy/sinus sufferer with asthma who smokes. Yeah, thats bad. One thing I will say that no one else has.. mine smell HORRIBLE, like cat poop. It makes me very self concious and I always carry a tooth brush, mouth wash and mints.
I feel like I get them less often when I am smoking more frequently. I recently "quit" for 3 months and had them sumthin terrible.
I'm very put down though that there is really no perminant solution. I work in the medical field (with animals) and do alot of self treatment, I have been treating mine practically since I figured out where they were coming from.
My regiment for (what I didn't know was till now) has been the same as what others have advised. However, ask your doctors or friends in the medical field to get you some supplies, these have made my life easier:
* 12cc syringe (no needle)
* 20g or 18g over the needle catheter (just the plastic catheter tip)

Thats it, I fill my syringe with tap water (no need to use salt water, no open wounds) cuz it tastes better, and put on the catheter tip. The catheter combined with the syringe gives me enough length and I can flush away and controll the pressure of the water.

I WOULD NOT RECCOMEND USING Q-TIPS. I believee this is why you guys are getting necrotic tissue and bleeding. I have used qtips before on major ones and have experienced sore throat and bleeding because of it. If you must, be careful and avoid touching your tissues as much as possible, wet the qtip with saline, flush your throat with saline before and after thoroughly. If your throat is still soar the next day continue flushing/gargling with saline.

[bluec]

I just went to the ENT at Kaiser. I was ready to have my tonsils removed. Have had this problem for about 15 years. One has been stuck back there for 4 months. I thought I was going to have to convince my ent, but right away he said, if you want we will take them out. Getting them out in november.

[Bee1181]

Anyone have tonsil stones with a sore throat and referred ear pain? I've had a mild sore throat for about the past 6 months, but my doctor told me it was probably allergies and to do a nasal flush every day. I've never had allergies in my life. My nose doesn't run. My eyes don't itch. It's not very convincing to me. I want my tonsils out just to get rid of these stones and sore throat!

[rehdogg]

My doctor said it's natural and she won't remove my tonsils. I hate how it makes my breath smells and it makes me anti sociable. My doctor said it's more dangerous to remove tonsils as an adult. I bought Dr. Katz Thera Breath Nasal sprays and the oxyD pills remedy's but it was making me throw up so I don't use it anymore. Any other suggestions?

[AnnaBunting]

My ears/ throat/ back molars have been bothering me for at least three years. I, too, get sick often, and have allergies so my doctor gives me nasal spray and tells me my ears are fine and sends me home. I feel as though he isn't taking me seriously. The "pain" in my ears is more like a lot of pressure, as if I need to clean them out or there is wax trapped in my inner ear. The doctor looked into this and found nothing. I have removed many tonsil stones the size of a lima bean and larger. I do not eat a lot of sugary foods, I eat mainly vegan and organic foods. Could my ear pain be due to the pressure of the tonsil stones? As for my molars, I have had Xrays and regular cleanings, and have great teeth. No problems there. Dentist suggested ear/nasal problems as the cause of the discomfort.