Weird throat thing

[SNORCHY]

I have been having this weird throat thing on & off for a while. I have really bad allergies which causes me to have constant post nasal drip and stuff in the back of my throat which sometimes causes throat irritation and a bad taste. I also sometimes get a tickle in the back of my throat causing me to clear it a lot. The thing that's bothering me though is that sometimes when I swallow, there's like a clicking in my throat. Sometimes it's a little difficult for me to swallow, but I don't choke on food nor does it get stuck in my throat. Ususlly the clicking thing happens when I'm not swallowing food or liquid, just random swallowing. Any words of wisdom on this? Thanks!

[the kk]

Dear marie50,

I am so glad to have read your post in regards to "tonsilloliths".  Do you know what is the cause of it and how to get rid of it.  I have had it for many years now and every doctor that I've been to don't seem to have answer for me as to what it is and it is very frustrating.

Sometimes it get stuck in my throat for weeks before it comes out on it's own.  It is very hard to cough it out and when it does not everything comes out at once.  It is very embarrassing to have that foul smell as I am sure alot of people just think I have bad breath.

I'm not sure if this problem started when I had my nose carterized for constant nose bleed or did I just developed it on its own.

I appreciate any advice you can give me.

Thank you.

[marie50]

To worrywort: those tiny yellow balls are called tonsilloliths ("tonsil stones.") They are typically white, or whitish-yellow, irregularly-shaped, foul-smelling, and usually smaller than a pea. They are caused by debris collecting in the crypts of the tonsils.

[borninquisitive]

I have had clicking coming from my thyroid cartilidge-offside (which is what we call Adam's apple) an ENT said this is normal.

As for coughing up the little "balls", those are called tonsil stones or tonsilliths. Quite normal.

[worriewort]

I have clicky sound in my throat occasionally too.  I also occasionally cough up a hard, yellow very tiny ball once in a while and it smells bad.  Not sure what it is.  And I occasionally have a sore throat, which the dr. says it's from post nasal drip.  Have you or anyone experienced that before??

[borninquisitive]

mY guess is, he was referring to the Hyoid bone.

Reflux (LPR) can cause throat irritations as well. Yes, post nasal drip is the pitinskies! It's hard to ignore, it when it's always in your face... literally. lol

[SNORCHY]

I went to my Dr yesterday regarding the clicking. He said it might be due to that little free floating bone in out throat (?)...can't remember the name of it. I also have terrible post nasal drip...constant throat irritation which he thinks might be contributing to the whole issue. It's so annoying though, and it seems the more I think about it, the more intensified it is!!

[SNORCHY]

Forgot to mention...about 15 years ago I was diagnosed hyperthyroid but have not had any thyroid issues since then.