Swollen tonsil on right side

[travelingdad]

I'm a bit concerned by my swollen tonsil on my right side that I've had for more than three months now.   I've also recently been treated for a sinus infection that lasted about 2 weeks (given two series of Azthromycin) which seemed to knock the sinus thing back, but over the past three days the tonsil has become a bit more prominant, and it's starting to hurt a bit when I swallow.  Within this time period, I've also seen two ENT's regarding a small, clear bump that I have on the right hand side (back quite a bit) of my tongue.  Both doctors said it was benign and likley a wart (papilloma).

I also briefly had some swelling in my right side ear (during the sinus infection) that has also since gone down with the antibiotics, but I can still feel something in my ear (probably slow drainage), but this is getting better every day.

Can drainage from an ear infection cause my tonsil to swell up and become painfull?

[help3]

sounds logical. but your ear and nose and throat are all connected. so most likely whatever infection you had, has spread to all of those spots. tonsils will go down last because mouths are so dirty and agitated so often.   if it doesnt go down have your doctor give you an rx of corticosteroids! they work wonders, trust me.....ive been where you are many times     rawn

[travelingdad]

Thank you very much for your reply, and have a great Christmas!!

[Enoch Choi, MD]

if you had 2 courses of zpack that's reassuring that the infection should be gone

post-nasal drip can cause the lymph tissue (tonsils being lymph tissue) to swell and be painful

help3 is right, steroids help a lot

[travelingdad]

Thanks for the coments Dr. Choi.    How long should it take for the tonsil to return to it's normal size?  I've never had tonsil swelling last this long.

Thanks again for any insite that you can provide.

[Enoch Choi, MD]

it can take a loooong time.  many weeks, to months.

[laura444]

it sounds like  have the same problem, im worried sick mine on the left side what can i do its been like this for 5weeks now doctor said is a cysts

[mike6331]

me  too,  i have what appears to a swollen left tonsil.  it protrudes out beyond the pillar about an inch and appears engorged.  although,my right tonsil is barely visible (if retract my tongue it seems somewhat similar in size to my left, but not as swollen-like.  the left tonsil, as i said appears, engorged, shiny, has surface stuff (creavaces, small clear blisters) on it and easily visible.  the tissue looks the same color on both, pinkish/white. ive been to my gp and he said it was swollen from infection, viral probably. i do have other symptoms a fullness to my left ear and constant need to clear the throat. no fever

my questions are
what does a normal adult tonsil appear like and ?  
and can a healthy adult have one tonsil larger or appear to be larger than the other

[Shirley2190]

I have the same issue..of having my left tonsil larger than my right. Also the upper part on the palate area there is more tissue. I have gone to three different ENT's and they said it looked normal. Although one ENT said that yes the upper part there was some tissue but they all seemed unconcerned. Sometime I will feel pressure on that side and I am not sure if it is because it is connected to that sinus.I will also at times feel pressure at the eye on the same side. I also have what seems to be acid reflux (although I do not eat spicey foods) and burning throat and chest cough.  This has all been going on for 4 months and like everyone else just wanted to have my healthy self back. I also have a deviated septum on my right side so I cannot smell or breath well from that side.

I would also like to know what a normal adult tonsil looks like and if it is normal to have one different than the other. One of the ENT's said yes it was "asymetrical" but again unconcerned.

Sometimes Dr.'s don't listen but just prescribe medication.

[danielw]

I had my tonsils out in 2001 and ever since, I have had a need to constantly clear my throat. I have a moderate amount of phlegm (but isn't there a constant posterior drip of nasal fluids?). I have seen so many doctors who don't know anything. I have been told it was everything from acid reflux to psychosomatic. I tried a GERD diet and Prilosec and etc GERD drugs I never had this problem before and I don't have the acid taste in my mouth. I didn't have any stressful emotional events in that time and I am not afraid to speak and don't have something I want to say but can't. Nothing to date has helped. I am currently thinking of two different causes at this point 1) I went to a Chinese Herboligist and he said that it is a viral caused inflammation of my esophagus (faucitis) and he gave me "Qing Yan Li Ge Tang" Arctium Combination. (but isn't inflammation of the esophagus the same as GERD? or are there other types) 2) a few days after my surgery in 2001, I woke up in the early morning and found to be choking on blood. I went to the emergency room and they used nitric acid cauterization swabs to stop the bleeding in my throat. I think that this could've caused scar tissue which is vibrating and irritating my throat (I clear less when I am home alone silent and before eating vs. out and talking and moving. Plus it is really bad when I exercise). What do you think? Have you ever heard of this?