Something in the back of my throat?

[cawly]

I have felt like something is stuck in the back of my throat for 4 days now.

I am prone to canker sores but they are usually painful and in the front of my mouth.

I do not have any kind of gastro problem, but I did have a strain of HPV that caused removal of pre-cancerous cells earlier this year. I had read that women who have HPV sometimes get oral cancer.

It feels like a piece of food is back there and I just can't swallow it, it is on the right side of my throat. It does not look like a white spot nor a large bump.

[blondie72]

If you are a smoker maybe it has something to do with that also.  I would look in the mirror again like I suggested erlier and see if you see a white thing.  If you do it'll eventually shake itself loose.  Mine does not cause pain either and I can eat and breathe as well.    Good Luck

[sunshine4kev]

I also suffer from these little white yellowish balls on my tonsil in the back of my throat and it is annoying. I dig them out like my doctor told me because he suffers from it also. He says they are little food particles that get stuck back there and smell real bad and hurt until you remove them.  He told me to take a little bit of peroxide and water on a Q-tip and swab the back of your throat where the holes are and also the little white thing hanging. I did that and it goes away for awhile and then comes back. He says my tonsils are deteriating.  I don't know if that's what going on with you but that is my story also. Good luck

[JoAnnaRF]

Tonsils, Strep, or maybe a swollen uvula (that thing that hangs down) in the back of the throat.. Can't know unless you see your Doc. Sorry.
Good luck! J

[ateague]

Please schedule an appointment with your doctor.  There is no one here that can give you better advice than that.  It could be due to your HPV or it could be something as simple as swollen glands, but no one can tell you exactly what it is without a thorough examination.

[blondie72]

I sometimes get something in the back of my throat as well.  I open my mouth and say AHHH while looking in the mirror and it is a white thing sticking to something back there. It does not hurt it is just VERY annoying.  Someone told me it was a starch ball.  I can eventually get it out.  I just keep trying to clear my throat or you can try to hock a loogie (dont know how else to put it.)  That sometimes shakes my little thing loose.  Like I said I don't know if you have the same thing but that is my story.   Hope it helps.

[married_newfie_mommy]

does it feel as if you can't breathe properly? I had this and went to the ER..the dr checked me over and come to find out that I had an ear infection..took the antibiotics for 7 days and it went away..HTH

[cawly]

I can breathe and eat properly. It is not causing me any pain.

I can feel it more when I smoke.

[blondie72]

YES THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE.   I am so glad I am NOT alone w/this.  They do not hurt but they do smell really bad.  Like I said sometimes I can get them off by clearing/hocking my throat or even eating a peice of bread has gotten it off.  They do get annoying and sometimes feel like they can gag you.  Mine get pretty big sometimes.  Well thanks for describing what it is.  I could not quite get the description out.  LOL  Thanks

[Mahiya]

yeah,, i had that white spot also! it looked like a piece of food stuck there. at first i was worried about what it could be but after consulting an online forum, i found many people have it and they advised to take it off with your toothbrush. it sunded scary to reach your toothbrush deep there! i took courage and took it off with my finger. and it was gone. i didnt have it again. and hope i wont! but in your case, cawly, i would advise that u see your doc as u said it is not that white thing and because u smoke. i believe we should consult as soon as possible when we see things strange in any of our respiratory organs. because they r vital. maybe its only minor, which i hope it is, but please do consult.and keep us informed!
bye n take care..

[JoAnnaRF]

Usually white pockets on the back of the throat and laying on the tonsil like you guys are describing is STREP!! A simple test run at any FP office should be done. Takes like 5 minutes.  Done by swabbing the white pocket and entire back of throat with a large q-tip and tested right in the office. If positive it should be treated with antibiotics because case after case of untreated strep can result in Rheumatic Fever and damage to the heart. Yes the heart! So please, if you guys are seeing these white pockets, go see your family doc for a simple test!
(I am NOT trying to imply that ALL white pockets are Strep or that white pockets MUST be present to identify Strep.) I am NOT a doctor. Only your doc can dx you.

[SpaceCowgirl385]

I have it too. And you are right - it does smell really bad. I am so glad I'm not alone either. It looks almost like a very tiny piece of macaroni or something once you get it out. Does anyone know for sure what this is?

[pileggi girl]

Hello everyone this  is my first post but my question is similiar to the other.For the last few days it has been feeling like I have something stuck in my throat that I just can't seem to cough up well I happened to look in the mirror and said ahhh and far back in the back on the sides of my throat are these whitish yellowish spots well I got a q tip and started to rub them off they hurt a little after I rub them off and is a little blood and when I cough hard there is some bloody tinge spit.But they look like little plaque balls or something. What do you think this could be.It is so very annoying and a little scaryas well all help and feed back will be greatly appreciated.

[JoAnnaRF]

It sounds like Strep Throat. You need to see your Family Doc for a culture. Takes about 5 minutes and then a script for antibiotics. Strep is nothing to play with as it can lead to Rheumatic Fever and cause damage to the heart.
So get it checked out and don't mess with the white pockets since you can spread the infection.
Good Luck--J

[pumpkin78]

I also had this mysterious white thing in my throat.  My doctor said it is a very condensed ball of mucous/phlegm and they can get caught in the crevices of your tonsils.  He said they usually pop out on their own and aren't life threatening.  He said his daughter gets them a lot and the little ball o phlegm will actually pop out of her mouth while she is talking.  I know, gross! And yes, they do smell! After reading everyone's response though, I would get checked out just to make sure it isn't something else.  Good luck!

[renee42_ray38]

Your problems all seem simliar to mine, however, I tried to look at mine with a flashlight, and it is too far down, also, feels like it has a tendancy to be on the right side of my throat, but, it INDEED feels like phlegm and just STAYS there, I cannot blow it out, I cannot swallow it down, and it gags me.  I have had this for about three months, HOPING it will go away.  I sleep with a CPAP machine, but have only had that 2 weeks, so THAT can't be it.  I have a doctor's appt. on December 2nd, but, any suggestions???

[Jenna7873]

The little white "balls" in the tonsils are not necessarily strep.  They are tonsil stones or tonsilloliths (do a google search, you'll find plenty of info on them).  Both my sister and I suffered from this ailment.... it's bacteria/food particles that get stuck in the crypts of your tonsils (fun, huh?).  My sister, however, also had chronic tonsillitis with it and eventually had her tonsils out at 26 years of age.  Not a fun surgery, but no more antibiotics for inflamed tonsils and no more tonsil stones from her!  I asked my doctor about them once, because it would seem to me that degree of bacteria buildup in your tonsils would be indicative of a chronic infection, period, but he seemed to disagree and pass it off as no big deal.  The ARE however, nasty, uncomfortable, and smelly!  Good luck to all that have this.... I've tried lots of things to no avail in getting rid of them.  They seem to come and go (but are worse when I have post nasal drip/sinus issues).  If anyone has any other suggestions, I'd love to hear them!

[maddey1965]

I also feel like something is stuck in my throat.I don't have tonsils since i was 5.I ate something it it didn't go right.Been 8 days now.Its VERY annorying feeling.Will i be ok?

[Jemmy]

Hi, I've had the same problem except I can't see mine from looking down my throat.  I was tested for a pharangyal pouch at the ENT department but came back negative and the consultant has put me on gastro resistant tablets and nasal spray as I have sinus problems to boot.

Neither I feel are working, as I have brought up the creamy coloured particles twice in 2 days.  Am getting very down as I feel people can smell them on my breath and is very annoying having to play around with my neck to try and dislodge them.  Fingers crossed when I go back to the hospital in 2 weeks they can suggest something.

[Loobyloo68]

I have the same problem. I just pop them out when i can see them as they do really get irritating. I got told that it is plaque build up an food that gets stuck in your tonsil crevices. They dont hurt but annoying as my breath tends to smell when i have them aswel. Me and my sister call them tonsil terds.

Good luckX

[bzzzy1]

I, too, have this problem.  It seems to surface when I have eaten foods with waxy coatings, like chocolate covered candies.  To dislodge the tonsil stones, it sometimes helps to drink a soft drink like the lemon-lime kinds with a lot of carbonation.  I'm sure it's not scientifically proven, but it happens to be a coincidence that when I drink a fresh, cold lemon-lime soda, one of these annoying things surfaces.  Then, follow up with regular daily teeth brushing and mouthwash.  

[leelee82]

In July of 2004 I got my tonsils removed after seeing an ear nose ant throat specialist.  You see, I was coughing up those white, stinky balls about three times a week.  They would get stuck in the back of my throat, and made my breath smell so bad.  I told my dentist about it while I was getting my routine cleaning, and she referred me to the ear nose and throat speacialist.  He told me that since I was coughing them up so much, it was time to get my tonsils removed.  He said that they were a combination of old foods that I had eaten, and they would get stuck in the folds of my tonsils.  I have my toselictomy in July of 2004, and I haven't had any problems since then.

[miss_yung]

but i have like a purple spot on my tousil an i kinda itch what could it be?

[KILR]

Wow, you sound exactly like me.  I was just recently diagnosed with a strain of HPV.  I was still getting used to that when my gyno told me that I had mild displayia...(hope I spelled that right) and that I would need to have what is called a leep procedure.  Right now my body is healing from that and now in the last couple of months I have noticed something in the back of my throat. It is white and it really doesn't hurt, but is very annoying.  The first time I noticed I went to the doctor a few days later and I really do want to say that it was gone, but I truly can not remember... on that visit I was diagnosed with a really bad ear infection.  Just recently it (the white pocket) has made another appearance in the back of my throat and I dreading what it could be.  I really don't think I can handle anymore surprises right not.  I was always really healthy and what you could consider almost a goody-goody and after 2 boyfriends I have been diagnosed with HPV.  I know that my first was not the carrier of HPV he was also a virgin and I had a beautiful pap smear while we were dating and after we had broken up. My 2nd boyfriend, on the other hand still denies to this day that he cheated on me...I guess I will never really know for sure...

[mosaicofcirclez]

Hello. To those of you who have the white-yellow stuff in the back of your throat, it is called "cryptic tonsilitis". It happens when pockets in your throat either collect food, or it may be bacteria that grows there on its own, I have heard both theories. There is no cure that I have heard of, but it does help me to gargle with mouth wash every day. Also, it seems to be more prevalent when I have ingested some kind of dairy product like milk or yogurt. I know this sounds gross, but if they are making your throat sore, push on your tonsils with a wet q-tip and they will usually come out easily and your throat will feel better right away. I hope this is of some help.
- Christina