Question:
ATTN: Doctors, or anyone - What could these strange bits from my throat be?
OK. This is alittle embarrassing and gross. I have had these mysterious things that come up from my throat that are waxy-looking, whitish-beige in color, they're small and cratered looking (looks like a miniature asteroid!), and they SMELL REALLY BAD. I don't believe it has anything to do w/ my WLS which I had on 5/21/01 (open distal RNY) because I used to get this once in a while before surgery. My sister said she gets those things once in a while too (she never had WLS, only gallbladder removal). Anyway, I haven't had them in some time but now they're back. Its like, I can feel that something is in my throat, and when I cough, they come up. WHAT IN THE WORLD CAN THESE THINGS BE?! They're disgusting! — lalasmommy (posted on June 13, 2001)
June 13, 2001
I think what you are describing is from your tonsils. The tonsils filter
out infection and create these hard nugget like formations. It really isn't
anything to worry about, and in fact I guess it is a sign that your tonsils
are doing their job!
— [Anonymous]
June 13, 2001
I think what you are describing is a food bolus. You may want to search
the Internet for a better definition, but basically it means a mass of
food. Probably working its way back up, is all. Happened to me after I
had my appendectomy. Good Luck!
— Allie B.
June 13, 2001
They are from your tonsils. My tonsils were heavily pitted from an
accident and years of severe tonsilitis. Those little bits would hide in
the crevices and occasionally come out, or I could actually pick them out
with a toothpick. I have no idea what they are exactly, some combination
of food bits trapped in the tonsil area, something like ear wax? I do know
that when my tonsils were removed a few years ago, the problem stopped!
Kate
— kateseidel
June 13, 2001
your tonsils break down bacteria and thats the finished product, if it's
excessive you should see your doctor, it could be a sign of infection.
— [Anonymous]
June 13, 2001
Finally...I have an answer. I have had these things for over 15 years. I
only get them every few months...I'll cough up a few, then nothing for 3 or
4 months. I always thought I was wierd. Everyone I asked about them would
look at me funny. That is so wierd to finally know what they are.
— imano1momy
June 13, 2001
Hi There. FINALLY someone else has experienced this. Though, i'm sorry to
hear it! I get very, very bad sinus infections. To the point where I cannot
talk for weeks at a time. Once I was talking and all of a sudden I felt
something break loose from the the end of my nasal passage and fall into my
throught. Being extremly inquizative, I popped it out and looked at it. It
looked like a huge, green, cottage cheese consistency ASTERIOD. It smelled
TERRIBLE. I called the Doc right away he said "prepare for a sinus
infection" - and low and behold two days later I got one. My mom also
told me when i was a child I had problems with STREP throught and
tonsilitis constantly and used to bring up the same types of icky stuff.
— Trisha V.
June 14, 2001
Hey, I get those too. They've gotten worse in the past couple years and
they're so icky. Someone told me it might be thrush. No, not thrush,
don't freak out. I actually asked my doctor because I know they give me
bad breath. She told me, as others have said, not to worry, it's just your
tonsils, nothing to worry about. She said that I could rinse with
saltwater or a mouthwash and really try to get the fluid in there and
"knock them loose". She recommended using a Q-tip to get them
out. However, I'm like a previous poster, I go for the toothpick. If I
get the light just right I can get a good look at them and get them out
once they get big enough and situated right. It is very annoying and I
hate thinking I might have bad breath and not realize it. Brushing your
teeth doesn't help because the smell is coming from behind them. I'm so
glad to see all the posts about this. We are all in this together. :)
— kcanges
June 14, 2001
Hi! I just wanted to add my two cents worth--and that's probably all it is
worth!! :-) Anyway, according to doctors' that I have been to, those
"things" can be one of two things--1)just bits of food, etc. that
have gotten caught in pits of your tonsils...in that case, nothing to worry
about. 2) (and this was my problem) indication of an infection. I had
these "things" and it was, in me, an indication of either a sinus
infection or, more often than not, strep throat. I had my tonsils out and
now I no longer have those granules and no more strep. My tonsils were
just nasty.....if you are running a fever or have a really sore throat, you
should see your doctor about them. If not, just pick 'em out. :-)
((((HUGS))))
— Sharon N.
June 14, 2001
I just couldn't help but post. YUCKO!!! As many posts as we see where
somebody warns about something "gross", this by far has grossed
me out the most...not that I won't live through it :-). I don't think I've
ever appreciated the fact that I had my tonsils taken out when I was 7, but
I sure do now!!
— tlg6056
June 14, 2001
I have this same problem, and thought I was a freak!! My dentist of all
people, asked me about them, because when he cleaned my teeth, he could see
them on my tonsils, asking if I was sick with strep. I asked my doc about
it, and he told me that it is similar to plaque build up on your teeth.
Smells just the same. It's harmless, and you have nothing to worry
about.......
— Deborah P.
June 14, 2001
I had the same thing happen to me, it happened whil;e I was taking Phen
Phenn. The next week I found out I was 6 weeks pregnant and stopped the
PhenPhenn. I had a healthy 8 pounds 21 inch baby boy.
— Heather C.
June 19, 2001
The tonsils contain many pits and pockets...called cyrpts. These, in some
people, tend to become impacted with white foul-smelling(especially to the
owner) debris that is composed of bacteria and dead cells. It may cause a
low grade intermittent sore throat. Antibiotics are only transiently
helpful. Some people will use various mechanical picks and swabs to
attempt removal. The only consistent cure is a tonsillectomy.... although
the problem often is minor enough that no therapy is necessary.
— [Anonymous]
January 25, 2002
OK, I'm going to answer my own question because I FINALLY found out the
medical name for these disgusting suckers. Hopefully this will be helpful
to you guys out there who wrote saying that you get the same thing. These
things are called TONSILLOLITHS. You can read about them on
MedicineNet.com. They also refer to them as "tonsil stones" but
medically they are called tonsilloliths. I was so thrilled to finally have
a medical name for them rather than referring to them as just "things
stuck in my throat". Anyway, MedicineNet.com explains that you get
these tonsilloliths from repeated infections of the tonsils. My dentist
told me the other day that the tonsils enlarge when there is an infection
present because they're fighting the infection but in some people they
don't shrink back after the infection is gone but they just stay enlarged.
Then you get these pockets/crypts which trap these stones for a while until
it loosens and you either cough it up or swallow it (YUK!). So, as many of
you mentioned, I may be looking at surgery for getting my tonsils removed
which I'm all scared about. But these things are so gross and annoying that
I know it's something I want to do.
— lalasmommy
January 25, 2002
My husband tried to explain these gross things to me....I looked at him
like an alien...of course, I haven't had my tonsils since I was 6. He will
be so happy with this explaination. ANd why I never "got" it. We
are a fountain of information about mundane and gross body issues, aren't
we?
— M. A. B.
September 2, 2009
I don't know if you are still suffering from this issue since you wrote
this post back in 2001, but I had the same issue prior to me even
considering RYN. I went to an ENT the little white spots are calcium
deposits. THey are harmless but I could have my tonsils removed. Which I
did, however, for about a year after the surgery it always felt like
something was still in my throat. It went away for a while and now since
having RYN surgery less than a month ago. I have started to feel that
something in back in my throat again and have sever bad breath. My kids
don't even want to kiss me! I hope that your situation has worked out!
— Lauren M.
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