Hatrack River Forum: (Probably stupid) Medical Question

This is topic (Probably stupid) Medical Question in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by katdog42 (Member # 4773) on :

I know, I know... medical questions... go see a doctor. The thing is, I'm not sick nor am I really worried about this. I'm mostly just curious.

For years, I have frequently had white spots coming from my tonsils. Usually they develop, linger for a day or two and then fall out. They are typically small and kind of crumble when they come out. They rarely hurt and I don't really think much about them. This happens maybe once a week. Though many people look at me like I'm nuts when I tell them about this I know of at least one other person who has experienced something similar so I never thought it was totally odd.

The last couple of weeks, though, the chunks have been coming far more frequently, like, probably one a day has fallen out. Sometimes my tonsils hurt a little, especially when I wake up in the morning. Also, when the stuff comes out, lately there has also been some oozing, like a fluid also coming out of the hole in my tonsil.

I have tried to find any reference to this phenomena on the internet and can't seem to find anything. At the moment, I am not terribly bothered by this, but I was just wondering if someone out there could tell me what's going on and if I should for any reason be concerned.

Thanks!

Posted by xnera (Member # 187) on :

Tonsil stones, perhaps?

Posted by Libbie (Member # 9529) on :

Yep, tonsil stones. I get 'em, too. They're hella gross. If you have a fever or any other unusual symptoms, their flare-ups could be a sign of other problems, but my doc said that they're usually caused by eating foods that irritate your throat (spicy, lactosey, whatever irritates you personally). Since you have a little bit of noticeable oozing and some minor pain, it might be good to have a doc check you out, but they'll probably end up telling you that you have some kind of low-grade throat infection and give you some antibiotics that you probably won't even need to fight it off.

Are your lymph glands in your throat or armpits a little swollen and tender? That is a sign that you're fighting an infection somewhere in the head/neck region.

Posted by katdog42 (Member # 4773) on :

Thanks for the info. I would never have thought to search for tonsil stones which is why I never managed to find anything about them.

Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :

[Smile]

Gotta love the folks at Hatrack.

Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :

Is THAT what they're called?

Sheesh, I've had those things my whole life, and I've never bothered to wonder what they were.

Good to know!

Posted by B34N (Member # 9597) on :

I used to get them a lot. Never had a clue what they were and then was dating someone who got them and we couldn't figure out what they were called. Hatrack is so awesome, who knew you could learn great stuff like this on a general forum.

Awesome!

Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :

from xnera's link

quote:
Microscopic studies of these tonsilloliths have shown them to contain a combination of food particles, bacteria, oral debris, and white blood cells in a concentrically laminated pattern -- rather like a pearl.

Cool! You are making people pearls! [Laugh]

Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :

How interesting! I've never heard of these before!

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

I have one comment: eeeeew.

Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Farmgirl:
Cool! You are making people pearls!

eeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwww is right! [Smile]

Posted by Samarkand (Member # 8379) on :

I know that if I say this I may be struck down with some pustule or rotting illness of some kind - but that's pretty gross.

Posted by xnera (Member # 187) on :

[Smile]

Glad I could help!

I just heard about tonsil stones earlier this year. I don't get them, or if I do, they're very small. So how did I find out about them? From a TMI community on LiveJournal, where someone had posted pictures of his tonsil stones. EWWWW! is right. [Big Grin]

But I also thought it was fascinating, once I heard what they were. The body is amazing, isn't it? [Cool]