Tonsiloliths or tonsil stones

Now, this may be considered a little disgusting, so I'm just warning you before you read on (it's not exactly horrible, but the way some people found a blue toe nail disgusting, I'm not quite so sure, so there's the warning).

Anyway, do any of you suffer from tonsil stones/tonsiloliths? They are weird little yellowish lumps that like to nestle in your tonsils. You can sometimes feel them when you swallow and occationally cough them up (although they do have a fairly repungent smell). Just wondering if anybody else suffered from them and knew any ways of stopping them occuring other than having a tonsilectomy. Aparently they're fairly common, but it would just be interesting to see how common.

Not horrible, but not the nicest of topics. I did warn you though.

Now, this may be considered a little disgusting, so I'm just warning you before you read on (it's not exactly horrible, but the way some people found a blue toe nail disgusting, I'm not quite so sure, so there's the warning).

Anyway, do any of you suffer from tonsil stones/tonsiloliths? They are weird little yellowish lumps that like to nestle in your tonsils. You can sometimes feel them when you swallow and occationally cough them up (although they do have a fairly repungent smell). Just wondering if anybody else suffered from them and knew any ways of stopping them occuring other than having a tonsilectomy. Aparently they're fairly common, but it would just be interesting to see how common.

Not horrible, but not the nicest of topics. I did warn you though.

Oh my god its funny you say this! Ive got tonsilitis again for a start.

I dont have these yellow lumps on my tonsils, however, I do randomly cough up little bogie sized whiteish lumps occasionally, I just assumed they were balls of food caught in my throat! And they dont smell..

I know what you mean, I get the same. I thought I was the only one! They're really vile. Let's set up a support group!

Yeah, they're the ones. They look like grapefruit pips kinda. They only smell if you crush them (don't it's vile). Do you always get these or is it just whilst you've had tonsilitis? Apparently people who had lots of bouts of tonsilitis as a kid are more succeptable to them, but I've never had tonsilitis!

I had tonsilitis loads as a kid, and I got them when I didnt have tonsilitis, what treatment can you get for them? And what exactly do they do/why are they there?

From what I've read, they occur when the liquid which is discharged from the tonsils builds up instead of clearing due to it getting stuck in some people's tonsils. This fluid solidifies and grows larger until a tonsil stone forms. Unfortunately, this provides wonderful conditions for bacteria to live in, which break down the stones into sulphurous compounds (which is why they smell horrible if they break open). The only thing you can do to permanently stop them is to have your tonsils removed, but unless they occur frequently/cause bad breath/are regularly uncomfortable on the throat, it's nothing to worry about. Also, they're meant to be more common during teenage years then reduce in frequency. I've always had them, but very infrequently (like one every 2 months or so), but four have come out this week!

me too i thought i was the only one...its rather like the human equivelant of hairballs oh good...lets start the support group...they ming so bad :P

What is the procedure for having one's tonsils removed then? Local/general anaesthetic? How long in hospital? Does it affect one's voice (I sing)? *is scared*

whats the point of tonsils? are they like the appendix?

whats the point of tonsils? are they like the appendix?

whats the point of tonsils? are they like the appendix?