Is there any way to stop those wretched white tonsil nuggets from forming?
And is this a legitimate reason to have my tonsils out??
I can’t stand them!
Those white thingies are called tonsilloliths, and apparently some people do get their tonsils out to avoid them. I get them, but I’m not so bothered that I want surgery to correct the problem.
Dr. Hoffman (dunno who he is, but he’s Google’s #1 tonsillolith guy) recommends gargling, but does say that he’ll take out tonsils as a last resort.
Other links:
http://www.drgreene.com/960612.asp
http://www.nsfreshbreath.com/q_once_i.html
http://www.kids-ent.com/letters.html
I find that gargling usually takes care of them, myself.
I have the same problem and half the time it’s a serious throat infection (1 times too few to have them out) but the rest of the time it doesn’t even hurt.
My ear-nose-throat doctor explained it as thus:
I have large tonsils with deep “pockets” in them and those pockets collect food and that white crud is food/food bacteria and it’s not harmful. Unless you are experiencing bad breath that you can’t stand, these pockets are no reason to have the buggeres removed.
I have heard that adults don’t recover as quickly from tonsilectomys as children do.
You should see a doc Bingo so you can find out what’s happening. If you can’t afford it, call a hospital & ask them where you can get it done for free. Usually you get worked on by interns though.
Zipper…you have grossed me out beyond belief. Because you have reminded me of the disgusting things and what I remember them to be…not spots on top of a smooth surfaced tonsil, which would be revolting enough, but, as you say, trenches of goo.
I was so revolted by them that I used to attempt to use hairpins to de-goo them which of course resulted in nothing more than my gagging and choking.
thank god someone had the good sense to have the damn things sliced outta my throat. Oh, and that was really fun, too. I was 15 years years old, and still not particularly clear on the fact that I would emerge from this adventure with quarter-sized open wounds on both sides of my throat. Fun!
Well, my work here is done. Ta ta!
stoid
That’s nothing.
I get them so often ('bout every two or three days), that I can stick my pinky finger in there and pry them out without so much as gag, since I am so used to it.
Tell me, would my insurance cover me getting my friggin tonsils removed? I want them gone so bad.