Another Story from a reader!
March 1st, 2008
I first noticed tonsil stones about 14 years ago. I have always had issues with my tonsils, very large and prone to tonsilitis. My mom took me to the pediatrician when I told her about this stuff being stuck in my tonsils. We were hopeful that he would agree they should be taken out. Not so much. Instead he laughed at us and told us that he wasn’t going to suggest that they be taken out because ‘food’ gets stuck there.
For many years, it was manageable. I would get them sporadically and I would remove them without it being too big of a deal. Around age 22 though, they started to become a lot more frequent and became considerably bigger. I would have to clean my tonsils out every few weeks or so. This was still manageable at the time, but it became more weary about it because it was common for me to poke a hole in my tonsils trying to get a stone out. It made me nervous when they would bleed. I can remember twice when a (very large stone) would suddenly become dislodged on its own and I would swallow the nasty sucker. The thought that I had swallowed one of the stones made me sick to my stomach. Gross. And when I say large, I am talking the size of pencil erasers. These definitely were the small little specks that I had first noticed 8 years ago.
As time went on, it continued to get worse. For about a year, I was cleaning my tonsils out weekly. What finally pushed me over the edge was that one time (now age 28), after cleaning my tonsils out, I got a really huge sore along the back of my throat. It was EXTREMELY painful and I felt was a result of me always messing with my tonsils. I finally called to make and appointment with an ENT. I made a long mental list about why I needed them out and was prepared to plea my case to her (since I had read on many message boards that ENTs are reluctant to take them out.) Lucky for me, I picked an AWESOME doctor and as soon as I said that I had been having tonsil stones for half my life and wanted my tonsils out, she simply said ‘Okay’. She briefly explained to me what to expect and then had me schedule my surgery.
I am right now 8 days post-op and am so happy with my decision. I was kind of nervous about the recovery because all you read on message boards is about how painful it is. I am here to tell you, it is NOT that bad. Of course it isn’t fun, but it is definitely manageable. I drank LOTS of cold water, which is really supposed to help the healing process, and regularly took my pain medicine. 6 days after the surgery I got lots of pain in my jaw joint after lots of talking or chewing. I took some ibuprofen for that and that pain too then became manageable. That 6th day was my worst day. Yesterday was much better. It was also my post-op appointment. My doctor told my that my tonsils were very nasty. They were full of stones and that I made a good decision to have them taken out.
Today has been great. I have been eating normal foods (not just noodles with sauce that I had been eating). Plus, I haven’t taken any pain meds in 12 hours. I really think (and hope!) that the worst is over. I wanted to share my story so that others who are scared to get their tonsils out, know that there are people out there who have had very good experiences with the surgery and to not put it off. One week of recovery time is definitely worth never having to pick at my tonsils again.
Entry Filed under: stories
8 Comments Add your own
1. emily | March 6th, 2008 at 4:23 am
hey! thank you so much for this post. i’m 20, and my boyfriend and i both get these “tonsil stones,” or tonsilloliths, as i have JUST learned they are officially called. i’ve had the problem for about a year now and i brought it up to him, and was delightfully surprised to know i wasn’t alone when he told me he had them too! we’ve been debating having our tonsils removed, as well as his adnoids (he snores at night too because of the lack of room in the back of his throat… his tonsils are so much BIGGER than mine!) so we’ve decided to do it at the same time and recover together. i have been scared out of my mind about how much it’s going to hurt, but this really helped me to put it into perspective. i don’t want these stones to get worse over time… i definitely don’t want to have to deal with the irritation of cleaning them out and the horrible smell they give off for my whole life. you’re right- i can deal with a week of pain after getting those annoying suckers chopped off immediately, and then i’ll never have to worry about tonsil cheese again!
2. Luke | March 12th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Hey, after reading that, I’m feeling more confident about this procedure, thanks a bunch. I hate those things! I just hope I can get my insurance to cover it.
3. Ida | May 29th, 2008 at 2:26 am
Many Thanks for all of you letting me know that I might not need to die, I been asking and thinking inside of myself, and asking myself each day what the hell I have in my mouth, I thought I was the only one who has this problem on earth. I was so scare to tell anyone even my family. I seen a doctor two years ago and the only thing he told me was that is call tonsil stone, and he seens nothin can cure it, and they keep coming out in back of my throu. Can someone please tell me what kind of doctor would help to do surgery to remove them. Please help me.
4. margarita | July 15th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
thank you. can you give me the name of that ENT. i’m in s. california.
5. Rosie Gonzales | September 26th, 2008 at 4:06 am
Hi…I leave in Rancho Cucamonga, Ca can I have the name of your ENT…please ;}
6. keyana | October 7th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
hi after reading your story i felt like going to the hospital but im only 10 years old and get them they smell like poop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7. shannon | October 8th, 2008 at 2:45 am
I have those ” Stink Balls”. I also have the awful taste in my mouth. I thought I was crazy and have been going to Doctors since I was 9 years old. I am now37. I have for two weeks now had such swollen tonsils that at points I cannot breath or swallow. I live in Vancouver Canada and I need an ENt to remove them before I choke to death.A ny one know of a good ENT up here.
8. Sara | October 13th, 2008 at 4:00 am
Way to go! I went to the doctor about a year about said the same thing about having food in my tonsils and they laughed. Just tonight I found out what it really was! It’s amazing and crazy; I can’t believe I’m not the only one. I’m gettin and ENT, and I’m not taking no for an answer, because I’m the one paying them and it’s my body.
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