could this be very painful? my tonsils are swollen all the time and i go through periods of my throat hurting so badly inside, and my whole face ends up hurting for days, then it goes away awhile, comes back, you get the picture. this has been going on for at least a year. i know i've had tonsil stones before, but i can't see anything lately. going through a round of it now though and even when it isn't hurting, my tonsils are still swollen. i've gone through keflex, penicillin, and bottles of ibuprofen. the ibuprophen eases it up a little and so does the penecillin, but nothing kicks it's butt. i'm getting so run down. it sucks.

Playdoh, I did have a sore throat for a few days, but I've figured it was the stone's protusion rubbing the back of the throat. Since it ejected, I've been fine. My face never hurt or anything like that. Your sit sounds serious.

Reoccurant infections is one of the joys of hypothyroid.

Yup! I've had them.... It is totally disgusting!

A tonsillolith (or tonsil stone) is a ball-like accumulation of food particles, bacteria, leukocytes, and dried mucus in the folds of tonsils. These folds are referred to as crypts. The balls of bacteria and their waste products are colored white or yellow and have a very foul odor, especially when dislodged and broken. Tonsilloliths may contribute to halitosis and sore throats. Prevention methods include gargling salt water or a non-alcohol, non-sugar based mouth wash. Using a cotton swab, dipped in hydrogen peroxide, directly on the tonsil stones will dislodge them. The use of a water pick to clear out the crypts of accumulated debris may also help. A more drastic method, to have a tonsillectomy, is not usually indicated or recommended.

Wow! I just found out an acquaintance of mine has Tonsil Cancer! She had been having recurring sinus infections and they couldn't figure out why. Then someone actually looked at her tonsils. Its really rare and its usually men that drink and smoke who get it, she's none-of-the-above.

I used to have these all the time when I was a kid. If you are concerned about it see your doctor, but I think it is extreme to have them removed unless the doc tells you to do so. i have heard one theory regarding the purpose of your tonsils is that they are a first line of defense for your immune system. I still have mine.

I gotta say, when I first posted this, I truly didn't expect anyone to respond to anything this gross. In fact, I wondered if I was going to get a warning or something. I really appreciate all the responses here. You folks are really nice. Thanks.

Oh, haven't had any problems (that I know of) since that incident I mentioned. I've been rinsing with Hydrogen Peroxide and think that might be helping. I could desist and see if anything else forms . . . but why, oh, why would I want to do that to myself!

I used to get them when I was a teenager, long before I started low carbing. I remember I coughed and one flew out when I was on a train once - I had to move carriages, I was so embarrassed.

I was given anti biotics, but they kept coming back. I eventually had my tonsils out and after that I got white lumps on the scars where my tonsils had been. But all has been well for many years since then

Jo xxx

I used to have these and my husband has had them, too. I know he had to give up some food to get rid of them so there's hope for you maybe? I can't remember what food it was, but I'll ask him tonight. He just mentioned this the other day!

Oh man... I already dropped "sneeze nuggets" in this thread. Darn. Don't get the opportunity to do that often. SNEEZE NUGGETS! There... feel better now.

I had these things for a period of time and it was NOT when I was eating low carb.....in fact, just the opposite. YOu can google tonsil stones and get loads of info and things to do to help prevent them. Mine eventually went away.....but I still check my throat for them.

I also had one of those stones in my salivary gland....that was weird too. It eventually came out on its own but it made it swollen and sore before it did.