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WHITE BALLS IN THROAT

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 4/22/2008 11:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hey All,

This is going to sound kind of gross but right before I was dx with CD I started getting tiny white balls in my throat. Well, when I got on Remicade (about six months ago) I started getting them ALL of the time. I talked with my Gastro doc and he said that it is my lymphatic system working (which I totally believe). I'm just wondering if anybody else gets these nasty little things.

They form in the crevices of my tonsils and I have to dig them out with a water pix or chopstick. I have even poked a hole through my tonsils with a chopstick! My throat doesn't hurt at all (though my tonsils bleed like crazy when I dig balls out) but they do make my breath smell and taste nasty if I don't clean my throat out daily (which I do).

Does anybody else have this prob? Please let me know!
Posted 4/22/2008 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
You really need to see a ENT doc about that. It sounds like cryptic tonsilitis.
Posted 4/22/2008 11:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,
I have the same thing. As far as I know they are called cryptic tonsils and there really is not much you can do about it short of getting your tonsils taken out. This is just what I have read. I know I have read things on this board about other people with this. I use Q-tips to clean out my tonsils, it doesn't irritate them as much as something that may be harder. Sometimes I can't get it all the way out from deep inside the tonsil, but I always give up when my tonsil starts to bleed. Try looking up cryptic tonsils. You may find something helpful.
Posted 4/22/2008 11:41 PM (GMT 0)
I've had them once or twice. One really hard, large one once. They look like cottage cheese. Except that one big one was rather yucky yellowish. I "think" in the dim recesses of what is left of my mind, they are called "smegma"??
Posted 4/22/2008 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
I get them too nasty little things .lol gail
Posted 4/23/2008 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
I've never gotten one, but I have perfectly normal (i.e. non-Crohn's nor any other immune issue) friends that do. They told me that they're called tonsil stones / tonsilloliths.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonsillolith

Posted 4/23/2008 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
i think i saw this on the board before ...they are tonsil stones. they are fairly common.

here's what wikipedia has to say: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonsillolith
Posted 4/23/2008 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah, but look how similar it is to tonsillitis:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonsillitis
Posted 4/23/2008 1:24 AM (GMT 0)
Ugh, I feel bad for all of you. Sounds horrible to go through. Yikes! Take care and I hope you figure it out.
Posted 4/23/2008 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
yeah i get those too, seems to be after i was diagnosed but when i really think about it maybe i had it before and never noticed it, i asked my docotor and he said something about your system cleaning itself out so i never really thought more about. glad i am not the only one with this. i was telling someone when iw as trying to explain it was like my tonsil were pooping little white balls lol!

Posted 4/23/2008 1:57 AM (GMT 0)
Dr May had a neat nickname for them and darn if I can remember what is was!!!! Gads, but I miss Dr May!!! I just can NOT forgive CCFA for taking him away from us!!! I just can't. Not even after all this while.
Posted 4/23/2008 2:42 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all SO MUCH for your comments! I especially liked the "pooping little white balls" comment! My hubby and I got in a good laugh! Again, thank you all!
Posted 4/23/2008 9:31 AM (GMT 0)
wow! a problem ive never had! this makes my day! sure your not eating marshmallows? :0)
Posted 4/23/2008 9:32 AM (GMT 0)
and im surprised no one has cracked funny yet with this title...
Posted 4/23/2008 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
Tonsil Stones are irregularly shaped, whitish/yellow, foul-smelling globs of mucous and bacteria that get caught in the back of the throat. They form in the tonsil crypts which are simply small pockets or divots that appear in everyones tonsils. The scientific name for these white globs is tonsilloliths.

http://www.tonsilstones.com/

That sounds so disgusting, but apparently keeps the germs from travelling deeper in the throat. Nasty yet beneficial. LOL.
Posted 4/23/2008 6:02 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds horrible and I do hope you will see and ENT about this asap,as MMMNAVY posted

Others have some good input as well
Keep us posted

Interesting reading on the links provided

Thanks all

LYN
**Randy.am sure someone will come along and do a a funny about the title of this thread....
Posted 4/25/2008 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
tsitodawg,

Have you gotten sick more (cold, etc) now that you have had your tonsils taken out? Let me know! Take Care!
Posted 4/25/2008 3:04 PM (GMT 0)
We called them "bad breath balls" when we were kids. I had them and my friends had them. I did have my tonsils out in my late teens . . . but I've not had these since I was a child. Blessings!
Posted 4/27/2008 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
I get them too and have for years..they give u bad breath and i dig them out too with qtips cuz they make me feel like I have something caught in my throat....saw an ent for them and she said they were no big deal..so i was like okay whatever

I looked them up on the internet...and they said reducing sugar can help them not appear!
Posted 4/27/2008 12:01 PM (GMT 0)
I just want to reiterate I think you need to see an ENT doc about this. I do not care if it is something benign, it is what if it isn't something benign.
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4. Use good judgement. NEVER rely on information or opinions exchanged via the forums or chat rooms to replace necessary, personal consultation(s) with qualified health or medical professionals to meet your individual health or medical needs. Remember that what's right or has worked for one person may not be what's right for you.
Posted 4/27/2008 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
could be tonsilloliths, could be a yeast/fungal thing.  See an ENT.
Posted 4/27/2008 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
Randy, I am trying to resist. Sorry lilturbo, I dont have tonsils anymore. Has your doc suggested maybe its time to remove yours ? Also maybe you should sit back further from the ping pong table. OK, I could not help it, sorry...
Posted 4/27/2008 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
Regular or mini-marshmallows??

Cleaning your tonsils with Q-tips??? Gagggg!! This is so gross! Euuuwwwwe!!!
Posted 4/27/2008 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
I have talked to my doc about it and he said that it is simply my lymphatic system working. I don't have a sore throat or anything and they don't hurt, just smell really bad. I guess I should go to an ENT.

My doc told me I didn't need to see an ENT b/c I don't have a sore throat, but these things really are disgusting and appear on a regular basis. I had them every now and then in college (no big deal, maybe once every six months or so) but then started getting them more frequently before I was diagnosed. I didn't start getting them on a regular basis until I got on remicade (eek).

Thank you all so much for your input! I will keep you updated =)
Posted 4/27/2008 9:17 PM (GMT 0)
Awwwww, poor FallColors, what are you gonna do if you ever had to change a baby's poopy diaper or clean up a baby's vomit?? devil
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