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What Causes Sensation Of Something Stuck In The Throat?
Question: I have been sick for the past four days with a stuffed up nose and throat-- coughing, blowing my nose, etc. Well, I coughed up what resembled to be a 1/8" in diameter piece of cottage cheese that had been left out for a day. Attached is a google image resembling what my thing looked like. It smelled like a cross between feces and decay. After hitting up Google to make sure I didn't have lung cancer (I'm a five cigarette a day smoker), I discovered what a tonsil stone is. God, I hope this is a one time thing that is only occurring because I'm sick. What are my chances of recovering from my sickness and never seeing these nasty embarrassing things again? I'm 30 years old. Surely if it was a recurring thing I'd meet them earlier in my life, right? I'm going to the movies on a date tonight as well. Tell me some good news Doc!
Brief Answer:
could be a tonsil stone
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
the smell you've mentioned and the appearance make a tonsillolith possible. Tonsilloliths may dislodge when eating or coughing.
Other diagnoses are less likely since foul smelling material means anaerobes. Anaerobes coming from the lungs would have caused serious pneumonia, not a rather mild upper respiratory tract infection. Tonsilloliths may form again. They may cause bad breath (as bad as they smell), so be prepared for your date!
I hope it helps!
Kind Regards!
could be a tonsil stone
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
the smell you've mentioned and the appearance make a tonsillolith possible. Tonsilloliths may dislodge when eating or coughing.
Other diagnoses are less likely since foul smelling material means anaerobes. Anaerobes coming from the lungs would have caused serious pneumonia, not a rather mild upper respiratory tract infection. Tonsilloliths may form again. They may cause bad breath (as bad as they smell), so be prepared for your date!
I hope it helps!
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I already understood that I had tonsil stones, but this is my first instance of encountering them. My question to you is, considering that I'm currently sick and am 30 years old and have never encountered them in my life before, what are my odds of never encountering them ever again?
Brief Answer:
you may have more stones in the future...
Detailed Answer:
Medical literature cannot provide adequate answers to your question. Do not expect to find a percentage or something like that. What seems reasonable to believe is that the formation of a stone, means that the conditions for its formation were met. It also means that you have a crypt which is predisposed to gather material and anaerobes. Since the removal of the stone does not correct the tonsil anatomy, more stones may form in the future.
Being sick does not change anything. You are not expected to have more stones because you're sick right now.
I hope it answers your question...
Please contact me again, if you'd like further information.
Kind Regards!
you may have more stones in the future...
Detailed Answer:
Medical literature cannot provide adequate answers to your question. Do not expect to find a percentage or something like that. What seems reasonable to believe is that the formation of a stone, means that the conditions for its formation were met. It also means that you have a crypt which is predisposed to gather material and anaerobes. Since the removal of the stone does not correct the tonsil anatomy, more stones may form in the future.
Being sick does not change anything. You are not expected to have more stones because you're sick right now.
I hope it answers your question...
Please contact me again, if you'd like further information.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
OK Dr. Zografakis, I accept that I can't expect a percentage of recurrence statistic from you. But I have one more question...
You mentioned that "the conditions for the formation of the tonsil stone were met" but you also said that "being sick does not change anything."
Can I hope that my being sick is one of the "conditions" and that I can hope a recurrence doesn't happen until I'm sick again? I ask because I'm rarely sick and the thought that I need not worry about meeting these things again until the next time I'm sick is something I might be okay with.
You mentioned that "the conditions for the formation of the tonsil stone were met" but you also said that "being sick does not change anything."
Can I hope that my being sick is one of the "conditions" and that I can hope a recurrence doesn't happen until I'm sick again? I ask because I'm rarely sick and the thought that I need not worry about meeting these things again until the next time I'm sick is something I might be okay with.
Brief Answer:
being sick is not one of the conditions...
Detailed Answer:
You've mentioned symptoms of common cold (stuffy & runny nose, sore throat, etc). This kind of infections are not supposed to cause more stone formation. Too many bouts of tonsillitis may increase the risk for stone formation though. Poor oral hygiene increases the risk too.
Having expelled a stone now that you're sick was a pure coincidence. The stone was not formed after you got sick. It was there. You just coughed forcefully enough for the stone to dislodge and be expelled...
being sick is not one of the conditions...
Detailed Answer:
You've mentioned symptoms of common cold (stuffy & runny nose, sore throat, etc). This kind of infections are not supposed to cause more stone formation. Too many bouts of tonsillitis may increase the risk for stone formation though. Poor oral hygiene increases the risk too.
Having expelled a stone now that you're sick was a pure coincidence. The stone was not formed after you got sick. It was there. You just coughed forcefully enough for the stone to dislodge and be expelled...
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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