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Original poster

What's this on my tonsil? [GROSS PIC]

48 replies

EwwwTonsil · 13/12/2022 09:54

Disclaimer: this isn't my photo, it's one I found online which looks exactly like my tonsil. I couldn't get a clear photo of mine so googled and there was someone else wondering the same thing. So apologies for the random gross throat!

Woke up with a sudden, stabbing pain in the left side of my throat on Friday morning, didn't think to check it til Saturday when I started feeling lousy generally, and saw something like this. There's also a few other whitish spots dotted around both tonsils.

DD is a teacher and there's lots of Strep A in her school at the moment so called 111 to be on the safe side as I'm immunocompromised. They immediately diagnosed Strep (without actually seeing my throat!) and put an urgent prescription for Pen V through. I've been taking it since Saturday night and while the pain has lessened (as have other symptoms like fatigue and slight feverishness), the gungey tonsils remain gungey.

Now scaring myself witless that I have throat cancer (I have HA and it's driving me barmy at the moment). It's the blood vessels over the white bit that have me worried. No GP appointment available til goodness knows when. I was at the dentist a fortnight ago however and keep trying to tell myself that if there were anything untoward he would have noticed it.

Can anyone put my mind at rest, or offer any advice? How long would the penicillin take to clear the pus if it was actually strep? And do I need to bother my GP?

TIA 💐

OP posts:
SunshineClouds1 · 13/12/2022 09:58

Tonsil stone

picklemewalnuts · 13/12/2022 09:58

I can't, but I can bump your post. It looks more like an abscess to me, but have exactly zero expertise. Sorry.

picklemewalnuts · 13/12/2022 10:00

Not a tonsil stone, I don't think. They are open to the surface at the point you see them- in crevices, not under the skin.

When I have a manky throat (technical term), it's more like white patches on top of the skin. That looks like pus underneath the skin. Like a boil waiting to erupt.

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HeatAndEat · 13/12/2022 10:01

Quinsy. Just part of tonsillitis

Yesthatismychildsigh · 13/12/2022 10:01

Doesn’t look like a tonsil stone in this case, looks infected. Tonsillitis.

DisneyPrincesss · 13/12/2022 10:01

Is yours definitely under the skin OP like that? If not, I'd say tonsil stone. Try and flick it out with a cotton bud.

BMW6 · 13/12/2022 10:04

Could be Quinsy. Get to your GP. I ended up in hospital on a AB drip with mine and had the horror of the abcess bursting 🤑

Original poster
EwwwTonsil · 13/12/2022 10:05

I'm fairly sure it's not a tonsil stone, DD used to get them and it doesn't look (or smell!) like one. I'm concerned that it looks infected. I've googled quinsy and scared myself shitless - I did think that could be a possibility as it's mainly on one side. Will the penicillin get rid of it if that's what it is?

OP posts:
Original poster
EwwwTonsil · 13/12/2022 10:06

BMW6 · 13/12/2022 10:04

Could be Quinsy. Get to your GP. I ended up in hospital on a AB drip with mine and had the horror of the abcess bursting 🤑

Oh my god 🤢

Glad you're ok now!

OP posts:
Original poster
EwwwTonsil · 13/12/2022 10:07

Yesthatismychildsigh · 13/12/2022 10:01

Doesn’t look like a tonsil stone in this case, looks infected. Tonsillitis.

I've never had tonsillitis before - is the weird veiny bit normal for tonsillitis?

OP posts:
picklemewalnuts · 13/12/2022 10:08

The ABs will sort it pretty fast, usually. You do need them though (assuming it's getting worse, not better). Mention quinsy on the phone.

HeatAndEat · 13/12/2022 10:08

Totally normal.
Should take a week to clear up.

Original poster
EwwwTonsil · 13/12/2022 10:09

If it's any help, it's not swollen at all - it's only very slightly raised from my tonsil iyswim. Not like a big bulgy boil.

OP posts:
IkaBaar · 13/12/2022 10:11

Is it a cyst or an occluded crypt? My DH had occluded crypt, the GP said it would burst eventually when he ate something sharp like crisps! DH has very pitted tonsils from having lots of tonsillitis.

The only way you will know is showing it to a medical professional though!

Original poster
EwwwTonsil · 13/12/2022 10:18

IkaBaar · 13/12/2022 10:11

Is it a cyst or an occluded crypt? My DH had occluded crypt, the GP said it would burst eventually when he ate something sharp like crisps! DH has very pitted tonsils from having lots of tonsillitis.

The only way you will know is showing it to a medical professional though!

Some of the similar photos online suggest a cyst which apparently need no treatment unless they're bothersome. Best case scenario I think!

My mind really does work overtime whenever I have anything wrong and I always immediately assume the worst. It's never a sore throat, it's always throat cancer, for example. (And yes I'm getting help for my anxiety but it's a slow process!)

OP posts:
picklemewalnuts · 13/12/2022 10:30

If it's not bothering you, then there's no need to put yourself through the trauma that is accessing medical care at the moment!

If you're getting worse, got a temperature, feels like the swelling is getting in the way, or you can't swallow then best get advice.

When are you next due at the dentist? They'll be able to reassure you re cancer, I'd think.

Original poster
EwwwTonsil · 13/12/2022 10:46

picklemewalnuts · 13/12/2022 10:30

If it's not bothering you, then there's no need to put yourself through the trauma that is accessing medical care at the moment!

If you're getting worse, got a temperature, feels like the swelling is getting in the way, or you can't swallow then best get advice.

When are you next due at the dentist? They'll be able to reassure you re cancer, I'd think.

I was at the dentist two weeks ago and I know he checks for cancers, and he didn't mention anything. So I'm trying to reassure myself with that.

I had a temperature over the weekend and felt manky generally but that seems to have improved now - today I just feel a bit tired and my throat feels scratchy. But that could be because I'm stretching my mouth open every five minutes to check it!

We've had four really rubbish Christmases with illness, lockdowns and whatnot so I'm hoping that whatever this is resolves quickly and doesn't ruin another one!

Thank you for your reassurance 💐

OP posts:
ItsNotReallyChaos · 13/12/2022 10:50

I'm also immunocompromised and I wouldn't mess around with this. We know we might not fight off infection as well as the next person. I'd phone the surgery. Presumably they have a triage system in place so they can decide if they need to see you if you call for advice.

Dreikanter · 13/12/2022 10:52

I’ve had a quinsy and was really unwell with it - flu like symptoms and unable to swallow. Was really unwell.

Dreikanter · 13/12/2022 10:52

So unwell I just had to mention it twice 🤣

User963 · 13/12/2022 10:53

Do you know for definite that it didn't used to be there? I have a permanent white spot a little like that (although a bit less white) in one of my tonsils that has been there with no issues for at least 20 years.

Pelo22 · 13/12/2022 10:55

picklemewalnuts · 13/12/2022 10:30

If it's not bothering you, then there's no need to put yourself through the trauma that is accessing medical care at the moment!

If you're getting worse, got a temperature, feels like the swelling is getting in the way, or you can't swallow then best get advice.

When are you next due at the dentist? They'll be able to reassure you re cancer, I'd think.

She's immunocompromised- it's not something that can be left if it is an abscess

Original poster
EwwwTonsil · 13/12/2022 11:03

It's the immunocompromised but that's a worry, although that said I haven't taken my methotrexate for four weeks now (I had covid, and now this) so perhaps that won't be so much of an issue. I take it for rheumatoid arthritis.

OP posts:
Original poster
EwwwTonsil · 13/12/2022 11:05

User963 · 13/12/2022 10:53

Do you know for definite that it didn't used to be there? I have a permanent white spot a little like that (although a bit less white) in one of my tonsils that has been there with no issues for at least 20 years.

I can't be sure - I don't look at the back of my throat often enough to know! It was only the pain in the left side of my throat that made me do so (and even then I didn't bother for a day and a half!).

OP posts:
caringcarer · 13/12/2022 11:22

Unfortunately part of tonsillitis. My dd used to get this when she was at school. Then it mysteriously stopped when she left school.

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