Tonsil stones misery

[overitnow]

I've been getting tonsil stones for the past 6 months and I'm miserable. Anyone else had these? Tried everything and nothing works. I have bought every removal product going with very little success and I've been gargling with salt water 2-3 times a day for months and still get them. I have a GP app next week as I can't live like this any longer, it's seriously impacting everything. I've lost a stone as I am not wanting to eat as my mouth tastes disgusting all the time and I feel them in my throat. I avoid talking to people and I am more or less mute when I'm in bed with my husband- I can't get close to anyone. I have always had excellent oral health so it just came out of the blue. I am going to ask GP for ENT referral and hoping they will remove my tonsils or laser them as I read that can be done. Please tell me someone else on here has experience of these awful stones and can advise

My husband was readmitted 5 times after his tonsillectomy for severe bleeding-it was terrifying. He had to go back into surgery once. He has recovered but it was scary.

My 11 year old DD suffers terribly. Her consultant at the children's hospital suggested that she try Gaviscon as he suspected rising stomach acid and bacteria was at the root of it all. I kid you not, when she takes Advance 4x daily she gets not a stone! We've trialled coming off it twice, and the stones came back.

Really Eddie - I asked my gastro if reflux and tonsil stones were related. She said no ... I really think they are. I keep losing my voice because of reflux and it makes sense to me that it could cause these horrible, smelly little things too

I've just started Apple cider vinegar tablets for low stomach acid and am hoping it helps. If not I'll be going for a removal too

Gaviscon really sorted mine too.

That's really interesting about reflux/gaviscon. Going to try it

Following for updates

Following too. I've had recurrent tonsillitis since my teens, been hospitalised for it but I was constantly told (as a 12-15 year old) I was too old to be referred for a removal. A few years later I went to the docs again for another throat infection to be told I had no tonsils at all and that they had rotted away. Fast forward to the past year and I've suddenly developed tonsil like flaps with bloody stones! They are truly vile, and for the most part, too deep for me to remove or I end up digging enough that they bleed. I'm so massively self conscious about the smell and if I tip my head back it releases a foul taste. I've not been to the doctors about removal, I still go for the infections but just get given more antibiotics, I feel like going to ask about removal would be a waste of mine and their time. I don't have 3k lying around to pay for private either and don't want another debit by taking out finance

Ultradex mouthwash cures this. It is expensive but it's often on offer.

@Tubbyinthehottub I've used that mouthwash for over a year and developed stones whilst using it so doesn't work for me unfortunately 😭

Ianclass1 oh no! Sorry, no other suggestions

Does anyone find certain foods make them worse? Bread is a defo it’s one for me.

@pumpastrotter that sounds horrific! I feel for you, I get the disgusting taste all the time too and more recently I can't even taste food properly as everything is sour. Can I ask why you think asking for a removal would be a waste of time? Do you think you would be refused? I have been reading about the alternative to removal which is lasering off the skin on the tonsils that hold the stones and although not as permanent as removal it seems to be cheaper and less invasive. I am hoping I am either offered that or the removal but I am definitely not accepting that this is the way I'll need to live as it's absolute misery! I'm fully prepared to cry to my GP for maximum effect and to ensure a referral lol

@lanclass1 luckily I don't think mine have affected my taste too much, but the crypts seem to be way down the back of my throat. Exactly that, depending on which doctor I get they might literally laugh me out of the room telling me I've wasted their time (has happened before and I ended up in hospital 2 days later) or to be told nothing can be done and I'll just have to live with it (again, has happened before for more aesthetic issues). I'm tempted to make an appointment but it seems so trivial from the outside regardless of the constant infections, which I do currently have but is being held at bay by strepsils. I've looked at lasering since this thread but not finding any results outside of London

Saw the GP today who checked me over and said she couldn't see anything but has given me a referral to ENT. She said my tonsils are so small she thought I had already had them removed - not sure what to make of that! Anyway. I await my ENT appointment ..

Good luck lanclass. Let us know how you get on

I have the same issue OP. I've had tonsil stones since I was around 13 although I didn't know what they were back then. Very paranoid about my breath, regularly carry mints, despite having excellent oral hygiene - flossing, electric toothbrush, rinsing mouth regularly.
I don't eat much sugar or carbs, and I have tried coconut oil pulling and the ultradex mouthwash. Neither worked

Personally, I never get tonsillitis (I think I had it once as a child but that's it) so I highly doubt the NHS will do anything for me. I have googled about laser cryptolysis but what I find slightly bizarre is that although tonsil stones seem to be common (from browsing mumsnet and reddit) I could only find one UK based professional who does laser cryptolysis (Mike Dilkes ENT)
Although, it'll take me a while before I can afford the treatment - at least it seems less invasive than a traditional tonsillectomy
Some may say tonsil stones aren't a serious issue, but I'm constantly paranoid about my breath and purposely won't stand too close to others whilst talking. Also, I'm embarrassed to admit but it's the main reason I'm too scared to start dating

Also, interesting that gaviscon helped others^, personally I don't really get acid reflux

Also, I hate to scare you but I remember reading from others who had their tonsils taken out that they still experience tonsil stones like wtf

Well ... can't quite believe this but I've started apple cider vinegar tablets and they've gone. I've only had four days worth of them and my stones and bad breath have disappeared.

Wow Wonnacott that’s great. I’ve been drinking 2 tablespoons of ACV in my bottle of water every day for 3 years with no joy , I will try the tablets instead.

I couldn't stand the liquid. So it was tablets or nothing. I got them on Amazon ... it's so weird that they're gone. I only ordered them because of a PP mentioning them so thank you to them.

I was referred to ENT because I have regularly tonsilities and tonsil stones. They offered me a tonsillectomy but the recovery period scares me too much. I was petrified I'd start bleeding in the night and not notice and not wake up. Scary stuff.

I found mine started when I was pregnant and I've had them ever since. I'm wondering if it is diet related though because I eat an awful lot of shite so now wondering if maybe changing what I eat would help!

I can't spell tonsillitis clearly 😂

Just ordered some of the ACV tablets from amazon prime and coming tomorrow

Can you post a link or a photo? Thanks.

These are the ones I've ordered - hoping this helps until my ENT app comes through