Losing my mind trying to get answers!

Monique16, God bless you. I am so sorry. I can't imagine this. I hope the biopsy gives you an answer.

Doctors do not like to do a tonsillectomy on an adult as it is a hard surgery for adults versus for children. It has almost become a last resort. HOWEVER, if you have chronic swelling, you may have to have surgery. Only an ENT or possibly a general surgeon could make this decision.

Have you had any significant viruses? Epstein Barr virus (Mono)? COVID? I am just wondering if this could have caused the chronic tonsil issue. I also wonder if you have tonsil stones going on.

Praying for you. Blessings....

I was thinking either mono recurrence or tonsil stones, which can cause inflammation. My kid has had both. I didn't know adult tonsillectomy was problematic! Tonsil stones are a big problem for my grown kid. You can generally see them and remove them with a Q-tip.

That sounds quite distressing. It is a mystery! I had my tonsils and adenoids removed as a kid. Hope you find the problem and can get it fixed.

@monique16

Tonsil stones are very common and many people do not know they have them.

Often times the first person to point them out is your Dental Hygenist.

Ents are surgeons- if they can’t cut on you for money, then you are not of any benefit to them as a patient.

Better off assessing this with your dentist and or PCP since you’ve had tests and have been ruled out at the “specialist” level.

Hi! Appreciate the blessing and kind words 😊 That was my initial thought was a virus that triggered the swelling. I couldn’t even tell you the last time I’ve been sick… it’s probably well over a year now. Thankfully! I’m at a loss on trying to figure it out lol but yes hoping the biopsy brings some clarification 🤞🏼 Thanks again!!

I would have assumed that both ents would have seen / felt them upon the examination. They both poked around at it. I’ve also poked at it with a qtip as I also suspected possible tonsil stones. I have never had them before. Maybe there is one deep in there that I can’t reach? Who knows. I will definitely try reaching out to my dentist. Thank you!

Appreciate it, thank you!

Hi @monique16. Too much too read all so hope my having ebv years ago, that I healed myself, and this throat problem part of it. Sounds crazy but simply using tongue scraper at night and morning caused my throat to heal within couple of weeks and never an issue since! Hope as simple as that for you with quickest healing possible🌈

Hello @monique16. After reading your ordeal, I simply have to write down my own journey in trying to figure out what was causing my increasing pain. I am sorry to be boring.

After several different ENT's performed the same scoping procedure (in-office, through nostril down to throat area) plus, a CT scan with contrast, I was given several different bogus prognoses. I remember going into the ER, crying in pain. The doctor on call told me that he could assure me I did not have cancer, and that a CT scan would be a "waste of money." Well, that would end up being a truthful statement! After DEMANDING a CT scan, the Radiologists somehow missed a rather large cancerous tumor near my vocal cords.

My long journey began due to right-sided throat and ear pain, which was escalating severely. So, over approximately one year, I was told I had "arthritis in my neck," I needed my tonsils out (this ENT even scheduled the operation), I needed mental counseling for imagining pain, and the grand finale was the CT scan! The Radiologists determined I had "Eagles Syndrome." This is a bone overgrowth into nerves condition, which is rare. As for the tonsils, before subjecting myself to this surgery, I consulted with my family doctor. She confirmed my tonsils had "atrophied away" due to age! I am now age 65 and was age 60 then. Disgusted, I cancelled the surgery, and the ENT. I can only cringe when I think of what would have happened had I allowed the ENT to due throat surgery, when in fact I had a tumor in my throat.

That inner voice we develop when we keep the line with our creator open through prayer, explicitly directed me to keep on going. Frustrated too, my family doctor suggested I make an appointment with an Indiana University ENT. This fourth ENT performed the same, exact scoping as all the others, yet he found the cancerous tumor with seconds.

It is good you have had a biopsy, but please do not accept all the diagnoses just because they come from doctors. Keep your prayers going upward, giving thanks to God for providing you with clarity of your situation. Ask God to direct your path. If I had not listened to the inner voice, I would be long dead. Best Wishes to You.

@thomason

I always like your replies because it gives a very fair and balanced perspective of listening to your gut first, not every diagnosis is correct, not to believe the first thing you hear from a doctor.

To truly match your intuition with what you are being recommended is what many people need to improve upon.

Happy for you that you found the correct answer!