I've tried everything, but tonsil stones won’t budge

Dr Flo,
I am stressed. I have had tonsil stones on one side of my throat for two years now. I have been using different antibiotics, gargling with salty water, but this has not helped. Some of the stones have become big. How can I get rid of them?
Wafula

Dear Wafula,
Tonsil stones or tonsiloliths are white or grey balls that are bad smelling, that form on the tonsils. The tonsils are lymphatic glands at the throat and they have an irregular surface. Bacteria, mucus, dead cells and food particles can become trapped in the folds on the surface of the tonsils. The trapped substances then coalesce together and form the bad-smelling chunks. If these chunks harden, they are called tonsil stones or tonsiloliths. Tonsil stones are more common in people with chronic tonsillitis or sinusitis and post-nasal drip.
These stones may cause bad breath, bad taste in the mouth, throat discomfort, difficulty swallowing or ear pain. Other than this discomfort, tonsil stones are usually not dangerous. Antibiotics cannot treat the stone, they will only deal with an infection if it is present.
To manage them, observe good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth after meals, gargle using salty water or a mouth wash to reduce the bad breath, or you can have the stones removed by the doctor. Before brushing your teeth, remove food particles from your mouth by drinking water and by swishing water in your mouth and spitting out. It would be advisable to visit a dentist and ENT specialist so that the underlying problem can be treated.

Dr Flo,
I am 23 years old. I recently became sexually active and since then, I my private parts hurt. My legs, just below the hip bone and the inner thighs, also hurt and I can barely walk. I always have to explain to my colleagues why I am in pain. How do I increase my flexibility to accommodate his weight? How can I stop the pain?
Jane

Dear Jane,
What you are experiencing is muscle and joint pains from engaging in an exercise that your body was not used to before. Just like someone who starts to run, or joins a gym, the body initially responds with muscle and joint pain, and it requires time and regular exercise to adjust to the new routine. You may also be suffering from friction burns, especially if you do not have adequate lubrication.
To manage this, you can take pain killers that also have muscle relaxants. Consider using a personal lubricant during intercourse to reduce friction. You would also benefit from a massage and negotiate with your partner to find positions that will be less tiring for you. Your colleagues will not know the cause of your discomfort unless you tell them.

Dr Flo,
I am 22 years old. Two weeks before and after my menses, my breasts are painful and grow bigger. Could this be something serious and if so, want can I do?
Betty

Dear Betty,
What you are experiencing is a normal response of your breasts to the hormone progesterone. Progesterone levels rise after ovulation, that is, around two weeks after your periods, and stay until your next period. You are not sick. You could have a breast check up and ultrasound scan to ensure that nothing else is wrong with your breasts. You can take painkillers to try and manage the pain, and also use bras with good support.

Dr Flo,
Since 2013, I have developed annoying pimples along the hairline at the back of my head. They are not itchy. They sometimes dry off, but always recur. I have tried different medication, without success.
Magana

Dear Magana,
What you are suffering from is called pseudo-folliculitis barbae. After shaving, as the hair is growing back, the hair either re-enters the skin at the skin follicle or the sharp tip of the hair pierces the skin follicle before it even grows out of the skin to become visible. This causes the area to become inflamed, causing itching, redness and even swelling. Sometimes, it also gets infected, causing more swelling and pain, and production of pus. This can happen anywhere where the hair is shaved or plucked, including the face, the armpits, the groin and the legs.
It is more common in people with curly hair, as compared to those with straight hair. It is more common in African males, but it can also occur in women.
The simplest treatment for pseudo-folliculitis is to let the hair grow, or only trim it, and not shaving completely. The ingrown hair in the bumps can be removed gently with tweezers. Some creams can help reduce the inflammation like steroid creams, acne medications, antibiotic creams in case of infection and even antibiotic tablets.
To prevent these razor bumps in the future, some suggestions include:
Avoid shaving; don’t shave every day; skip at least a day in between shaves; leave at least 0.5 to 1mm of hair; do not shave completely; use a single blade razor to avoid shaving too close; use an electric razor, that should be properly cleaned and sterilised after use; shave in the direction of the skin follicle, not against it, and don’t stretch the skin.; soften the hair first with a hot, wet cloth, or shave in a hot shower; exfoliate and moisturise the skin for example with glycolic acid peel (a derivative of sugarcane); chemical shaving such as using barium sulfide paste; permanent hair removal for example with laser or electrolysis, Vaniqa cream (eflornithine hydrochloride 13.9 per cent).

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