Monday, February 11, 2008

ENT-ertainment

I've been sick since February 1st, just now starting to make some progress. I've been through the mill with the doctor, and not sure how much good it's done. All the congestion and coughing I've had has been making me dizzy (as it tends to do), so I went to an ENT (ear nose throat) specialist. I originally had an appointment with my allergist but he got sick! Turns out the "dizzy" symptom was the only one they were very interested in, so that was addressed, but the head/chest congestion, wracking cough, sore throat, and even the all day long nosebleed (I was close to going to the ER!) that I had on Friday were of very little interest so I had to keep bringing them up. He did tell me to start taking an OTC drug, Mucinex-DM for the cough/congestion (which has helped the cough but not the congestion). He told me that a nosebleed is caused by a ruptured blood vessel. Well, duh. I knew that. I am an old nosebleed veteran but haven't had one that bad since I was a kid (I once bled a whole pint, used to have those damned things almost every day in Albuquerque). He told me to ease up on the ibuprophen, and I will, but I have seriously needed that stuff for the HEADACHES that have gone with this sinus distress!!

Last Thursday I had a cat scan of my head (which nearly got messed up by the aforementioned unstoppable cough!!), and today, Monday, I had the ear tests. I've had these before (9 years ago), and the water test in particular is not much fun. They stick electrodes all over your face, lie you down, then stream cold water into your right ear with a water-pik-like device, which makes you dizzy! Your eyes are closed while they ask you for a girl's name that begins with A, then B, and so on while everything spins. I guess that it supposed to make you concentrate while your dizziness is measured. Then they do the left ear followed by listing boy's names, then repeat right and left with warm water and naming places and animals. I was so befuddled and dizzy and sick and tired, I had to laugh at myself because I couldn't think of an animal beginning with F. I must have developed a mental suppression and different connotation of the word FOX! heh heh. Those bastards at FOX "news".

Anyway, I was sent home with some head/eye exercises for the dizziness (thankfully no surgery suggested), I think the congestion is from allergies so I'll deal with them as such, and I've now got the cleanest ears on the block!

Cough graphic from sangrea.net.

6 comments:

Ptelea said...

This all sounds very unpleasant. I hope you are on the mend. I noticed this evening how it is light later so maybe approaching spring will help, too.

Blueberry said...

I am gradually starting to feel better. Not quite there yet...

I think we might already be in Spring. We have had such perfect temperatures, up near 80. Mosquitoes are about to bloom any minute now.

Ellie said...

Maybe it's time to try the vinegar regimen again. Didn't that work for you a few years back? I know we recommend it at the store when you just can't get a bug out of your system. Good Luck, I don’t like being sick either. If you were here (don’t say it!) I’d load you up with immune support stuff from my store. So I'll do the next best thing. Watch for a box in the mail.

Dr. Monkey Von Monkerstein said...

Mucinex is good stuff. Give it time and it will clear you up.

Mando Mama said...

Good God! This is the best technology they can come up with? I have a good friend with vertigo and I've never heard her speak about a test like that. It sounds like something they dreamed up at Gitmo. Hope you're fully mended soon.

Blueberry said...

I am following Dr. Monkey's advice and continuing to take the Mucinex. It's slowly helping. The cough is gone. I can finally appear in public without causing a disturbance.