Home Grown

My answer is no. I cannot hear you now.

For awhile now I have been having some issues with my ears. It started last September with the right year which became infected for unknown reasons off and on for a period then by April it became a full blown issue requiring several rounds of antibiotics before it cleared up. I was hoping all of that was behind me.

This past September when it all started over in the other ear it was enough to get me moving more quickly and seeking a more vigorous treatment. After a doctors visit and three different rounds of antibiotics with no success in clearing it up, and discovering my eardrum had ruptured sometime just previous to this last visit I needed to see an otolaryngologist – the fancy name for the Ear, Nose and Throat doctor or ENT.

I had been on so many heavy antibiotics that it was causing other issues. IN a word – yeast. You girls know what I am mean. And not just that. Rashes would break out under my arms, behind my knees, underneath my breasts. TMI? Sorry. BUt that is what happens when your body is over loaded on antibiotics. Then you have to deal wilth the side effects.

My primary physician tried to get me in to several offices but there were no appointments before late November and my situation I don’t think would have tolerated 4 more weeks. Also most of the appointments she found open for me were at least 50 miles away.

I took matters into my own hands, began calling around, plead my story or more unsuspecting workers in doctors office. After a few calls and a few call backs I got a 9am appointment in a local well known ENT group. This is one time I was very happy to go to the doctor. I was going to get some help, some advise, and some understanding of what was going on with my ears.

I won’t go into the gory details of my visit but I must tell you having someone investigate the opening in your head is a bit daunting. Cold metal things used to pull open your nostril while they use a head lamp and look and move around as if exploring a newly discovered cavern, probes reaching into your ears and the back of your throat are just the beginning.

As we talked about my symptoms, meds I had been on and the state of my sinus I told him how my left ear felt like a balloon was hanging off the side of my head and if I could use a vacuum and clean the ear maybe I would feel better.

You know what?

That is exactly what he did! He used this small probe instrument like a cone in my ear then he took a tiny little suctioning machine and pulled out any liquid and build up that he could see. It did not hurt though it sounds like it would. Actually it felt good. The strange feeling began to go away almost immediately and while my hearing did not improve significantly it did improve.

I have a greater understanding for people who have hearing loss. Not being able to hear is an awful experience and I don’t want to go through this again. Unless I am looking at you most times I cannot hear you. Lots of sounds and noise at once disorients me and I can’t always tell from which direction a sound is coming from. Not only is it annoying but it leaves your brain a bit confused as it tries to sort out the barrage of noises. I have a ringing in the ear as well, due to the hole, and I could hear my heart beating along with the rushing sound of an ocean. Trying to filter through the noises was trying to say the least.

I have a new antibiotic and ear drop to use. I will be returning for the vacuuming procedure once a week until the hole in my ear drum heals. I am hoping for a swift recovery but at this rate of my body defecting on me I can’t say for sure how this will play out and how many trips to the doctor I will need.

So, when you don’t see something new here on the blog you know I am sacked out on the couch seeking comfort from ear pain or napping somewhere because the antibiotic has a sleep effect. I took my medicine early this morning and right now my eyes are drooping due to the medicine.

In the process of this ear issue or maybe at the start of it I also had a sinus infection and got no relief from medicines – prescription or over the counter. My left sinus was closed. I couldn’t draw air in through my nose and zyrtec and sudafed did nothing to ease the sinus pressure or congestion.

On impulse I went to CVS and picked up a Neil Med brand neti pot. I began washing my sinus cavity several times day with the premixed sodium packets and wonder of wonders my sinus began to clear and I sit today a woman who can breath through both nostrils. I told the doctor about this. He said this was the better brand to use. He recommended it for sinus issues, post drip, continual runny nose etc. So do I. It works.

Steve was getting a head cold a week ago and I went out and bought him his own neti pot. His full blown cold was gone in 36 hours or less.

Try the sinus rinse. Don’t get the squirt bottle or the can of saline. Get the neti pot. You will be surprised at the difference in your sinus.

I am very sure this post is filled with misspellings and left out words. I’ll come back later and try to proof read it

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