Update on my health!!!

[Sue]

Well I seen my regular Doctor Yesterday, Thursday 18 September 2014. The news was not what I wanted to hear. The cat scan came back good but it was only of my sinuses on my face. The side of my head and ears was not included in the scan and I was disappointed.

The Doctor did a thorough check of my head, nose, head, neck and my glands. He concluded that my one ear was looking better but was not completely healed... which I did not understand after thirty days of antibiotics (Yes I have been in pain for over a month). He also said I had a lot of tension in my lower neck. He went on to say that with all the pain I was feeling on the left side of my face and ear and neck that I needed to watch for a rash which would mean I have shingles. Furthermore he thought a lot of my pain was coming from TMJ. Basically my jaw joint was causing the pain. I went on to explain to him that it was both ears that had been infected and not just the left. He was very perplexed.

He also suggested I talk to my dentist about getting a mouth guard for sleeping and that perhaps I had had an infection in one of my teeth. Personally I know I did not have an infection in a tooth because both ears were infected.

Needless to say I was not happy to know that he really did not know definitely what was wrong with me. So I asked him... So I just have to live with this pain and he said yes. I said I can not live with this pain all the time so he upped one of meds and told me to keep taking the motrin for the pain even though he doesn't like me taking the motrin for what it can do to my stomach. He also advised me to use ice and a hot compress. He said we would try this for two weeks and go from there.

Bottom line is I am still in pain and in bed most of the day trying to sleep off the pain. That is all for the update. If anything big changes... like I suddenly wake up pain free... I will update you again. Until then I am sending all my love, Sue

[snap20]

Good luck, Sue. Depending on your medical coverage, maybe a 2nd opinion/new doc? My Mom has had some issues where the doc tells her there's nothing she can do...so I urge her to find a new doc and the prognosis is different. She's on Medicare...so some docs don't want to do anything because of that, and some love medicare because they pay in full and quickly.

My sis was a nurse and she keeps reminding her that SHE is the patient and is in charge, not the doc. If they are not doing their job, you have to find a new doc or tell them and demand they figure it out.

Also, depending on the state, there's always the option of medical marijuana, which is better than NSAIDs for pain relief since they don't rot your stomach. something else to consider.

[Sue]

Thank you Snap. I believe I will get a second opinion.

[disneyland lady]

I would call my insurance company before a 2nd opinion to see if you can get a completely different doctor not in the same "group". I know that when I asked for a 2nd opinion on a procedure from my ob/gyn, they just had a doctor walk in with my paperwork say "I trust Dr xxx's knowledge" and signed off on it.  I felt so frustrated and did not want to cause a scene on someone who might or might not be working on my body and I had used up my "2nd opinion". Rock meet hard place.


Get better Sue!

[Sue]

I was going to get a ears. nose and head specialist in a totally different Doctor office. But I will be careful they don't push me aside like they did you.

Thank you, Sue

[essybee]

Glad you mad the decision, good luck 

[Sue]

Since my last Doctor apt I have continued to be in pain. My lips, tongue (top and bottom), the top of my mouth and I believe my throat had sores on them. It was/is very painful. In addition, my glands hurt and my ears hurt as did the side of my head.

Anyway I noticed that in the mornings I usually had less swellings in the mouth. I woke up this morning feeling pretty good so I didn't take any of my meds. Throughout the morning I realized I still wasn't in pain. In the afternoon I had an idea and went to the pharmacy to check on the side effects of ZYRTEC which I have been on just over a month. Come to find out I am allergic to this new med I was on.

Now comes the healing part and it is still painful but I am on the road to recovery.

[snap20]

Yikes...glad you narrowed it down though Sue! Good luck on your road...hopefully it's a smoother one.

[disneyland lady]

You are reminding me of that old Hee Haw segment "If it wern't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all." Hopefully now you can knit and mend Plus side: Nice to have goals!

[snowflower]

Since my last Doctor apt I have continued to be in pain. My lips, tongue (top and bottom), the top of my mouth and I believe my throat had sores on them. It was/is very painful. In addition, my glands hurt and my ears hurt as did the side of my head.

Anyway I noticed that in the mornings I usually had less swellings in the mouth. I woke up this morning feeling pretty good so I didn't take any of my meds. Throughout the morning I realized I still wasn't in pain. In the afternoon I had an idea and went to the pharmacy to check on the side effects of ZYRTEC which I have been on just over a month. Come to find out I am allergic to this new med I was on.

Now comes the healing part and it is still painful but I am on the road to recovery.

I always check with my Pharmacist with new meds causing possible allergies or any new ones fighting with old ones, lol.
Hope you feel better soon, hon 

[snap20]

Not to hijack the topic, but I was reminded of this one over the weekend. My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. She found a lump over a year ago and went to the doctor about it. The doc told her not to worry, it was likely a "fiber mass". Went in for her yearly check up and lo and behold it's either stage 1 or stage 2. She's having it removed tomorrow and they won't know for sure until then what stage she is and if it's possibly spread to her nodes.

Anyway, reminded me that it's always good to press the doctor YOU are paying for to make sure. Had it been determined that's what it was, it could have been removed even earlier and prevented the possible spread.

On an on-topic note, I hope you are doing better now Sue.

[Sue]

Thanks Snappy- Sorry to hear about your sister. Keep us updated.


They found out what I have and the reason the sores in my mouth were not healing.

Lichen planus (LP) is a disease of the skin and/or mucous membranes that resembles lichen. The cause is unknown, but it is thought to be the result of an autoimmune process with an unknown initial trigger. There is no cure, but many different medications and procedures have been used to control the symptoms.

Over a month ago the Doctor put me on the Blood Type Diet (I am type A)
This diet plan does not allow dairy. (which was all I was eating over the last three months)
But what I did was to quit eating eggs, cheese and drinking milk.
For the last few days my mouth has been sore free. Amen

So it looks like I am now allergic to one of those three foods.

[sandyhook]

 Glad you feeling better

[MsMissy]

I also am glad you are feeling better.     Snappy, sorry to hear about your sister.  My prayers go out to her.

[snap20]

Glad to hear things are getting better Sue! Sorry to hear about the allergy though...not sure how much you like dairy, but I don't think I could live without cheese. lol. Somehow I have developed a gluten intolerance and that was a huge blow to me...as I ate bread daily at the least. So I can feel your pain with having to cut out foods you like (if that's the case).

For those wondering, my sister's surgery went well. They ended up taking out the mass and 6 lymph nodes. Only one of the nodes had some cancer cells in it, so they figure they got all of it.

[Squid]

Snap, I hope your sister is healing well.  If one node had cancer, I hope she is having a full discussion with her oncologist.  Some post-surgical treatment should be considered.  I'm wishing her well.

[Sue]

Snappy- My hope for your sister is a complete recovery. Sending her hugs and prayers.