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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Sinusitis / October 2004CT Scan report - comments?
I'm dying here. Can't get any doctor/ENT to work with me much further than suggesting the typical steroid nasal sprays and anti-histamines like Allegra. Neither of those seems to help much or at all & especially the Allegra. Just makes my sinuses even more dry and dryness is my big problem. My sinuses are so incredibly inflammed I can barely breathe at all thru my nose most of the day/night and I struggle, really struggle to breathe thru my mouth - i just can't seem to maintain my respiration (or my composure) breathing thru my mouth - I find it nearly impossible. So, that leaves me in a world of hurt. Been to four ENT's now. Went to the much hyped Cleveland Clinic on Monday and it was pretty much a complete bust. I guess I got the wrong doc/ENT. He seemed angy/pissed and very 'short' from the git-go. He was barking out questions like a drill sargeant and cut my communication off almost immediately any time I tried to even slightly embellish an explanation that would have helped foster a better understanding of my situation. I don't know for sure, but I doubt the guy even looked at my records that I brought in before he met with me. He took a peek up my nose and then, of course, suggested Flonase and Allegra. I told him I'd tried both many times and neither was doing me much good. He got perturbed and said well, if you are gonna shoot down everything I offer you I don't know that there's anything I can do for you. Christ, I was just trying to be honest and attain some level of understanding with this guy so hopefully he could work with me - really work *with* me towards diagnosing/solving or at least controlling the symptoms of my problem better. He ended up giving me a script to Singulair - pretty much at my suggestion. And that was it - period - done deal. No plan for further follow up - nothing. I could tell he really just wanted to get rid of me as quickly as possible and had zero interest in my case. I was/am most discouraged. Anyway, blah, blah - I guess I am kind of wordy. To the point - I had at ct scan done early this year and got a written summary report about it. I wanted to write that up here and see if anyone can provide any insight/analysis/comment on it. Bascially they just told me my sinuses 'look clear'. TECHNIQUE: Limited serial coronal images of the paranasal sinuses where obtained. FINDINGS: The right and left frontal, maxillary and sphenoid sinuses and the ethmoid air cells appear unremarkable. No paranasal sinus mucoperiosteal thinckening or air-fluid level is identified. The right and left ostiomeatal units appear patent. No bony destruction is seen. The is mucosal thickening in the nasal cavities bilaterally. The bony nasal septum is mildly deviated to the right and there is evidence of concha bullosa involving the middle nasal turbinate on the left. IMPRESSION: No evidence of acut or chronic paranasal sinusitus. So, I guess that means I'm okay, Eh? ;-) Funny because my nose is so completely swollen shut I can't pull a trickle of air thru it! iJah Allergies? Have you ever had a cortizone shot? I, too, have constant inflammation and yet am always told by the doctors that there is no problem. But, I got a cortizone shot recently, and it was fabulous! Of course, it didn't last forever. But, it gave me hope. I can now look forward to the next time I get one! > I'm dying here. Can't get any doctor/ENT to work with me much further > than suggesting the typical steroid nasal sprays and anti-histamines [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Monday and it was pretty much a complete bust. I guess I got the wrong > doc/ENT. He seemed angy/pissed and very 'short' from the git-go. If your nose is that congested, any of these ENTs should have spotted it in a moment as soon as they tried to push their endoscope up your nose. What did any of these ENTs tell you they saw when they performed a nasal endoscopy on you? In my case, back in 1997, my left nostril was so stuffed up that my ENT was simply unable to get his endoscope thru there. He tried several times and gave up--even though the endoscope tube is quite narrow. At least he saw what I was suffering with. > To the point - I had at ct scan done early this year and got a written > summary report about it. I wanted to write that up here and see if [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > IMPRESSION: No evidence of acut or chronic paranasal sinusitus. This looks like a radiologist's report. Didn't any of the 4 ENTs you saw go over the CT scan with you in person? One final point: In my case, the CT scans have repeatedly missed significant sinus disease. Once again, I had a CT scan last spring, showed it to my ENT. He noted thickening of a lining in one ethmoid sinus. But only after he did surgery on me did he find the mucocele that was hiding in there. He admtted to me afterward that he had no idea I had a mucocele in that sinus cavity until he had a chance to do surgery on me and see for himself. Bottom line: When you're suffering from a chronic illness, you can't put blind faith in medical tests and CT scans. They are only *indications* that must be evaluated by the judgment of a good physician. They are not the Holy Grail, and *especially* not when they are read by a radiologist and not by the ENT himself.  SignatureSteven D. Litvintchouk Email: sdlitvin@earthlinkNOSPAM.net Remove the NOSPAM before replying to me. Dr Steven Houser of Cleveland http://www.geocities.com/shouser144/ is a specialist in dry nose problem. check out his web site nad decide if you want to see him. Murray Grossan, M.D. http://www.ent-consult.com >Dr Steven Houser of Cleveland >http://www.geocities.com/shouser144/ >is a specialist in dry nose problem. check out his web site nad decide if you >want to see him. >Murray Grossan, M.D. >http://www.ent-consult.com Hello, You are wrong again: His "concha bullosa" has, after an entire year, probably ballooned to party size, plus more have probably developed. Of course that willnot address the underlying problem, but at least if he cannot get rid of the underlying problem, he could get air and relief with surgery, and i would hate to see surgery. Here is where steroids would come in handy: while he is searching for the underlying problem, and he will have to hurry now, because steroids should only be used for a short time and as an emergency, he could at least be comfortable. Also the use of the steroids would uncover any fungus infection he may have, and by golly that could well be the problem in the first place. http://www.sinusinfocenter.com/sinus_faq_08.html + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/benjamin.htm MustRead! http://WWW.PAMINIFARM.COM "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" Hosea 4:6 > I'm dying here. Can't get any doctor/ENT to work with me much further > than suggesting the typical steroid nasal sprays and anti-histamines [quoted text clipped - 51 lines] > > iJah From the point of view of the radiologist, there is nothing abnormal with your paranasal structure. From the ENTs' limited knowledge of how the nose works, there is nothing serious wrong with you. May be its time to start your own investigation to find a way to improve your condition or seek for an effective alternative therapy such as accupuncture, saline irrigation etc I am experiencing similar experience, having difficulty getting the air through my nose (after a nasal surgery) and all of them keep saying that there is nothing wrong. >> I'm dying here. Can't get any doctor/ENT to work with me much further >> than suggesting the typical steroid nasal sprays and anti-histamines [quoted text clipped - 65 lines] >air through my nose (after a nasal surgery) and all of them keep >saying that there is nothing wrong. Hello, I have experienced the same thing in my right nostril after my polypectomy. I go for my next follow-up appointment at the end of the month. I hope i can remember to tell him about it. When i was using Q-tips in my nose (both sides) i would poke into something soft and giving to the left side (it was not a polyp), then it would make me sneeze profusely. I wonder if it is a "fungus ball" of aspergillus . . . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/benjamin.htm MustRead! http://WWW.PAMINIFARM.COM "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" Hosea 4:6 iJah, I am sorry your experience at Cleveland Clinic went to badly. I think I am the only one to have positive results there with Lanza. It took years to find the right treatments and though people seem shocked I have had so many surgeries and meds it it the only course that has kept halfway alive. Some will argue with me on this but I am going to say it anyway...do not be afraid of short term nasal or systemic steroid use to get relief while you are seeking treatment. I would have been livid had I been in your place with that doctor and most likely would have said I am not leaving until you give me better treatment. That is me though...I ask my ENT's to treat me equally as they would their sister or mother, no less is deserved by us all. I know where you are mentally/emotionally right now...been there and had to go on antidepressants short term as I was giving up. As I have posted before, I have been off/on prednisone for 23 years...this last burst has lasted five months and I will be done in a few weeks. As I decrease the doseage my symptoms come back so I might have to stay on low doses for the rest of my life. I have had all of the side effects and then some and it makes me nuts but being alive and able to make breakfast for my children is the preferred alternative. One thing you can suggest is a nasal irrigation with pulmocort...that provides cleaning out your passages with anti-inflammation. Also...don't laugh...try finding raw cherry juice in your area...it costs about $12 a quart...take two tablespoons straight or mix in water. It has 100X more anti-inflammation qualities than aspirin. You can read about how this works online. It is a vicious cycle you are in...I know. You can't sleep because you can't breath, you are edgy and miserable because you can't sleep. Your health starts to deteriorate because you can get restorative sleep...and depression sets in. Keep advocating for your health and find a doctor who will listen and treat you to your satisfaction...it can happen. Good luck and keep posting. Trudy. <snip> > Also...don't laugh...try finding raw cherry juice >in your area...it costs about $12 a quart...take two tablespoons straight [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >treat you to your satisfaction...it can happen. Good luck and keep >posting. Trudy. Trudy, thanks so much. i can tell you understand exactly where I'm at. god, the sleeplessness is the real destructive element. it makes everything so much worse. i think you could take the strongest, most virule, most emotionally stable person in the world and deprive them of sleep for a very short time - days, a week and turn them into a blubbering basket case! i've been sleepless for so long it's just driving me insane. can't recall getting more than 1.5 to 2.5 hours of sleep at a time in the last six months. I really need and used to get a straight 9 hours with like a single wakeup to goto the bathroom. god, i long for those days again. and, i'm not laughing about the cherry juice at all. i'm phoning up every place i can think of around here trying to find some. i'll try anything that will reduce the inflammation. thanks A LOT! iJah >thanks so much. i can tell you understand exactly where I'm at. god, >the sleeplessness is the real destructive element. it makes everything [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >with like a single wakeup to goto the bathroom. god, i long for those >days again. Have you tried a 90 minute walk? That shouls allow you to sleep well. > Also...don't laugh...try finding raw cherry juice >in your area...it costs about $12 a quart...take two tablespoons straight >or mix in water. It has 100X more anti-inflammation qualities than >aspirin. You can read about how this works online. One comment about cherry juice. It sounds great for it's anti-inflammatory properties but it is also used as an anti-histamine. I'm afraid it might dry out my sinuses and that's one thing I absolutely cannot afford. What I'm fighting primarily is extreme dryness in my sinuses. Do you find using cherry juice 'drys you out' like a decongestant might? iJah >> Also...don't laugh...try finding raw cherry juice >>in your area...it costs about $12 a quart...take two tablespoons straight [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > >iJah Hello, No. Cherries willnot dry out anything. You can go to the grocery store; purchase raw cherries; hold a bunch of them in your hand and squeeze to get the juice out of them, then drink the juice, or you can process them up into a nice mush; add the organic yogurt and enjoy. Since we donot know whether your "dryness" is due to Staph or fungus, you can do this: spray Listerene in your nose and at night (last thing) smooth Lotramine in the nasal passage. If you mean by "dryness", you are getting scabs, that is Staph, and if you use the Listerene solution, you will experience an immediate reaction (the scabs will go'way). I am sorry to have to tell you this, however you will absolutely have to do the: lie on the bed on your back; hang your head over the side and dribble the Listerene solution in both sides; pinch your nose closed; stand up; bend over; point the top of your head to the floor; run to the sink and let solution run out etc. If you do this first with salt solution with grapefruit seed extract, you will experience a better reaction to the deep scabs. Actually, first thing i do in the morning is give a squirt of the salt/grapefruit-seed-extract solution to each side of my nose while hanging over the sink, then go blow; then go put on the coffee . . . After breakfst i do a lot of stuff, plus make and drink my anti-fungal "cocktail". Since i am on cephalexin, i can be brave with the nasal washes. Right now i have no crusting, obnoxious mucous, draining or anything, however i still donot have my sense of smell come back yet, so i am sure it is the fungus, and of course the Cephalexin is making it worse, however i had no choice but to get rid of the Staph - what a price i must pay, though, and from what i understand i am doing it all backward inthat i should get rid of the fungus first then the Staph - OH well, back to the drawing board . . . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/benjamin.htm MustRead! http://WWW.PAMINIFARM.COM "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" Hosea 4:6 >I'm dying here. Can't get any doctor/ENT to work with me much further >than suggesting the typical steroid nasal sprays and anti-histamines [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >to maintain my respiration (or my composure) breathing thru my mouth - >I find it nearly impossible. So, that leaves me in a world of hurt. <snip> thanks everyone for the excellent comments. i will comment on the comments ;-) when i get more time. but i want to acknowledge everyone who replied, as it is very much appreciated. iJah |
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