Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Partly snotty with a chance of binocular vision


My binocular vision failed on March 19th. Since then, I have been to a GP twice (he thought it was Bell's Palsey) and an opthamologist three times. The eye guy was just puzzled. All of us were relieved the it wasn't a tumor, nor a stroke (my cousin just missed one last year at the whomping age of 42, and I am several years beyond that.) All three of my MRIs indicated sinusitis. The opthamologist started talking surgery on my second visit, and wanted me to go to a neurological opthamologist.

I've never had any real sinus trouble other than the occaisional headache, but I live in Texas, and if you come to the state without allergies or sinus troubles, you will have them eventually. As my darling friend T reminded me, "You are over 40, and stuff starts to move and sag." GRRREATTT.

The military has always sent me on my medical rounds (for better or worse) for most of my adult life, so I was not all that familiar with the way the civilian world runs medicine. Big shock. After three rounds of amoxycillin and a round of Tequin, I was really pissed. Every exam room I sat in had a drug company's exploded view of either sinuses or eyes. I could see where trouble in one could influence the other. I tried the netti pot, and saw STARS, it hurt so badly. So I called the GP, and asked for a referral to an ENT guy. I went yesterday.

It's hard to have a dignified conversation with a man who's held a penlight up your nose-but he had a pretty good grip on what to do. He said I was so blocked he couldn't see anything. He said to use Mucinex, Nasonex, and an antibiotic that the local pharmacy doesn't have on hand. (More eyerolling there...I looked like I was going to grab my script and leave, and the clerk said "But it's an antibiotic. You NEED it." Which doesn't mean anything if they don't HAVE it.)

Forced into waiting, I did my Mucinex and Nasonex routine last night and this morning. I got really excited when phlegm, and then real boogers showed up, and immediately e'd friends and spouse. It startled me this afternoon when I realized that I had binocular vision. I got really excited, moved my head, and then...damn! It went out on me. Since I haven't had it for a month, it was amazing. Life sucks when everything looks like a Picasso painting. I've spilled a lot of stuff this month.

I've had little spurts of it all thru the afternoon and evening. It will be a while before this is all cleared out, but I just may be able to drive to the grocery this weekend!

And look what came in the mail today! It's a new Sonata print called Licorice Allsorts and JOMR's Heartbeat pattern. I LIKE this combination. Maybe it will motivate me to work harder on Wren? ---ah, never mind, Blogger isn't letting me load right this sec.

15 comments:

Grace said...

I can relate, A couple of years ago after many many bouts with nasal related problems I had an MRI and found out I have calcified sinuses. The openings to my nose so that I could have a boogery runny nose are almost totally fused shut, and it drips soen the back of my throat collects in my upper respiratory system and I get bronchitis and pneumonia constantly.my only recourse has been building my immune system so I get less infections and for me it has worked (knock on wood) with Cold MD and ALLergy MD. I went thru the entire winter, heat season with nary a cold and I am so grateful, PLease Bets feel better soon, work on Wren and look at your ALL-sorts as a reward for a Wren well done!!

Marcia said...

Congratulations on the glimmer of hope!

I'm so excited for you that I won't even feel a little hurt about not being in your booger release information loop.

Suzann said...

I am glad your plumbing is starting to work again. I loved the email. I had just returned from the dr, read you mail and (sorry) laughed my head off. Not funny I know. Forgive me. It isn't often I get a booger alert :-D
I hope you don't need surgery and the new stuff clears you up quickly.
I have that pattern. In fact I have a few of the mitered patterns. Got them last year when the print Sonata came out. I never went any further then looking at them. But I am thinking if I have to have surgery, some nice simple miters might make a good recovery knit.

Anonymous said...

Yippee! SNOT! It is the little things which so often bring true joy to the heart. Here's to a runny nose as a true sign of Spring and good things to come.

LisaW. said...

hooray for boogers...hooray for snot....lets clear those passages so you can give up your pirate look...arrrrr!
glad you are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with this sinus crap! and soon you will even see it in focus.
licorice allsorts is really pretty and will look great in that pattern. i'm staying tuned because i might want to order said pattern (having a boatload of old sonata wanting to be knit up)
can't wait to see your Wren progress :)
Hab a good day.

Gryffinitter said...

Marcia, I think this entry WAS the booger release information loop - if not, we were out of it together. And I am totally excited for you too, bets. When you get all thrilled to see snot running out your nose, well, things must have been pretty bad, and are obviously getting better. Thinking of "For Esme, with Love and Squalor" here...

Anonymous said...

Isn't having an answer the best? I wonder if you will have new tastes, smells, and sights. I'm happy to hear that you are on the mend.

bri

Anonymous said...

So, I am technically correct when I call you "snotwad?" Glad to hear you're improving, it's about damn time! If it will help, I'll wear my binoculars around my neck all day as a talisman-snot mojo for you.

Anonymous said...

Bets, It's sad to hear how much you are suffering with the sinus thing. I have something sinus related since returning to this desert area. Hope you feel better soon.

Long's Peak sends its greetings to you. The high peaks were just plain gorgeous yesterday. It was a clear day and there's new snow in the high country. Long's was outstanding!

CatBookMom said...

I hope the 3-way combo will really help. I've recently had trouble swallowing some foods, and I get really thick stuff in my throat sometimes. My internist prescribed serious stuff and then Nasonex. It helps, and I may try adding Mucinex.

Wednesday night we had turkey burgers (ground turkey, onion soup mix, worcestershire) and immediately afterward I nearly couldn't swallow. Gods forbid I'm becoming allergic to turkey!

I send lots of hugs and sympathy. and maybe we could talk about a KAL for the Heartbeat Sweater? I have Sonata....

Having a Knit Fitt said...

Hooray for snot! Here's hoping you get your binoculars back soon.
Cate

junior_goddess said...

Barbara-look at the onion soup mix, not the turkey. I'd say your allergen is probably in that. Did your hands itch after you prepared it?

smariek said...

Such a hoot to read. I hope you feel better. I'm sending you ((( snot ))) vibes. Boogers, as gross as they are, are always a good sign... even if it feels as if you've launched a lung or two out your nose, lol.

I keep hoping that your symptoms will automagically disappear with no explanation at all. (I once had an eye thing, went to see docs, did tests, and it eventually went away, no idea why)

Joan said...

Good gawd woman, sometimes you just need some a little localized dynamite. LOL.

Anonymous said...

Geesh, that was painful reading! I can only imagine how you feel. I'm glad to hear you are on the mend.