Okay, the Wildman needs help. That's not something I need very often except for mental, physical and medical. Umm, guess I need more than I thought I did.

Here's my problem. First off let me say that I'm an American so when get sick, I expect immediate relief from whatever I take. Right? Of course I do, we're an instant gratification society.

Right now, I have a sinus problem. I won't go into what the first doctor screwed up but I've had this same problem many times before and know what to do for it. Normally, I get a cortisone shot, steroid shot, dose pack, antibiotic and decongestant. Thirty minutes after I walk out of the doctors office, I'm feeling fine even though I'm not cured. But I feel fine while the meds are taking effect and doing their thing and in a week I'm well. Been three years since my last visit for this problem.

My doctor up here either misunderstood me or thought he had a better idea because he gave me a cortisone shot and an allergy shot, antibiotics and decongestant. No relief whatsoever and he kept saying that we had to let the medicine do its thing. The only time I got relief was when I took the Sudafed red pills. The doctor told me not to take the decongestant and the Sudafed but I found that when I stopped the decongestant that it was the two of them that produced the relief. Week later I was still miserable.

Found me a family doctor and explained the situation to him. Hadn't slept over two or three hours a night in over three weeks and none the Sunday night before we found him. He gave me another cortisone shot, steroid shot, changed antibiotics and decongestants because they evidently weren't doing their job after a week. Felt better thirty minutes after leaving the office. (Steroid shot). Finally got to blow my nose and clear my head and slept like a baby that night. Next day decongestant or maybe shots, started clearing lungs and sinus cavities. Thought we had kicked it but after the fourth day things started going down hill again. Sinus plugged, doesn't drain well enough to keep from forming lump in my throat that I can't swallow or cough up. Just an irritant but drives me crazy. I know there are a million people out there who would love to have my little problem and not theirs. But somehow, when it's your's, it's major no matter how minor it is.

Now that the gross part is over, does anyone know of anything that will loosen the mucus and/or promote drainage. Only got 4 hours sleep last night and it's not looking much better for tonight. Really tired of walking down the driveway or taking drives down our county road at 5 mph at three in the morning.

I know there's someone out there who has something that I can go get today. Of course, if it's not at Wal-mart, then I'd have to wait until Monday.

Here's hoping that we have better doctors on here than those that I've got.

Wildman, (still suffering after a month)

-- Anonymous, April 19, 2003

Answers

Steamy hot baths break my crud loose

-- Anonymous, April 19, 2003

You're probably right Jay, but when I get this way, I get really nervous and anxious and then that turns into claustrophobia and sometimes I can't even stay in the house. I know a hot shower would probably help too, but that would be like putting me in a coffin.

Wildman, (looking for an outside shower)

-- Anonymous, April 19, 2003

Get in there with the wildwoman to keep your mind on other stuff then. :>)

-- Anonymous, April 19, 2003

Jay, that was a great idea and I discussed with Sandy but after putting up with my wandering, nervousness, claustrophobia, panic attacks, sniffing and whining, for almost a month, she's just about at wits end. She said that seeing this fat man naked would probably put her over the edge. Her sense of humor has worn really, really thin lately.

Wildman, (showering alone)

-- Anonymous, April 19, 2003

Here's a coupla tricks that might help. Along the lines of a hot shower, put a pot of water to boil on the stove. In the water put a cinamon stick and or/some eucalyptus oil. Drape a towel over your head and kinda hang out over the boiling water so you get the benefit of the steam. It has worked for me.

Another is to snort some colloidal silver into each nostril if you can. Its a broad spectrum antibiotic.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2003

Wildman you just gotta learn to relax! just wait and I promise in the not to distant future a LOT more things will hurt and you'll forgit that nose altoghther!!!! It works for me. I have so many pains that NONE of them bother me much anymore. Time heals all my friend!

Hey besides the sinus how the hell you been?.....Kirk

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2003

Kirk, you're absolutely right! I do need to learn to relax and to help me do that, the doctor gave me some chill pills. They help but don't completely take away the anxiety or restlessness but I don't want anything stronger. I figure that the doctors have my system screwed up enough as it is.

There's a theory out that you can only feel one pain at a time. The pains may rotate quickly but you only feel one at a time. Sandy has suggested hitting me in the head with her iron skillet and that would definitely take my mind off my other problems! However, I hate to add to them and would rather get problems eliminated one at a time without additional pain or irritation.

The second doctor also gave me some sleeping pills since I couldn't sleep. He told me that the next strongest sleeping pill was a ball peen hammer. Sandy asked him if that was a prescription item or could she pick one up at any hardware store. I'm probably the only person in the world that has a prescription for a ball peen hammer. He said he just wanted to cover all the bases.

Other than these minor problems, we are getting along fairly well. Like I said earlier, we're healthier than a lot of people and our problems are really irritants instead of life threatening.

John, your remedy works when I can stand to be still that long. I've tried it before and it really helps but I've never added anything to the water. Hard to use it when I'm walking down the driveway. Maybe I should do it when I'm at one of my calm stages instead of waiting until I have the problem. Good thought.

Wildman, (thankful)

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2003

Do you have a thermos? Maybe you could put the hot water and eucalyptus oil in the thermos and sniff it while you're walking down the driveway? Just don't get confused and drink it. :)

I can kind of relate to what you're going through. I had both of my jaws surgically broken and reassembled a few years ago. When they removed my upper jaw they had to cut into my sinuses, and so afterward my sinuses were all swollen and full of blood clots. I know what a panicky feeling it is to not be able to breathe. It got so bad that I actually blacked out in the surgeon's waiting room when I went in for my post-op checkup. (here's a tip: if you're tired of sitting in your doctor's waiting room, pass out and fall on the floor. They'll usually get you right in then!) The surgeon had to take the medical equivalent of a shop-vac and stick it up my nose and sucked everything out.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2003

You are not going to like me but it sounds like an allergy overload, right? Stop eating dairy, wheat and refined sugars. That will give your body room to clean out the inhaled allergies. A really good multiple vitamin will also help. I have access to different Vitamins but wasn't sure if you would really like them. Vit C never hurts.

I was sucking down the over the counter sinus meds but got better only after stopping wheat and taking vitamins. I can eat wheat again.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2003

I was going to post something similar to Dee's post. Sounds like allergies. I'd say cut out wheat and other gluten grains (oats, barley, rye), dairy products, and sugar, too. And perhaps cut out any "manufactured" food products, unless they're only made with recognizeable food ingredients. You might be sensitive to additives. You probably will have to do some detective work to find exactly what affects you.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2003

Yep, I know it sounds like allergies but "the doctors" have diagnosed it as sinusitis.

I don't have watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, etc. Wish I had those things. I stay stuffed up and the sinus cavities get full, then the ears get plugged. I'm normally stuffed up most of the time anyway but when this comes on, it's like someone put corks up my nose. Can't swallow, sneeze or blow. This time I couldn't even yawn! Now, that's a hell of a feeling.

I lost 20 pounds in the last month! If you want to know how to lose weight, give me a call! I don't recommend it and it's not a fun way but it does work! And it's quick although if seems like a life time!

This only happens when I get off the vitamins and water. I went six years between visits once until I thought the vitamins weren't helping and quit them. Bad mistake! Last month, I got lax on taking the vitamins and drinking the water because of a completely disrupted schedule or maybe that's lack of schedule and sure enough, the old sinus problem started acting up just before I went into the hospital for the blocked artery to the heart. Or from the heart.

The second doctor gave me the steroid shot and then a week later, gave me another one. . I'm better and able to sleep at night now. Finally.

Trust me, I'm back on the vitamins and water.

Now Joy and Dee, ya'll could be right about the stuffiness that I just live with all the time, being allergies. But, if you try to take my bread and crackers and cheese away from me, I'll have to kill you!

You hate to whine about something this minor but I sure was miserable. I thought about going to the hospital and just talking to the cancer patients or others that were worse off than I was. Which would have been just about anyone in the hospital!

Sherri, I like the thermos idea but I'm over it now. I'll keep it in mind if this ever happens again though. Hey, there's no one around here to see me sniffing a steaming thermos as I walk down the driveway! Different kinda drug, huh?

I've got a friend that sent me some AllerCalm. He wants me to try it out and let him know how it works. Got another appointment in a couple of weeks and by then the meds should be out of my system and I'll try the AllerCalm to see if it does any good.

Thanks for the help,

Wildman, (surviving)

-- Anonymous, April 24, 2003

Sorry Wildman, but I think you're doomed. Yessiree, the signs are all there, clear as a bell.

And why are you doomed, pray tell? Because when it comes down to it, I submit that you're too stubborn and set in yer ways to make the adjustments necessary in your life to make yourself well. Well hell's bells, what would ya do with no one to feel sorry for ya if you started feelin great anyway?

The allergy thing is clear to me too, from way up here in Minnesota. I would suggest if you want to get rid of what ails ya, look long and hard at those cheese and crackers you would kill to keep. There's your likely answer. Food cravings are almost always for foods we are allergic to, and deep down in your shoes you already know this.

Try comforting yourself with this: food sensitivities are not always permanent. Many times people eat too much of something (especially the common foods), particularly when they're young, and it eventually develops into an allergy or intolerance, and then a craving for that very thing. Just like booze. After detoxification of a few weeks or months (well, ok, sometimes years, but I don't wanna discourage you, since that's so easily done!), people are often able to reintroduce those foods again, as long as they partake moderately, like no more often than once every four days. Many people can eat dairy with lactase enzymes supplements taken at the same time. Some people can even process wheat again, even if it's old fashioned wheat like spelt, after cleansing and reseeding their tummies with hydrochloric acid. Anywho, there are acceptable replacements for wheat. You hafta think positive. Novel idea,eh?

I think you know what you have to do. Give away all your cheese and crackers to the poor(er). Say 'auf wiedersehen" to them (till we meet again, not goodbye), shed your tears, cry on Sandy's shoulder. You'll be earning crowns in heaven (I'm certain you'll qualify, although I'm also certain you'll protest). If you can go for two weeks wheat and dairy free, and you feel a difference, you can experiment with a small amount of one of the forbidden foods, and your body will shout you the answers you need but don't wanna hear.

The choice is yours, dear wildman. We are on your team, here ready to listen to you to rant and complain and whine and cry for your cheese and crackies, as long as it takes. I cannot speak for your poor wife however. The ball is in your court. Your serve. Good luck.

Love ya,

-- Anonymous, April 24, 2003

EM!!!! How dare you speak to me that way!! Slap me with your glove and throw the gaulent down!! How embarrassing! You know I can't let this pass without a fight. It would be unmanly. Therefore, I accept your challenge. Besides, what makes you think I'm sturborn and set in my ways? Oh, you've read some of my other post? Sorry, it may seem that way but 'taint so.

You, Joy and Dee and many others know way much more (English Majors take note, I'm sure there's got to be something wrong with that because it sounds so right), anyway, ya'll know more about food allergies than I do so I'm giving up my bread, crackers and cheese. Now, I told you what I'd do if someone tried to take them away from me but that doesn't apply to me. At least, I hope I don't kill myself.

Doth (just liked the sound of it) that mean that I can't have any type of crackers with my salads? I really, really like crackers with my salads! Are you sure?

Now, knowing you, I'm sure you're not going to let me get by with just foregoing bread, crackers and cheese. I'm almost positive that you're planning on making this more complicated than that.

The major attack has finally passed and we're just back to the normal stuffiness. Now, the planned results is that I don't live with a stuffy head after this little experiment? Breath normally, like everyone else? Well, like a lot of people anyway. Don't have to shoot up with nose drops to go to sleep? And hopefully, won't have to go through this again? I'm staying on the vitamins and water anyway. Just in case.

Okay, ol' gal, give me some specifics but be warned that if it doesn't work, I'm coming after you, Joy and Dee and anyone else who wants to weigh in on this. I'm a good tracker, I tracked Joy down to somewhere in Wis. and I'm pretty sure you're up North too, so I will find you.

Wildman, AR. (crying in his beer)

-- Anonymous, April 24, 2003

Here's an article that might interest you, Jack. American medicine at the ready once again to quick-fix with drugs, but no so interested in preventing or discovering causes in the first place!

sinus

-- Anonymous, May 01, 2003

Wildman, I don't know if giving up wheat and dairy will "unstuff" you completely. It hasn't for me. I still have allergies to other stuff, such as pollen (currently sniffling). BUT, it should HELP.

For years -- decades, really -- I was addicted to Afrin nasal spray. I only got off of it by using steroid sprays (freebies from the ENT clinic), but this was several years before I got onto alternative medicine and acupuncture, etc. Actually, I still do use the Afrin occasionally, but I "cut" it with saline solution, so it's only half as strong. Sure beats 3-4 times a day, every day!

A HUGE benefit for me in giving up the wheat & dairy was the disappearance of the stomach aches and other digestive problems. And though somethings still affect my sinuses (as the pollen mentioned above), without these food, I have much less mucus in the head.

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2003