that vision thang - Back to Hating the Medical Establishment

The medical field blows big chunks, man.

I have been having hearing issues for over a month now. Can't hear right, constantly have to ask students to repeat themselves and be louder; horrible tinnitus, like I've been to a Metallica concert; and this pressure in my ear, like an ear infection, but pressing in, not out. It's been driving me crazy. This is the third time its happened, but this is the first time I've been able to get an ENT appointment anywhere near the time I'm having symptoms. I only managed this appointment because I am going to a new ENT, recommended by my rheumatologist because he deals with autoimmune disorders of the ear, which is what my primary and rheumy think it might be.
Well, I went to my appointment this morning with the specialist ENT. The good news is, I don't have any autoimmune disorders of the ear. (Not that he looked at my blood work, or asked any details about my arthritis or fibro.) Other good news is that I have excellent hearing. Above average.

So he has no idea why I feel like I can't hear right. Unless I had above-above average hearing before, so I notice a loss but am still within what is considered the normal range. Despite the fact that this has happened three times in the past two to three years, and my hearing eventually returns to the same level. Essentially, I'm crazy.

Since he really can't explain it, I have come up with my own theory, based on my years of experience with my own body and how it works. I do have the beginning stages of autoimmune disorder, but my excellent hearing makes it impossible to tell yet. My primary thought for years I had some autoimmune issue going on, based on symptoms I had, but couldn't find one with testing until after I had my first daughter. Even then, it was my symptoms, not my blood work, that showed it was autoimmune. I barely register above normal on blood tests, yet I damn well know its there.

And my sinuses still look like crap and are swollen and nasty. Of course, since I had that stupid surgery to fix 'em, they dont' look normal to begin with. But that could help explain the pressure that I feel in my ear, which is not an infection and is not caused by any part of the ear that is visible. So I have to take a round of Prednisone (a steroid), which I avoid taking at all costs on a usual basis. Its common to take for both asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. The last time I took it willingly was as part of the diagnosis process for the arthritis. It makes me the evilest, most cranky person in the word. (According to the PDR, one possible side effect is psychotic episodes, so you can see why I might not want to take it.) Plus my fat ass gets fatter. Prednisone makes me feel hungry all the time, seriously hungry, and I always gain five or so pounds when I'm on it. It makes me feel bloated and uncomfortable, no matter what clothes I wear.

So let me apologize in advance for being a bitch and miserable.

I also need to use this super antibiotic sinus wash that I tried to get before, but Walgreen's and most regular pharmacies don't carry. I had to wait an hour at the hospital pharmacy to get it, and I'm not sure where I'll get it refilled (the hospital is a little far from my house to go for a prescription.)

I have decided that I need to go back to the allergist, and get tested for food allergies. I tested positive for eggs, wheat, and milk when I was younger; I don't remember what other foods. (I do remember cats, dogs, dust mites, roaches, and all kinds of trees and pollens.) Then, once I know what I am allergic to, I need to start cutting it out of my diet. This won't happen over night. I won't give up everything that I like. But this isn't a fad, this is something that I need to try, for my health. My sinuses are linked to my allergies. Surgery made them a little better, mostly fixing the deviated septum, but didn't fix the basic problem-- that I'm allergic to the freakin' world.

I am also going to have to start back on time-consuming and uncomfortable allergy shots. I've done this three times as an adult (and I don't remember how many years as a child, just how much I hated it) and have yet to be able to get to a maintenance dose. A maintenance dose is a shot once a month, instead of every week. Every time I've done this, I've had horrible reactions. Not anaphylaxis (had that once as a child to shots) but big, hard, painful welts that itch like the devil and require Benedryl to keep them under control (which means I need to sleep.) I've been to three allergists, too. The last one was great, but so far from my house that is was just too difficult to get there with working full time and dealing with my arthritis and my daughter, etc. But with him, I went from two shots (to cover all my allergies) to four. I need to get my records and find someone closer. SIGH. Yet another specialist to add to my list...

This isn't going to be easy.

But I have to do it.

Current Mood: cranky