My basic symptoms are: dizziness,
sometimes vertigo; almost constantly
swollen adenoid gland making it difficult
to breath; once/month swollen throat
glands; fatigue; throat soreness; fluid in
ears; headaches, sometimes severe. These
are NOT allergy symptoms; I have seasonal
allergies from April until June, but
definately none in the winter when all of
this began.
My issues started in December of 2006,
when I began feeling off and on unbalanced
(dizzy, I guess). It came and went, for
about 3 months - until early March 2007.
In March '07, I got a bacterial throat
infection; it was not strep, but a similar
strain. The docs tried to treat it with a
few different antibiotics, but I kept
having different allergic reactions to
them and couldn't finish a full course.
They said the bacteria didn't *need* to be
treated with antibiotics, and I'd fend it
off on my own. I did, for about 3 weeks.
I made another doc appointment in April
'07, because I was still dizzy, and I
thought my throat infection was back - my
glands were swollen (the ones under my
jaw, and my adenoids) and I had a slight
fever. No bacteria was present in my
throat, so no antibiotics this time. The
doc gave me Claritin and Flonase, saying
that my swollen glands and dizziness were
caused by allergies. I stopped the
Claritan after 3 weeks because I saw no
improvement in anything; I stopped the
Flonase after 1 week because it started to
give me nosebleeds.
I saw a doctor in May again for the same
issues, and also for vertigo - the vertigo
lasted for 2 weeks, was debilitating, and
went away on it's own -but nothing was
prescribed. I saw an ENT who said I had
"labrinthia" (probably spelled that
wrong), and that the dizziness would go
away. It did not.
That brings me to now, the first few days
of July '07. I just saw a new doctor, who
said I have fluid in my ears and postnasal
drip. She was certain it was allergy
related, and prescribed me Nasonex. I
tried it for 3 days before throwing it out
- the side effects were ridiculous. It
exaggerated the symptoms I already had,
but also made me very tired, very jittery,
very light headed (close to fainting), had
heart palpatations, and was irritable and
moody. Once I stopped the Nasonex, all
those symptoms went away. Now the doc
wants to start me on Allegra D, which I'm
not so sure about since I seem to have a
sensitivity to drugs in general (in the
past, experienced wacky side effects to
stuff like Wellbutrin, Benedryl, etc).
I'm also going to have a CT done of my
sinuses, but I don't think this is a sinus
problem.
I need some advice! I feel so foggy all
the time, it's hard to concentrate; I just
want my life back!!!! My throat still
gets swollen about once/month; and I still
have pressure in my ears on and off.
|
monkeygirl22
Supporter
Joined: 20 Nov 2006 Posts: 2398 Location: ,
Thanks: 9
Thanked:1
Posted: 07-02-07 17:24pm
I can almost guarantee you this is a
sinus/allergy problem. I have lived with
these symptoms my entire life. While I am
not a doctor, I am still pretty sure.
Normally, what works for me is taking
Zyrtec D one pill twice a day. I get
frequent infections which I do have to be
put on antibiotics for. It sounds like you
need to see an allergist or an ear, nose,
and throat doctor to work out a treatment
plan for you. Specialists can work
wonders. I would also suggest asking for a
steroid shot since the fluid is not going
away. It will dry it up in a jiffy and
make you feel oh so much better. Sometimes
I can get better without the meds as long
as I get a shot. When they do the head ct
they will be able to tell if you have
chronic sinusitis. I had the ct done as
well less than a year ago. If you do have
it, they will offer sinus surgery to make
a way for your sinuses to drain properly.
When they don't drain, you feel like crap
all the time. Trust me, I know. I didn't
have to have the sinus surgery last year
but I did have my tonsils/adenoids taken
out and my nasal turbinates reduced. I
have went from being on antibiotics every
month or two to only being on them every
four or five months so I am bunches
better.
Furthermore, I would suggest being a
little more open to what the doctors tell
you because if you don't work WITH them,
you will get nowhere fast. I hope you get
to feeling better. Let me know how your
next visit goes.
