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Mandy Nelson MMD
Joined: 07 Aug 2008 Posts: 2903 Location: Wicked Mainah
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Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2013 7:13 pm Post subject: Sinus Inflection |
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Tonight marks almost 1 week on my 3rd round of antibiotics for a sinus infection. This has been going on since January. I get them every winter but have never had one this bad and, of course, it's not just messing with my work but my sanity as well (and my family's!). Have any of you gone through this or know someone who has?
I love my neti pot but I can't use it when I have a full blown infection because it hurts and I cry and I throw it (true story). I sick of medications, currently can't afford to go back to acupuncture (which always worked wonders but long story) and blah blah blah blah. Quick, someone make me laugh before I take myself down to Gooch's beach and try to drown it out. (I mean that jokingly - I have no intention to harm myself, just my honker). _________________ 006 member of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Mic. Bonded by sound.
Manfillappsoc: The Mandy and Philip mutual appreciation Society. Who's in your network?
Have you seen my mic closet? ~ me to my future husband |
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Jason Huggins The Gates of Troy
Joined: 12 Aug 2011 Posts: 1846 Location: In the souls of a million jeans
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Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2013 7:22 pm Post subject: |
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I feel ya! I had a couple month bout with what ended up being allergies. Infections are LAME. I have found that Bovine liver fat extract has helped decongest me |
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todd ellis A Zillion
Joined: 02 Jan 2007 Posts: 10512 Location: little egypt
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Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 5:32 am Post subject: |
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this always makes me laugh _________________ "i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?
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Mike Harrison M&M
Joined: 03 Nov 2007 Posts: 2029 Location: Equidistant from New York City and Philadelphia, along the NJ Shore
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Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 6:30 am Post subject: |
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Sorry to hear you experience the curse of recurring sinus infections, too, Mandy. Without going into icky details, my ENT tells me my condition is largely (perhaps completely) due to something many people have: a deviated septum, the strip of cartilage that separates the two nasal passages.
This creates considerably less airflow in one of the nasal passages, and that in turn creates the perfect environment for the infections to grow and thrive.
But my doctor and ENT are reluctant to continue antibiotics for too long. There's the risk of eventual antibiotic resistance. And I try to stay away from all medications, or as many as possible, because most of them have some kind of negative side effect. Decongestants work great, for example, but by their very nature, they dry *everything* out, thereby increasing the likelihood of mouth clicks, dry eyes, etc.
I use the neti pot, too; now three times a day, and it seems to have reduced the occurrence of infection. But if using it causes you pain – and I don't mean to question your experience with the neti pot – I wonder if you might be using either not enough or too much salt. Because I use it so often, I didn't want to pay for the manufactured packets, some with unnecessary additives, so I choose to make my own solution: a cup-and-a-half of water from my Brita faucet filter, to which I add a heaping half-teaspoon of Kosher salt (it contains only salt, no iodide or other, anti-caking additives), which is then brought to a full, rolling boil in the microwave and allowed to cool before use.
What really seems to help are those anti-snore nasal strips (a la Breathe Right®). The store brands are just as good, so long as the directions for applying them are followed. They help keep the nasal passages open, making for better airflow.
Finally, a Chiropractor can also help. The nerves that control our body's various functions travel through the spinal cord and exit the cord from between the vertebrae. In the case of the sinuses, this is between vertebrae C2 and C3. If there is even a slight misalignment or disc herniation causing pressure on the nerves traveling to the sinuses, that can cause increased sinus passage swelling. When I tell my Chiropractor I'm having sinus issues, very often he's able to provide a spinal adjustment, and he's also able to massage key facial areas to help open the sinus passages.
I hope some of this helps and that you're feeling better soon! _________________ Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.
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Lee Gordon A Zillion
Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Posts: 6855 Location: West Hartford, CT
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Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 9:13 am Post subject: Re: Sinus Inflection |
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Mandy Nelson wrote: | Quick, someone make me laugh before I take myself down to Gooch's beach and try to drown it out. |
Don't do it! The ocean is just a giant Neti pot. _________________ Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice
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Shiromi Contributor III
Joined: 24 Nov 2012 Posts: 93 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 1:50 pm Post subject: |
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This is going to sound really weird, but have you tried xylitol in a neti pot? It's a sugar substitute, with really incredible properties. One of which is that it can break up the mucus layer in which bacteria hide from your body's defenses and even antibiotics. Here's an article that can explain it better than I can.
http://www.drhoffman.com/page.cfm/936
I was skeptical, but since it's already a main ingredient in some nasal sprays I tried it and it actually seems to help. |
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Mike Harrison M&M
Joined: 03 Nov 2007 Posts: 2029 Location: Equidistant from New York City and Philadelphia, along the NJ Shore
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Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 2:38 pm Post subject: |
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I've been using a toothpaste containing Xylitol for some time.
After reading more, I'm ready to order a 55 gallon drum of the stuff. _________________ Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.
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Lee Gordon A Zillion
Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Posts: 6855 Location: West Hartford, CT
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Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 2:59 pm Post subject: |
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When did this place turn into the Yahoo VO Group? _________________ Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice
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ccpetersen With a Side of Awesome
Joined: 19 Sep 2007 Posts: 3708 Location: In Coherent
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Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 3:15 pm Post subject: |
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Lee, well, it could be worse. It could be the Myspace VO group
VO1: Duuuude, I just nabbed a kewl thing called a neti pot and you, like, use it to run water threw yer nose
VO2: Ewww... grossssss!
VO3: Lovely Russian NetiPots want to Meet YOU!
VO:4 Get yEr netIpotS at A discoUnt aT Neti-R-Us. Send Charge Card number now! _________________ Charter Member: Threadjackers Local 420 |
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Mandy Nelson MMD
Joined: 07 Aug 2008 Posts: 2903 Location: Wicked Mainah
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Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 7:03 pm Post subject: |
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I won't do anything drastic, Lee!
Mike, the neti pain is from all of the movement. The pressure, the movement of whatever is up there, combined with my sensitivity to it makes for some extreme pain. With acupuncture I would get immediate relief of the blockage (my nose would start to run with the first needle) but the pain of the movement would have me in tears. I would stick with that one because by the time I left the table I had complete relief. With the neti there is no relief. I also have vertigo so that doesn't help!
There is no mucus blocking the nasal passages. That part has been clear for a couple of months but the pressure and pain in all of the typical areas is there. Spoke to the doc today and they moved up a cat scan to tomorrow night and I'll know if something is going on on Wednesday. Since we recently moved these are all new docs but I've contacted my old one to have her fill in some blanks for the new one so that the history is all up to date and they can have as much info as possible.
One thing we will look into is mold causing this. I was exposed to high levels of mold every day for months. I wore a mask *cough cough* most of the time.
Love all of the suggestions from each of you. And you know, I was whining an awful lot yesterday and today but after seeing my beloved Boston today I've put the nix on feeling sorry for myself. _________________ 006 member of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Mic. Bonded by sound.
Manfillappsoc: The Mandy and Philip mutual appreciation Society. Who's in your network?
Have you seen my mic closet? ~ me to my future husband |
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Mike Harrison M&M
Joined: 03 Nov 2007 Posts: 2029 Location: Equidistant from New York City and Philadelphia, along the NJ Shore
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Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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The CAT scan is a good idea. I had one done and it revealed structural issues that surgery *might* correct, but my ENT said there are no guarantees.
Before seeing the ENT, I'd begun having dizzy spells last year, and saw my regular doctor. He said it was a sinus infection, although there were no typical symptoms: no pressure/pain, stuffiness, etc. The antibiotics took care of that. Maybe your vertigo is somehow related(?)
Whatever is causing it, I hope you are feeling better soon. _________________ Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.
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Jen Gosnell A Hundred Dozen
Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 1290 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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Mandy, about the affordability of acupuncture. Have you heard of community acupuncture? It was new to me as of a couple years ago. Basically you trade the luxury of a private treatment room for a drastically reduced cost of treatment. This communal aspect, I have found to be no big deal at all. Everyone's napping anyway!
I googled and it looks like there are a couple centers which would be just over half an hour drive for you. Then about twenty bucks for a treatment (maybe a little more for the very first one). If that sounds appealing, check out these:
http://communityacupuncturemaine.com/sample-page/
http://www.mainecenterforacupuncture.com/
I sure hope you feel better soon! _________________ jen@jengosnell.com
https://www.jengosnell.com
Skype: jen.gosnell
971.258.2448 |
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Bruce Boardmeister
Joined: 06 Jun 2005 Posts: 7964 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 6:16 am Post subject: |
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And no time like the present to buy a set of needles and train the kids. Could be an interesting career path for them.
Of course you may want to let them practice on each other first before treating you.
B _________________ VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005
I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. . |
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Lee Gordon A Zillion
Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Posts: 6855 Location: West Hartford, CT
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Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 10:12 am Post subject: |
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Jen Gosnell wrote: | about the affordability of acupuncture. Have you heard of community acupuncture? |
Or, instead of that dog, just get a rescue porcupine. _________________ Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice
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Jen Gosnell A Hundred Dozen
Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 1290 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 4:13 pm Post subject: |
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Nice kid pic.
For the record, community acupuncture is administered by licensed acupuncturists, same qualifications as those in private practice. These folks just also happen to be interested in maximizing the availability and affordability of the treatment modality, as is more common in other parts of the world where this technique is in wider use.
But far be it from me to interfere with the parenting or pet choices of others! _________________ jen@jengosnell.com
https://www.jengosnell.com
Skype: jen.gosnell
971.258.2448 |
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