There's a first for everything. Once I had a sinus infection that was so bad I developed pink eye and laryngitis before it was properly diagnosed.** Another time in college I had a urinary tract infection that I somehow did not notice until it became so bad that it made me vomit.*** Today, I discovered that a sinus infection can get so bad that it gives a person a toothache.
On Saturday, I called my allergist to tell him that I had a lot of yellow mucus that reminded me of the slime that they used to dump on the kids on You Can't Do that on Television. He told me that I should wait until I was sick for a week before he would consider antibiotics. Now, although this is the same doctor who insisted that I take Singular pills (I do not and never have) when I called him to get a refill for my inhaler, this sounded OK to me since I worry about the overuse of antibiotics and the super bugs they create. I want to be part of the solution, not the problem, dammit, so I went about my business.
I swear I even started to feel better. "I see the light at the end of the tunnel," I told a co-worker today at lunchtime after hacking up four pounds of neon mucus into a Kleenex at my desk. She looked a bit skeptical, but said that was great. Then around 3:00, I noticed a dull throbbing in my upper left molar. This eventually spread to my lower left molar. By the time I got out of class at 10:20, I had to hold my face in my hand.
Fortunately, the 24 hour walk-in clinic is not far from school, so I headed over there. I won't go into the hour long wait I experienced although I was the only person there (the doctor apologized profusely and said that no one should have to wait when she's sick; I am easy to mollify), but when she asked me if I had tooth pain, I felt a little less insane. "How did you know?" I asked. "Oh, it means that there's an infection," she smiled. As an experienced sinus infection sufferer, I've never had this before, but hey, first time for everything.
Now I am on some sort of super antibiotic which will hopefully clear up my head infection, but also wreak havoc on the rest of me. (Other good reasons to steer clear of antibiotics if they are unnecessary: 1. disruption of birth control pill; 2. potential for explosive diarrhea; 3. potential for massive vaginal yeast infection. When the doctor said that I had to use condoms for six week and then mentioned the diarrhea and yeast infection, I asked her who would want to have sex under those conditions any way?)
Time for a new allergist. And thanks everyone for wishing me well! Now I am finally on the way. I hope.
*Especially when one reader is an excellent ass surgeon.
**Thank you, NYU student health center for administering pregnancy tests and insisting that I did not have a sinus infection every time I went in to get help for my congestion.
***Seriously, I'm not sure how the fiery burn when I pissed - and constant need to go - didn't tip me off.
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Don't mean to sound alarmist, but a sinus infection can get so bad that it KILLS YOU. Definitely get a new allergist.
ReplyDeleteGiven how I feel right now, that does not sound alarmist at all. :)
ReplyDeleteyes, ass doctors are in great demand (as we are still looking for a replacement here for our colorectal surgeon, going on 9 months now)
ReplyDeleteglad you are feeling better.
I have been on some of those bionic anti-biotics before. I also have PCOS.
ReplyDeleteCan't help you with the birth control, my tubes are tied, BUT, as for the diarhea and the yeast, http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=84017&catid=47743
get some of these and eat lots of yogurt (don't you anyway?)
Another helpful thing for yeast is oil of oregano. I know it sounds out there, but you can buy it at a natural food store. Great stuff!
Good luck.
The bug that is going around this year is REALLY nasty. I got it in early November and still have a lingering cough. While you're taking the antibiotic, might I suggest that you indulge your yoghurt fetish frequently to help avoid a yeast infection? I hope you feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteYes, eating LOTS of yogurt, which is great. I was supposed to start the South Beach Diet on Sunday, but I don't think the increase in yogurt consumption would work . (Does anyone know? I know you can eat plain yogurt in Phase I, but wasn't sure if three a day would be OK.)
ReplyDeleteMar, I told Dr. P about the position you have, but she was not inclined to move to a place with so much cold weather. Now that I've become lame and lost my Chicago spirit about these things, I can't say that I blame her. But I'll mention it again or maybe she'll see your comment. :)
I had that toothache thing. Does suck. You should also use some saline spray to help clean all the shit out.
ReplyDeleteAntibiotics are for bacterial infections, won't do a damn thing for viral infections. But people want the doctor to give them a pill to make it better, so the doctors write out a script for antibiotics knowing that it won't do a thing for the viral infection.
ReplyDeleteSo if your sinus infection is caused by a bacteria, take the antibiotics, otherwise you wait for your body to eventually fight off the infection.
Work on getting your immune system in a healthy state so it can fight the infection when it is in an early stage.
"Don't mean to sound alarmist, but a sinus infection can get so bad that it KILLS YOU. Definitely get a new allergist."
ReplyDeleteAn allergist is for treating allergies, not viral and bacterial infections.