Well, I'm still attacking this 'thing' living in my sinuses. I'm on my second doctor since I was not comfortable with the 2nd antibiotic prescription. I popped the first dose of Moxifloxican (sp?) and THEN decided to read the side effects. It was literally enough to give me a panic attack in the middle of the night after taking it. I was never asked if I had any kind of tendon issues (obviously I do with all the leg issues and tendinitis I had when I first went to the chiro) and the first warning is about getting tendinitis or having your tendon randomly blow out and potentially need surgery. SAY WHAT!?!?! Yes, I'm sure that's probably rare however this was the FIRST warning issued! I'm talking it made the side effects of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness and such look downright wussy. Not to mention, oh, you know not being able to sense touch, temperature changes, neuropathy, psychotic episodes including but not limited to suicidal thoughts and paranoia which is what I got after reading all of those side effects. Oh yeah and heart related stuff like rapid heartbeat, fainting due to that. If there was a commercial for this stuff, it would be 3 commercials long just listing the side effects. So I called the pharmacist and asked if it was safe and she said yes and I said 'even though I've had tendinitis?' and her tone changed and she told me not to take another dose. She said Bactrim would probably be the next antibiotic step. So I talked with doc #2 and he said he was hesitant to prescribe another antibiotic because with everything I told him, he thinks it's viral. He said he had one last a month. So he said two medicinal doses of vitamin C at 1000mg each per day and only if I am basically blowing Slimer out of my face in 3-5 days should I consider another antibiotic. I told him that was fine with me as I don't like being on meds anyway especially antibiotics.
Due to me not wanting to go out and catch more crud from others, we basically stayed in all weekend. (Not fun given I already feel like I've been cooped up far too long!) So the Mr and I watched movies we got for Christmas. We finally saw Good Will Hunting. No...we haven't seen it before Saturday. I know, losers. Good movie but you probably already know that. I also saw Die Hard for the first time. Interesting. Then the Mr played his new game until I fell asleep and slept on the couch that night so in case we're mouth breathing on each other passing crap.
So yesterday I hit it hard on the holistic level. I'm evicting this crap for REAL, yo. So here are the products in my arsenal.
Vicks Personal Steam Inhaler
(affiliate link) 
This was the only facial steamer at the closest store so we went with it. I'm a little irritated that it only comes with one eucalyptus disc in there and of course they're made for one time use only. You know dang well I dried that thing out and reapplied some tea tree and eucalyptus oil on the pads the next day. You can easily get 3-4 uses out of it if you properly dry it and use essential oils to replenish the oomph.
100% Pure Therapeutic Grade Basic Aromatherapy Sampler Essential Oil Gift Set
(affiliate link) 
The Mr kindly got this off my wish list for Christmas since he knows no one in my family ever would buy this voodoo. Little did I know within 2 weeks of receiving it I would be putting it all to good use. Tea tree oil is a miracle oil and if you don't believe that, read up on my experience with it (after eating). It is anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral which means it should be able to kick the butt of the sinus troll. I add a few drops of that to the steamer disk so if any of the steam penetrates in there it can get in there. Then I will occasional just take a hit of it and smell it straight up. I'm talking a good, deep inhale. I will put one drop to 4 drops of olive oil and lubricate the inside of my nose and honestly, that is the only thing that has kept my nose moisturized over the past 2 days so I'm keeping that up.
Flight Spray, Nasal Hydration Spray
(affiliate link) 
Normally when we travel, we will put a few squirts up the shnozz to keep it moisturized in that dry cabin air on the plane. This also comes in handy in the early stages of when some sinus issue is trying to come on. I was out when I started to get this but it has staved off sinus headaches in the past and gotten rid of that horrible morning congestion you can get. It's all natural so it's non-addictive. I wouldn't say it's super powerful if something has gotten hold really bad but in the early stages or as a preventative, it's awesome. When I am able to get a bit of smell going, I am going to squirt some of this Made in Maui goodness right into my sniffer holes.
Emergen-C Super Orange, 1000 mg of Vitamin C
(affiliate link) 
There are tons of different flavors for this stuff, my favorite being orange, raspberry or tropical. This is how I'm getting my 1000mg 'medicinal dose' of vitamin C twice a day per the second docs orders. You dissolve the powder in a little water and chug. If I would've remembered to take this the night I caught this crap along with neti potting, I'm sure I wouldn't be in this situation.
Speaking of which...
NeilMed NasaFlo Unbreakable Neti Pot with 50 Premixed Packets
(affiliate link) 
We take this version on our trips with us. It's plastic, easy to travel with and a very good starter pot if you're new to it. The thought of irrigating your nose freaks some people out and yes it takes a time or two to get used to it but this is the chit. My friend had sinus issues for 38 years and I told her time and time again get one of these things and she'd always say she would and never did. Finally I just bought her this kit and sent it to her (she's out of state) and she hasn't had a sinus issue since!! Another reason I recommend this one is the packets are perfectly pre-mixed with the right mix to make saline that is closest to your body's PH. To save a buck or two, I went with organic loose neti pot salt from some other manufacturer and no matter how small the dose, I burnt out my sinuses so bad my eyes got really red and I couldn't even finish a full pot. So I bought 100 more packets and will throw that other stuff away. I haven't had that problem once since I switched back to these packets. With this bout of loveliness, I've been doing it once in the morning and once in the evening before bed. *ALWAYS use either distilled or boiled then cooled water!* Regular tap water can contain amoebas that will do some rather unpleasant things.
So my mission this week is to be on the constant attack and try to kick this to the curb for good. Last night I was almost able to taste dinner after a strength workout. Let's hope it goes in that direction for good. I've been fooled before with one or two good days then boom...back to day one.
Wish me luck.
What did you do this weekend? Dealt with any unwelcome head, nose or chest guests this holiday season?
(This post contains affiliate links. Should you choose to buy through them to fight the creepin' crud, I will receive a nominal kickback toward keeping the blog lights on)
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I hope this is what takes care of your nose demon. Sinus issues are the worst. We watched a couple movies too with Bad Words being our hands down favorite. Hilarious.
ReplyDeleteMe too!
DeleteBad Words was AWESOME! We loved that movie. In a world full of you can't even open your mouth without someone getting their panties in a twist, it was nice to finally have a movie so politically incorrect.
I hope you do manage to kick this thing to the curb. This fall/winter has been an awful one. I had a cold that lasted over 2 weeks (usually mine are a week or less). Hubby just started his third round of anti-biotics for his third sinus infection in as many months. Little guy has been sick enough to see the dr. twice. The kids at school have been dropping like flies. I just hope this is finally the turn-around point for you.
ReplyDeleteThis weekend was a bowling get-together with little guy's best friend. Then Sunday was a whole lot of getting ready for the week. I can't believe how trashed my house was - it took us forever to get it cleaned up.
Oh man, I'm surprised the docs are giving him more antibiotics. They need to be doing a CT scan to check for blockages if it's been months. He's not going to have an immune system left. Both docs told me to take probiotics while on the antibiotics to replenish the good bacteria for all the bad bacteria being killed. Amoxicillan kills 90% of bacteria and for the ones it doesn't, I'd see if he's been on Bactrim which seems to be the lesser evil of the other antibiotics. Has he been to an ENT doc? No way should it last months! Poor guy. With you being a teacher, I don't know how you still well with those kids any time of year!
DeleteIt doesn't take much for a house to go downhill, does it?
I sure hope this does the trick for you. I hate seeing you miserable like this.
ReplyDeleteI hope so too. This is utter crap. My usual colds last 2 weeks and today is the 3 week mark. Heck this isn't even a cold, no mouth breathing, sore throat, cough, etc. Yours is even holding on WAAAAY longer than you've ever had. I'm pretty sure we're facing a new, terrifying dawn of super bugs.
DeleteI hope this gets rid of the problems for you. I know what you mean about the scary side effects of the meds. Dispensing them is my job and I personally prefer to try the more natural options whenever possible.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to know that I wasn't the only person who hasn't seen "Good Will Hunting"....although now I may be since you've seen it.
Sending lots of get well thoughts your way!!
I friggin' FREAKED OUT when I read that pamphlet. I will never again agree to a script without going over the side effects PRIOR to it being prescribed. I'm talking I'd have to be on my death bed to take that particular one. (God forbid)
DeleteI'd say if you're a Robin Williams fan, it's worth the rent but as far as the rest of it, I wasn't overly impressed. Minnie Driver was charming though, if she didn't win an award, she should have.
Thanks! I'll take 'em!
Finally managed to have Christmas with my uncle. We picked mom up and off we went. Funny, three other families were in the Bistro at his place, also eating Portillo's! It was a good day had by all.
ReplyDeleteAs for cough/colds, I get one every year, but that's typically about it. My nose will continue to run for about a month after all the other symptoms have left. One thing I have been struggling with for weeks is a bloody nose in one nostril that bleeds profusely at the drop of a hat. I've had to throw more shirts in the laundry because it just goes everywhere. Vaseline doesn't seem to do much as far as the dryness is concerned, so I'm just muddling through it-- and making sure I have tissues near me at all times! LOL
Oops... hit send too fast. Just an FYI, I've never seen Good Will Hunting and don't think I've any of the Die Hard movies from start to finish. I'm also someone who still has not seen all three Star Wars movies from the 70's either. I didn't see The Godfather movies until my 20's and 30's either. I know...I'm Wilma Flintstone. =o)
ReplyDeleteThat's hilarious! Portillo's is popular! Glad you guys had a good day! Try using 1 tbsp olive oil with a drop or two of tea tree oil kept in a little container. Lube up the nose with it 2-3x day. I had dried blood constantly the first two weeks and once I started doing that, I haven't had blood since. Worth a shot?
DeleteNever seen the Godfather movies, Goodfellas, etc and have no desire to. I have Italian friends threatening not to talk to me anymore and I don't blink. I've never seen Casablanca, Annie Hall, Kramer vs Kramer. So many classics other consider 'must see's' and they're just not really on my list. :-|