Is this sinusitis???

[lizzi493]

I have been feeling unwell now for about 6 weeks. On 4th September, I visited an ENT specialist at the hospital and was told that I had Sinusitis and Rhinitis. My nose was running and I felt alot of congestion. I don't feel that now but my ears are ringing and I feel very tired and lethargic. I am sometimes a bit nauseas and dizzy and I don't feel mentally sharp. I feel shivery and cold even when a room is warm. I am worse in the mornings, usually feeling a bit better as the day progresses. I have been off work and feel that I don't probably have the energy to return. I was on a course of antibiotics which finished last Saturday and did feel a bit better for a couple of days after that. Could you give me an idea as to what could be wrong. This doesn't seem like sinusitis to me. I've never felt pain in my face or head. I am a woman aged 46. Many thanks,

[tomsant]

Hi,
It is pneumococcal pneumonia (infection of lung caused by the bacterium pneumococcus). With a diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia, they wouldn't have checked for another causative bug.

Septic shock was a serious complication from the pneumonia.

About the dampness, you may be able to ask some allergist or pulmonologist (now they have specialist for anything and everything) . You can consider that later.

The "Detox Program": Why did you go for it? I assume that it is for some detoxification of the liver as  the name suggests. But I have no clue about the same. How did you find that your liver had to be detoxified? Who advised the same? I wonder what they use for the it. You say the first month is for cleansing the blood (?!) .... Has this been advised by someone qualified in health care? (some medical doctor)

Let us know the lab results.

Best rgds,
Tomsant

[twintwo]

A close neighbor just sent me this info about Janet Jackson, as her recent vertigo symptoms that caused her to cancel appearances do sound similar to mine.  

http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=6043241    click on this link - it associates these symptoms with migraine pressure without headache pain.  

I don't have the spinning vertigo as others describe.  Janet J's vertigo symptoms of feeling as if she's on a boat - or floating, mirrors my experience.   I often have intense pressure in my head but I would never have thought this pressure was a headache or migraine related.  I know how a typical migraine affected my mother - her pain was so severe.

I just returned from a week long process workshop in Mesa AZ and each day was torturous.  I tried not to panic when the motion I felt sitting in a conference room all week just would not ease up.  I could really feel every "bob and dip" movement - fortunately I was able to get up often to take breaks.  I'm curious to find out how Janet Jackson's symptoms have been treated.  The article doesn't say if she's back on tour yet.

I have never heard of - and not one of the doctors I've seen have ever mentioned - " Mal de Debarquement or Floating Woman Syndrome" - I'm printing this article about Janet Jackson to take to my PCP, EN&T, and Naturepath.

I'm hoping this dizziness is just hormonal and related to the onset of menopause.  I've been battling this for a year now and I hope to find out how Janet Jackson was treated - I do feel hopeful!  I also just bought Suzanne Sommers book "Breakthrough" to read on the plane.  Very interesting and insightful.  She confirms the aspects of poor "gut / intestinal / digestive track" health as the root of all health problems.  Her book is getting good reviews.  I will share more as delve deeper into her book.

At the advice of the Naturepath I've been working with, I've been off of wheat and gluten for more than a month.  Unfortunately I had very painful inflammation of my mouth tissue two weeks ago, so she recommend removing processed sugar from my diet as well, to speed the healing process of having thrush/candida. I've never had that before - I thought it was a condition that just affected children - my mouth is fine now.  She said to keep up these diet constraints until she sees that my compromised immune system has improved.

Celiac Sprue runs in my family (cousins) and recent blood work showed I had sensitivity to wheat, almonds, dairy, pineapple and kidney beans.  With supplementing Vitamin D, my levels have been elevated to 23 - I was at 15 or 16.  I take 2000 units each day and try my best to get a little sun each day - not easy to do in this Seattle weather.   I'm hoping these diet adjustments will help lower my high thyroid antibodies as my Naturepath explained poor nutritional / gut health causes autoimmune problems. I'm off of Thyroid hormone as I reacted badly to the low amounts of Synthroid my PCP prescribed.   In a few months I return for more blood work to check levels.

Even with diet changes I'm still dizzy each and every day, still have tinnitus buzzing in my left ear for more than 4 years now and head pressure.

Hope all are doing better, I welcome any thoughts you may have.

[lizzi493]

Hi again and thanks for that. My bloods are now on their way to be tested. I also asked that my hormone levels be checked. I should have the results in about 6 or 7 days. My discharge papers from the hospital in July 2006 stated that I had pneumococcal pneumonia (if that's how you spell it!) and septic shock. There did not appear to be any test undertaken to rule out a fungal cause - you're right, hindsight is a wonderful thing!

I really don't think my 'sickness' was related to the separation with my husband - it was totally amicable and I lived quite happily on my own for a while before moving. I'm thinking now, on reflection, and after thinking about alot of your comments, that it is more likely to relate to the damp environment in work. The problem is technically fixed but, interestingly, one of my colleagues had brought in a damp meter that she had been using in her son's flat and apparently the reading was extremely high on one of the walls. We picked at some plaster and discovered more damp. It is a major problem and has been around for a number of years.

The detox programme I have been on is sold as a 3 month liver detox, marketed by ELEMIS. The first month is meant to work to cleanse the blood, supplying necessary vitamins, minerals and in particular iodine. It is also intended to have a tonic effect on the intestines. Month 2 is meant to increase the body's fat burning ability and month 3 is meant to enhance physical performance and improve mental alertness and stamina. I am looking forward to month3! I certainly felt some benefits at the beginning but it would be unfair of me to judge more than that, considering how I have been feeling. It is taken in capsule form.

You're absolutely right about the husbands! I haven't had much in the way of luck!! I will retire to the hills, somewhere hot, a nice swimming pool, with few neighbours and no husband or partner in sight!!!!

Anyway, good to hear from you again. I will keep you updated as things develop.
Kind regards,
Liz.

[tomsant]

Hi,
They have revamped the site, and I couldn't access anything while they were
at it. But the 'deleted' conversation has not come back.
+++

My thanks again. I'm glad you managed to receive yesterday's communication -
I have only just discovered myself that the comments have mysteriously
disappeared! Luckily I printed your responses. I have, today, made an
appointment to have my bloods taken and that will take place tomorrow. I am
feeling much better today and returned to work this morning. My ears feel
clearer although I would not say that I am fully back to normal.

>>>As your ears are opening up, our guess was right that it was due to
>>>Eustachian tube block, caused by the rhinosinusitis.

I cannot remember the exact diagnosis with regard to my pneumonia, but I
will find out. I don't think that any test was undertaken to to rule out
fungal
causes. I do remember that it took some time to come up with the diagnosis
and doctors intimated that they were surprised that I should 'catch'
something like that.
>>>> It is unlikely that they would have looked for fungus then, but in case
>>>> they had looked for it and found something, I was just curious.
>>>> (Retrospectively, anyone is wise)
.
The ENT consultant at the hospital on 4 September
performed an endoscopy and told me that he did not feel that my condition
was an allergic one as the lining would have been a different colour?

>>>Yes, the mucosa will be pale.

I have
not had a CT scan ot XRay.
I have no family history of illness and both my parents at the age of 75 are
still very active. I was a smoker until the age of about 34, smoking 15-20
cigarettes daily. I stopped for several years and I now smoke about 3 or 4
cigarettes most days. I don't drink and can't remember the last time that I
did have a drink. I would however drink a small amount on a social occasion.
I don't have any addictions but take about 4 or 5 cups of coffee daily. I am
a teacher but have been promoted to a position of responsibility within the
school. My job is busy but I don't find it stressful and actually quite
enjoy the contact it gives me with the children. I am as a result working
most of my day in the damp office I described with occasional bits of
teaching. I had forgotten to mention that I take OMEPRAZOLE tablets as in
earlier investigations into my bloated stomach, the doctor found
HELICOBACTER bacteria. I have been unable to take the antibiotics to rid
myself of the condition. I have also been on a detox programme from ELEMIS,
consisting of kelp among other ingredients.
>>> I am sorry I don't know what you are talking about. What detoxification
>>> programme? I don't know about ELEMIS and don't know what is kelp. If you
>>> can shine some light here it will be fine.

I have one boy, aged 11 and we
have a lovely life. I split from my husband

>>>Do you think you can link the onset of your 'sickness' to this
separation?

and lived with my son for a time
but we remain the best of friends. I am currently living with a partner. Our
situation has evolved into more of a friendship rather than a relationship.
If there are any stressors in my life, it would be here - he is quite the
perfectionist and quite difficult to live with at times!

>>> It is easier to get a perfectionist husband than a perfect one!

Best,

Thomas Antony
ps. When I tried to access this site yesterday, it was under maintenance. Then I didn't get time until now. Just to explain why I couldn't reply yesterday. - TA

[lizzi493]

My thanks again. I'm glad you managed to receive yesterday's communication - I have only just discovered myself that the comments have mysteriously disappeared! Luckily I printed your responses. I have, today, made an appointment to have my bloods taken and that will take place tomorrow. I am feeling much better today and returned to work this morning. My ears feel clearer although I would not say that I am fully back to normal. I cannot remember the exact diagnosis with regard to my pneumonia, but I will find out. I don't think that any test was undertaken to to rule out fungal causes. I do remember that it took some time to come up with the diagnosis and doctors intimated that they were surprised that I should 'catch' something like that. The ENT consultant at the hospital on 4 September performed an endoscopy and told me that he did not feel that my condition was an allergic one as the lining would have been a different colour? I have not had a CT scan ot XRay.
I have no family history of illness and both my parents at the age of 75 are still very active. I was a smoker until the age of about 34, smoking 15-20 cigarettes daily. I stopped for several years and I now smoke about 3 or 4 cigarettes most days. I don't drink and can't remember the last time that I did have a drink. I would however drink a small amount on a social occasion. I don't have any addictions but take about 4 or 5 cups of coffee daily. I am a teacher but have been promoted to a position of responsibility within the school. My job is busy but I don't find it stressful and actually quite enjoy the contact it gives me with the children. I am as a result working most of my day in the damp office I described with occasional bits of teaching. I had forgotten to mention that I take OMEPRAZOLE tablets as in earlier investigations into my bloated stomach, the doctor found HELICOBACTER bacteria. I have been unable to take the antibiotics to rid myself of the condition. I have also been on a detox programme from ELEMIS, consisting of kelp among other ingredients. I have one boy, aged 11 and we have a lovely life. I split from my husband and lived with my son for a time but we remain the best of friends. I am currently living with a partner. Our situation has evolved into more of a friendship rather than a relationship. If there are any stressors in my life, it would be here - he isquite the perfectionist and quite difficult to live with at times!
My thanks again for your continued help.
I will keep you posted,
Kind Regards,
Liz.

[tomsant]

Hi Liz,

I acknowledge your appreciation, thanks. We have to wade through this maze
of symptoms to solve the jigsaw puzzle. Let us try. As of now, it would
appear
that you may have two independent problems, one  being hypothyroidism and
the other connected with nose, sinuses and ear. We can try to link both as
well.


1. Your 'cold - intolerance' and preference for warmth, tiredness and lack
of energy, inability to loose weight, 'dizziness' and 'foggy thinking' etc
make one
suspect
hypothyroidism. But one would expect elevated cholesterol level in such
event.
But, let us see the lab results. While at it, if you havn't done a blood
sugar check
as yet, you can do it. Random blood sugar (RBS) is enough.

2. One is led to think that you acquired a respiratory infection from the
new premises you occupied at age 42. When you were admitted to hospital,
what was the exact diagnosis? What pneumonia ? Any test done to rule out
fungal cause? And one wonders if the 'flu-like' symptoms you had then, was
due to allergy, including that to fungus. One can stretch the imagination to
think about an allergic fungal sinusitis now either acquired from 'the new
residence' or from the damp & mold at the work place. And the sinusitis and
ear symptoms may thus be explained. If an Xray or CT of the sinuses done
now what were the findings? (If not already done, no need to rush into it,
lets wait for the serum thryoid profile)

3. Data is not complete without details like family history of illness, past
history
(in your case nothing significant) and personal history (including smoking,
alcohol
or addiction,  work, married life, number of children etc) and drug history
(whatever medicines you are on)


Best rgds,

Thomas Antony
ps. Incidentally, my earlier comments are missing from this forum. I wonder if this communication can continue. Wish you the best