QUICK QQUESTION FOR QUIXOTIC

[AOL]

I was just wondering what the symptoms one might look for if they thought that they might have a brain turmor?  Also thanks for all your advice that you give it is very helpful.

[Quixotic1]

Well...., I was wrong.  You didn't list ANY of the list of possible signs of a brain tumor.  You do however, have all the signs of either nasal allergies or general nonallergic rhinitis.  Rhinitis just means congested, sometimes drippy nose & sinuses.  The ear fullness and popping is a sign of eustachian tube dysfunction.  The eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the throat and is the way you keep your middle ear pressure regulated.  When the tube is not working right because of congestion the middle ear gets too much pressure, then periodically pops, especially when opening you mouth widely or swallowing.  This increase in pressure can also cause ear pain.

Also when the middle ear is congested a mild dizziness is common.  The balance center in the inner ear lies right up against the middle ear and the higher and changing pressure can make you feel a little unsteady (mild dizziness).  No biggie.  It's a normal reaction.

Your Zyrtec and Flonase are good choices.  When your head feels really full, a little Sudafed  can help that.  Your wife is right.  You might also consider an air purifier - just not one that produces ozone.

You know I am always saying, "This isn't my field of expertise."  Well, actually THIS one is.  I did my post-doc work in Immunology/Allergy.  BTW, if you have allergies, there is some soft evidence that people with allergies have a lower incidence of cancer (this hasn't been proven).  The theory is that in allergic people the immune system is working overtime and may be more aggressive at picking up early cancerous cells and destroying them.  As I am also an allergic individual, I particularly like this theory.  lol.

Enjoy your life, the worry just detracts from the quality you do have.  Hope this was reassuring, Quix

[AOL]

Thank you for your answer.  I am one of those constant worriers and I usually make something big out of little things.  It all started about 8 months ago when my ears began to hurt and I had the feeling of dizziness, not to where I was falling around just the feeling. I went to the doctor who said that i had ear infections in both my ears and i was given amoxicilin which didnot seem to help.  ALso when I swallow both my ears pop like they do when your driving through the mountains.  My sinuses stays stopped up at least one side all the time, so the doctor also gave me zyrtec and flonaze which seem to help a little.  A couple a months ago my symptoms got to where they were not as often in the past I felt them almost every day and now i might fo a week and not feel that dizzy of fuzzy feeling in my head and then feel it for a day.  My wife tells me that it is just my sinuses because she has many of the same problems and she has for about 15 years now.  Also I went to the eye doctor cause I heard that if you had a turmor it would make your optic nerve swell and the eye doctor would be able to tell,but she said that everything was jsut fine and my eyeshight was great.  I really do not have any head aches excpet the small one everyonce in a while but i know that everyone has them.  Is my worring about this making my symptoms seem greater cause everyone says that I have no turmor including my doctor or do I have anything to worry about.  Thanks for your help.

[Quixotic1]

Hmmm...That is a loaded question.  Are you afraid you have a brain tumor?  If you are, why?  What is happening to you?  If I just listed all the things that can be seen with a brain tumor, and the list is HUGE, you would certainly already have two or three (because we ALL do!) and it would just increase anxiety.

So, what have you been experiencing?  I'm not brushing you off, but I would like to have the discussion starting at a different point.  Quix