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Man, where to begin. As a child, I could not breathe through my nose, at all. Completely stopped up/stuffy until the age of 14. I was on a steady dose of decongestants and allergy meds as a kid in the early 80's because my nose would not stop running. Had my adenoids removed to try and improve my issue till I was later told by the Dr. "He'll grow out of it". It drove my parents crazy. I had to carry tissue or a handkerchief everywhere. I remember panicking if I had nothing because I never could go more than a few minutes without having to blow my nose. A miserable experience to say the least.
At age 14, things got a little better. The congestion was sporadic during the summer, I could usually have some brief moments that I could actually breathe in through my nose. Shortly after my military career ended, I moved to Dallas, and since moving here, they have gotten progressively worse. By 2000, I was averaging 4-5 sinus infections a year for a good 3-4 years. And due to the constant flow of antibiotics into my body during this time, they stopped working for me and I developed chronic ear infections that resulted in cholesteatoma's in both ears (tumors) that destroyed the 3 bones that connect the ear drum to the inner ear. Had both removed through painful surgery back in 06, titanium rods in place, etc etc. Hearing didn't quite return to normal and one of the tumors is back and i'm almost deaf in the left ear, but thats another story.
After the first surgeries, I had a allergy test via bloodwork at the recommendation of my ENT. We had to figure out what was causing this congestion. It said that I was allergic to cows milk. So I broke down, learned all the milk proteins, and how to read food labels to avoid milk products. It was shocking to learn all the items that milk or it's byproducts are in. French fries, processed fajita meat, ramen noodles, etc etc. Though difficult for an entire year I managed to pretty much avoid any type of dairy or anything containing milk except for a slip up here and there. Although symptoms improved slightly, it did not resolve them. And I continued down the road with at least 1-3 sinus infections a year. thanks to Apple cider vinegar and sinus rinse, the sinus infections aren't nearly as bad as they use to be. In the past ACV was very helpful, but lately it hasn't been working like in the past.
After a year of no milk, but my condition still not normal, I opted to try a new Allergist and ENT. Told them my entire story. Allergist was convinced I wasn't allergic to milk but something else. So we went with a skin test to see what allergies popped up. He also performed an STP I think it's called both coming back saying I was not allergic to cows milk. But instead allergic to Ragweed, Pigweed and Mesquite, nothing else. So he prescribes me a bunch of antihistamines. I knew right away these were a complete waste of my time, but I obliged. Every 2 weeks he'd see that my condition had not improved and he'd try a different combo. Still, no improvements.
I moved on to acupuncture. Nada. Just lighter in the wallet.
Last year I heard about new technology that retrains the body to act appropriately to allergens. Noninvasive, no needles, no drugs. So after rave reviews, I went into the allergy relief center of Texas. We did the test and I popped positive as allergic to milk, sugar, some pollens and dust. I did the treatment, and we did another test and it showed I was no longer allergic to these things, I was cured right? Wrong. I'm on my 2nd sinus infection this year, which is about average these days, but I still stay congested most of the year, and always in the morning regardless of time of year, etc. Another Dr, another method, no results, just more money gone.
I guess I'm here because I'm out of ideas. I don't know where to go from here. I feel I have wasted so much money on doctors, not to mention the small but monthly bill of decongestants and antihistamines that I have to use during the winter, spring and fall to minimize the congestion as to limit the number of infections. I do know that when I leave Texas, example, my trip to San Francisco, my condition improves. Seeing how I hate living in Dallas, I am indeed planning my escape, unfortunately I'm stuck here for at least another year, probably 2. I would like to improve my standard of living while i'm here. Ideas? I could use some.
Wow, you have been through the wringer on this. All I can say is the sinus rinse with a neti pot helps me a lot. But also, getting my thyroid fixed helped a lot. Have you ever been tested for thyroid malfunction? Both over- and under-active thyroid conditions have a lot of symptoms in common. Mine turned out to be over-active. Once it was ablated, I stopped getting runny noses/coughs every 3 weeks. Go figure! What does the thyroid have to do with that? Beats me but it helped a lot.
Man, where to begin. As a child, I could not breathe through my nose, at all. Completely stopped up/stuffy until the age of 14. I was on a steady dose of decongestants and allergy meds as a kid in the early 80's because my nose would not stop running. Had my adenoids removed to try and improve my issue till I was later told by the Dr. "He'll grow out of it". It drove my parents crazy. I had to carry tissue or a handkerchief everywhere. I remember panicking if I had nothing because I never could go more than a few minutes without having to blow my nose. A miserable experience to say the least.
At age 14, things got a little better. The congestion was sporadic during the summer, I could usually have some brief moments that I could actually breathe in through my nose. Shortly after my military career ended, I moved to Dallas, and since moving here, they have gotten progressively worse. By 2000, I was averaging 4-5 sinus infections a year for a good 3-4 years. And due to the constant flow of antibiotics into my body during this time, they stopped working for me and I developed chronic ear infections that resulted in cholesteatoma's in both ears (tumors) that destroyed the 3 bones that connect the ear drum to the inner ear. Had both removed through painful surgery back in 06, titanium rods in place, etc etc. Hearing didn't quite return to normal and one of the tumors is back and i'm almost deaf in the left ear, but thats another story.
After the first surgeries, I had a allergy test via bloodwork at the recommendation of my ENT. We had to figure out what was causing this congestion. It said that I was allergic to cows milk. So I broke down, learned all the milk proteins, and how to read food labels to avoid milk products. It was shocking to learn all the items that milk or it's byproducts are in. French fries, processed fajita meat, ramen noodles, etc etc. Though difficult for an entire year I managed to pretty much avoid any type of dairy or anything containing milk except for a slip up here and there. Although symptoms improved slightly, it did not resolve them. And I continued down the road with at least 1-3 sinus infections a year. thanks to Apple cider vinegar and sinus rinse, the sinus infections aren't nearly as bad as they use to be. In the past ACV was very helpful, but lately it hasn't been working like in the past.
After a year of no milk, but my condition still not normal, I opted to try a new Allergist and ENT. Told them my entire story. Allergist was convinced I wasn't allergic to milk but something else. So we went with a skin test to see what allergies popped up. He also performed an STP I think it's called both coming back saying I was not allergic to cows milk. But instead allergic to Ragweed, Pigweed and Mesquite, nothing else. So he prescribes me a bunch of antihistamines. I knew right away these were a complete waste of my time, but I obliged. Every 2 weeks he'd see that my condition had not improved and he'd try a different combo. Still, no improvements.
I moved on to acupuncture. Nada. Just lighter in the wallet.
Last year I heard about new technology that retrains the body to act appropriately to allergens. Noninvasive, no needles, no drugs. So after rave reviews, I went into the allergy relief center of Texas. We did the test and I popped positive as allergic to milk, sugar, some pollens and dust. I did the treatment, and we did another test and it showed I was no longer allergic to these things, I was cured right? Wrong. I'm on my 2nd sinus infection this year, which is about average these days, but I still stay congested most of the year, and always in the morning regardless of time of year, etc. Another Dr, another method, no results, just more money gone.
I guess I'm here because I'm out of ideas. I don't know where to go from here. I feel I have wasted so much money on doctors, not to mention the small but monthly bill of decongestants and antihistamines that I have to use during the winter, spring and fall to minimize the congestion as to limit the number of infections. I do know that when I leave Texas, example, my trip to San Francisco, my condition improves. Seeing how I hate living in Dallas, I am indeed planning my escape, unfortunately I'm stuck here for at least another year, probably 2. I would like to improve my standard of living while i'm here. Ideas? I could use some.
Wow. I thought I had problems. You've really been through it. I'm very sorry.
I have recently discovered (on my own without paying a high-priced specialist) that I am allergic to Mountain Cedar. It is so toxic to me that the slightest amount of the stuff in the air can cause major sinus congestion. At higher levels (like right now) it goes straight to my lungs and I fight asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia until the crap stops pollenating (usually around the end of February). I really need to try desensitivation or shots or something, but I just don't have the extra money to go down that path. I do take Singulair everyday during Mountain Cedar season along with Flonase. I think it helps, but not completely as I am flat on my *** right now with a mad case of bronchitis. I have a Xopenex rescue inhaler when I feel my chest tightening up or when I'm short of breath. When it's really bad, I've got an Albuterol nebulizer that I use twice a day- which has been used a lot this week. My symptoms get worse and worse every year and start occuring earlier in the year. 2 years ago was when I first noticed a MLK Day "cold". Last year, I had pneumonia on Jan 11, and this year my symptoms started around November. My symtoms ebb and flow along with the current pollen count. I'm afraid the only thing I can do to completely "cure" my problem is to move. I would love to live somewhere that has clean filtered ocean air. It helps me feel better just thinking about it.
Well, I've spent 10 minutes blabbing about me, but I really have no useful information to offer you. I truly wish you the best and hope you can get some lasting relief. It's not fun being sick all the time.
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