Friday, March 09, 2007

Girl, You have no faith in Medicine





For the past 10 days, I've been hit hard with sinusitis-sinus headaches and then about 5 days ago my lungs, Bette and Babs (they are divas), thought they should complain too. I didn't think it was a big deal, but pretty annoying and not the best way to start "allergy season." So, since my asthma/allergy meds subscriptions ran out last month and allergy shots are going to cost me a $30 co-pay each time I go for a shot(my Dr. went off on health insurance companies, it made me feel better), I scheduled an appointment with my Dr.

Needless to say, I'm a little sicker(just a sinus infection--I have chronic sinusitis so its not a huge deal) than I thought I was so instead of the blog I'll show a pic of my $120 pharmacist bill today. Needless to say, I'm not real ticked I spent that much money on drugs. Its been 7 hours since I started the meds, and I feel better. It's the crazy season at work and I can't afford for my sinuses to cause Bette and Babs to be giving concerts. The spring is lovely, I want to enjoy it. 50+ weather tomorrow? I'm going to be outside. These drugs and common sense will help me do that.

Random thought; Any asthmatics out there have one lung worse than the other? Kell is in nursing school and she's figured out my left lung is always is hit harder than my right lung. I just thought its interesting that my lungs aren't hit equally when the asthma flares up.





12 comments:

Unknown said...

I've had a few sinus infections this season already,picking up from my school kids! *sympathy*

Joy said...

thanks...

Bonfire said...

take care of yourself. i can't wait to see you next saturday in philly ;)

aisy said...

how can you tell which lung is worse? i'm asthmatic but usually when i'm gasping for air i have no clue which side is worse... just that i want my ventolin asap.

Joy said...

Kell has a stethoscope and she's listened to them--I've listened to them, and the left one sounds audibly worse than the right one. The right one is a champ, but the left one gets hit harder when I'm going through wheezy times.

Steve said...

I hope you are feeling better. My friend always used to have the same problems as you, at least in the sinus regions, and finally had a surgery that removed a bunch of "stuff", polops or something like that, from her sinuses that have changed her life!

BTW, I've heard of girls naming their twins, but never their lungs, haha.

Joy said...

I've talked to others who have sinus problems, and I don't think mine are bad enough for surgery--however, that may be something I have to think about. As long as I stay on top of the situation, I'm alright. And don't get colds.

Joy said...

Steve---I named my twins way back when (freshman year of college) but now that I'm way more mature--I've revoked those names, and have now named the lungs.

And yeah, I decided to name my lungs the same way girls name their twins. It was a conscious decision.

Anonymous said...

Okay, I just read the second post first, and now I want to know what you're taking that makes you feel that much better within a few hours. I'm in constant inflammation all the time, even while on my allergy shots (thankfully, my insurance counts the allergy shots as nurse visits, not dr. visits--is your dr. or a local allergist set up to do regular drop-in shots? That's how I get around the appt. copay each time; just pay for the shot itself, which is a couple bucks tops after you've paid for the serum).

For me, the surgery was a lifesaver in this climate, but it probably depends on what you're allergic to and where you're living. I did great in Utah, okay in the Midwest and Boston, but with everything I'm allergic to here, I'm still bad even after a year of allergy shots and a year post-op on sinus surgery (not just polyp removal, but making the passages bigger so they drain better, making infections supposedly less likely).

But I still want to know how the heck you feel so much better after a few hours. I would so love to feel better--and I already take 4 pills and 2 nasal sprays and 1 inhaler every day just to feel the low-grad ickiness I'm feeling. Hopefully shot day tomorrow will affect that at least a little.

Joy said...

Okay, I just read the second post first, and now I want to know what you're taking that makes you feel that much better within a few hours.
First, I've got chronic sinusitis, but I know I'm not bad off as you. Oh, I get severe sinus headaches if I'm not on allergy meds and the acute sinusitis is a pain. but I don't think I ever "close" up--however, I do get very congested--and then the post nasal drip does set off Babs and Bette.

(thankfully, my insurance counts the allergy shots as nurse visits, not dr. visits--is your dr. or a local allergist set up to do regular drop-in shots? That's how I get around the appt. copay each time;

I've asked my insurance about this, my doctor's office has asked my insurance about this and they won't budge about charging copay each time I get the shot, even if I arrange getting the building nurse to administer them. I've been on them before-i just had different insurance then.



For me, the surgery was a lifesaver in this climate, but it probably depends on what you're allergic to and where you're living.

Yeah, I didn't have allergy induced asthma until I moved out here. I had asthma/ I had allergies and I had sinusitis when I was in UT, but they didn't really gang up as much as they do out here. I've lived out here for 5+ years, and my sinusitis is usually manageable as long as I lived out here. I don't think I have it as severe as you have it out in Seattle.

But I still want to know how the heck you feel so much better after a few hours. I would so love to feel better--and I already take 4 pills and 2 nasal sprays and 1 inhaler every day just to feel the low-grad ickiness I'm feeling. Hopefully shot day tomorrow will affect that at least a little.

Well, this is what I do. I drink 16 oz of herbal tea in the morning. I drink a ton of water a day. I'm now on zyrtec-d but I've found that tylenol sinus headache severe works (but not when I'm in full stage inflammation). If I drink a ton of liquid (we're taking more than a half gallon a day) and then stay on top with taking meds, I usual just have a little sinus throbbing and not fullout sinus problems. I also will use vicks vaporub and the little vicks nasal decongestant inhaler. When I'm having issues or I'm not sleeping in my hepa filtered room, I take benadryl sinus severe. I also have a hepa filter at the office. I have hardwood floors and I try to sweep my room at least every other day. I try and dust bedroom furniture once a week. Anyway, that's some of the stuff I do. I also eat a lot of soups along with the herbal tea as they seem to soothe everything.

I do tend to get an upset stomach when I'm on the meds, and when I'm like this I won't eat (I don't eat when I'm stressed) so I also usually end up going to the store and buy comfort foods that I know I'll eat so I get enough calories so the albuterol (I'm on that asthma med too of course) and sinus meds don't make me seriously loopy.

Anonymous said...

I have an air filter but it's not a really good one--I'm thinking about replacing it after I move with a better one. I'm moving into a place with hardwood floors, too, which I think will really help. Just hanging out at the new place last night for a couple hours made a huge difference. I think a big part has to do with the three smoking apartments I'm surrounded by--it's gotten so bad in the last little while because it's gotten warm enough for them to all go out on their balconies and smoke.

So those are all good suggestions. I'm especially excited about the no-carpet thing very soon. :)

Joy said...

what I've found is the little things that help the most. Keeping my door shut most of the time--especially when the air purifier is on. If I don't have it on, I'll wake up with a bit of a sore throat--it makes a ton of difference. Also keeping the bedroom as free from pets/allergens etc. and make sure its dusted and the floor is swept--including my closet and under my bed. I've been told that books aren't supposed to be in the sleeping area of someone with moderate/severe (dust) allergens. I also work out this time of year in a gym. As much as I'd love to work outside, I have to be careful.