So I eventually tried to go see an ENT specialist. However my primary who I need the referral from said its not necessary. I was told I have some Eustachian tube problems and he gave me Claritin, told me my ear problems would be fine in 2 weeks.
I should be less sarcastic, because he did use one of those fancy gadgets.......I think they call them "a light"..... to look done my throat, up my nose and in my ears to realise all was ok.
I should also be thankful because my session was about 37 minutes and he decided to charge me for 30 minutes only.......even though the first 15 were him telling me about his recent trip home to Australia.
I am almost sure the Lyme (or any undetected co's) are causing my ENT symptoms so I dont think the Claritin will do anything. ANyone tried?
What a waste of my morning!!
At least if there is anything good about Shanghai's medical system, I dont have to worry about any guidelines.......or prescriptions, thank China for that,so if you feel like a holiday and need some meds.......WELCOME!
Shangs
Posted by lymie tony z (Member # 5130) on :
From what I remember shangrila...you should have seen an ENT...
But hey...who am I!?
Never did this med but I doubt seriously if it will help...
If it's a steroid of sorts for allergies(right)!
You may even get worse...
Others may post to let you know one way or another...
good luck....zman
[ 08. December 2006, 09:50 AM: Message edited by: lymie tony z ]
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
Claritin is not a steroid. It's an antihistamine. If it's Claritin-D, then it also has a decongestant.
A decongestant could help symptoms if the Lyme is actually anywhere in your sinuses. Just because it will dry things out. But it's temporary.
Posted by Cobweb (Member # 10053) on :
Shang- but I love your sarcasm. Carol B
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
My ENT visit was about as useless. He asked important questions like did I eat chocolate. Could that be connected with sloshing sensation in one ear? Then he told me a "funny story" about another local doc who was in a coma from lyme, came to and asked for his (ex) wife, forgetting he had remarried.
Suggested that I come back and have hearing test. Another office visit. I already knew my hearing was affected, low and high tones, and there is no test for tinnitus.
Posted by just don (Member # 1129) on :
I have taken every allergy pill known to man over many 20 something years.
Clariton D always worked well for me. Ducky allergy doc said I had to change to something else when it went off RX and OTC instead.
Now I quit seeing the ducks and started taking otc Claritan,,,then I found the generic version of the active ingredient--Loratadine 10mg and it does the same thing.
Was taking Benadryl but it was causing me some tiredness, thought this was better and the generic L--- is about half price or less of the claritin right next to it on the shelf!!!
ONLY downside for ME is with terrible arthritic hands ,,,hard to get them little suckers out of the package without breaking them or dropping them on the gritty floor(pretty little) and hard package for me to handle, hurts to peel and push thru.
BUT they work okay and I dont have to put up with ducky docs telling me to come back again and fill their pockets for NOTHING.(just to get an RX) IB--just don--
Posted by Nebula2005 (Member # 8244) on :
I've had pollen allergies since my teenage years, many years ago , and have always dreaded having to take antihistimines.
Benadryl is the only one I can tolerate, and it takes days of getting used to it before the deadass effect wears off.
When I started having bad earaches mid-2004, I went to first of many ducks who don't know from Lyme. Given my allergy history, it was assumed that it was a sinus infection from allergies.
I knew it was something different, but I subjected myself to mistreatment first by a horrible Yale-educated ENT who should rot in **** for his lack of compassion for pain, then by a nicer but still clueless allergist.
Claritin dried my sinuses really bad--even without the decongestant, which, being psuedophedrine, I can no longer take due to my crazy blood pressure.
I was told I had eustacian tube problems too--HELLO yes, it's Lyme disease in my cranial nerves! Even with the extreme pain and muscle twitching the last duck said it wasn't Lyme, that Lyme ONLY causes Bell's Palsy type paralysis.
Then he told me to go to a neurologist. Who also wouldn't know what was wrong with me. Because Lyme Disease couldn't possibly be an answer.
Posted by lymeHerx001 (Member # 6215) on :
I used to take all of them.
I was so ****ed at myself for my bad sinuses and vertigo,,,,,,,,,I would take
claritin allegra chlorpheniramine and benadryll
would just dry me up but they would still be irritated. Damnit. My sinuses are bad today too.
I have had this damn vertigo MCS for 2 years now every day. Had to stop wearing cologne....tatata
Now im bakc on biaxin and wathicng my diet.
Im praying for a miracle and reading "A course in miracles"
Wish me luck because it seems thats all we have left.
Take care.
Posted by Jill E. (Member # 9121) on :
Shangs,
My eustachian tubes have been clogged for years - it's like living in an airplane. Whether I've seen holistic M.D.s, Chinese Medicine practitioners, or mainstream internists, I get either the "I don't know," "maybe it's an allergy" or "Just take Sudafed" (got the Sudafed recommendation twice).
I presume it's the Lyme or coinfection - maybe treatment will help at some point - so far, the years of antibiotics haven't touched it. I've had it regardless of whether I have yeast or not, so I don't think it's candida.
Here in the U.S., my doctors use the same innovative, cutting-edge instrument - the light with the little cone on it!
I'm used to it, the only thing that worries me is that I don't know if I could do hyperbaric oxygen some day with clogged ears like this!
Jill
Posted by MarsyNY (Member # 7766) on :
Steve,
Speaking of living in an airplane..
How many flights have you taken in the last couple of years?
Posted by ShangSD (Member # 9899) on :
Cheers all,
Yes it is Claritin with the decongestant. Havent decided whether or not I take it yet, I dont have bad sinuses, pain or anything like that, just really weird symptoms of crackling and popping in my ears and nose....weird.....and sometimes th feeling that something is creeping up my throat. Its too weird to even tel the duck sometimes!
Marsy - HI - Actually in the last 4 years I have probably only taken 4-5 HUNDRED flights..............so theres the answer like you told me, i dont have Lyme disease - I have...........late onset Jetlag and Airplane popping ears!
Steve
Posted by Ladylee210 (Member # 9945) on :
Lymeherx,
You have all the classic signs of Yeast!
Have you read the yeast connection book?
Posted by MarsyNY (Member # 7766) on :
Shangy,
You have all the classic signs of ordering too much off the chinese menu! (common in NY)
Posted by lymeHerx001 (Member # 6215) on :
Ladylee 210, can you have yeast and still not have any major gastric problems like gas, bloating, etc?
Thats been my situation, bowels move fine with probiotics, antibiotics constipate me.
A kinesiologist said it was Lyme, Candida and Ehrichlyosis.
When I eat sugar I get burning pains. Diflucan makes me feel toxic and my MCS gets worse and my muscules twitch like crazy.
Posted by lymeHerx001 (Member # 6215) on :
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
, and have always dreaded having to take antihistimines.