Health update

[giza]

There's not too much to report here. Dr. K put me on a nasal spray called Astelin about a month ago, and my dizziness has shown some improvement. The room no longer spins at random intervals and I don't feel like someone is trying to push me into the wall of my cube at work.

I saw Dr. K last week and he mentioned that it is very likely that I have allergies. He explained no, not all people get watery eyes and a runny nose, as those are stereotypical symptoms. Each person is affected differently be allergens. Also, not all people have equal sensitivity to allergens. The last 2 winters were mild which means we are having insane levels of pollen in the air this year. Some people like me have very little sensitivity and therefore few smyptoms. Dr. K remarked how people who normally have allergies every year have it so bad this year that they aren't getting any response to the normal medications.

Oh yeah, I am also taking some Singular and some Zyrtec now. We'll see how that works out.

Other than THAT, I'm still feeling pretty good. I've actually been getting into work earlier in the morning (so I get home at a decent time), and hitting the gym again in the evenings.

Comments

[greenreaper.livejournal.com]

At least you've got a reasonable diagnosis now. Maybe that's why I've been having problems with a persistent cough, although I tend to think it's probably stomach-acid based - (different diet since I've been over here, largely more unhealthy . . .)

Every evening? Man, I have trouble just getting in an hour of basketball every week. ;-)

[giza.livejournal.com]

Er, I don't think stomach acid usually causes a cough. You might wanna see a doctor about that.

And not every evening, only 3-4 days a week. :-)

[greenreaper.livejournal.com]

There's apparently a thing you can get where the acid vaporises and travels up, then down again, causing irritation of the breathing passages. Eating too much in one meal (especially of thing like pasta, which I like) causes it. I have typically just had lunch and a (big) dinner since coming here, which may be why it's not popped up before. But yes, I probably should go see someone about it, but I've no car and I'm a lazy norn. ;-)

[giza.livejournal.com]

Whoa. That's a new one to me.

After I posted the previous comment, it also occurred to me that if it's bacterial or viral in nature, I don't wanna get infected at Anthrocon! So please see a physician soon. :-)

*laughs*

[greenreaper.livejournal.com]

OK, OK . . . I think I'd be deader by now if it was something like that, though (or it would have gone away - I've had colds before, but it's rare that they'd last this long).

[ralkor.livejournal.com]

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the leading causes of noninfectious chronic cough. If you have it, things to consider are 1) how much alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, and fat you're eating/drinking since those make it worse, and 2) whether you sleep completely flat at night, since then there's no gravity to keep stomach acids from creeping up. Medications that help GERD include over-the-counter acid reducers/blockers like Pepcid, Zantac, and Prilosec. You can try them for a couple weeks to see if they help your cough. -Ralkor Tiger, MD-PhD, Harvard

That's the one, thanks!

[greenreaper.livejournal.com]

It often gets worse after meals, and I typically have a coke at lunch. I'll have to try switching to something that relies more on sugar for the awakefulness. Or maybe just getting more sleep - and turning over my mattress (well, futon bed :-). If that doesn't help, it's pill time!

I probably need to work on my home working environment, too - right now it leaves something to be desired (http://www.zen9361.zen.co.uk/tmp/greenroom.jpg) in the posture department (although I did finally get a 19" monitor :-).

Re: *laughs*

[giza.livejournal.com]

Don't be so sure. I got two words for you: Walking Pneumonia :-P

Re: *laughs*

[greenreaper.livejournal.com]

That's another possibility. If working on the acid doesn't help I'll have to ask my doctor about that.

[ralkor.livejournal.com]

If you have sinusitis exacerbated by nasal allergies, what about a nasal corticosteroid spray like Flonase, Nasonex, or Nasacort AQ? Those are tried and true.

[giza.livejournal.com]

Already tried a steroid spray about a month ago (the name escapes me). It had no effect on my symptoms. Neither did a 6 day course of prednisone.

I was also on a 12 day course of dexamethasone and my symptoms only got worse. (whether it was caused by dexamethasone or an increase of allergens, I do not know)

[kemanorel.livejournal.com]

Allergys were the worst for me this year than any in my life. I actually went to an allergist, and after being on allegra for a few days, the difference was night and day.

The pollen (and other allergens) gets treated with an immunoresponse. This is the same system that makes you feel so awful when you get sick. Aching joints, fever, all of the symptols for having the flu can be had just the same with allergies. All the way up to going into shock and dying. I experienced that once, not the dying part. Close, tho.

Anyways... I keep skipping the allegra on accident. And then the next day I'm tired, yawny, bitchy, unable to focus, and towards the evenings feel like concentrated dogshit.

Allergies are messed up. I'm starting a shot program that gives me three shots per week for a year. The hope is that it will make the medications remain effective. Allergies of this caliber, though, I was told will definitely not go away. Fun...

[netcrimes.livejournal.com]

Not spinning around anymore? Damn! You're cute when you do that.

[furahi.livejournal.com]

Good to hear you're doing better, I hope that really is what you've got, since it's not too serious :)

I need to hit the gym too

[wildw0lf.livejournal.com]

Now that my classes are finally over...