Staying the Course -- 11-23-2015

[Superbob]

Welcome to another Staying the Course week.

It is a pretty but blustery/cold day here along the Carolina coast, but at least we don't have Chicago's early snow. (Sorry, Steve.)

My course the past few days has been kinda rough. I have developed some sort of persistent pain on the left side of the left nostril -- sounds gross, I know, and is usually the kind of irritation that precedes a nasty cold -- except I have no cold, just this nasal pain that has persisted now for four days. I've tried the home remedies -- A&D ointment, ice packs, etc, and they haven't made it go away. Called my GP and best they could suggest was antibiotic ointment like Neosporin -- I didn't realize it was okay to put that stuff up your nose but I will try it. They also suggested calling an ENT, which I have done but gotten only a recorded message. Good luck on getting a timely appointment with a specialist.

So probably this is just one of life's minor irritations. I mention it in case any of you have experienced a similar problem and have any suggestions.

Hate it when stuff like this occurs just before a big holiday.

Speaking of which, I am assuming many of our STCers celebrate Thanksgiving, and I therefore wish you all a happy one. Dear Wife (DW) and I will be going to a nice buffet at one of our favorite restaurants that is beside a gorgeous lake.

all best to all....

SUPERBOB

 

[honeybunny]

Weight was 145.8 this morning but will balloon as I started taking prednisone today along with an antibiotic to try and combat my pulmonologist's diagnosis of post pericardiotomy pleural effusion. I saw him Friday as a follow up to my August sleep apnea study and -- because I was again having SoB -- asked him to investigate that. Thankfully it didn't take him weeks to do so. He X-rayed in the office, determined I indeed had pleural effusion, performed another thoracentesis (he stopped draining at 900 cc when I began coughing), explained his suspicision that my lung is trapped resulting in the continued effusion, and sent me for a CT scan. If he confirms the "trapped" lung, I will probaby need surgery to correct the problem. Oh, goody <roll eyes>. Still, we are moving in the direction of getting it resolved, which is certainly a positive step. He will share this information with my cardiologist, who needs to understand this condition so treatment is not delayed in future patients.

Also, I learned that the radiologist who performed the first thoracentesis on November 2, by draining nearly two liters of fluid, caused my extreme coughing and night-long discomfort. The pulmonologist I saw on Friday told me to supress the cough and take shallow breaths. I was able to drive myself home; the first time I needed a wheelchair to go from my living room to the bathroom.

(For those interested, I found this article on the condition: http://69.36.35.38/accp/pccsu/new-classification-pleural-effusions-after-cabg-surgery?page=0,3)

Sorry you are dealing with nasal pain, SB. When my son was 3 years old he developed a hearing loss and also complained nightly that his nose hurt. He had tubes inserted in his ears and his adnoids removed. No more complaints. Hope you get an appointment with the ENT by Wednesday. No one wants to be sick over a holiday.

Buffet sounds good. I've been invited to three celebrations and accepted the first one...dinner with my daughter's BF's family. I will bring a green bean casserole IF I can find fresh beans; the local grocery store ran out last year a few days before Thanksgiving.

Cold in Houston, TX (40s).

 

[Superbob]

My complaints are very minor compared with your potential additional surgery, HB. I pray all that will work out well for you.

I contacted my GP via patient portal and got the advice to use an antibiotic ointment and also that it probably would be a good idea to see an ENT. So I called the ENT's office and was treated rather rudely by a scheduler who said the earliest he possibly could see me was December 8. And it was rather irritating that she kept reminding me that this was Thanksgiving week, as though I needed reminding of that. She was sort of on the offensive from the start, as though how dare I call.

Grrrr. Oh well, the ointment may be helping this rather bizarre malady I've never had before.

In any event, wishing all a Happy Thanksgiving. Hope all works out well for you HB!

 

[epstns]

SB - I may have occasionally had something like what you're dealing with. Does your nose feel as if there is something "sharp" lodged part way up your nasal passage? I've had this when I was getting a cold, or fighting against getting one. I have used the Neosporin ointment (not the cream - cream is water soluble, ointment is not, so it stays in place better). It helps me - as I think the condition is much like a pimple or cold sore on the inner lining of the nasal passage. Annoying, but they do resolve. Since you're a guy "of a certain age" - it could also be an ingrown hair. As we get older, that can happen, too.

I'm still trying to stay afloat, here. I've selected the contractor to replace the broken windows, but it will take at least 4 to 6 weeks to get them made. I guess the window factories cut back on staff during the winter when there are fewer home improvement projects going on. The car is still in the body shop, but should be back tomorrow - after just about 2 weeks there. The bicycle, which was stolen and recovered, goes into its shop this weekend.

I'm still going to my fitness center 5 days a week, but have altered my routine. For the past 4 years, I've ridden a stationary bike for 15-20 minutes, then walked an inclined treadmill for another 15-20 minutes each day. I have traded the bike for an elliptical machine. For some reason, the seats on those stationary bikes just don't fit me, and of course the center is not going to buy new saddles just because some old gray-hair says they are not good. I'm trying the elliptical, as some have told me that these are the same sort of workout as jogging, but without the impact of actually running.

 

[honeybunny]

Grrr right along with you SB. The older I get the more patient I am with some things and impatient with others. I probably would have said something to the scheduler or said something to her boss. I spoke up to a surly receptionist at a gastro's office a couple of years ago and her attitude immediately turned benign. Guess I was her wake up call.

Steve's suggestions make sense. Hopefully it will be just a minor irritation that quickly clears up before turkey time.

 

[Superbob]

well, the Urgent Care doctor thought it to be an infection from an ingrown hair, and she gave me 10 days worth of potent antibiotic pills plus an antibiotic ointment. But on her report she wrote "cellulitis" as her diagnosis, which worries me because I had a dangerous case of that way back in my youth from skinning my arms on a red clay softball field. And from googling, I read that it can happen pretty commonly in nose because of various irritants and can be serious. So I will hope in the next few days to begin to have some improvement. And if not maybe I should find an ENT who has a civil scheduler.

 

[Superbob]

Happy Thanksgiving one and all! Sorry this thread has lately been too much about my maladies. FYI, the strong meds are resolving my recent problem. Counting all sorts of blessings today. And Go Panthers, beat Cowboys!

 

[honeybunny]

No worries, Superbob. We wouldn't be replying if we didn't care. Feel better.

 

[Superbob]

Thanks, HB. Been a nice but bit melancholy Thanksgiving weekend for my wife and I. Our children and four grandchildren are all away visiting other family members. We have granddog Dasher as our sole guest. At least he's been keeping me exercising. Think i may have lost another couple pounds off that base weight in August. Will have to report on that here post-Thanksgiving. We did a restaurant buffet for turkey day, and it was delicious, but no leftovers -- which is good for weight-watching but confess I am missing those turkey sandwiches -- the best part of the feasting. Cheers to all for this holiday weekend!

 

[skeptic49]

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. I cooked for seven. It was fun and delicious, but a lot of work. I talked to my cardio about the results of my 24 hour Holter. I have PVCs and PACs, but not enough of them to cause any real damage, apparently. He offered a Beta Blocker or Calcium channel blocker if i wanted it but I said no for now. The condition is a bit annoying but not enough t make me want to go back on meds unless I have to. I can't understand why I would develop this eight months after surgery, but I note that others have also. I'm hoping it will just resolve eventually on its own. I'm enjoying our new puppy. She does the walks with me and she is housebroken and well-behaved. i can't ask for more than that.

Jim

 

[Superbob]

Your pup sounds near about perfect, Jim! My son's yellow lab Dasher is getting more and more to be mine. My son travels a lot, and Dash has been here on his latest stay since Wednesday. He's gotten so fond of our walks that early this morning (not the easiest time for a night owl like me) he begged for us to go, go, go and we took a good one. I even moved his dog bed into my bedroom, right below my side of the bed, which used to be Sadie's place (making it hallowed ground), and Dash sleeps peacefully throughout the night there. I play ball oudoors with him several times a day and he loves that (as retriever types invariably do)....

I don't have experience with PVCs etc, but I do take all of the above medications, and seem to tolerate them well. Sometimes they do help. Just a thought.

Continue to have fun with that puppy.