Doctors and credibility

[carbonman]

I had my appointment to see an ENT.
I'm still fighting this sinus/ear infection.
My pcp sent me because he is concerned that the steroids didn't work
to relieve the pressure in my ears.

I was referred to this doc by my pcp, so I give him a certain amount of
credibility, because I trust my pcp.
He asked why I was there. I explained that I had quit using the HH on
my cpap machine....which dried out my sinuses......and that is why I was there.
He did his exam. He did a hearing test.
He then told me he knew what I needed.
I asked him if my cpap was exacerbating the ear problem.

He said," Yes, with your condition, your cpap is not your friend, right now.
Unfortunately, suspending your cpap therapy is not an option.
You need that."

His credibility w/me was confirmed.

He gave me two options.
Have the tubes put in or try one more round of antiBs and wait it out.
His recommendation was the latter.
He said he does not like to do the tubes unless he has to.
It was my choice.
As uncomfortable as it has been,
my choice is to wait it out. Time will tell.

[DoriC]

CB, good option, good Dr. Sinus infections can be a "b***h". I've had to take 2 rounds of antibiotics occasionally to knock it out. Sometimes the Dr changed the antibiotic and that did the job. He was always reluctant to even talk about tubes in my case. Hang in there, pal. Dori

[rested gal]

He said," Yes, with your condition, your cpap is not your friend, right now.
Unfortunately, suspending your cpap therapy is not an option.
You need that."

His credibility w/me was confirmed.

Sounds like a very savvy doctor.

Hope it works out well for you, carbonman!

[Muse-Inc]

Ahh, Carbonman, I'm sorry, sinus infections are a challenge. Might try nasal irrrigation with the Grossan gadget and solution (pkg mix you add to filtered/distilled warm water). That finally knocked out the last series of infections I had that did not respond to antibiotics.

I took beta glucans and olive leaf extract for a root canal infection that would not respond to antibiotics -- took a few months but it finally worked.

[Linus]

The tubes in the eardrums might be a good solution. It can give your ear a chance to drain and the infection may clear up quicker as well as it may allow for a longer term of being free of infection. This will give your immune system a better chance to recover and fight off future infections. Also the tubes make it easier to treat an ear infection later on because antibiotics can be applied in the ear canal. The antibiotic travels through the tube right to the source of the infection. This clears up the infection much quicker than an antibiotic that is taken internally.

My daughter had repeated ear infections. Antibiotic resistance can be a big problem, so I elected to go with the tubes. Ear infections were gone and the tubes eventually dropped out of her ears in a few years.

I hope this provides a slight balance to what else has been stated. Your doctor is level headed in my opinion. Taking a more conservative approach may help. But in case you needed to know the results of the tubes, maybe my information here might help you later.

[twokatmew]

Thanks for posting this, Carbonman. I've been having repeated sinus infections, and my ears are constantly plugged and now sore, deep down inside. My ENT calls this "Eustachian tube dysfunction," saying mine stay closed. Surprisingly he said I could gently pop them by holding my nose and blowing. He prescribed an increase in my nasal wash (Neilmed) and I now must dissolve Bactroban antibiotic in the solution before rinsing. Much to my relief, he didn't particularly want to do tubes, either. I'll be interested in what he has to say next week, as I'm now on CPAP (and wasn't when I saw him last).

Thanks and good luck! And keep us posted, too.

[whatrdreamsmadeof]

I hope by now you've found some relief, I don't suffer from sinus infections, however I was under the impression that ear tubes are usually inserted because the eustation canals in the ears are slanted in a way that let's infections settle in the ear. That's why young children and babies are the majority of patients that get ear tubes put in until they grow some and the eustation tubes are more in line with proper drainage into the ? (throat) I would guess. Well, maybe that's why I'm not an ENT Dr.
Hope you feel better soon!!!

[BlackSpinner]

I heard Elvis put his pee in his ears to help with an infection.
(But when I asked him at the mall he denied any knowledge)

[carbonman]

Surprisingly he said I could gently pop them by holding my nose and blowing.
Much to my relief, he didn't particularly want to do tubes, either.
And keep us posted, too.

Once again, Thanks! everyone for your thoughts/suggestions/experiences....it all helps.

Surprisingly, this ENT told me to do the "hold the nose and blow, alot" to help break up the blockage.
I have been doing it and I don't know if it helps of not.
I am starting to feel better.
Ears are still plugged but the pressure is no so bad and the ringing is not so bad.
I'm moving in the right direction.
The doc was right.
".....we don't need no stink'n tubes!"

Better living through chemistry.

I heard Elvis put his pee in his ears to help with an infection.
(But when I asked him at the mall he denied any knowledge)

I love this place. You just never know where help is going to come from.

[twokatmew]

Surprisingly he said I could gently pop them by holding my nose and blowing.
Much to my relief, he didn't particularly want to do tubes, either.
And keep us posted, too.

Once again, Thanks! everyone for your thoughts/suggestions/experiences....it all helps.

Surprisingly, this ENT told me to do the "hold the nose and blow, alot" to help break up the blockage.
I have been doing it and I don't know if it helps of not.
I am starting to feel better.
Ears are still plugged but the pressure is no so bad and the ringing is not so bad.
I'm moving in the right direction.
The doc was right.
".....we don't need no stink'n tubes!"

Great news, Carbonman! ...And it sounds like our ENTs are related.

[DoriC]

".....we don't need no stink'n tubes!"
[I love this place. You just never know where help is going to come from.

I wonder in what year of med school he learned that! Glad things are looking up. Dori

[carbonman]

.....we don't need no stink'n tubes!"

I wonder in what year of med school he learned that! Dori

It was early 1948....just after Humphrey Bogart was confronted by banditos
while digging for gold in the Sierra Madre in Mexico.

Hope this helps.