MY INTRODUCTION

[Guest guest]

Download my file on difficult HTN and take it to your team. They

have not likely found the best combination. My best one which I call

the combination of combinations has been Lotrel and Ziac and suspect

that Exforge will replace Lotrel in this scheme.

In general you should be eating a regular sodium diet before the

testing-at least 2 weeks.

CE Grim MD

On Aug 17, 2008, at 10:57 AM, LYNNE LYONS wrote:

> Thank you Dr. Grim. I am copying all of the information that you

> and other members have mentioned and will show them to my Dr. Are

> there things I should do just before having the tests for renin and

> aldosterone? Also, is there a high incidence of hypothyroidism with

> PA? I have been on thyroid medication for more years than I can

> remember. You asked in another post what blood pressure meds had

> not worked for me. I was started on Diovan in the late 1990's which

> has been increased to the maximum dose. Triamterene/HCTZ was added

> next and I remain on that. Next, Verelan was included which caused

> me to faint. Novasc followed and was discontinued due to edema.

> Atenolol caused symptoms in my legs that felt very much like what

> people who have trouble with statins describe. For the last couple

> of years I have been on another CCB which causes some edema but not

> as much as the Norvasc. None of this has seemed to help much (with

> the exception of the beta blocker). I think that's it but there may

> have been something else along the way.

>

> Re: My Introduction

>

> Lynne: please take my difficult HTN paper to your Dr and tell her we

> will be happy to try to get you under good control and with you

> feeling normal.

>

> That is always my goal and I almost always get my pts to it.

>

> CE Grim MD

>

> On Aug 15, 2008, at 12:06 AM, Valarie wrote:

>

> > Lynne,

> >

> > I do understand what you're saying. When I went to the U of Colo

> three

> > years ago, one of the doc's comments was that I needed to change my

> > lifestyle (i.e., work out). She had virtually no concept of how

> > weak I was.

> >

> > I was on spironolactone from March - June of this year. Happily, I

> > was able

> > to start walking again and was doing a mile at a fairly good clip

> > until I

> > stopped spiro. Within five days of stopping spiro, I was swelling

> > badly

> > enough that it affected my breathing when I tried to walk. Also, my

> > leg

> > muscles started burning after just a short distance. I am back on

> > spiro now

> > and am feeling stronger again.

> >

> > Also, metabolic syndrome (inc diabetes type II) is often found in

> > primary

> > aldosteronism.

> >

> > It is really important that you get aldosterone/renin tests ASAP.

> > Be sure

> > and post the results here.

> >

> > Don't lose heart. At 66, you should look forward to getting your

> > energy

> > back. Keep your chin up but know that many of us here have had a

> > hard time

> > keeping our chins up.

> >

> > Val

> >

> > From: hyperaldosteronism

> > [mailto:hyperaldosteronism ] On Behalf Of LYNNE LYONS

> >

> > Hi ,

> >

> > I would say that my most obvious symptom is an inability to find

> > the right

> > combination of drugs to lower my BP. However, I am most bothered by

> > a total

> > lack of energy. In addition, I have not been able to lose weight

> > despite a

> > low calorie low carb diet. My doctor is very pleased because I have

> > been

> > able to keep my blood glucose readings within normal limits. (5.4

> > to 5.9).

> > This requires a very stringent diet. She is treating me for my

> > diabetes and

> > I have not been able to effectively describe my lethargy. I would do

> > anything to get my energy back. I am 66 and may be kidding myself

> > about the

> > outcome I would like.

> >

> > To sum it up: right adenoma, high blood pressure that does not

> > respond well

> > to treatment, inability to lose weight, and I am just not able to

> > bring

> > myself to care about anything.

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

welcome!

Yes, hope all goes smoothly!

Sheri

At 05:04 AM 8/30/2008, you wrote:

>Hi everyone, my name is I'm a Single parent to a 3 year old

>boy. Vaccinated for first year due to sheer ignorance on my part.

>His last series of vax's were spread out. I have chosen to never

>vaccinate him again after becoming educated.

>

>Really nice to meet all of you

>

>I will be going back to school in 2 weeks and he will be attending

>daycare full time.

>

>Hoping all goes smoothly

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, --welcome! Many of us also vaxed at first and learned the truth

later. Good luck with going back to school and your son going into daycare.

Winnie

my introduction

Vaccinations

> Hi everyone, my name is I'm a Single parent to a 3 year

> old boy. Vaccinated for first year due to sheer ignorance on my

> part. His last series of vax's were spread out. I have chosen

> to never vaccinate him again after becoming educated.

>

> Really nice to meet all of you

>

> I will be going back to school in 2 weeks and he will be

> attending daycare full time.

>

> Hoping all goes smoothly

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

welcome to the group... how smart of you to say " never again " you are in the

right place for daily support... this group is my lifeline...there are ALOT of

wonderful people on this list in the same struggle tokeep our kids " clean " .

PS -your son is so ucky and he is going to be just fine......keep reading!

peace

ari

Arianna Mojica- (UCC 1-207/1-103)

~~~ " All rights not demanded are presumed waived " . ~ Thurston

~~~ " The only safe vaccine is a vaccine that is never used " -- Dr. A.

, National Institutes of Health

~~~A truth¢s initial commotion is directly proportional to how deeply the lie

was believed...When a well-packaged web of lies has been sold gradually to the

masses over generations, the truth will seem utterly preposterous and its

speaker, a raving lunatic. " Dresden

www.vaclib.org

www.909shot.com

http://www.vacinfo.org/

http://www.vran.org/

http://www.momtoanangel.net/ingred.htm

http://www.moorbows.com/

my introduction

Hi everyone, my name is I'm a Single parent to a 3 year old boy.

Vaccinated for first year due to sheer ignorance on my part. His last series of

vax's were spread out. I have chosen to never vaccinate him again after

becoming educated.

Really nice to meet all of you

I will be going back to school in 2 weeks and he will be attending daycare full

time.

Hoping all goes smoothly

[Guest guest]

Thank you Sheri, glad to be here.

>Hi everyone, my name is I'm a Single parent to a 3 year old

>boy. Vaccinated for first year due to sheer ignorance on my part.

>His last series of vax's were spread out. I have chosen to never

>vaccinate him again after becoming educated.

>

>Really nice to meet all of you

>

>I will be going back to school in 2 weeks and he will be attending

>daycare full time.

>

>Hoping all goes smoothly

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you for the kind words Ari.

I am happy to find this group and with so many great posts (hard to read all) 

Especially when there isn't much support, fortunatley none of my friends or

family have disagreed with my decisions. There is just too much info on our

sides.

From: Arianna Mojica <ariannalaw68@...>

Subject: Re: my introduction

Vaccinations

Date: Saturday, August 30, 2008, 8:44 AM

welcome to the group... how smart of you to say " never again " you are

in the right place for daily support... this group is my lifeline...there are

ALOT of wonderful people on this list in the same struggle tokeep our kids

" clean " .

PS -your son is so ucky and he is going to be just fine......keep reading!

peace

ari

Arianna Mojica- (UCC 1-207/1-103)

~~~ " All rights not demanded are presumed waived " . ~ Thurston

~~~ " The only safe vaccine is a vaccine that is never used " -- Dr.

A. , National Institutes of Health

~~~A truth¢s initial commotion is directly proportional to how deeply the lie

was believed...When a well-packaged web of lies has been sold gradually to the

masses over generations, the truth will seem utterly preposterous and its

speaker, a raving lunatic. " Dresden

www.vaclib.org

www.909shot.com

http://www.vacinfo.org/

http://www.vran.org/

http://www.momtoanangel.net/ingred.htm

http://www.moorbows.com/

my introduction

Hi everyone, my name is I'm a Single parent to a 3 year old boy.

Vaccinated for first year due to sheer ignorance on my part. His last series of

vax's were spread out. I have chosen to never vaccinate him again after

becoming educated.

Really nice to meet all of you

I will be going back to school in 2 weeks and he will be attending daycare full

time.

Hoping all goes smoothly

[Guest guest]

Lorina, I'm not sure if you have the diagnosis yet but if you do heres

some info on the disorder. First, lets start with the name ,, its an

acronym for P.F. Periodic Fevers, A. Aphthous Stomatis( mouth ulcers or

basically canker sores) P.Pharyngitis ( sore throat/Tonsillitis) A.Cervical

Adenitis (Enlarged inflamed and tender lymph nodes of the neck). With that said

you should also know that is diagnosed by exclusion of other medical

conditions.Not all the children suffer from the mouth ulcers but most do

suffer the rest of the symptoms. The neck lymph node usually enlarges on one

side or the other and can get as big as a golf ball. Most children complain of

sore legs, headaches,sore stomach, naseau and overall body aches. The thing

about is that these kids are unusally healthy in between the fevers. The

episodes vary from length and time in between, but most fevers average 4.5

days. has no ethnic or gender preference and has

attacked in several areas of the globe. The fevers can spread out in between

for months and then come back with even closer episodes.I thought my little girl

had outgrown this nightmare when the fevers returned with an 18 day interval.

The use of steroids can stop the fever in its tracks but most people report a

shorter duration in between fevers while using them. Doctors claim that most

will outgrow this but you can live into your adult life with as many have

posted on this site with children in their teens who still suffer from this

disorder. Infectious disease specialists seem to be the only doctors who are

familiar with and most home docs tell you its just another virus( I wish I

had a nickel for everytime I heard that). The tonsillectomy/

adnoidectomy(spelling?) has wonderful results for most children but several

people have also reported that it did not work for their child. I would discuss

this option with your doc as it seems to be

the only remedy for with the exception of outgrowing it. We have

personally chose to wait it out instead of surgery but thats a decision everyone

has to make themselves. This group has helped me out so many times and it has

real life answers from people living this nightmare with you. I hope you get the

help you need with Ezra and I will pray for him like I do for all the little

campers living with this disorder. Steve,dad to Randi almost five, since

6 months old, and her pesky twin brothers Mikey and Mitch 2.5

[Guest guest]

Thank you for the welcome and info'.  We have not gotten an " official " diagnosis

at this point.  But I am vigilant as to what symptoms are repeating themselves

and will set the appt. to visit our primary physician within the month.  I am

very humbled to hear about other families' stories and I send heartfelt

blessings...

[Guest guest]

Thank you for the welcome and info'.  We have not gotten an " official " diagnosis

at this point.  But I am vigilant as to what symptoms are repeating themselves

and will set the appt. to visit our primary physician within the month.  I am

very humbled to hear about other families' stories and I send heartfelt

blessings...

[Guest guest]

Thank you for the welcome and info'.  We have not gotten an " official " diagnosis

at this point.  But I am vigilant as to what symptoms are repeating themselves

and will set the appt. to visit our primary physician within the month.  I am

very humbled to hear about other families' stories and I send heartfelt

blessings...

[Guest guest]

HI Jennie,

Welcome to our group. Your symptoms certainly do sound like Samters. Good luck with the desens. I have 3 kids and my last was when I had Samters and my symptoms were worse too. Kids piping voices can be the limit for sore sinuses! My sinus infections and pain are the worst thing too for me. I am desens and it has helped, but not cured. I live in England.

Becky

From: "gypsymouse@..." <jratico@...>samters Sent: Wednesday, 4 March, 2009 19:40:22Subject: My introduction

Hello there, I'm Jennie. I'm happy to say that following a steroid shot and oral burst in late November, I can still breathe trough my nose and I can smell today! I'm giving my personal timeline by way of introduction. My most troublesome symptoms at the moment are sinus pain and infection.Childhood:penicillin and sulfa allergies hay fever and other environmental allergies exercise induced and environmental asthmaFrequent congestion - noted "mouth breather"Adolescence:asthma subsidedby 18 my hay fever was severe, contact with grass pollen caused full body hives and swelling of nose and throat.Frequent congestionEarly adulthood:1995: (21 years old) Hospitalized for asthma provoked by a virusFirst scratch tests done and immunotherapy started as well as Azmacort, serevent and albuterol.1995-1996: Very sensitive lungs. Several asthma related emergency room visits 1996: Immunotherapy

discontinued due to poor progress and financial contraints.1996-1999: Asthma better controlled, dropped serevent. Using Allegra for allergies. Congestion, sinus infections and vertigo are recurring problems.2000: OBGYN mentions that pregnancy and breastfeeding hormones can compound congestion when I mentioned how miserable my stuffy nose was making me. Start taking guafenisen with allegra and blaming the stuffy nose on kids. Doesn't really help.2001 - 2006: Having babies and breastfeeding. Completely congested. No air flow at all. Multiple infections, major sinus headaches. No sense of smell. Asthma still well controlled. 2006: new scratch tests and immunotherapy restarted.Saw ENT, who found the polyps. Taking ibuprofen for back pain.2007: Polypectomy and sinus surgery in January. Started having strong allergic reactions to an unknown in June. In November, figured out that I was reacting to the ibuprofen taken for back pain -

syptoms were sometimes masked by the use of antihisamines at the same time delaying the diagnosis. Celebrex perscribed for the back pain and confirmed as a Samter's triad patient.And now....the last sinus infection took 4 full months of antibiotics to subside and the facial sinus pain is chronic and sometimes pretty severe. It makes it hard to listen to my little children's high piping voices. Recent catscan shows a recurrence of polyps and a significant thickening of the mucosa. I've been referred out of my HMO for aspirin desinsitization at National Jewish Hospital here in Denver - my consult is later this month. Since I am still moving air, my ENT wants to wait and see if the desensitization helps before doing more surgery.It is great to find a group that deals with Samter's. It seems fairly misunderstood and the discomfort and disrurtion caused by Samter's seems pretty downplayed in everything I've read and the attitudes I've come in

contact with from doctors and even family members. There doesn't seem to be much in the way of effective pain treatment due to the aspirin allergy - acetaminiphin has been pretty useless to me. Anyone have suggestions for the pain?

[Guest guest]

Hi Jennie,

I'm in the same boat...sinuses are my big issue (and ears of course...all related). Asthma isn't a problem for me. I have 2 kids and can relate to your pregnancies and daily chore of dealing with pain while caring for children. I live in Mass, and I'm 39 yrs old and have had samters for 15 yrs. I have been having pretty decent time of it the last 5 yrs, but still am on antibiotics 2-6 times per yr for sinus infections. I have an appt tomorrow w/ a doctor re: desensitization...we'll see what she says. I'm anxious to try it as I feel like its my last option for improvement. I can breathe thru my nose most of the time (yippee!) but would love my sense of smell back. I take prednisone once per year, in general. My ENT will give my polyps "a haircut" in the office to avoid too many surgeries and going under...works well to keep my nose opened up. Its such a joy to breathe!

I'd say try Percs for pain, but pretty tough to be a mom on that!

Good luck!

Stacey

My introduction

Hello there, I'm Jennie. I'm happy to say that following a steroid shot and oral burst in late November, I can still breathe trough my nose and I can smell today! I'm giving my personal timeline by way of introduction. My most troublesome symptoms at the moment are sinus pain and infection.Childhood:penicillin and sulfa allergies hay fever and other environmental allergies exercise induced and environmental asthmaFrequent congestion - noted "mouth breather"Adolescence:asthma subsidedby 18 my hay fever was severe, contact with grass pollen caused full body hives and swelling of nose and throat.Frequent congestionEarly adulthood:1995: (21 years old) Hospitalized for asthma provoked by a virusFirst scratch tests done and immunotherapy started as well as Azmacort, serevent and albuterol.1995-1996: Very sensitive lungs. Several asthma related emergency room visits 1996: Immunotherapy discontinued due to poor progress and financial contraints.1996-1999: Asthma better controlled, dropped serevent. Using Allegra for allergies. Congestion, sinus infections and vertigo are recurring problems.2000: OBGYN mentions that pregnancy and breastfeeding hormones can compound congestion when I mentioned how miserable my stuffy nose was making me. Start taking guafenisen with allegra and blaming the stuffy nose on kids. Doesn't really help.2001 - 2006: Having babies and breastfeeding. Completely congested. No air flow at all. Multiple infections, major sinus headaches. No sense of smell. Asthma still well controlled. 2006: new scratch tests and immunotherapy restarted.Saw ENT, who found the polyps. Taking ibuprofen for back pain.2007: Polypectomy and sinus surgery in January. Started having strong allergic reactions to an unknown in June. In November, figured out that I was reacting to the ibuprofen taken for back pain - syptoms were sometimes masked by the use of antihisamines at the same time delaying the diagnosis. Celebrex perscribed for the back pain and confirmed as a Samter's triad patient.And now....the last sinus infection took 4 full months of antibiotics to subside and the facial sinus pain is chronic and sometimes pretty severe. It makes it hard to listen to my little children's high piping voices. Recent catscan shows a recurrence of polyps and a significant thickening of the mucosa. I've been referred out of my HMO for aspirin desinsitization at National Jewish Hospital here in Denver - my consult is later this month. Since I am still moving air, my ENT wants to wait and see if the desensitization helps before doing more surgery.It is great to find a group that deals with Samter's. It seems fairly misunderstood and the discomfort and disrurtion caused by Samter's seems pretty downplayed in everything I've read and the attitudes I've come in contact with from doctors and even family members. There doesn't seem to be much in the way of effective pain treatment due to the aspirin allergy - acetaminiphin has been pretty useless to me. Anyone have suggestions for the pain?

[Guest guest]

I take Tramadol for head pain. Now, at first I thought the Tramadol was making my headaches worse, but what was really happening was my headaches just get so much more severe as the day goes on. I am currently taking 50mg of Tramadol, every two hours, maxing out at 8 tablets some days. Tramadol plus 1/2 caffeine tablet work well for the headaches the first 6-8 hours of the day. Tramadol cuts back on the pain in the afternoon and evening, which I can tolerate as I feel just so happy that I get 6-8 hours of functioning time in the early part of the day. It's amazing to me. You are correct that people underestimate the severity of the symptoms and how life altering they can be. I am no longer spontaneous, and I very seldom plan anything in the evenings. You have come to the right site for learning so much about samters.

Just a word of caution when you take acetomenophen. About 50% of us with samters are allergic to it in higher doses. I had my worst anaphalctic reaction to taking two extra strength Tylenol about 20 or more years ago. Smaller doses just gave me slight hives and itching. I avoid it all together now, which leaves me with no pain reliever choices over the counter. I go to a pain clinic and they try to help me out.

Hope you feel better soon.

Tami

My introduction

Hello there, I'm Jennie. I'm happy to say that following a steroid shot and oral burst in late November, I can still breathe trough my nose and I can smell today! I'm giving my personal timeline by way of introduction. My most troublesome symptoms at the moment are sinus pain and infection.Childhood:penicillin and sulfa allergies hay fever and other environmental allergies exercise induced and environmental asthmaFrequent congestion - noted "mouth breather"Adolescence:asthma subsidedby 18 my hay fever was severe, contact with grass pollen caused full body hives and swelling of nose and throat.Frequent congestionEarly adulthood:1995: (21 years old) Hospitalized for asthma provoked by a virusFirst scratch tests done and immunotherapy started as well as Azmacort, serevent and albuterol.1995-1996: Very sensitive lungs. Several asthma related emergency room visits 1996: Immunotherapy discontinued due to poor progress and financial contraints.1996-1999: Asthma better controlled, dropped serevent. Using Allegra for allergies. Congestion, sinus infections and vertigo are recurring problems.2000: OBGYN mentions that pregnancy and breastfeeding hormones can compound congestion when I mentioned how miserable my stuffy nose was making me. Start taking guafenisen with allegra and blaming the stuffy nose on kids. Doesn't really help.2001 - 2006: Having babies and breastfeeding. Completely congested. No air flow at all. Multiple infections, major sinus headaches. No sense of smell. Asthma still well controlled. 2006: new scratch tests and immunotherapy restarted.Saw ENT, who found the polyps. Taking ibuprofen for back pain.2007: Polypectomy and sinus surgery in January. Started having strong allergic reactions to an unknown in June. In November, figured out that I was reacting to the ibuprofen taken for back pain - syptoms were sometimes masked by the use of antihisamines at the same time delaying the diagnosis. Celebrex perscribed for the back pain and confirmed as a Samter's triad patient.And now....the last sinus infection took 4 full months of antibiotics to subside and the facial sinus pain is chronic and sometimes pretty severe. It makes it hard to listen to my little children's high piping voices. Recent catscan shows a recurrence of polyps and a significant thickening of the mucosa. I've been referred out of my HMO for aspirin desinsitization at National Jewish Hospital here in Denver - my consult is later this month. Since I am still moving air, my ENT wants to wait and see if the desensitization helps before doing more surgery.It is great to find a group that deals with Samter's. It seems fairly misunderstood and the discomfort and disrurtion caused by Samter's seems pretty downplayed in everything I've read and the attitudes I've come in contact with from doctors and even family members. There doesn't seem to be much in the way of effective pain treatment due to the aspirin allergy - acetaminiphin has been pretty useless to me. Anyone have suggestions for the pain?

[Guest guest]

Hi Jennie! I just went to National Jewish in Denver for my ASA desensitization

last week. They are wonderful there. I am seeing Dr. Gogate.

Let me know if I can answer any questions for you. Good Luck!

>

> Hello there, I'm Jennie. I'm happy to say that following a steroid shot and

oral burst in late November, I can still breathe trough my nose and I can smell

today! I'm giving my personal timeline by way of introduction. My most

troublesome symptoms at the moment are sinus pain and infection.

>

> Childhood:

> penicillin and sulfa allergies

> hay fever and other environmental allergies

> exercise induced and environmental asthma

> Frequent congestion - noted " mouth breather "

>

> Adolescence:

> asthma subsided

> by 18 my hay fever was severe, contact with grass pollen caused full body

hives and swelling of nose and throat.

> Frequent congestion

>

> Early adulthood:

> 1995: (21 years old) Hospitalized for asthma provoked by a virus

> First scratch tests done and immunotherapy started as well as Azmacort,

serevent and albuterol.

> 1995-1996: Very sensitive lungs. Several asthma related emergency room visits

> 1996: Immunotherapy discontinued due to poor progress and financial

contraints.

> 1996-1999: Asthma better controlled, dropped serevent. Using Allegra for

allergies. Congestion, sinus infections and vertigo are recurring problems.

> 2000: OBGYN mentions that pregnancy and breastfeeding hormones can compound

congestion when I mentioned how miserable my stuffy nose was making me. Start

taking guafenisen with allegra and blaming the stuffy nose on kids. Doesn't

really help.

> 2001 - 2006: Having babies and breastfeeding. Completely congested. No air

flow at all. Multiple infections, major sinus headaches. No sense of smell.

Asthma still well controlled.

> 2006: new scratch tests and immunotherapy restarted.

> Saw ENT, who found the polyps. Taking ibuprofen for back pain.

> 2007: Polypectomy and sinus surgery in January. Started having strong

allergic reactions to an unknown in June. In November, figured out that I was

reacting to the ibuprofen taken for back pain - syptoms were sometimes masked by

the use of antihisamines at the same time delaying the diagnosis. Celebrex

perscribed for the back pain and confirmed as a Samter's triad patient.

>

> And now....the last sinus infection took 4 full months of antibiotics to

subside and the facial sinus pain is chronic and sometimes pretty severe. It

makes it hard to listen to my little children's high piping voices. Recent

catscan shows a recurrence of polyps and a significant thickening of the mucosa.

I've been referred out of my HMO for aspirin desinsitization at National Jewish

Hospital here in Denver - my consult is later this month. Since I am still

moving air, my ENT wants to wait and see if the desensitization helps before

doing more surgery.

>

> It is great to find a group that deals with Samter's. It seems fairly

misunderstood and the discomfort and disrurtion caused by Samter's seems pretty

downplayed in everything I've read and the attitudes I've come in contact with

from doctors and even family members. There doesn't seem to be much in the way

of effective pain treatment due to the aspirin allergy - acetaminiphin has been

pretty useless to me. Anyone have suggestions for the pain?

>

[Guest guest]

,

I'm scheduled to see Dr. Gogate as well - nice to know she has a track record

with other Samter's patients!

> >

> > Hello there, I'm Jennie. I'm happy to say that following a steroid shot and

oral burst in late November, I can still breathe trough my nose and I can smell

today! I'm giving my personal timeline by way of introduction. My most

troublesome symptoms at the moment are sinus pain and infection.

> >

> > Childhood:

> > penicillin and sulfa allergies

> > hay fever and other environmental allergies

> > exercise induced and environmental asthma

> > Frequent congestion - noted " mouth breather "

> >

> > Adolescence:

> > asthma subsided

> > by 18 my hay fever was severe, contact with grass pollen caused full body

hives and swelling of nose and throat.

> > Frequent congestion

> >

> > Early adulthood:

> > 1995: (21 years old) Hospitalized for asthma provoked by a virus

> > First scratch tests done and immunotherapy started as well as Azmacort,

serevent and albuterol.

> > 1995-1996: Very sensitive lungs. Several asthma related emergency room

visits

> > 1996: Immunotherapy discontinued due to poor progress and financial

contraints.

> > 1996-1999: Asthma better controlled, dropped serevent. Using Allegra for

allergies. Congestion, sinus infections and vertigo are recurring problems.

> > 2000: OBGYN mentions that pregnancy and breastfeeding hormones can compound

congestion when I mentioned how miserable my stuffy nose was making me. Start

taking guafenisen with allegra and blaming the stuffy nose on kids. Doesn't

really help.

> > 2001 - 2006: Having babies and breastfeeding. Completely congested. No air

flow at all. Multiple infections, major sinus headaches. No sense of smell.

Asthma still well controlled.

> > 2006: new scratch tests and immunotherapy restarted.

> > Saw ENT, who found the polyps. Taking ibuprofen for back pain.

> > 2007: Polypectomy and sinus surgery in January. Started having strong

allergic reactions to an unknown in June. In November, figured out that I was

reacting to the ibuprofen taken for back pain - syptoms were sometimes masked by

the use of antihisamines at the same time delaying the diagnosis. Celebrex

perscribed for the back pain and confirmed as a Samter's triad patient.

> >

> > And now....the last sinus infection took 4 full months of antibiotics to

subside and the facial sinus pain is chronic and sometimes pretty severe. It

makes it hard to listen to my little children's high piping voices. Recent

catscan shows a recurrence of polyps and a significant thickening of the mucosa.

I've been referred out of my HMO for aspirin desinsitization at National Jewish

Hospital here in Denver - my consult is later this month. Since I am still

moving air, my ENT wants to wait and see if the desensitization helps before

doing more surgery.

> >

> > It is great to find a group that deals with Samter's. It seems fairly

misunderstood and the discomfort and disrurtion caused by Samter's seems pretty

downplayed in everything I've read and the attitudes I've come in contact with

from doctors and even family members. There doesn't seem to be much in the way

of effective pain treatment due to the aspirin allergy - acetaminiphin has been

pretty useless to me. Anyone have suggestions for the pain?

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Wow ! I think you might be number 3 or 4 of us in the Denver area! I live here too and was desensitized at Colorado Allergy and Asthma, Dr. Mark Ebadi.

Jane

From: julieryckeley <julieryckeley@...>Subject: Re: My introductionsamters Date: Friday, March 6, 2009, 12:37 PM

Hi Jennie! I just went to National Jewish in Denver for my ASA desensitization last week. They are wonderful there. I am seeing Dr. Gogate. Let me know if I can answer any questions for you. Good Luck!>> Hello there, I'm Jennie. I'm happy to say that following a steroid shot and oral burst in late November, I can still breathe trough my nose and I can smell today! I'm giving my personal timeline by way of introduction. My most troublesome symptoms at the moment are sinus pain and infection.> > Childhood:> penicillin and sulfa allergies > hay fever and other environmental allergies > exercise induced and environmental asthma> Frequent congestion - noted "mouth breather"> > Adolescence:> asthma

subsided> by 18 my hay fever was severe, contact with grass pollen caused full body hives and swelling of nose and throat.> Frequent congestion> > Early adulthood:> 1995: (21 years old) Hospitalized for asthma provoked by a virus> First scratch tests done and immunotherapy started as well as Azmacort, serevent and albuterol.> 1995-1996: Very sensitive lungs. Several asthma related emergency room visits > 1996: Immunotherapy discontinued due to poor progress and financial contraints.> 1996-1999: Asthma better controlled, dropped serevent. Using Allegra for allergies. Congestion, sinus infections and vertigo are recurring problems.> 2000: OBGYN mentions that pregnancy and breastfeeding hormones can compound congestion when I mentioned how miserable my stuffy nose was making me. Start taking guafenisen with allegra and blaming the stuffy nose on kids. Doesn't really help.> 2001 -

2006: Having babies and breastfeeding. Completely congested. No air flow at all. Multiple infections, major sinus headaches. No sense of smell. Asthma still well controlled. > 2006: new scratch tests and immunotherapy restarted.> Saw ENT, who found the polyps. Taking ibuprofen for back pain.> 2007: Polypectomy and sinus surgery in January. Started having strong allergic reactions to an unknown in June. In November, figured out that I was reacting to the ibuprofen taken for back pain - syptoms were sometimes masked by the use of antihisamines at the same time delaying the diagnosis. Celebrex perscribed for the back pain and confirmed as a Samter's triad patient.> > And now....the last sinus infection took 4 full months of antibiotics to subside and the facial sinus pain is chronic and sometimes pretty severe. It makes it hard to listen to my little children's high piping voices. Recent catscan shows a recurrence of

polyps and a significant thickening of the mucosa. I've been referred out of my HMO for aspirin desinsitization at National Jewish Hospital here in Denver - my consult is later this month. Since I am still moving air, my ENT wants to wait and see if the desensitization helps before doing more surgery.> > It is great to find a group that deals with Samter's. It seems fairly misunderstood and the discomfort and disrurtion caused by Samter's seems pretty downplayed in everything I've read and the attitudes I've come in contact with from doctors and even family members. There doesn't seem to be much in the way of effective pain treatment due to the aspirin allergy - acetaminiphin has been pretty useless to me. Anyone have suggestions for the pain?>

[Guest guest]

Hi Geoff-

Wow, it sounds like your fitness interests are quite varied. The old Firm workouts are definitely winners. Congratulations too on your boxing. Six wins is nothing to sneeze at, that is impressive! Have you done Olijade's workouts? They are some of my favorites for cardio.

A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps!

[Guest guest]

Hi Geoff! Welcome. Tough Tape was a good one!  I remember it well. You have a wide variety of interests!On Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 5:42 PM, geoffm727 <geoff.g.madore@...> wrote:

I have been exercising to exercise videos since 2000. I started doing the Firm Tough Tape 2 in May of 2000. Up in till that point I never lifted a weight before in my life! Since that time I have acquired over 100 exercise videos. Since doing videos I have gained self confidence that led to me taking up boxing from 2005 till 2007 however, my boxing record was not that impressive I had approx 6 wins and 15 loses.

I have a wide range of fitness interests that range from Pilates, ballet, boxing, and jazzercise. As for my exercise video collection I'm a huge fan of the " old " Firm workout videos. I'm also a fan of Margaret , Kathy , and some of Jane Fonda's older videos.

Anyway, I look forward to posting and meeting everyone!

Geoff

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Hi Geoff! Welcome. Tough Tape was a good one!  I remember it well. You have a wide variety of interests!On Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 5:42 PM, geoffm727 <geoff.g.madore@...> wrote:

I have been exercising to exercise videos since 2000. I started doing the Firm Tough Tape 2 in May of 2000. Up in till that point I never lifted a weight before in my life! Since that time I have acquired over 100 exercise videos. Since doing videos I have gained self confidence that led to me taking up boxing from 2005 till 2007 however, my boxing record was not that impressive I had approx 6 wins and 15 loses.

I have a wide range of fitness interests that range from Pilates, ballet, boxing, and jazzercise. As for my exercise video collection I'm a huge fan of the " old " Firm workout videos. I'm also a fan of Margaret , Kathy , and some of Jane Fonda's older videos.

Anyway, I look forward to posting and meeting everyone!

Geoff

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Welcome Geoff!!

I'm , one of the most choreographically-challenged group members. I live vicariously through other people's dancey workouts while I mostly stick with athletic cardio weights and flexibility workouts.

What a great story you have! Congratulations on your boxing work too, just stepping into the ring is something to be proud of! I love the old FIRM workouts too! I just got into them this winter/spring and have accumulated quite a few (okay, QUITE a few). I like a lot of the newer ones too. Your interests are wonderfully varied, you don't have to worry about intentionally cross-training! I will look forward to reading about your workouts!

My introduction

I have been exercising to exercise videos since 2000. I started doing the Firm Tough Tape 2 in May of 2000. Up in till that point I never lifted a weight before in my life! Since that time I have acquired over 100 exercise videos. Since doing videos I have gained self confidence that led to me taking up boxing from 2005 till 2007 however, my boxing record was not that impressive I had approx 6 wins and 15 loses. I have a wide range of fitness interests that range from Pilates, ballet, boxing, and jazzercise. As for my exercise video collection I'm a huge fan of the "old" Firm workout videos. I'm also a fan of Margaret , Kathy , and some of Jane Fonda's older videos. Anyway, I look forward to posting and meeting everyone!Geoff

[Guest guest]

Welcome Geoff!!

I'm , one of the most choreographically-challenged group members. I live vicariously through other people's dancey workouts while I mostly stick with athletic cardio weights and flexibility workouts.

What a great story you have! Congratulations on your boxing work too, just stepping into the ring is something to be proud of! I love the old FIRM workouts too! I just got into them this winter/spring and have accumulated quite a few (okay, QUITE a few). I like a lot of the newer ones too. Your interests are wonderfully varied, you don't have to worry about intentionally cross-training! I will look forward to reading about your workouts!

My introduction

I have been exercising to exercise videos since 2000. I started doing the Firm Tough Tape 2 in May of 2000. Up in till that point I never lifted a weight before in my life! Since that time I have acquired over 100 exercise videos. Since doing videos I have gained self confidence that led to me taking up boxing from 2005 till 2007 however, my boxing record was not that impressive I had approx 6 wins and 15 loses. I have a wide range of fitness interests that range from Pilates, ballet, boxing, and jazzercise. As for my exercise video collection I'm a huge fan of the "old" Firm workout videos. I'm also a fan of Margaret , Kathy , and some of Jane Fonda's older videos. Anyway, I look forward to posting and meeting everyone!Geoff

[Guest guest]

Hi !

Thank you so much for the warm welcome! Me in an aerobics class is funny because

I have two left feet!! I think that why I love my exercise videos!!

I never ever thought I would take up boxing but as I said in a previous post

Margaret was my real inspiration because I remember reading about 10

years ago that back in 1991 after she finished doing the knockout workout

Margaret actually got in the ring and did an exhibition fight for charity.

So what is your favorite Firm classic workout? I did Vol6 yesterday / Monday.

Geoff

[Guest guest]

Hi !

Thank you so much for the warm welcome! Me in an aerobics class is funny because

I have two left feet!! I think that why I love my exercise videos!!

I never ever thought I would take up boxing but as I said in a previous post

Margaret was my real inspiration because I remember reading about 10

years ago that back in 1991 after she finished doing the knockout workout

Margaret actually got in the ring and did an exhibition fight for charity.

So what is your favorite Firm classic workout? I did Vol6 yesterday / Monday.

Geoff

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I'm Stacey from KY :-) You have joined one great group!!

My introduction

Hello!

I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is , and I currently live in Illinois. I love cooking, gardening, fitness, and learning more about health…and I am always looking for new ideas. I recently started doing more of the “eat-clean” concept, so I often change my recipes around to fit the eat-clean concept. I’m not sure if there is anything specific I should write in an introduction, so if there is something specific you want to know…please just ask. I am working on organizing my recipes into a word/excel merge file on my computer to keep them nice and neat. Once I have more of this complete I will start emailing out recipes.

I hope you all have a wonderful day, and a great week!

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I do feel for you – you do sound pretty hypothyroid and desperate and I, like so many of us, know what it's like to fight windmills when trying to get diagnosed and treated.

My suggestions – first follow 's advice about measuring your temperature. It's a simple and very effective way of finding out whether or not you might indeed be hypothyroid, for there are only 4 conditions other than Hypothyroidism that would cause subnormal temps – alcoholism, malnutrition, liver disease and hypothermia.

Since in this country you will have a very hard time finding any doctor who will even be prepared to trial you for 6-8 weeks on thyroid medication with a TSH inside the norm (in the UK that means a TSH under 5) you realistically have two choices - either you wait until your TSH has climbed up above 5, or you self-treat. Having said that .... your TSH might climb up within weeks, or it could take years – no way of knowing.

If money were not so tight, I would have said go and see Dr. Peatfield (I think he charges £ 160 for a consultation). Although Dr. P. is no longer registered with the establishment, he is the best there is in all things thyroid and he would give you the advice and the confidence to do what you may have to do – treat yourself – but you can do the second best thing.... buy Dr. Peatfields book "Your thyroid and how to keep it healthy" (under £ 10) and study it from cover to cover. We are all here to help you through, step by step, but you would be the one who has to actually DO it.... which is so easily said. Although you will learn along the way that there is nothing to worry about, in the beginning it's a big step psychologically to go ahead without the safety net of a doctor. Still, many of us have done it, and as you get physically and mentally better you will learn about the thyroid until you can recite it in your sleep. Absolutely everything you need to know is in Dr. Peatfield's book – learn it by heart and you will know more about thyroid issues than most endocrinologists.

Since you mention that you have dark rings under your eyes and you mentioned antidepressants, take a look into our files and read everything you find on the subject of Adrenals. There is an adrenal questionnaire in the files – test yourself and see how you fare. I would guess that you suffer from low adrenal reserve in addition to low thyroid. If you score high in the questionnaire, then it would be advisable to first and foremost support your adrenal function. The golden rule is – adrenals first, thyroid second. Most of us use Nutri Adrenal Extra (NAX for short) to help the adrenals. Ideally, before starting on NAX, you would test your adrenal function privately with Genova with a salivary test – but that would cost you £ 60. It's money well spent, if you can afford it. – NAX is a supplement that will help to strengthen the adrenals in time, but you would have to buy it privately – NHS doctors do not recognize adrenal fatigue, nor will they prescribe supplements.... and whatever happens, you will need some supplements anyway. We hypos need more than healthy people

Other than checking out your adrenals, you should test yourself for Candida albicans.... all the info is also in the files.

Now – you need some blood tests.... do you think you could persuade your GP to do a full thyroid panel this time, containing TSH, FT4 and FT3 (which you probably won't get, but try) and also for your antibodies (important!) to be tested - TPO, TgAB and TRAb . Thing is - the presence of autoantibodies would be diagnostic for Hashimoto's (autoimmune thyroiditis) and you might be in with a chance to be treated if you had them.

Also ask for :

Ferritin, Folate, Magnesium, Zinc, Copper, Vit B12 and Vit D3 – You need to know, because if you were low (even if low within the norm range) in any of those, you would need to supplement and bring up the levels. This is necessary to ensure that thyroid hormone will actually get into the cells, where it is needed. You could have sufficient thyroid hormone cursing around in your veins – but if this hormone does not get taking up by your cells, it's no use. Low adrenal function, Candida albicans or low mineral and vitamin levels can all prevent uptake of thyroid hormone.... this is why you need to check ALL of the foregoing and correct and treat anything that is out of synch before you start treating your thyroid. – Your argument for your GP of why you want those test is to tell him that you know that low minerals and vitamins will prevent your thyroid hormones from getting into the cells and you want to give your body the best chance to use the thyroid hormone your body is producing.

So those are your first steps toward helping yourself... and then you have to decide what you want to do. Either you keep on battling with your GP or an endocrinologist to get diagnosed and treated, or you buy natural desiccated thyroid on the internet and start treating yourself. We are all here to guide you through, step by step, if you decided that it is what you want to do. There is nothing dangerous about it, but it would be a step into the unknown for you, and I understand that this might be scary at first.

If you were to do that, it would be the right thing to inform your GP of what you are doing. He will find out sooner or later anyway, but if it were me, I would not say anything about self treatment until you see a definite improvement..... it's the coward in me, but it is so much easier to go back after a few months and fess up when you are visibly better – who is going to argue with success? ;o)

Anyway – those are my suggestions. It's a lot to take in at firsts, but you will have to decide for yourself what you want to do.

With best wishes,