surgery

[Guest guest]

It never does seem to end...

I did a prednisone "trip" about 3-4 weeks ago with the Singular, Flonase, Claritin, an antibiotic and some Celebrex thrown in and I had my smell/taste back for maybe a total of 2 hours! Believe me, surgery is a last resort but I think it is time for a good "clean-out" job.

Rob

From: samters [mailto:samters ] On Behalf Of RulonKB@...Sent: Friday, April 22, 2005 3:30 PMsamters Subject: Re: Surgery

In a message dated 4/22/2005 12:14:07 PM US Mountain Standard Time, rob@... writes:

if I can get things cleared out and start fresh maybe I can take enough pills & sprays to keep it clear.

Last August my allergist prescribed a short (recall about 8 day) regimen of decreasing dose Prednisone. At the same time I started that, I started Singulair. When the Prednisone trip was over, I started Nasacort AQ. So the Singulair and Nasacort were for maintenance thereafter. From complete anosmia (and he said I had polyps), I went to a fairly good sense of smell for 5 months straight. He also told me to take a Claritin every day but I forgot, so I still had some congestion during that time.

Then I had too much scotch in my purified water, followed by aspirin, and lost it all. That's how I made it to the Samters board and got interested in milk and all the stuff I was eating. Now I'm interested in Celebrex too. It never seems to end.

Good luck

(Az)

[Guest guest]

Good luck with your surgery!

Twice, after taking 2 courses of Levaquin, my taste and smell came back. I called my doctor, and he wanted to know "how come?" I don't know why, and neither does he, except the only thing that was different was the Levaquin. (The insert with Levaquin notes that one of the side-effects may be changes in taste or smell. For the "normal" person this might mean they lose taste and smell.) My taste and smell stayed around for several months afterwards, my nose was clear, not runny and there was no congestion. It was wonderful while it lasted!!! My theory is that like stomach ulcers caused by h-pylori (sp), polyps may respond to a certain antibiotic or combination of antibiotics. I've been looking for someone doing research along these lines, so I could volunteer. For years, I've been on steroid sprays, pills, antihistamines, etc, and they only seem to help delay the inevitable surgery for a little while.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/22/2005 8:26:55 PM US Mountain Standard Time, yelware@... writes:

Twice, after taking 2 courses of Levaquin, my taste and smell came back

Maybe you have Infectious Rhinitis. Think that's usually the case if antibiotics work the way they did for you. The first thing my doctor did when he gave me my first spurt of Predisone was to first treat with a weeks course of antibiotics, then the Predisone if the antibiotics didn't work. The Predisone worked, but the antibiotics had no effect. That this occured told him that I had an inflammation that wasn't caused by an infection. Then I went onto the allergy route etc.etc. Infectious Rhinitis can be common in the nose due to its warm, wet environment that may allow low grade inflamed infections, especially around the sinus openings...up near the roof of the nose cavity where your olfactory nerve endings are.

The side effect possible that you referred to may be caused by a completely different mechanism when good bacteria are killed as the antibiotic passes though the digestive tract.

I assume you'll have a simple culture taken from up inside of your nasal cavity before you go in for surgery. Don't know if there's a topical antibiotic spray for the nose that you could test without taking oral antibiotics. Only one I'm aware of is over at Petco. Maybe your doctor was trying to treat something else and just didn't think of what may have happened. Or maybe it's like everything else...no one has a clue.

You might want to talk to your doctor about a quick challenge with another antibiotic and see if the same thing happens. I've always found that if something works, I've learned a little more about the cause.

Whatever,

(AZ)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/23/2005 7:04:49 AM US Mountain Standard Time, princess_rock_me@... writes:

A couple of years ago one of my doctors put me on Levaquin for a sinus infection and my smell came back and stayed for a good while. If I remember right it was a few months.

Sounds like another good customer for a Sinucleanse system. Could prove to be pretty good for long term maintenance approach after the antibiotic treatment to prevent infections from returning. My wife often gets sinus headaches. Probably work there too so long as she gets her own and writes her name on it in big black letters.

(AZ)

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I sat up and noticed when you mentioned getting your sense of smell coming back after taking Levaquin. I've had Samters for about 18 years. A good part of that time I've had no sense of smell. I've had 8 sinus surgeries and been on tons of meds etc. A couple of years ago one of my doctors put me on Levaquin for a sinus infection and my smell came back and stayed for a good while. If I remember right it was a few months.

I just figured it was a fluke.

I sometimes get it back if I'm on steroids.

Sometimes for no reason I can think of it might come back in spurts.

But my sense of smell came back fully after being treated with the Levaquin. Too bad it eventually went away again.

The Levaquin did make me kind of nauseous when I was taking it though.

E.F.

Re: Surgery

Good luck with your surgery!

Twice, after taking 2 courses of Levaquin, my taste and smell came back. I called my doctor, and he wanted to know "how come?" I don't know why, and neither does he, except the only thing that was different was the Levaquin. (The insert with Levaquin notes that one of the side-effects may be changes in taste or smell. For the "normal" person this might mean they lose taste and smell.) My taste and smell stayed around for several months afterwards, my nose was clear, not runny and there was no congestion. It was wonderful while it lasted!!! My theory is that like stomach ulcers caused by h-pylori (sp), polyps may respond to a certain antibiotic or combination of antibiotics. I've been looking for someone doing research along these lines, so I could volunteer. For years, I've been on steroid sprays, pills, antihistamines, etc, and they only seem to help delay the inevitable surgery for a little while.

[Guest guest]

Hi Rob,

Wonder what nasal rinse your ENT is putting you on -- sounds like it

might be a hypertonic rinse. I'm curious.

Good luck with the surgery and all. You know I'm not thrilled about

the self dense but I wish you luck with it and do keep us posted.

Lori

[Guest guest]

You might be able to take enough pills and sprays to keep it clear at

least LONGER. I have seen a big difference this post-surgery time

between my previous three surgeries and this one -- I attribute them

to some changes in diet (no alcohol for one thing), no Tylenol post-

surgery, the hypertonic saline rinse (religiously) and Nasonex. In

the past I always stopped the steroid nasal sprays when they seemed to

stop working or when I had a flare-up. I think that was a bad idea.

Lori

[Guest guest]

You might be able to take enough pills and sprays to keep it clear at

least LONGER. I have seen a big difference this post-surgery time

between my previous three surgeries and this one -- I attribute them

to some changes in diet (no alcohol for one thing), no Tylenol post-

surgery, the hypertonic saline rinse (religiously) and Nasonex. In

the past I always stopped the steroid nasal sprays when they seemed to

stop working or when I had a flare-up. I think that was a bad idea.

Lori

[Guest guest]

Many here have heard this before, and it's gross, but when my polyps

are visible to people on the street (which they have been before)

despite all forms of medicine, it's time for surgery.

I know some write off surgery, but I think it's possible some have not

had as severe polyps as others and might change their mind about

surgery at a certain point. I'm not speaking of anyone in particular,

just in general. I'll put off surgery as long as possible, but there

are points when surgery is really the only option (for me).

Lori

[Guest guest]

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that Levaquin helped. At least for a while. I have had it help twice, but taken it other times and it didn't bring taste and smell back. I have no clue why it works sometimes, and sometimes it doesn't. My doctor believes I probably have a chronic low-grade infection. The big questions is: Why? And, do I get polyps because I have infections, or do I get infections because I have polyps? Cultures have not revealed anything. Steroids do help me, but I won't take them unless I'm desperate. To many side effects!! I will use the steroid nasal sprays, and like most other things, they help for a while. No matter what they give me, the polyps continue to grow. My doctor wants me to try a mild boric acid rinse. I'm looking for medical-grade boric acid to give it a try. He uses it himself and says it seems to help. It's antiseptic, safe (they use it to make eye washes) and cheap. Maybe he's on to something. I'll let you know.

Diane

[Guest guest]

,

I thought I was the only one. When I use saline nasal sprays I too have 2 hour sneezing attacks and end up in worse shape than before. I thought maybe I was developing some sort of allergy to saline. I used them for months before it started sending me into sneezing attacks, that why I thought it may be an allergy.

Tami in Wis

Re: Surgery

I've found the saline sprays in my nose set off a violent sneezing attack, more congestion and what feels like more swelling. Perhaps I'm hitting some raw nerves. Have had good luck with the corticosteroid sprays. For me personally, I think that Nasacort AQ worked a little better than the Nasonex I was recently using. Not sure why, but after I spray I lean my head back off of a bed to make sure it gets to the roof of my nasal cavity. Maybe the AQ is thinner, water based and can make the trip up there easier or faster.

But the sprays should act the same way as the internal steroids (Prenisone) in reducing polyp size/growth, with minimal, if any, long term side effects...for now. At least that's what I've been told. I've never had surgery and shy away from doctors who make their living with a knife. I'll take a pill instead any day if it works.

(Az)

[Guest guest]

Thanks for this Clair. Very interesting !

Joan

surgery

> I found this site which may be of interest to some of you about

> laporescopic surgery.

>

>

>

> http://www.expresshealthcaremgmt.com/20050430/interview01.shtml

>

> Ma

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

There are so many surgical success stories that I am reluctant to enter

this into the group but I am compelled to pass on an observation that

seemingly unavoidable surgery should be avoided if at all possible.

Based on the personal experinece of my son who continues to have

dreadful problems after surgery at the age 15 years old, a 2nd surgery to

correct a

chest fluid build up from an unanticipated complication a month later and

another revision surgery at 19 for pain and continued curving.

He now has a short thoracolumbar titanuim rod from the 1st surgery and

two surgical steel rods T4 - L3 at the age of 19 last September. He is

STILL in pain.

I sincerely wonder what the outcome would have been if there had been no

surgery in the first place even though his original surgery was done to

treat rapidly progressing 42/44 curvature.

I never thought I would email this because he had 2nd, 3rd and 4th

opinions, including Dr. Betz at Shriners in Philly (the probable next

president

of SRS) that this was what needed to be done - so goes vicious AND

unpredictable scoliosis.....

Also, please be aware of the effects of well intentioned meds for

pain.

[Guest guest]

I guess everyone is out celebrating

Some people rent cars and bring them across the border specially when

coming for fills. The rental agreement might say you can't get it to

Mexico so I recommend you check and decide what you want to do. Some

pople do it anyway:)

If you are flying in we provide the transportation to and from the

aiport. Once in Mexicali you really are in the hospital the entire

time unless you cam a day before surgery and in this case we provide

the hotel and the transportation as well.

If you are driving you can also plan on leaving your car on the US

side ( in a safe parking) and we can pick you and your companions up

there and drive all of you to the hospital or hotel.

If your companions are staying in a hotel they can get a cab to the

hospital or if our driver is availalbe he can help too.

Many possbilities not sure which you had in mind.

Nina

> I would like to know from other members that have travelled, if they

> were able to rent a car to go into Mexico, where they stayed and

> things to take so I am prepared. I know I am doing this way early

but

> it's always good to keep in mind what I need to prepare for. I was

> checking online about renting a car but the places that do offer it

in

> manual only and I am the only one that knows how to drive

manual...my

> bf nor friend knows how. So, I thought I'd ask to see how other

> members were able to get around in Mexico and the places they stayed

> during the duration of the surgery. Have a great 4th of July!!!

[Guest guest]

I know I am a couple of days behind, but I recommend staying at the Fiesta Inn, on the second night me and my husband stayed there and were very pleased. If no one is coming with you, you will probably stay at the hospital for the two days, if someone does come with you and believe me you would be more comfortable at the Hotel with the big king size bed, then stay at the Hotel, not sure about renting a car, Ernesto picked us up in San Diego and dropped us off.

Tracie B. in Texas

[Guest guest]

Thanks Nina! I'll definately put this aside so when I make my

arrangements I'll be ready. I've been doing some research I hear

there is a nice hotel in Mexicali for a reasonable price so I may

decide to keep it close. Fortunately, for me my father speaks fluent

Spanish so I'll be okay Thanks again!

> > I would like to know from other members that have travelled, if

they

> > were able to rent a car to go into Mexico, where they stayed and

> > things to take so I am prepared. I know I am doing this way

early

> but

> > it's always good to keep in mind what I need to prepare for. I

was

> > checking online about renting a car but the places that do offer

it

> in

> > manual only and I am the only one that knows how to drive

> manual...my

> > bf nor friend knows how. So, I thought I'd ask to see how other

> > members were able to get around in Mexico and the places they

stayed

> > during the duration of the surgery. Have a great 4th of

July!!!

[Guest guest]

Kathy,

Glad to hear you made it through. I understand that this will be the

most challenging time. I pray you will make it through with much peace

and comfort.

Keep us posted!

kam

[Guest guest]

Kathi,

Isn't it wonderful to be on " this side " of the surgery? I thought

waiting for the surgery was hard, but then I had to wait to be

activated! LOL!

I'm sorry you had trouble with dizziness. That was the major post-

surgical symptom that I dealt with as well. Mine lasted 12 days, but

I'm told thats unusual. The kids got a kick outta seeing me crawl

around the house, as I dared not stand!

I hope you continue to feel better each day, and that you'll be

dancing and skipping and jumping in no time at all!

P

Frederick County SHHH

Frederick, MD

Left CI implant: 4/6/05

Activation date: 5/13/05

[Guest guest]

Kathi,

Glad you have the surgery behind you. I was pretty sick and stayed the night

too. Better days are coming for you!

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathi!

So glad the surgery is behind you now! As one who has been dealing

with balance issues since my own CI surgery, I wouldn't wish imbalance

on anyone. It sure isn't a good feeling. I'm very glad you were

feeling better the day after. Rest and pace yourself as much as you

can for a good week or two. It took me 14 months to feel better with

the first 12 weeks being the worst of it. Today, I have adjusted well

to my imbalance and I am very much in awe with what my CI has given me

in just 31 months of being hooked up. I'm very glad I got implanted!

Best wishes to you for a smooth recovery and a happy hook up day!

Patti

Surgery Day 11/25/02 (What A Day!)

Hook Up Day BWP 1/2/03 (A Happy Day!)

3G 1/31/03 (An Even Happier Day!)

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathi,

Good to hear the surgery is behind you. Now you only need heal up and

wait till activation time.

Please do rest lots and take care even if you feel terrific. Sometimes

it tends to really get to us after the first couple days.. something

like jet lag <smile>

Hope recovery is smooth and activation is a pleasant experience for

you.

Please keep us posted on your progress.

Continued good wishes to you.

Hugs,

Silly MI

In , " sampsonkathryn " <pksampson@c...> wrote:

> I just wanted to let everyone know I had my surgery yesterday August

> 4th & I did have to spend the night. I was pretty sick & extremely

> dizzy.

>

> I'm feeling so much better today. Still dealing with minor

dizziness

> but it's not bad.

>

> Thanks everyone for your prayers.

>

> Kathi

[Guest guest]

Velma ~

I'm really glad the surgery is behind me as well.

I'm dealing more with nausea today (2 days after my surgery). I'm

trying to figure out how to deal with this so I can feel better.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks.

Kathi

> Hi Kathi!

> So glad the surgery is behind you now! As one who has been

dealing

> with balance issues since my own CI surgery, I wouldn't wish

imbalance

> on anyone. It sure isn't a good feeling. I'm very glad you were

> feeling better the day after. Rest and pace yourself as much as

you

> can for a good week or two. It took me 14 months to feel better

with

> the first 12 weeks being the worst of it. Today, I have adjusted

well

> to my imbalance and I am very much in awe with what my CI has

given me

> in just 31 months of being hooked up. I'm very glad I got

implanted!

> Best wishes to you for a smooth recovery and a happy hook up day!

> Patti

> Surgery Day 11/25/02 (What A Day!)

> Hook Up Day BWP 1/2/03 (A Happy Day!)

> 3G 1/31/03 (An Even Happier Day!)

[Guest guest]

Kathi:

I think many of us had the same type of after surgery problems you have.

The dizziness, nausia, etc. is common with any head surgery and goes away.

They gave me ear drops after my surgery and I could taste them every time I put

them in my ear. Ugh! That all stopped in a week. My implant has been

working just time for 17 years. I thinkk yours will too.

-- Nan

In a message dated 8/6/2005 11:27:17 AM Mountain Standard Time,

pksampson@... writes:

Velma ~

I'm really glad the surgery is behind me as well.

I'm dealing more with nausea today (2 days after my surgery). I'm

trying to figure out how to deal with this so I can feel better.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks.

Kathi

> Hi Kathi!

> So glad the surgery is behind you now! As one who has been

dealing

> with balance issues since my own CI surgery, I wouldn't wish

imbalance

> on anyone. It sure isn't a good feeling. I'm very glad you were

> feeling better the day after. Rest and pace yourself as much as

you

> can for a good week or two. It took me 14 months to feel better

with

> the first 12 weeks being the worst of it. Today, I have adjusted

well

> to my imbalance and I am very much in awe with what my CI has

given me

> in just 31 months of being hooked up. I'm very glad I got

implanted!

> Best wishes to you for a smooth recovery and a happy hook up day!

> Patti

> Surgery Day 11/25/02 (What A Day!)

> Hook Up Day BWP 1/2/03 (A Happy Day!)

> 3G 1/31/03 (An Even Happier Day!)

[Guest guest]

> I just wanted to let everyone know I had my surgery yesterday August

> 4th & I did have to spend the night. I was pretty sick & extremely

> dizzy.

>

> I'm feeling so much better today. Still dealing with minor

dizziness

> but it's not bad.

>

> Thanks everyone for your prayers.

>

> Kathi

[Guest guest]

Hello, I am new at this...I am from the Shhhh website...and wanted to

try this out...hopefully I am doing it right...I've had implanted

July

26th. Like to know others who have been implanted. Hope that we

can

be friends and support each other. If I just get the hang of this!!!

it is so different from the Shhhh message board...well of course I am

used to it.

Let me see if this works before I go on further.