The Lebanese Invasion of Suzanne's Nostrils, Part 1.
Those of you who really spend quality time with me know that for the past month or so I've struggled with breathing out of the left side of my face. My left sinus was so blocked up that sleeping at night became a problem and I constantly was sniffling and blowing my nose. In the past week its become impossible to even blow my nose, due to how blocked off the sinus passage was, and my nose runs uncontrollably. I was doubling-up doses of Sudafed, taking Claritin-D, Benedryl, Afrin, and doing saline nasal washes/flushes (attractive, I know). Nothing was helping. I spent all weekend feeling miserable and most of yesterday hating being alive as well.
Last night it got so bad that while on the phone with someone they actually thought I was crying. But no, I was so unable to breathe out of my nose and my sinuses were so full and swollen, that it was impossible to speak normally or really even breathe at all. I could breathe through my mouth, but my asthma was aggrivated by some hookah I'd smoked at a Lebanese restaurant earlier in the evening. Oh the grim forshadowing.
I left work early and got an appointment for this afternoon with a doctor with a curious sounding last name. I went in for my appointment, and was greeted by a seemingly kindly, older fellow with a soft accent and a nice, grandfatherly smile. He put me at ease. I asked him where he was from, with his nice last name and soft accent, and he said "Lebanon." So from here on out, he is known as Doctor Lebanon if you are following along at home.
I sat in his little chair and he put the cool light-up headband on and started sticking some instruments into my nose. One instrument blew some fine misty liquid in, and another instrument sucked all the junk back out. He blew and sucked out my nose a few time (hehehehe...funny) and declared "Polyps".
After the initial declaration of polyps, he added, "Big, big polyps. Your entire sinus is blocked. Completely blocked, wow. Hm. How long has this been going on?"
"A month or so," I replied.
He just shook his head. "Well, they have to come out, or you won't be able to breathe." In his reticent way, that meant I need nasal surgery and quick.
So he prescribed a CAT scan for me and I have to make that appointment very soon. I was a bit grumbly and nervous about the possibility of some pretty extensive facial surgery in my very near future, but then he came out from his office and issued a second wave of attack that really caught me off guard.
"And I want a full battery of allergy tests, and you're going to need weekly allergy shots."
Uhhh...OK. Here's where I hold up my hands. I just had a full battery allergy test last year, and I told him that. "No, I want my own. I only trust my own." I said, "But I don't want shots. I have had shots before and they did nothing." He shook his head and honest to God said, "I am the expert. I'm the doctor. I know. You listen to me, you need the shots. And you will have these tests. That's that."
And with that he walked away, leaving me to his grumpy receptionist who gave me a look that basically said, "I dare you to challenge Doctor Lebanon."
Well I will challenge Doctor Lebanon. There is no way in high holy Honolulu that I am going for allergy shots once a week. And yes while I acknowledge that I do have a major problem with polyps growing in my nose, I have not had any serious allergy problems in like, 25 years that a little OTC allergy medication didn't fix. I had shots once, and they suck, and they didn't work. A pill a day did a LOT more for me. Plus, I didn't like his attitude.
So I left with my marching orders to get this allergy testing done as well as to get a CAT scan. It's been a nice day today so I walked to the doctor - about 1.5 miles one way. And I'm really glad I had to walk back, because on my way home I pass a nice, homey building with the sign on it: "Dr. H_____, Ear Nose and Throat Specialist." Hmmmm....so I say to myself, "Self...let's go get a 2nd opinion. Right NOW."
Well, Dr. H______ didn't have any walk-ins available at that moment, but he does have me on the schedule for an appointment tomorrow at 3:15 pm. His receptionists were sweet and when I told them I came from Doctor Lebanon's office they just laughed. "No wonder," said the kindly, young receptionist.
Stay tuned for tomorrow's installment of The Lebanese Invasion of Suzanne's Nostrils, part 2. Will she submit to shots in the arm? Will the CATs do their scan? How long until she breathes again? Stay tuned...
Last night it got so bad that while on the phone with someone they actually thought I was crying. But no, I was so unable to breathe out of my nose and my sinuses were so full and swollen, that it was impossible to speak normally or really even breathe at all. I could breathe through my mouth, but my asthma was aggrivated by some hookah I'd smoked at a Lebanese restaurant earlier in the evening. Oh the grim forshadowing.
I left work early and got an appointment for this afternoon with a doctor with a curious sounding last name. I went in for my appointment, and was greeted by a seemingly kindly, older fellow with a soft accent and a nice, grandfatherly smile. He put me at ease. I asked him where he was from, with his nice last name and soft accent, and he said "Lebanon." So from here on out, he is known as Doctor Lebanon if you are following along at home.
I sat in his little chair and he put the cool light-up headband on and started sticking some instruments into my nose. One instrument blew some fine misty liquid in, and another instrument sucked all the junk back out. He blew and sucked out my nose a few time (hehehehe...funny) and declared "Polyps".
After the initial declaration of polyps, he added, "Big, big polyps. Your entire sinus is blocked. Completely blocked, wow. Hm. How long has this been going on?"
"A month or so," I replied.
He just shook his head. "Well, they have to come out, or you won't be able to breathe." In his reticent way, that meant I need nasal surgery and quick.
So he prescribed a CAT scan for me and I have to make that appointment very soon. I was a bit grumbly and nervous about the possibility of some pretty extensive facial surgery in my very near future, but then he came out from his office and issued a second wave of attack that really caught me off guard.
"And I want a full battery of allergy tests, and you're going to need weekly allergy shots."
Uhhh...OK. Here's where I hold up my hands. I just had a full battery allergy test last year, and I told him that. "No, I want my own. I only trust my own." I said, "But I don't want shots. I have had shots before and they did nothing." He shook his head and honest to God said, "I am the expert. I'm the doctor. I know. You listen to me, you need the shots. And you will have these tests. That's that."
And with that he walked away, leaving me to his grumpy receptionist who gave me a look that basically said, "I dare you to challenge Doctor Lebanon."
Well I will challenge Doctor Lebanon. There is no way in high holy Honolulu that I am going for allergy shots once a week. And yes while I acknowledge that I do have a major problem with polyps growing in my nose, I have not had any serious allergy problems in like, 25 years that a little OTC allergy medication didn't fix. I had shots once, and they suck, and they didn't work. A pill a day did a LOT more for me. Plus, I didn't like his attitude.
So I left with my marching orders to get this allergy testing done as well as to get a CAT scan. It's been a nice day today so I walked to the doctor - about 1.5 miles one way. And I'm really glad I had to walk back, because on my way home I pass a nice, homey building with the sign on it: "Dr. H_____, Ear Nose and Throat Specialist." Hmmmm....so I say to myself, "Self...let's go get a 2nd opinion. Right NOW."
Well, Dr. H______ didn't have any walk-ins available at that moment, but he does have me on the schedule for an appointment tomorrow at 3:15 pm. His receptionists were sweet and when I told them I came from Doctor Lebanon's office they just laughed. "No wonder," said the kindly, young receptionist.
Stay tuned for tomorrow's installment of The Lebanese Invasion of Suzanne's Nostrils, part 2. Will she submit to shots in the arm? Will the CATs do their scan? How long until she breathes again? Stay tuned...
posted by The Semi-Pro Chef at Tuesday, June 13, 2006
2 Comments:
I can totally sympathize- to me congestion is one of the worst things. It's not painful, and yet when you can't breathe properly it awakens an almost primal discomfort that borders on panic. One of my least favorite pregancy symptoms was the endless congestion that was severely worsened by the colds I seemed to get every 2 or 3 weeks. And I couldn't take much for it.
That is awful that you might have to go through surgery to fix it! (Not to mention allergy shots.) So are the polyps caused by allergies then? Look forward to hearing about your second opinion......
I hate doctors that won't be questioned. Like it is a science or something? Please, it's all just informed guess work.
How successful is Dr. Leb? Was his office busy? Did you look him up to see how highly regarded he is? I think there are websites or something like that. Is he affiliated with a hospital? Has he held other positions at places? Most importantly, how expensive was he? What I've come to realize about doctors, is that I want one that's a real big jerk who charges the most. If someone you hate, is successful, the theory is, he must be good.
Obv get a second opinion...for any surgical procedure. (or maybe just move back the the east cost).
(singing) There are no alergies in Easter America (and the streets are paved with cheese).
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