ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat)

So, a week has passed. I no longer feel the intense pressure (like a watermellon is trying to exit my head, via my ear). However, I still have pain, ringing and the sensation that my ear is "clogged."

I almost went the ENT clinic yesterday (Tuesday), since my ear was hurting a lot, but I decided to stick it out one more day.

Today (Wednesday), the ENT doctor said my ear looks better. He noted that, though the process is slow, there is improvement.

So, I get to...... "come back next week."

Meanwhile, I am done with the oral antibiotics and back to the antibiotic ear drops.

The hole in my eardrum is closed, much to my relief! (I suspect it closed last Thursday)

Doctors do not treat it as such a big deal, even if the hole does not close. The only thing it changes is you are not allowed to SCUBA dive. Now, it is true that I do not SCUBA dive.... yet. But that is one of the things on my "things I want to do" list....

And, since I am pouting, I will just say that this was supposed to be my week off!

Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Sha'are Zedek Marathon (10 Days and counting...)

Prologue:

Saturday, June 28: The Ear Pain begins

Saturday night: Began using Ear Drops (Desoren)

Sunday, June 29: Went to GP, began antibiotics (Augmentin/Amoxicillin)

Sunday, June 29 - Monday, June 30: Pain so bad, I stay in bed


The Sha'are Zedek Marathon Begins:

Tuesdays, July 1, 6:00 am -- 8:30 pm: Sha'are Zedek:
1. Emergency Room/ENT clinic (excruciating Ear PAIN!!)
2. Oncology Day Ward: meet doctor, open port, take blood tests
3. ENT clinic: consult with senior physician (new ear drops)
4. Oncology Day Ward: Chemo
5. CT: head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis

Wednesday, July 2: Bone Scan at SZ

Thursday, July 3: ENT clinic (follow up) at SZ: Come back Sunday

Friday, July 4 - Saturday, July 5: break for Shabbat (still in pain!)

Sunday, July 6: ENT clinic (follow up) at SZ: Come back Monday

Monday, July 7: ENT clinic (follow up) at SZ:
1. Hearing Test: hearing damage (some might be permanent)
2 Poke hole in ear drum (ouch! -- pain is less now)
3. Snake miniature camera up nose (yuch!)
4. Come back in two days (?אלא מה)

Tuesday, July 8: Oncology Day Ward at SZ: Chemo PLUS
X-Ray at SZ: head to toe (almost), part of bone drug study

Wednesday, July 9: ENT clinic at SZ: technical mix-up: the doctor I needed was not there; Come back tomorrow
(Then, off to Hadassah Har HaTzofim to meet a gyno-oncologist for another opinion about my markers -- I waited over two hours; but the doctor was very nice. He does not seem concerned. Still, I have to repeat some tests and come back in 6 weeks.)

Thursday, July 10: ENT clinic at SZ


Epilogue:

?????????



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Ear Update

Today I went back to the ENT clinic at Sha'are Zedek.

Dr. T was on duty. She had seen me on Tuesday morning, but not since then. (When she saw me, she told me that she had just asked about me. Nice!)

She recommended lancing the ear (she used a fancy term for it). They basically use a laser, or very fine needle, to poke a hole in the eardrum and let the infection out of the middle ear. It basically ends the pain IMMEDIATELY. In most cases, the eardrum closes back up in a few days. (There is a slight risk that it won't close, and that's what worries me)

She says that without this procedure, it can take a MONTH for all the fluid to dissipate and for the pain/pressure/ringing to go away. That is unacceptable to me.

Even though I was impressed with her, I want a senior physician to give an opinion and do the procedure.

On Monday, Dr. S will be there (he saw my ear both on Tuesday and on the follow up visit on Thursday) and there should also be a senior physician.

So, I'm going back tomorrow morning.



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Medical Update -- CT, Bone Scan & My Annoying Ear

CT -- shows no signs of cancer spreading

Bone Scan -- ditto

MRI -- LONG story! (maybe I'll write about it tomorrow) Short version: still waiting for an earlier appointment.

Ear --
1. woke up this morning after my first good night's sleep in days; noticed a slight decrease in pain.
2.went to the dentist, to eliminate my teeth as a source of the pain. My teeth are fine.
3. went back to the ENT clinic at SZ for follow up. The doctors noted that there is less pain, less redness & less swelling. I stressed, again, that I am still in significant pain, not to mention the incessant ringing, the relentless pressure, and the pain in my jaw, which makes it painful to talk and eat (two of my most favorite activities!). The very sympathetic and kind doctors again said "those" words: "It takes time. Let's give it a few more days..."
4. I made another follow up appointment for next week.
5. last night I was able to go to sleep without the Percocet (I did take Cod Acamol), and I did not take either of those drugs this morning. (I did continue to suplement the Optalgin with Ibuprofen).
6. the pain is worse now (though not as bad as Sun/Mon). I will take a Percocet soon and go to sleep.


GOOD/HAPPY Stuff:

I did teach swimming today (with the doctor's permission) (I did not put my head in the water)

I went to this month's Laughter Workshop and my daughter, A, came with me!


Chodesh Tov!! ("A Good and Blessed Month")



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Ear Ache -- AGAIN! STILL? When Will This Be Over??

5:30 in the morning.

WAKE UP IN PAIN!!

I thought I was over this part!!

WRONG!!

I'm in pain, like there was no yesterday!

Last night, after I posted, I went to bed, and realized the terrible ringing in my ears was still there. But the pain was less, and I was SO confident that I would get a good night's sleep and wake up feeling better.

MY EAR HURTS!! And so does my right JAW!!

I am so sick and tired of this!!

I took the ear drops and another Percocet (10 minutes early; I don't care!)

A few more minutes, and the drug should kick in....

My head feels like it is going to EXPLODE!

The Percocet is starting to work....



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

On the Road to Recovery... at least from my ear infection

Thanks to all those who wrote/called/prayed/etc!

I am (finally!) in less pain, and am hoping that by tomorrow, I really will feel the difference.

I now hear an ocean, more than ringing.

And my ear feels water-logged, and only a bit like it is bulging. (several times, I caught myself tilting my head and trying to bang out "the water" with the heal of my hand -- habbit! Now I understand why they call this "swimmer's ear"!)

I still can't hear in my right ear, but I am really hoping that will go away soon! (I am tired of asking everyone to repeat themselves!)

I am optimistic that I won't spend the night writhing in pain. (that is a BIG deal!)

Still, I am going to take a Percocet, to make sure I get some sleep tonight.

Laila Tov! (g'night!)



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Ear Infection and Cancer -- What Fun!

The emergency room was quiet, when we arrived, around 6:00 in the morning.

During intake, the triage nurse brought me a Percocet. I don't know if the Percocet made the pain go away, but it certainly made me care less!

Percocet really spaces me out. (and I'm already pretty far out there...)

The ENT on duty peered into my ear with some really fancy equipment; then he said those infamous words: "keep taking the antibiotics and you should feel better in another day or two."

Not this time!

"I have been taking antibiotics for 48 hours, and the pain is WORSE." I said, in a strong voice, belied by the tears visibly welling in my eyes.

"The senior doctors will be in at 9:00," said the kind, young doctor sympathetically, "You can come back then for another opinion."

It was 7:00.

I had plenty of time to go to the oncology ward, open my port, and get my blood tests.

We went up to oncology.... apparently the ward opens at 7:30.

There were two chairs in the hallway, outside the locked doors. Moshe and I sat down. I closed my eyes. Between the two and a half hours of sleep and the Percocet, I could have fallen asleep standing up!

At 7:15 my oncologist came strolling down the hallway.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, shocked to find us at the hospital so early in the morning. "I'm glad I got here early," he continued, inviting us into his office.

We had a comprehensive visit. I left with referrals for a CT, a bone scan, and an MRI. My markers are creeping up (more on that another time) and we want to identify what, if anything, is changing.

Then I went to have my port opened -- I was the first one in line! (will wonders never cease!)

And then, back to the ENT.

The senior ENT diagnosed an outer ear infection, and prescribed a different set of ear drops. He disagreed with the younger doctor's evaluation that the infection was also in the inner ear, yet suggested that I continue taking the Augmentin (amoxicillin), since I had already started.

"This way, you are covered from all angles," summed up the young doctor. "Come back in two days."

Without further ado, I was dismissed (and discharged).

Alas, my day was far from over.... I returned to the chemo ward, where my day was just beginning!



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Too Much Pain, For Too Long

I am off to the emergency room to see an ENT (ear, nose & throat doctor).

I did not fall asleep until almost two in the morning (maybe later). By 4:30 in the morning, I was awake and unable to fall back asleep. The pain and the ringing is worse. The antibiotics are not working.

I've been on antibiotics for 48 hours. I've been taking a combination of Optalgin, Cod Acamol and Ibuprofen to compat the pain. None of these drugs has alleviated the pain.

I've been in constant and increasing pain for three days and nights.

I can't take it anymore!



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Not Much Better

Well, the doctor was wrong. I did not feel better this morning.

So I called said doctor, who suggested that I should feel better by tomorrow morning...

So, I am, again, just waiting for this day to be over, in the hope that by tomorrow I really will be feeling better.

It seems kind of minor, what with cancer, and all that, but my ear really hurts!!

The pain radiates all over the right side of my face and neck -- it hurts my jaw! So, it hurts to talk and to chew. Not that I'm all that hungry. The pain made me lose my appetite. Ironically, I have to eat food with the antibiotics. I hope chocolate counts as food.

I also have constant ringing in my ear. It is SO ANNOYING!!

And THE PRESSURE is UNBEARABLE!!

I totally understand why a kid would stick something in their ear. It feels like you want to pop the bubble and let out the pressure. It's like there is a watermellon trying to pop out of your ear!

Last night, I missed my support group and the play put on by the sixth graders (which I have seen every year for years!). This morning I thought I missed the last meeting of my art class, but it was postponed (I felt slightly better when I found that out). And I cancelled swimming lessons (and you know I have to be feeling really bad to cancel that!).

All in all, I am feeling pretty miserable and sorry for myself!!



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

PAIN in my EAR

It HURTS!!!

And it has nothing to do with cancer!

I feel like my ear is going to explode!!

I was in pain all Shabbat. As soon as Shabbat ended, I called the doctor (GP) on duty, who recommended ear drops and ibuprofen. Moshe was worried that that was not enough. So, I called a friend of mine, who is a doctor and lives close by. We went to her home, she looked in my ears, and concurred.

So, I used the ear drops and hoped that I would feel better by the morning.

What a miserable night.

By morning, the pain was radiating all over the right side of my face and neck.

I went to the Medical Center for their walk-in-clinic at 7:30! I never am up that early. But the pain is so bad, I can't sleep. My doctor (GP) was on duty and he prescribed stronger pain medication (CodAcamol) and antibiotics.

I took the medication right away, and managed to sleep for a few hours until the pain woke me up again.

It is mid-day and I can't take another dose of the CodAcamol until this evening.

I am still in agony.

The doctor says I should be feeling better tomorrow.

Meanwhile the pain is unbearable.

I am just waiting for this day to end....



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA