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I started panicking at work.  My right ear and right throat was hurting, my right nose was stuffed up.  Right ear tinnitus shrilling and constant nasal drainage down the throat.  There is no way I can handle a total of 17 hours flying with 3 times taking off and landing hops before I reach El Paso.  I once flew from Oahu to Maui with a sinus problem.  It was very, very, very, very painful.  I had my hands tight against my ears, my mouth was open as I Silently screamed in pain.  The poor man sat there and stared at me during the whole flight.  There is no way I can survive 17 hours of that pain... I couldn't tell if I was coming down with the flu or my sinus/allergy has worsened. 

I went to urgent care at the clinic after I got off from work.  I told them that I just don't know what I have: flu or sinus?  Took samples from my throat and both nostrils.  Results: No throat infection, no strep throat, no ear infection. No flu.  I have sinus infection.  Wow.. I've never ever been diagnosed with sinus infection.  5 day antibiotic + Claritin (never tried it) + continue with my nasal spray & my daily Airborne routine.  I should still be able to fly.  I still am wary about that.  Once bitten, twice shy... 

Thanks, MsMadge for reminding me that I was suppose to do the rice sock thing.  I just googled it.  Easy to make.  I have socks.  I have rice.  I have a microwave.  Warm it up in seconds intervals....
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(((((((hugs))))))) lu.
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Madge, are you implying I have a dirty thumb. I'll have you know my thumbs are pristine as pristine can be. :)

Send, aren't little boys made of slugs and snails and puppy dog tails? Or something like that?

Ali, I have one of those rice bags and I did try it and it helped a lot. And Book, I looked up acupressure and that's why I remembered the thumb in the mouth thing. It was quite invasive the time the physio person did it. She had plastic gloves on by the way or maybe they weren't plastic, I don't remember but anyhow. It does help. I'd never be caught doing it in public but in the safety of my own bedroom, hell yeah!
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Book San,
ii desu, ne

try wearing a wrist guard on your hand at night - drug stores sell them

until you can get the hot rice pack, put some hot water in a ceramic mug or tea cup for a few minutes, toss the water and hold the mug against the side of your ear and jaw, the mug holds the heat much longer than say a hot washcloth

ki o tsukete
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ABB, I never heard about the hot rice sock. I just googled it. I will try that tonight. My sinus has been draining down my throat today. Ick...

Doc says my right arm will continue to feel pain up to a year. Especially since it's on my dominant hand. No, I should not bandage it while I'm traveling. I should use the elastic band.. I ordered one after my fall and diagnosis by doctor of tennis elbow (from the injury). I googled it and bought some stuff but never used it (actually, I never opened the package it arrived in.) I will open it tonight and hopefully it's the right size.

Remember all those times you go to the salon and end up griping that the salonist did a terrible job? Or not as good as the last one? Well, every time I go off-island, I always cut my hair short. Think Japanese style haircut. No need to worry about headbands or ponytails but still can swish my hair. Just wash & wear. A while back, I posted that photo of me here on AC. I dug it up because that's my favorite haircut. I took some pics of it with my Kindle from my iPad's photo album. I always carry my Kindle since it's smaller (8"). Then I went to the salon that I know are Asian. (I've noticed that when I go to Filipina salonists, I come out looking Filipina.) I walked into the salon. The Japanese salonist asked me what kind of cut I want. I showed her the picture... Guess what?! It was Perfect!!!! Fave sis saw it and she liked it. She said she can definitely see a difference in the haircut between the 2 nationalities... Now all I have to do is brush up on my conversational Japanese.
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Gershun
hope you washed your thumb first 👍
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Luckylu,
A lot of prayer is on another thread 😇, but has anyone ever read what the Bible has to say about itching ears?
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😛😜😺🙃

I was very confused as a child. My Mom used to say we were made of sugar, spice, and everything nice.
The next minute, she was saying we were full of piss and vinegar.👀
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Powerberries❗️
Real fruit juice pieces made with acai, pomegranate, cranberry and blueberry, and here comes the miracle.............
Dipped in smooth dark chocolate.
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Hmmm
I don't have any chocolate unfortunately. I did something just now that relived my t m j. A physio person did this when I was having the same kind of pain I'm having now. I reached into my mouth and stuck my thumb into my jaw where it hinges and pressed quite hard. It feels better for now anyways.
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Chocolate 🍫 is a miracle for sure
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I have chronic ear problems

swimmers ear as a kid so bad that when they pulled the fungus out the Viking had to leave the room because I was screaming so much

now I get eczema in my ears and the itching drives me crazy to the point of some horrible infections

the one ENT who helped me retired awhile back and I haven’t found anyone I like

I actually had to tell one newbie ENT that the steroid she was prescribing was based in peanut oil
she had no idea

I’m not allergic to peanuts but can’t figure out why anything is made with peanut oil

the other guy hurt me so much when he was cleaning my ears that I said ouch
I sense he thinks I’m causing my own trouble but I cannot explain what uncontrollable itching is in the ear

I’m like a dog with it sometimes and need a cone but even then I’d still find a way scratch
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Thanks MsMadge and I know you're right.I day,1 minute,1 second at a time~
     And ALOT of prayer!
And more chocolate.
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Hang in there, Lu

One minute at a time
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I really admire you all that deal with Dementia and Alz loved one's.It takes ALOT of patience....patience I'm not sure I have and I'm gonna need.
Today was just awful with my dH and my nerves are shot.
God Bless all you Caregiver's out there~
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Book, Gershun, have you guys tried putting a hot rice sock (or bag) on your ears? That helped all my TMJ/earache issues last year. My PCP said to do it and it worked for me.
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Bookluver, It's quite timely that you should be discussing sinus/ear problems cause I've been having quite a time with that for a long time now.

I was told I have allergic rhinitis. I was prescribed a nasal spray which was supposed to have 120 sprays but I think it dried out in half that time. Plus it wasn't really helping.

This last week I've been having problems with T M J on my right side and my ear continuously popping. I went to the doctor yesterday and he told me I was the fourth person he'd seen this week with this and that it's allergies that are causing it. He told me to put Voltaren gel on my jaw. Didn't really have much more to say about it. So I guess I'll try allergy medicine and see how that goes.

I think I inherited sinus problems from my dear Ma. I used to phone her and she'd say "hang on dear" and I could hear her clearing her throat out. I know the feeling now. :P
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Yep, I finally realized the shower water was going into my right ear - last night. I only noticed it because every time the water went in, my ear would hurt. I went to the grocery store after work today. They don't carry wax removal. I will go to the drugstore tomorrow. Thanks for reconfirming that suspicion.
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Could it be something like swimmer's ear? Mine get clogged a lot too, and I think it's because water gets in them when I shower, and I tend to get a lot of wax buildup too so I think the water gets trapped in there. The over the counter drops for wax and swimmer's ear tend to work pretty well.
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Yesterday, I thought my sinus/allergy was getting worse.  Nose and ears got stuffed up. (Right ear has been several years now.) Lately, when I go to sleep, my head hurts when it touches the pillow. So lastnight, I used the neti pot.   The bad news - it made the right ear more clogged up. The good news is it cleared both of my nostrils... I've decided to stop the neti.  Clogged ears before flying is Not a good idea!

In desperation, I then found some YouTube videos on acupressure for sinus.  I found a great one (short and simple!) on the Accupressure Selfcare for Healthy Eyes and Sinus. I've been doing that throughout the day at work. Every time I used it, I can feel my face clear up. Then clogged back again. It really does help to lower the facial sinus pressure.

Tonight, I was going to re-watch the YouTube on acupressure for sinus head pressure relief. I got distracted with "how to prevent hair loss" since I'm going bald in my early 50's. So many firm or hard rubbing of the back of the head at 30 counts, the crown of your head 30 cts, the side of your head, etc.. 30 cts. By the 4th position, my head was going crazy with terrible itchiness. By the time the instructor reached the 6th position, he said that you will be feeling itchiness on your head. That's good because that means your head is receiving circulation. I started giggling.... All I can say is that by the time we were done with it, my head felt so... light. Wonderful... Unfortunately, all that firm/hard rubbing of my head (all over- back, top, side, etc..) made me lose more hair! Strands were falling all over my shoulders, arms, blouse... Off to see How to get rid off clogged ears and open your Eustachian tubes.
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Another cold wet day here so since I can't be outside I figured now was the time to modify a couple of mom's warmer tops so she has something half decent to wear. I learned to sew many years ago and even managed to make a few items of clothing but I am no seamstress, even something as simple as cutting some sweaters up the back and adding binding has as much allure as doing taxes. Well, all went well until I was attaching the snap domes.... @%$#.... %$@#!... sigh.
(and why are those tiny pieces of metal so expensive?)
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Good morning Gershun, you were up late! It is so dark here this morning I had a hard time getting out of bed but sis and I are going to costco so I need to get a move on.
Happy October everyone🍂
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La de Da de da! Well, not much happening here I see..................(tapping of fingers)

Yep, .....................yep, yep. La de Da!

Okay, on to next thread.
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Me, too, MsMadge. Also, when it's tilted down, I find it harder to breathe.
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I tend to choke if I tilt my head down while drinking
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Veronica, I hope you're doing better and better. I always appreciate your input about medical matters. I was thinking g-tube meant the peg that they put directly into the abdomen, I didn't know it described the nose tube. Are they both g-tubes??? I'll have to look it up. Edit: after re-reading your post, seems like the nasal type is a temporary g-tube, the abdomen peg is considered more permanent.

I think I remember that my dad couldn't tolerate the nasal g-tube. That was likely why the decision was made to do an abdomen peg in his case.

...

There's a recent article on npr.org with the title "Infectious Theory Of Alzheimer's Disease Draws Fresh Interest." It might be of interest to some of you, thought I'd share.
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Vveronica, glad to see you posting, and I hope you are feeling well! If I may ask, as I am just curious, can yone eat Anything by mouth when you have a J-tube, is it an individual decision, or is it the same for everyone?

I remember my Dad having a G-tube (nasal) while in hospital for Aspiration Pneumonia, but it was removed one he was released, but with his disease of PSP (Premature Supranucular Palsy), he had to be on a very strict diet of soft foods and thickened fluids for the rest of his life, and as you can imagine, my very British Father attempting to drink his Life Sustaining Cup Of Tea THICKENED, Ugg, he'd rather drink sour milk! That was the one thing he wouldn't allow us to serve him, he demanded his tea the way he wanted it, so everyone had to be very diligent about sitting near him and monitoring the way he needed to drink small sips, and tilt his head down when swallowing. Unfortunately it was the Aspiration Pneumonia that took him in the end, God Love Him!
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Thanks Veronica
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MsMadge a g tube (naso gastric) inserted through the nose into the stomach is usually a temporary solution to a problem with eating, swallowing or aspiration. They are frequently used after surgery or severe illness when the whole gut has shut down and contents are pooling in the stomach. They can also be used for longer term feeding but are not very comfortable so a tube is usually then placed through an incision in the abdominal wall either into the stomach or directly into the jejunum.
Permanent tubes can provide total nutrition but are more difficult to use and maintain and must be changed at the hospital every three months. Proper care is essentail because they have a tendency to clog easily. Long term feeding can be done at home with competent caregiver.
I have a J tube and can totally manage it myself. You fill a bag with formula by prescription, hang it on an IV pole or similar thread the tubing through a pump, prime the tubing so you done push air in attack to the end of the tube and turn on the pump and it does it's thing over night while you sleep. The important thing to remember is to keep the tube flushed with water before or after feeding because the formula sets up like strands of spaghetti.
This may sound complicated reading it here but multiple lay people have been able to assist me when I was too ill myself. Many nurses are not trained to do this so I have done some supervising when an inpatient.
It is the patient's choice when to do the feedings and it can be done during the day in what is called bolus feeding where you simply pour a measured amount of formula into the tube several times day. For me overnight is the most convenient.
Even with a feeding tube in place aspiration can occur which means the patient needs to sleep at a 30degree incline. No problem for me as I sleep in a recliner.

As far as your friend's DH is concerned I think she made the right decision at the time depending on what his other comorbidities are and his general quality of life. She can always ask them to remove it. It is OK to change your mind this was not a decision that can't be undone.
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I think CM's got it right, and I almost added that part but figured I'd just say "yep, g-tubes come out for good sometimes."

If the cause is a temporary condition, not a progressive decline, I think there's a very good chance that when the person recovers, the g-tube can come out.

I know my dad came home from hospital and rehab stay with his still in place, so that was about 6 weeks of having it. By time he came out of rehab, I don't recall that he was using it anymore. I used to flush it to keep it clean but I don't remember giving him feedings that way. He slowly gained weight and was able to eat soft foods just fine... so then they took the g-tube out and that was in 2014. It's never been needed since.
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😌💦.
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