Follow Up with the Specialist ENT

I had my appointment with Shifu on Monday night and the verdict is that I'm to cut out coffee, cokes, sweets, and meats (all except fish). I'm sure this is only the beginning but it's going to be difficult. Yesterday I did not do so well. I did have veggies and rice for lunch but dinner was fail. Mostly because my brain was fried but also because I got hit by the tired stick and couldn't spare the energy it would have taken to make dinner.

Today I did MUCH better. I went all day without coffee but owies my head hurts. I keep telling myself that after three days, I'll feel better. I had tea and a banana for breakfast. I had my juice and a peanut butter sandwich for lunch. To tide me through class, I had some cut up mixed fruit. I was bad and got some goldfish crackers but considering, I'm not going to say I did too badly. And then I came home to leftover pasta with tomatoes and green beans for dinner. Oh and water. Can't forget the water.

I also had my follow up with the specialist ear doctor today. I am growing less and less enthused with him as time goes along. Right after I complained and told him that I swear the ear thing is related to my allergies, he recommended that I start taking allergy shots to see if that helps. I started doing that towards the end of November. In December, I came down with head/sinus/respiratory issues and that continued off and on through February. Last month, I talked to the allergy nurse about the possibility of the illnesses being caused by the shots and she said yes. She advised they would start holding me steady for a week or two after each increase instead of continuing to ramp up. Low and behold if I haven't started feeling better.

At my follow up today, I was talking to the nurse and advising her of the situation. While we were talking, she mentioned to me that this was the first time she'd seen me smiling. Anyone that knows me at all knows that is not me at all. I think it is very telling that she made that comment. Then, when the doctor came in and she told him about the allergy shot situation, as well as the fact that when I had my last REALLY bad episode and they gave me Valium, my body reacted negatively to it, he acted surprised. He jokingly looked me and told me he didn't he'd ever understand me. My response was that he was not the first person to tell me that.

What gets me is that this is supposed to be an ENT that specializes in the type of problem I have. If you are a specialist in that area, how could you not realize how the body interacts within it's functioning systems. Now mind you this is just my opinion, but when someone says that using a c-pap caused them some of the same similar issues, and a c-pap essentially pushes air through the nasal cavities, it only seems likely that part of the problem may have to deal with pressure sensitivities. Also, it is a known fact that sinus infections can cause ear problems. Allergies aren't always hives or throat swelling going to die any moment type of reactions. Some allergic reactions involve the sinuses. Isn't it logical to assume that those would bother the ears too?

I have also learned with the recent storms over the last couple of weeks, that barometric pressure affects my ear as does my stress levels. When my stress levels increase, so does the problems with my ear. *sighs* I need playtime.

I am going to check out and see if there are any other specialists that I can go to for a second opinion. I've given this guy almost a year and I've seen less than stellar performance from him. I think I may have seen him for all of two minutes today before I was told to come back in 3 months for another follow up and hearing test.

On a positive note, I'm doing well in tai chi. And I got my annual review at work, which was good. My manager said he would be putting through my promotion as soon as he can. Yay me!