I saw my Ear/Nose/Throat guy yesterday, and was told I have a bad sinus infection - and I cannot express how much of a relief this is.

I have a polyp on a vocal cord - have had it for years, which gives me an interesting Marlene Dietrich type voice. My ENT checks it every 6 months, and every 6 months, says no change and no problem, but if it starts growing you'll need surgery. After 10 years of "no change", I have stopped thinking about it.

But, about two months ago, I started having a really bad cough, and lots and lots of mucous. So much mucous than when I woke up in the morning I'd cough so hard I would gag and feel like I was going to upchuck. After a month, I made an appointment with the ENT, fearing that this polyp had begun to grow and was causing the problem.

I spent all of last week in deep anxiety about whether I would need surgery, and if I did, what the risks were, and so on and so on. So, after the ENT ran the tube down my throat, and then up both nostrils, and said - you have a bad sinus infection - well, I felt about 20 years younger.

Antibiotics, and a steroid nasal spray. And, even after only one dose of the antibiotic (my son says it is a "silver bullet" antiobiotic, very potent and kills every bacterium in sight), and two uses of the nose spray, I am not coughing, woke up this morning with a clear throat and no mucous, and feel worlds better in terms of energy and general feeling.

All that wasted worry....

By Jackie on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 09:19 am:

I can totally understand you feeling relieved it was only a sinus infection. I hope you are feeling good very soon.

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 09:50 am:

I'm glad it was only a sinus infection, and I'm glad you are feeling better. Sounded awful. Gary and I just got over sinus infections ourselves.

By Trina~moderator on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 10:16 am:

Sorry to hear you're sick, but glad it's easy to remedy! {{{Ginny}}}

By Sandysmom on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 11:18 am:

Ginny, I'm sorry you went through all that worry and anxiety. I'm glad to hear that it is only a sinus infection and that you are doing much better. ((((Ginny)))))

By Nicki on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 05:36 pm:

SO glad you are starting to feel better! Sinus infections are so awful. And now you can relax knowing no surgery. That's great!

By Karen~moderator on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 06:03 pm:

SO glad to hear it's nothing *serious*! And don't you know that worrying does absolutely no good??? J/K! From one worrier to another - feel better!

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 09:25 pm:

Oh well, my sons will tell you I'm an Olympic class worrier. I cannot tell you how much better I feel. I realized as I was driving around on my errands today that I had not been really "focused" in my driving the past month or 6 weeks, and had just generally been feeling worn out and "dull". I was even thinking I should see my family doc and ask for an anti-depressant. I feel about 150% better today than I have in several weeks.

By Karen~moderator on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 09:46 am:

That is great to hear Ginny. Take care of YOU!! Happy Easter. Hopefully we will see new pics of Brooke today!

By Dana on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 10:33 am:

Such a relief mentally and physically. Sinus infections can really send you down. So glad you had such a great immediate response to treatment. Makes you really appreciate what feeling healthy is all about. Makes you wonder why you didn't realize what you were feeling was not normal and something you just had to learn to live with.

Welcome back to living!

By Ginny~moderator on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 06:54 pm:

Oh, Karen, you don't know what you asked for. My son promised me today that he will put all of their digital pics of Brooke on a CD for me, and says he has maybe a thousand.

Dana, I think it was because it was so gradual - first a little cough and some mucous, then more, and then more, but no sinus headache until the day before I saw the ENT.

By Karen~moderator on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 06:57 pm:

Ginny, you know I LOVE to look at pics! If they are too much to post here, you can always email me some! ~~~~ Hint Hint ~~~~