Well, we have an answer -

[kyburg]

And everyone - including me - missed it.

While I am certain I've been having one infectious URI after another - underlying everything has been something else.

Acid-reflux disease. If it had been something as simple as heartburn, I'd have noticed it - but the ENT I saw on Friday says 50% of his practice is what he calls 'silent' GERD.

That's stomach acid passing back up the throat, probably while I'm sleeping. Enough so that it's burned my throat, burned the larynx, and invaded the sinuses and eustachian tubes up into my ears. Hence, crunchy ears, constant cough and the sinus stuff? My sinuses are clear and perfectly healthy. Everything follows this like carts follow horses.

The guy sent a camera on a 12" cable down my nose to the back of my throat. We're sure.

It's twice daily acid-reduction medication (Prilosec, but I'm taking generics) for 3 months and re-evaluate.

I'm the only woman in the last three generations to have retained her gall bladder. I also have a mild case of scoli. I'm not grossly overweight - nowhere near my high water mark - but there's some to take off, so I'm doing it. I'm going to blame the GERD incidences on the constant coughing on the true URI's I've had, increased stress and really bad food options - but I'm grateful this is not having to wait until the end of April for a change in tactics.

My ears are still crunchy, I still have a healthy cough (which means I can't recheck BP until that subsides a bit more) and sore throat - but the fever is gone, and both of the former are much less than they were on, say, Wednesday of last week. I started medication on Friday.

And so we go. It's lovely to be able to breathe again.

Comments

[shannon-elaine.livejournal.com]

I hope you're feeling better soon.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

I am, and expect to be even better soon.

[lesliepear.livejournal.com]

I hope you are feeling better soon and glad you found out what was wrong.

I'm sick now :(

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

Get rest. It's the only thing that works.

[ms-hecubus.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you have some answers! Let's hope you start feeling good again soon.

I have a more traditional type of acid reflux. It developed when I was pregnant and never went away. Not surprising since I have my dad's digestive system and he's on daily medication. Right now I can get away with OTC stuff, but I'm sure I'll be back on prescription meds in the next 10 to 15 years. Yay!

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

I've looked at the class, and what I've found so far is that the stuff on prescription is nearly always just a higher dosage or something with a longer half-life.

You're good to go for a very long time, methinks. No worries.

[ms-hecubus.livejournal.com]

I have a feeling it's going to kick back in during menopause since my hormones factor in a lot. It's bad right now and I'm on the verge of ovulation. Who knows, I could have another kid and the problem could right itself. I'm not holding my breath though.

[drlaurac.livejournal.com]

Mazal tov! I'm glad there was a magical answer after all!

[juliekaye.livejournal.com]

Oh thank goodness you now know the cause. Hopefully this means a lot more well days in your future.

[monkeyfruit.livejournal.com]

Finally, hopefully no more sick days!

[sunfell.livejournal.com]

I am glad they found the solution. Now that you know the cause, you might consider elevating the head-end of your bed a bit to help facilitate healing.

I've noticed that certain sweets give me really bad heartburn, and have eliminated them entirely, including bread-based sweets. Don't know why, but I'd rather eat jalapeno peppers than a cookie- the cookie is worse on me than the hot peppers!

Go figure.

[gallo-de-pelea.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear it's been figured out! Feel better soon.

[dame-of-dames.livejournal.com]

I've been taking Prilosec/Prevacid/generic for years. Keep a bottle of Gaviscon near you, too, for the bad days.

I'm glad to hear that you have an answer for your ailment, and wish you a speedy recovery.

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

Oh *huh*. I did not know GERD could do that, or go that high! I'd better get the boy looked at; he's got acid reflux symptoms and a frequent sore throat, and I've had him taking OTC stuff and sleeping elevated-head when he needs it - which may not be enough.

I'm glad you found a solution and that it's not too horrible - and yay for feeling better soon!

[peachtales.livejournal.com]

I am happy to hear that they figured it out! I hope you get all the way better, and very soon!

[murphymom.livejournal.com]

Having a name for what ails one is always helpful - at least, it gives a plan of attack, and that is reassuring.

[nagasvoice.livejournal.com]

Oh, finding out what it is is very good news.

[unclejimbo.livejournal.com]

And thank you Dr. Satya for pulling strings to get us seen in 2 days as opposed to 3 weeks.

Gotta love my docs!

[elfwench.livejournal.com]

Ugh... my sympathies. I take prilosec (generic as well) twice a day every day myself, tweenie. Also for acid reflux. I'm glad you got to a good doctor. {{hugs}}

[yendi]

*blink* Wow. I'd never have expected that connection. I'm pretty sure that's not what's currently affecting me (based on how I'm getting better), but I definitely will keep this in mind.