OT - ENT Appt. Today | Arthritis Information

I had my ent appt. today. Saw a new doctor the one that I saw in 2006 has taken a sabbatical (he didnt ask me if that was ok... cheek of the man)

New doctor has a quick read of the file then asks why I didnt go for the operation when it was offered then. I told him truthfully I didnt feel ready for another op at that time. I expalined that since last appt. I'd been dx with RA and was taking sulpha and that my infections seemed to have become more frequent and painful since then. He asked if I'd told my Rheumy, I said not, but my next appt. with him is in March but I had been to the GP who looked it up in her book and said there was nothing there to say that sulpha could be the cause.

He asks many questions, when it hurts, how it hurts, where it hurts. Sprays the anaesthetic into the nose then puts a rather large fibre optic camera up the nose. He says it looks fine, no muck, drip etc. I tell him that I know its clean but the problem is the sinus tubes in my face, jaw. eyes, forehead etc.

He then gets his book out and tells me that when Sulpha is digested the base chemical is aspirin. He says that in ENT it is well know that anyone who has sensitive sinus/nose should NEVER be given aspirin. He thinks I may well be allergic to the aspirin being as the problem has been exacerbated by the taking of the sulpha. I say thats all well and good but in 2006 when I was offered the scrape I wasnt on the sulpha then..... so he says he needs a CT scan done to see whats going on in the rest of the face. That will take a few weeks. Once I've had the scan I am to book an appt to see him again.

The nurse came in and he told her to take me off to do the skin prick test whilst telling us both that quote 'it wouldnt show any allergies'..... (because he's made his mind up that the sulpah is the problem I suppose).

12 pin pricks later, my arm showed the following (and boy it itched):

Very allergic to: Grass, trees, shrubs, hedges and wool

Mildy allergic to: cat, dog and horse fur, duck feathers, sheep

Only slightly allergic to: dust mite, goose feathers

Not at all allergic to: mould spores

It is 2 1/2 hours since I had the prick test done and my arms is still very swollen. The nurse said she'd take great delight in telling him he was wrong. Thing is the prick tests have proved that its not only sulpha I'm allergic to (if at all re the sulpha). So I'm not any further forward at the moment apart from possibly adding another hiccough to the pan.

I asked about the ringing and he said that if the tubes are all swollen then it will definitely have a knock on effect with tinitus... but is not the cause.

I'm really keeping the fingers crossed that its not the sulpha because I dont want to go on anything more toxic unless I really have to.

Life's never straightforward is it.

Did they mention allergy shots? I had a similar problem, went to the ENT and we both were like-no allergies. Took the test and I was allergic to 20 of the 23. Many of them highly.

So, started shots and things have improved. I was getting monthly sinus infections-now that is not the case.

Hope your doc can find an answer for you...

BeckyThanks Becky its always interesting to hear from people who have had the same problems. I'll make a note to ask him about shots. I do suffer from urticaria (pressure and cold) and so already take 2 zirtek a day. I suppose it'll be a case, as normal, of wait and see.

I say this as my baby (cat called Milo) is nestling on my lap. I've always known I was allergic to cat and dog fur, I darent touch my face if I've been fussing Milo, my eyes swell.Sarah -

When did you start the sulpha? It's the antibiotic sulpha, right? Forgive me, they're screwing with my thyroid medicine and my brain is sputtering.

Because you sound like you're herxing (temporary worsening of symptoms) to me.

If I've said this to you before, I'm sorry, my so tired I can't process anything.

Pip