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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2015 16:44:49 GMT
Oh god, I empathise with everyone here (K and htmb). Get better soon.
Myself, I'm going on a second course of antibiotics to try and kill whatever took up residence in my sinuses and chest after last month's flu. Two month's illness is getting tiring, not the least for those who have to live with me.
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Post by htmb on Dec 13, 2015 16:53:03 GMT
That's the pits, Lizzy! Take care.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 13, 2015 17:01:48 GMT
You're being given more antibiotics, Lizzy?! Be careful with those things! You sick people give me the creeps. Thus speaketh ole SickerThanThou. Tod, it's my understanding that steam vaporizers are better and more healthful than the cold mist kind. I've seen both in action, and there is something icky about the cold mist kind. Anyway, this is the exact vaporizer I have. I am extremely happy with it so far. It's very quiet, which apparently is a consideration in choosing one. Lucky for me, since it was the only choice available! This is not the one I have, but is similar. Someone took a bad video in their messy kitchen, but it will give you an idea of the thing in action:
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Post by htmb on Dec 13, 2015 17:06:49 GMT
The cold mist vaporizer I used when my sons were little was pretty noisy, so I think this is a great improvement, sound-wise.
I do remember having to clean it periodically to prevent buildup of mold and mildew.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 13, 2015 17:13:37 GMT
Mine is much quieter than the one in the video, I'd even say it has a sort of friendly sound. The steam kind also have to be cleaned, to get the mineral deposits off the heating elements. I haven't done that yet, but it could signal the end of the honeymoon period. The deposit is caused by electrolysis of the water. When I googled that to make sure I had it right before posting it here, I came across this WTF usage of a vaporizer. marijuana.com/community/threads/can-i-smoke-vaporizer-resin.230443/
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Post by tod2 on Dec 13, 2015 17:16:43 GMT
Thanks so much! If dry air is causing my sinuses to retaliate then it must be because in summer we have the aircon on all night. But then again, I did not have aircon at all whilst in Paris and my nose was terrible. Every morning it was blow, blow, blow and eyes watering all day. I'm sure we have a humidifier somewhere in the house. Sort of recall my son had one in his room some time ago. I bet it's in a cupboard packed away and forgotten! Thanks again Bixa.
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Post by htmb on Dec 13, 2015 17:34:24 GMT
Tod, could your sinus problems be related to allergies?
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Post by htmb on Dec 13, 2015 18:08:30 GMT
I suffered from sinus problems for many years, mainly due to seasonal allergies and lousy sinus cavities. It was so bad I had to take a course of antibiotic at least twice a year, for several years. Not a good thing. A new doctor finally put me on a daily allergy medication that I took year round, and I also started using a homemade saline rinse a few times a day. It was made with sterile water, sea salt and a little bit of baking soda. I stopped having the sinus problems, and was also able to keep cold symptoms from turning into bacterial infections by using the saline rinse. I've been off regular allergy meds for a couple of years now. My allergies seem to have improved, but I still use the saline rinse when I develop a cold. In France a few years ago, I picked up an aerosol bottle of saline solution, and liked it so much that it's what I now use. Here's a picture of the bottle I purchased this morning. It says it's for children, but that's just because it's mild and, basically, contains the ingredients i used in my homemade batch. The aerosol spray seems to do a better job of getting up into the sinuses.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 13, 2015 19:34:56 GMT
That DOES work, and works very well. I have a little pump spray bottle that had a "boughten" version of the saline solution in it and that I refill with saline solution. It does seem as though it semi-cures the problem, in the sense of avoiding medication. I never knew about adding baking soda, though. I am going to be on the lookout for that aerosol product.
Emergency help for a sinus headache, when you just can't take one more pill:
1) Fill a bowl with boiling water, set it on a table, then seat yourself in front of it. Cover your head, shoulders, and the bowl with a bath towel and stay that way as long as you can.
2) Take a teensy bit of ground cayenne pepper, either on the back of your hand (you know -- the way you take your snuff), or on the end of a toothpick. Now snort it. It does something to your pain receptors & goes a long way toward dulling the headache.
Obviously you can do either of these things, rather than doing both. But if you do both, it's a good idea NOT to do the steam after the pepper, as it will liven up the cayenne in a way you may not like.
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Post by bjd on Dec 15, 2015 7:19:06 GMT
How do you make your saline solution? Just water and salt? My husband uses it when he gets a cold but says just salty water burns.
He has just given me his cold but, other than blowing my nose a lot, I treat it with disdain. It will go away by itself.
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Post by htmb on Dec 15, 2015 7:35:36 GMT
I may be a little off on the salt and baking soda proportions since I haven't made it in a few years, but I think it's:
1 quart boiling purified water 1 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
Dissolve salt and soda in boiling water and cool. Pour a little water into another cup and use a blub syringe to gently spray up your nostrils. Doing it while in the shower is easiest.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 15, 2015 7:50:24 GMT
That's a lot of solution! I sprinkle some salt in a little bowl then pour in boiled water. I'm pretty good at eyeballing it, but also taste it to see if it approximates the saltiness of tears. Then I pour it in the little spray bottle. It no longer has the amount on it, but I'm guessing @ 2oz., which lasts for ages. Any idea what the baking soda is supposed to do?
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Post by htmb on Dec 15, 2015 7:53:08 GMT
I cover the rest of the solution and use it over the next few days.
I'm not sure what the baking soda does. (The recipe was given to me by a very renowned ear, nose, and throat specialist.)
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Post by mossie on Dec 15, 2015 8:50:49 GMT
I can still remember having my sinuses pumped out with saline solution when I was in the RAF. The crunching sound as the syringe was pushed through the into the sinus still echoes when I read this thread.
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Post by mossie on Dec 15, 2015 8:52:16 GMT
Just off to the quack with a recurrence of my ear problem of last month. More antibiotics I suppose.
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Post by tod2 on Dec 15, 2015 12:16:05 GMT
Thanks y'all! I think I will phone the pharmacy to get that nose spray. All kinds of things could have caused my runaway nose. Surgery or even the dentist doing root canals. It is an extremely delicate procedure and often dentists break through into the sinus canal. They wouldn't tell you if they did or maybe not even aware it's happened.
Mossie. Sorry to hear that. For no rhyme or reason my left ear started aching for a few minutes. I got some pain drops from the chemist and have got Mr.Tod to drop them in several times. Strange feeling. I think it must be all connected to sinus.
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Post by htmb on Dec 15, 2015 13:15:18 GMT
Meanwhile, my head is still stopped up and I'm missing my second day of work. I've also put my son's birthday dinner off until Thursday.
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Post by htmb on Dec 15, 2015 13:16:19 GMT
Mossie, I hope you get some relief. Sorry your ear is acting up again.
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Post by mossie on Dec 15, 2015 19:52:22 GMT
My ear is not a serious problem, just a nuisance. The quack has dished out two different antibiotics which I have to take 4 times a day for 2 weeks. There are all sorts of before and after meals restrictions, I am sure these will go by the board over Christmas. Just hope they do the trick this time round, I am never happy taking pills.
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Post by tod2 on Dec 16, 2015 11:20:10 GMT
Mossie - I'd love to know what he has given you. (Being an anti-biotic fundi)
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Post by breeze on Dec 16, 2015 11:50:53 GMT
Has it occurred to you sickly people that one thing you have in common is a visit to Paris?
[troublemaker!]
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Post by mossie on Dec 16, 2015 11:59:39 GMT
Breeze a trip to Paris is the best possible cure for all ills, body or mind.
Tod, they are, flucloxacillin and phenoxymethylpenicillin. Now there's a couple of tongue twisters.
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Post by breeze on Dec 16, 2015 13:10:46 GMT
I've certainly enjoyed seeing everybody's travels to Paris this year, so please every one of you, go back soon. Of course once kerouac gets up and out, we won't be Paris-deficient.
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Post by htmb on Dec 16, 2015 14:29:51 GMT
I thought I'd at least work half a day, but only lasted two hours.
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Post by whatagain on Dec 16, 2015 19:11:43 GMT
The saline bottle shown above interested the security quite a lot. In Barcelona and in muenchen. Didn't bother the one in Brussels.
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Post by htmb on Dec 16, 2015 19:23:41 GMT
I'm sure. I've had to loss out bottles I've purchased in Paris since I couldn't have taken them on the plane in carry on luggage.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2015 19:35:50 GMT
Those rules are so silly. Pandering to public opinion.
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Post by tod2 on Dec 17, 2015 12:37:42 GMT
Crikey Mossie - that was almost like swear words! The Flucloxacillan is for things like severe boils and the like. The Phenoxymethylpenicillin is a broad spectrum anti-biotic. Probably to make sure the problem does not occur again hence the long two weeks instead of 5 days. You, obviously like me, can take penicillin - my old man cannot.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2015 6:25:45 GMT
I have become allergic to penicillin also. It gives me the hives.
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Post by mossie on Dec 24, 2015 12:03:06 GMT
You want allergic reaction--- my poor wife responded to most antibiotics in a bad way, I have no such problems luckily.
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