SEPTOPLASTY?

I don't want to get on your cases too hard here, but I ask you to think twice about going on an overall anti-drug rant. Many people, myself included, take meds to live well. Some don't have a choice, or like me, the choice is between enjoying a full life or tolerating a daily existence. You might consider the meds I take toxic; I consider them as essential to my health as my daily vitamins.

I don't want to get on your cases too hard here, but I ask you to think twice about going on an overall anti-drug rant. Many people, myself included, take meds to live well. Some don't have a choice, or like me, the choice is between enjoying a full life or tolerating a daily existence. You might consider the meds I take toxic; I consider them as essential to my health as my daily vitamins. To keep it brief: its not the drugs, but the marketing I have issue with. Seldane, took it for years, now its off the market (used to stock up in the U.K. where it was available over the counter) An orthopod perscribed Celebrex (when it was new) to me for a shoulder injury. He had a floor to ceiling closet filled with samples of the stuff. I don't think anyone left that office without a sample and a scrip.......couple of years later....you know the story.

Celebrex the wonderful pain killer my Dr. prescribed to me that I did not take after I had palpatations after the second capsul. I have 98 left from the 100 that he prescribed a year or two ago. I love the color of these that is why I still have them they look so much like a yellow sun. Maybe the palpatations were after seeing a pretty girl????

I don't want to get on your cases too hard here, but I ask you to think twice about going on an overall anti-drug rant. Many people, myself included, take meds to live well. Some don't have a choice, or like me, the choice is between enjoying a full life or tolerating a daily existence. You might consider the meds I take toxic; I consider them as essential to my health as my daily vitamins. Absolutely. I agree in that drugs are necessary for many people. I'm not against RXs. In my case, I wish I'd been given a choice other than taking drugs (such as options like a quick surgery) by my doctors when I was a youth. Would have been nice to weigh other options instead of just being presented the one band-aid option to take the drugs - which covered up the symptoms, created new side effects for me, and did not solve the anatomical issue. By "toxic" I don't mean the anti-christ or evil or destroying the youth. I mean that you are introducing a foreign substance/ chemical into your body. Usually, things are a-okay and the body responds well. What is interesting to me are the "unknown" factors of quite a few (not all) drugs - patients respond differently to the substance; individuals have different side effects; in some instances like with SSRIs, we don't know exactly how the drug affects other neurotransmitters or organs possibly due to the lack of long term studies. I think part of my reason for using the word "toxin" or "toxic" is that I'm reading three books right now called Generation RX; Prozac Backlash; and Life in the Frontal Lobe! But yes! I do take drugs when necessary. Do I still think I'm putting a chemical in my body? Yep. And I do it anyway as I feel the benefit will outweigh the potential risk. But, if it's possible, I'll try and seek other options. Advertising/ doctor/ drug company/ FDA/ NIH relationships are all other cans of worms as well. . .

This is me exactly, down to the deviated septum. Since 35 or so, I have been plagued with periodic sinus infections and allergies, which have escalated the last two years. I was utterly allergy free before the children/35+ years arrived. I am told this sometimes happens to women at my age. Not enjoying it. Swimming seems to aggravate it. I am now getting weekly allergy shots since September. I'm not sure if they help or not yet. Whenever I get a cold, it turns into a sinus infection too. Almost inevitable. Dave, do you not ever take antibiotics? I am very anti-surgery unfortunately. Not on principle, but because I don't see how I could manage it with my schedule. Also, over 8 weeks with no exercise? That sounds so horrible. I also am certain it would take me longer to recover than Kristina. "Recovery" time is virtually never accorded busy moms. The older you get, even if you are in good shape, the longer the recovery time and the harder it is to regain hard won fitness. My allergies started to develop in my late teens. I am exposed to a lot of dust and chemical off gasses daily. Chlorine is also an irritant to me. I have had good success with NAET for allergy treatment, but still develop sinus infections with every cold. They seem to run their course with or without antibiotics (I'm allergic to penecylin sp?) I think post-op would just condense all the down time that I typically suffer each year... anyway thats the justification.

The netti pot looks like a ceramic 'Alladin's Lamp'. This may sound gross, but I fill it with the hottest water I can stand and a pinch of kosher rock salt, lean over the sink, and pour it in one nostril, turning my head so the water pours out the other nostril. Once the water is gone, I refill it (with more salt) and do the other side. Usually, more than water comes out (the gross part), but I have not had a sinus infection since using the pot! Thought this may be worth a try before you have surgery and need to take 8 weeks of "down time'. :) thanks, i've been using a netti pot fairly regulary for years. i even add a few drops of poroxide when infected.

Regarding drug/anit-drug disc above: Believe me, over-prescribing or worse, prescribing without understanding the root cause of symptoms, drives me nuts. So many physicians (for a variety of reasons, I'm sure), don't consider non-pharmaceutical options. And just as at fault are patients looking for a magic bullet. And don't even get me started on non-psychiatrists who prescribe psychopharmaceuticals without considering non-drug treatments, complementary treatments or at least a decent follow-up. My reliance is on anti-depressants. I've battled major depression for all my life. Not fun. For the past 15 years or so, I've lived a great and satisfying life (with a few nasty dips here and there). It wasn't easy getting to this place, but thanks to several wonderful therapists, a supportive family and friends and a psychiatrist with a wicked sense of humor and a keen sense of prescribing, I'm good. I do think about the future effects of these chemicals on my brain and other parts, but I have made my peace with it for now. Having walked too close to the line on whether life is too painful to live, I'm frankly more concerned about the day when these drugs are no longer effective. And to that end, I eat healthy, exercise, meditate and generally live well and hope for the best. As far as my recurring sinus infections go, my doctor recently told me, "you don't need anti-biotics, you need to get an x-ray, see an ENT and get a nose-clip!".:)

Good old *** Red in a pot, bring it to a boil then a tent over it and breathe in the fumes. My Italian friend's mother told us about this in 1944, ever after that it was red wine in the humidifier, clears everthing up. Those old Italian treatments were the best eg if you have the runs a tablespoon of flour in a glass of gingerale.

Something to consider as you weigh the risks and benefits of septoplasty. Do you snore? If so you may also have some degree of obstructive sleep apnea. This may be a point to consider in your final decision. OSA is not benign and can, over time, cause a variety of medical problems that may be avoided by opting for the septoplasty. Good luck and best wishes for a successful decision.

I am ordinarily quite open-minded about doctors, surgeries etc. However, no surgeon is ever touching my schnoz again. Period. I will not elucidate here (too much purple prose, even for me), but as and when I encounter any of you in meets, you may ask and I will tell, but be sure that you haven't eaten just before.