Before fun & games....

     I use online games as a break in between the different projects I do.  I *feel* like I am off-schedule (again) because I've been sick (again).   I don't think I've written on this topic; excuse me if this repeats another post.

      I started having problems with 1 ear, many years ago.  A middle ear infection and sinsus infection that started say every 3 months became every 2 months... and now, I'm pretty much "sick" when not on antibiotics.   I was referred to ENT Dr.  early on, but was given an antibiotic "until you see him" because his office was always booked for 3 weeks.  So by the time I would see him, I had no symptoms.  (Duh!)  But within a few weeks after seeing him (and off antibiotics), yup, I was sick again.  I got fed up with being SICKAT HOME and getting to SEE A DOCTOR WHEN WELL!  So I switched ENTs.  They too had waits to get an appointment but they were slightly faster. 

        I had to beg them to do something (anything) though.  Finally they put a tube in (like kids get for repeated ear infections); I'm on my 2nd tube since the Dr Office pulled the 1st one out when suctioning my ear.  It has helped -- but not completely.

       I keep asking if they could culture the ear (they can't, but seems worth a try, to me).  I've tried convincing them it could be fungus/yeast instead of bacterial, but that falls on deaf ears (no pun intended).  By the time I'm treated, the real infection has become a raging bacterial infection.  (I'm told my ear canal looks like raw hamburger meat, it is so beefy red when I'm sick.) 

        So finally, my lymph nodes went crazy on that side only.  And after I was already taking antibiotics, THEN they order a CAT Scan and are surprised the CAT Scan shows no infection (Duh, it is lessened by being on antibiotics.) 

        I'm on my last 4 days of this antibiotic, and know I'll be sick (again) within 2-3 weeks, and the ENT Dr says "we don't know what more to do."   And they ask "Who else are you seeing for this problem?"  Well geez, doctor-hopping/shopping is frowned upon, but now they act as though I *should* be seeing 3 or 4 doctors!  My family doctor just tells me to see the ENT.   Sigh.  I have asked both doctors to set up an allergy appointment.... months ago..... you think they've made the referral?  No. (And an allergist wants a referral.)

       So, round & round I go.  Healthcare in my area stinks.  It shouldn't; we have 3 teaching hospitals here and one hospital is a Trauma 1 center. 

       A friend asked how my projects are coming along.  I told her I work on them everyday, except the first few days of being ill when all I do is sleep.  I can't eat on those days, and barely awaken to do anything.  But, as soon as I can stay awake again (a few days after antibiotics are started), I go right back to work.  This up & down schedule is frustrating!  I'm always making up time-lost for when I was sick.  I wonder how much more I could do if I wasn't always fighting this.

      If this was happening TO a doctor, the care I receive would be unacceptable to them.  I don't understand how doctors can let ANY condition drag out as long as this one has.  (And they know this ear trouble is on top of other medical problems I have.) 

       So this is one reason my progress on projects is slow....   I just want to get on with the stuff I'm doing.