Well, I’m feeling better this week than I was a few weeks ago in the sense that I’m less depressed and in a better mood, overall. This week certainly hasn’t been boring, though.
On Monday, I saw my ENT doc (Otolaryngologist) because I’ve suspected I’m developing another sinus infection. He seemed sort of baffled. I was quite asymptomatic–I could still breathe through my nose, no sinus headache, most of my boogers were clear, I wasn’t totally miserable, etc. He shoved his scope up my nose and found the little pocket where the green streaks were hanging out, sucked them out, and sent them to the lab. Yummy. A nurse called me on Thursday letting me know that some “funky” bacteria did show up, and it wasn’t either of the ones that showed up last time. The doctor sent 20 days of ciprofloxacin (2x/day) to the pharmacy. This is the second 20-day course of cipro I’ve been on this summer for sinus infections and means I’m taking Florajen now, too. Great.
Also on Monday, I met a Gastroenterologist. He wants to do an upper endoscopy, which is scheduled for early in September. He put me on Prilosec (omeprazole) for acid reflux. He also ordered some labs, and I got those results yesterday (Friday). I’m pretty damn anemic (shocker), and he wants me to take 325 mg of ferrous sulfate three times/day for six freaking months. After picking up a boatload of prescriptions from Target on Thursday, adding yet another supplement/pill/whatever is the last thing I want to do.
My favorite part of the things added to my drug cocktail this week is that they’re pretty much all contraindicated. I’m not supposed to take the ferrous sulfate within 2 hours of an antacid or antibiotic (both of which I’m on), and I’m not supposed to take antacids with Cipro, either. In other words, there are three different things I’m supposed to take first thing in the morning, and I shouldn’t take any of them within 2 hours of one another. Like, just, wtf? I think I’m going to go to the pharmacy and ask them to help me figure it out.
I met my physical therapist on Tuesday, and I’m hopeful about that. She gave me a brace for my right knee that’s identical to the one on my left under the theory that I’ll be compensating the same way with both hips, which will be less painful.
I also met with my DVR counselor on Tuesday, which resulted in an Assistive Technology Assessment being scheduled on Friday. The guy who did the assessment is recommending a smartpen, Dragon, a new MacBook (!), and arm rests that take weight off of my shoulders (I can’t remember what they’re called.). We’ll see what the DVR will actually pay for, but hopefully something will help.
On Thursday, I went to the dentist. My teeth are fine, which is great. Opening my mouth like that really aggravated my TMJ pain, which has made me pretty miserable since. I’m trying to only eat softer foods, but this has proven difficult. I’m not lactose intolerant, but dairy certainly doesn’t help anything. I’ve been avoiding it, but it seems like greek yogurt & cottage cheese are my main options for protein that don’t involve much chewing.
Of course, diary is contraindicated with cipro. How do I win?!
*head hits desk*
ememelle 