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Antibiotics are NOT helping.
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An_245802 posted:
I have been sick for 8 weeks. I have had nine doctor visits and three different antibiotic treatments. Nothing has cured my problem.

The first two weeks I was sick, I had no voice at all. I had excruciating pain when I talked. My throat and upper chest hurt anytime a bit of cool air hit my throat. I felt like I had mucus in my throat, but I could n0t get anything out except clear spit.
The past week I have had less throat pain since I am not talking much anymore. My voice sound level and tone come and go sporadically. It sounds like I am a boy going through puberty. Five days ago my ears started bothering me too. My inner ears itch and feel like they're full. Three days ago, my left ear starting ringing/buzzing for a few hours. It is not ringing anymore, It does still itch in the inner ear.
Sometimes I get dizzy all of a sudden - but that has been happening longer than this situation.
I am so tired all the time. I wake up drained of energy.

Do you have any ideas of what I should look up with these symptoms. My ENT just said that I have sinusitis. However I have no issue with my nose, nor my sinus passage in the face's T zone.

After 8 weeks of being so ill, I am getting rather worried. What kinds of things (health issues) should I research?

Please help. Thanks.
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Rod Moser, PA, PhD responded:
Nine different doctor visits? Maybe it is time to change doctors and have a more thorough diagnostic work-up....

Have you at least had a CBC (complete blood count)? Mono test? Did the ENT examine your laryngx with a fiberoptic scope?

Antibiotic would ONLY work if the underlying bug is bacterial, and if the choice of antibiotic was appropriate to that particular bug and given at a dose sufficient to eradicate it. Your bug may be viral, and based on some of your other symptoms.....it may not be a bug at all. It could be allergies, or at least, allergies that are complicating a virus.

Rather than try and research and self-diagnose (next to impossible), I would opt for you to see a different medical provider -- one who is willing to take the next diagnostic steps. Eight weeks is a long time to be sick without a logical explanation.
 
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INEEDINFOASAP replied to Rod Moser, PA, PhD's response:
Yes, I had a complete blood count. I have not had my throat checked with a scope. I think the doctors have not felt a need to do one.

I also had a culture done. On the culture it had a comment saying, "Streptococcus Viridans". The doctor told me that was nothing to worry about. Is that true?

Tomorrow I have an appointment with a new ENT. What kinds of questions should I ask? The horrible pain in my throat will not go away, and I need something done ASAP. Could it be something like throat cancer??? Should I be asking questions about mono? What do I ask to get a solution? Thanks for your help.
 
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Rod Moser, PA, PhD replied to INEEDINFOASAP's response:
Mono is always a consideration when it comes to throat pain. I do not know anything about you or your medical history to put throat cancer as a consideration, but I am sure your ENT will consider all possible diagnoses.

Strep viridans is not an issue. Besides, I assume you have taken enough antibiotics to eradicate most bacterial pathogens. When seeking a solution, one must first have a definite diagnosis. Hopefully your new ENT will solve this on your 10th medical visit for the same problem.

You have an ENT appt on Saturday....that is unusual.
 
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An_245802 replied to Rod Moser, PA, PhD's response:
Thanks for your responses. Yes, I had a dr. visit on a Saturday. It is odd, but I was not going to complain if he was willing to see me on a Saturday.

This ENT told me that he thinks all my pain and problems come from a slight overbite I have. He says that an overbite can cause all kinds of problems. He wants me to take meds to increase blood flow to the inner ear drum and wear retainers. He also prescribed a throat spray as an anesthetic. Several other meds like a dissolving tablet on the tongue were prescribed. He pretty much said that he had no clue why I was so sick. My vocal cords, thyroid, etc. looked and felt fine to him.

I have never heard of this kind of a diagnosis. Is this common? It sounds like a bunch of blarney to me, but maybe I am being too skeptical.
 
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Rod Moser, PA, PhD replied to An_245802's response:
I don't have enough information to comment....sorry. Did he give your diagnosis a "name"?

He may be referring to TMJ - temperomandibular joint dysfunction, but that is just a guess.

What KIND of medicine that would "increase your blood flow to the inner ear" and why do this if your problem is from an overbite? And why the throat spray, again if your problem is the jaw...or inner ear....or ?

The medicine under the tongue? Is it Zofran for nausea?

I think you deserve a better explanation, but since I do not know the details of your case, I can't really help you.


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