Thursday, March 23, 2006

Dignosis: Chronic Sinusitis

I went to an Otolaryngology (Ear/Nose/Throat) specialist yesterday, and I've been tentatively diagnosed with Chronic Sinusitis - also known as chronic sinus infections. Rather than mess around with any more doc-in-a-box types, I've made two appointments at Stanford.

Next week I'm going to the Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto to get a CT Scan on my head and sinuses to see if there are any anatomical problems that can be fixed with surgery. It is highly likely that the inside of my head is F'd up, and at this point I'll take some lasers up the nose in an attempt to fix it over the 101 degree fever I've had on and off for nearly two months.

I'm also going to an audiologist to test whether or not the hearing loss that I've been experiencing for the past seven weeks is permanent. I've had worsening sinus-related problems over the past ten years, and it's time to do something about it. The idea of being a cyclist and musician with little hearing doesn't exactly get me stoked.

In the past seven weeks, I've been able to ride my bike three times. That's no way to live! Not looking forward to what's to come, but if it will get me back to work and back on the bike, then let's get 'er done!

7 comments:

The Old Bag said...

Bummer! But, good to hear it's getting tracked down and taken care of.

Hang in there!

Jeff O. said...

Is the old bag making fun of you???

"good to hear"

Glad to see you're going to see a specialist.

Gino Zahnd said...

Nah, I think that's motherly love kickin' in. :-)

Chico Cyclist said...

Man, that sux - but if they can fix it with lasers, I would be all over it. Just get it done and move on. Hope you heal fast too!

Yokota Fritz said...

I get sinusitis frequently. I've had a cat scan but my physical sinus blockages aren't quite bad enough to require surgery. I have a couple of friends who've had their faces opened up to clean out the gunk. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't.

Personally, I have to really stay on top of things -- keep my sinuses moist to prevent irritation (difficult in dry and dusty Colorado), and take decongestants at the first hint of trouble. If the fluids are allowed to pool then that's when infection can set in.

Gino Zahnd said...

You know, when I lived in Colorado I never had anything like this! In the research I've been doing it seems the consensus is that temperate Northern climates (like from SF to Seattle) are the worst for this type of thing. That's right, the Bay Area is making me ill! Ha! Oh well, because I'm not leaving California ever again! Just gotta eventually remove myself from the Bay Area for good, and get back up to NorCal.

The Old Bag said...

...NOT THAT OLD!!!