The Sinus Infection Challenge

I mentioned a few blog posts back that I was on a really wacky diet to help pin-point the cause of my chronic sinus infections. Remember that one? Well, thought I'd finally tell the whole story here... And if you could care less, scroll down for some cute photos of Carter playing with his Thomas trains.

I'll start with the summary: the doctors have NO IDEA why I get chronic sinus infections.

Now the how-I-got-to-that-realization...

1.) After being on antibiotics pretty much every month between September and March (i.e., the cold months) for the last 2 years, I decided to complain to my doctor. And the only reason I complained was because the antibiotics were interfering with my wine drinking at Book Club (which is monthly). So yes, I'm very selfish. Oh, and every time I got a sinus infection, I shared it with Matt and/or Carter, so at any given time, one of us was sick. Guess I'm not TOO selfish then, eh? Spreading the love!

2.) Doc C sent me to see an ENT. We did scans of my head to see if I had anything wrong "structurally," and he put me on a super-powerful antibiotic for 30 days to [hopefully] kick out any remaining bugs. Results of the scan: nothing wrong. Results of the antibiotic: nothing - even got another sinus infection in the middle of the 30 days.

3.) Doc C then sent me to see an allergist (Doc K). We did a full-panel skin test (where they prick you with 90 known allergens - foods, plants, animals, etc. to see what you react too). We did some blood work to see if my immune system is compromised. We did some breathing tests to see if I'm asthmatic. Results of the skin test: nothing (I'm allergic to Japanese Cockroach - just like the other 99.99999% of the world and milk and eggs, which I already knew). Results of the blood work: nothing. Results of the breathing tests: nothing.

4.) Doc K then made the leap that since I had "hits" for the milk and eggs, I MUST be allergic to several other foods and THOSE foods are causing the chronic sinus infections. Excuse me?! So he put me on the world's worst diet for three weeks, which eliminated ALL known allergens (dairy, grains, sugars, citrus, nuts, alcohol, and pretty much everything else that tastes good). THREE WEEKS OF THIS! But I did it. I ate beans, potatoes, some vegetables, and some fruit for three weeks. I lost like 10 pounds (don't worry, I've gained it all back...).

5.) So I went back to the allergist to discuss the results of the diet and determine the next course of action. Basically I had no reactions to anything I ate, I was feeling fine (i.e., no sinus infection - but it IS warmer here), and I was ready to eat "normal" food again.

After being p*ssed off for having to eat next to nothing for three weeks, I was hoping this doctor could shed some light on my "condition." What's the first thing he says after the three weeks of H*ll?

"So, why did you decided to come see us?" EXCUSE ME?! IT WAS A FOLLOW-UP VISIT!!! I meekly told him so and maintained my cool.

Holding onto my bloodwork results, he then says, "Looks like we did some bloodwork, wonder why?" EXCUSE ME?!?! MAYBE BECAUSE I LOVE GETTING PRICKED WITH NEEDLES!?!? NOT!!!

I couldn't speak. I just sat there.

He flipped on the computer and proceeded to READ MY CHART TO ME OUT LOUD FOR 20 MINUTES! I was about *this* close to losing my cool.

This quack then explains that my immune system is fine. He flipped through the diet and said it was fine (although he had no idea or memory of telling me to DO the diet...). He then informs me that it MUST be another food causing these "sinus infections" as I called them (using air quotes).

OH MY LORD! I ALMOST WALKED OUT!!! Does he think I've made up my own misery?! Did I not really know what a sinus infection is/was?! I wanted to stab him (except I'm a pacifist and besides, I didn't have anything to stab with...).

I tuned him out while he quacked on, but he kept reminding me that it MUST be because of a food. We just had to "find out which one." So he put me on "challenge diets" for 8 weeks. For 8 weeks I was to basically over-indulge in a single food, one per week (milk, soy, wheat, etc.) and record how I felt. Thanks but no thanks.

When I asked WHY I should do this and explained that I was slightly puzzled how a food was causing my sinus infections, he proceeded to treat me like an idiot and slowly explain that the food or foods was/were aggravating my sinuses and prolonging the infections. I'd never be able to make them go away completely, but I might have ONE LESS per cold season if I eliminated the food (i.e., eggs) for the entire cold-weather season.

*eyeroll

So the gist of my saga - I'm blaming my toddler that is in daycare with zillions of other snot-nosed toddlers. He's building up his immunities by bringing home every ounce of crud that he is exposed to. Carter gets over it in 3 hours, I get over it in 3 weeks. Matt, he's just the innocent by-stander that is gonna get the crud too - most likely from me.

My pals tell me that when Carter is 6, 7, or 8, it will get better. Until then, I'll just suck it up. (And I'll take 1,000 mg of vitamin C twice a day and do sinus rinses/sprays when I need.)

And finally, the moral of my story: Allergists are complete and total quacks, especially Doc K. I'm canceling my second follow-up appointment and I'm NOT doing any stupid challenge diets. So there. Plbbbt. And it's not like he'd even remember me, why I was put on those diets, or whatever.

So let me end this post with some cute photos of Carter playing with his trains. He spends the entire time saying "Choo choo!" and it's absolutely adorable:
He's also just like his mom and sticks out his tongue when he's really, really concentrating:
Thanks for reading my rant. Now I have a doctor's appointment to cancel...

Stay healthy!
~kerrie