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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Saturday, October 06, 2007 - 1:30 pm
Ear pain is so tricky, it could be ears, jaws, sinus, ick. Been there and now we're watching Kota go through the same thing. She has a lot of problems with her sinuses and anytime that gets real bad, it starts to drain and infects her ears. We've found if we can keep control of the sinus problems, we can keep the ears well too. But, it took a long time (over a year, closer to two) to find the right combo of meds to work for her for the allergy/sinus/asthma probs. She still has the occassional sinus/ear infections but it isn't happening nearly as often as it did before. I know that's not much help for you now though Granny. Before school started she was complaining about her ear hurting. It wasn't an ear infection hurting complaint though, just a casual mention of it one night, then a few days later and she didn't seem to be in much pain. After school started I took her in for a check up and the doctor asked how she was doing and she mentioned the pain. Dr checked her ear and said it looked perfectly fine, then Kota mentioned she had worn a new pair of earrings (I mentioned that had been weeks ago so I was sure it wasn't an infection from that) but dr checked it and that was clear. Dr stood back for a few minutes looking at Kota then put her fingers on either side of her jaw, asked her to open and close her mouth, open and close, this child has TMJ. This mom felt stupid, I've had TMJ since I was a kid, knew the pain, knew where it was, but it'd never once crossed my mind that might be her problem. Dr said to give her tylenol when it was bothering her and talk to the dentist (haven't been for a check up there yet since her dr's appt.) That's pretty much all I've ever done too for it and like NY said a heated towel applied to the area where the pain is helps. I hope you feel better Granny, especially if you're going to be flying. Ear pain and flying don't mix real well!
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Grannyg
Member
05-28-2002
| Saturday, October 06, 2007 - 2:36 pm
Thanks, War, I think this is the first time I've ever even had an earache. Those things have never bothered me before. I'm doing the ice and then the warm compress and that seems to be helping. Taking the advil is helping to, so hopefully, by the time I fly, things will be back to normal. The doc told me to take the decongestant an hour before the flight and to use Afrin. That's what an ENT told her to use. lol
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Goddessatlaw
Member
07-19-2002
| Saturday, October 06, 2007 - 3:46 pm
Granny I don't have any suggestions but I sure hope it starts feeling better soon!! If the ibu doesn't work maybe try Aleve. It's a different type of pain killer and I find it helps when many others like aspirin, ibu or tylenol don't. Karuuna, how is DS doing? I'm not sure which toe he banged, but I broke my little toe at one point and it took 6 months to fully heal.
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Egbok
Member
07-13-2000
| Saturday, October 06, 2007 - 4:25 pm
Oh no Granny! I'm sorry to hear you've got ear pain going on..eeeks!! The Long Beach trip is right around the corner too. I'll say a get well prayer for you for the next few nights!

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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Saturday, October 06, 2007 - 7:05 pm
{{{Granny}}} I've had TMJ for a long long time but have to say the time I got the most hideous ear infections was worse.. luckily my doc hit me hard with antibiotics orally and by shot. And then the aftermath of a root canal once also made me basically want to lose my head.. With TMJ besides my dentist diagnosing it he also sent me for scans to confirm it (that wasn't much fun since they wedged my jaw open so they could film) and then he sent me to a woman who worked with kids with braces to train you to center yourself.. not to lean on one hand, chew on one side,not chewing gum, etc and then many years later, same root canal, that endodontist didn't listen to me and jammed my jaw open and yowch. I've found that my family doc, who is a DO (doctor of osteopathy) can do amazing adjustments on my jaw, working on the muscles from inside my mouth. Hurt like crazy the first couple of times since it was SO out of alignment but what a relief. However unless you just recently had some injury or something that put yours out of alignment, I'd say hopefully it is something short term and hopefully very curable.. and I hope that cure comes before you hope on that plane.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Saturday, October 06, 2007 - 11:35 pm
Granny, ear pain, whatever the cause, is just terrible. My sister was told the same thing about the decongestant (in fact if I remember right that was when her ped gave her a bunch of samples) before flying for my middle niece. Not sure if it was that, but she didn't have any pain at all during the flights and she always does!
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Sunshyne4u
Member
06-17-2003
| Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 5:01 am
ear aches for me since childhood- hot waterbottle and or steam to get things clearing up. I read somewhere that it is a good idea to completely avoid all diary products as it seems to be linked to recurrent ear / throat infections. After my last terrible dentist appointment I have also haad the worse TMJ ever. Felt like someone kept stabbing my eardrum with a needle. ((like seamonkey's story, this new dentist wouldnt listen to me. Not only do she really haul my mouth open, she pushed my jaw sideways to try to get to the back teeth better. It has been two months and my jaw still is detaching out of hinge when I chew. Darn So-called Professionals))
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Grannyg
Member
05-28-2002
| Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 6:01 am
Gal, Eggie, Sea, War and Sun, thanks so much for the advice. The new drug the doc gave me Durahist PE, seems to be working. This morning though when I first got up, man was my jaw sore. I am the world's worst at proping my jaw in my hand, whether I'm reading or playing games on the puter. That is just a natural with me. I caught myself yesterday doing that and immediately stopped. Even sleeping I put my hand under my jaw. No matter what, I will be healed by the time I go to Long Beach!! I have 3 whole days to get this ear in shape. lol The only reason I checked into the TMJ was because no matter what the doc did for my ear, it wasn't getting any better, so I decided to try a little home remedy. So something must be working cause today isn't as bad as yesterday. lol
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 8:29 am
Go, Grannyg, go!!! You have to be well enough to get arrested in Long Beach raising hell. We are all saving up bail money for you.
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Grannyg
Member
05-28-2002
| Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 9:10 am
Juju, I'm always well enough for that. lol YAY!!! Bail money!!!! Can I call you after I call Retired for the bail money? Will you come and spring me and my co-hort?
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 9:29 am
Lol!!
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Karuuna
Board Administrator
08-31-2000
| Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 9:56 am
Hey, Granny, I'm sorry I do'nt have any better ear suggestions than all the ones that have been listed. I hope you're feeling better soon! GAL, DS was doing better but he had basketball tryouts yesterday and that coach is hard core - 3 hours of hard labor. You'd think these 13 year olds had committed some kind of serious juvenile crime! He could hardly walk when it was over. But then we went to the Rockies game and they swept the Phillies, and he's miraculously healed again! Seriously, it's re-swollen today, but not quite as bad as yesterday. Go Rockies!
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Friday, November 16, 2007 - 4:18 pm
I recently had a bunch of bloodwork and everything was fine except my WBC was low. I'm going back after Thanksgiving, but was wondering what would cause that. They didn't sound alarmed, but then I also imagine they didn't have a bunch of appts available anyway, considering the holiday.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Friday, November 16, 2007 - 4:26 pm
OK..I know the next question is what was the count.. so I called back.. mine was 3,300, normal being 4,000 - 11,000.
quote: White blood cells (WBC). White blood cells or leukocytes defend the body against infection. The total number of white blood cells ranges from 4,000 to 11,000 per cubic millimeter in the average healthy adult. A high WBC count may mean the body is fighting an infection. A low WBC count may mean there is a bone marrow problem either from chronic disease or from drugs like AZT or ganciclovir. Tuberculosis, histoplasmosis, and other fungal diseases may also cause bone marrow problems such as "cytopenia" or low cell counts.
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Rosie
Member
11-12-2003
| Friday, November 16, 2007 - 8:16 pm
Sea, no idea what it means but hope that it is nothing serious. 
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Babyruth
Member
07-19-2001
| Friday, November 16, 2007 - 8:29 pm
Sea, do you have a low grade infection (bacterial or viral) going on? Has your WBC been low before? Are you on any meds that list low WBC as a potential side effect, like an ACE inhibitor? Sometimes there is lab error, too. Always worth a second draw to recheck. No hurry getting it done it's, not a worrisome low level. Enjoy Thanksgiving Just a few thoughts before I head to sleep. Will check back tomorrow.
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Kitt
Member
09-06-2000
| Friday, November 16, 2007 - 9:03 pm
Sea, my mother has a low white blood count and is one of the healthiest people I know. After testing her and looking for reasons for about 15 years the doctor finally said it's just the way she is and not to worry about it. Do you know if this is new for you or might have been like that for a while? I'd make sure they test for everything they can either now, or in about six months just in case it's an infection, but it might just be the way you are. As I said, my mum really is one of the healthiest people I know, so you can certainly have a low wbc and not be troubled in any way by it. I hope all's well.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Friday, November 16, 2007 - 9:54 pm
Thanks, Rosie.. BR.. no infection that I'm aware of.. ACE inhibitor.. yes, lisinopril, but I've been on it for years and I'm on only 5mg (used to take 10mg) a day. Thanks for the info! I'll have to ask him.. the only things new since my last bloodwork are green tea extract and fish oil. I get tested several times a year because I'm on lipitor. Anyway, won't fret and at least I don't have to fast for the next test.. (not that fasting is a hardship) Thanks, Kitt, I am not aware of it ever being low before.. for awhile I had wonky liver values which he kept testing and I was sent off to a rheumatologist who did more testing.. of course with his tests the wonky values un-wonked and another went a bit odd.. he even tested me for some form of arthritis usually only seen in elderly men.. Anyway he said I was fine other than my bad back and jumpy muscles.. he sent me to a neurologist about the muscles. I'll have to dig out the copies I have of some past tests to see what the WBC was then. Of course he doesn't always do as many tests, just checks involved with lipitor, but I asked for the more complete tests, including thyroid this time.. it had been a year for that.
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Sunday, November 18, 2007 - 9:57 pm
HELP! Uh, cystitis issue RIGHT NOW Haven't gotten it for YEARS. Then, Loupup got me a new shower gel. Felt a little stingy that first bath. Should have stopped then, but no, I can't take a hint. Got bad last night, then went away (or seemed to) for a spell. And now, um--been drinking cranberry juice and water all day. Bought AZO and took a dose. Called the doc on call about an hour ago cuz I am not sure I'm gonna make it thru the night--getting worse, despite all this. Tinge of blood in urine. Anybody with another home remedy til I can go thru the hoops at the lab tomorrow and get REAL medicine????
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Lumbele
Member
07-12-2002
| Monday, November 19, 2007 - 10:26 am
HP, home remedies
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Monday, November 19, 2007 - 10:46 am
Wish I had a good suggestion... and I hope you have improved greatly in the interim and have seen a doctor.
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Mameblanche
Member
08-24-2002
| Monday, November 19, 2007 - 11:33 am
Ditto what Sea said! (((HP))) And I would have suggested cranberry juice, but you're on top of that already, I see.
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Nyheat
Member
08-09-2006
| Monday, November 19, 2007 - 1:08 pm
I'm sorry that sucks Herckle. I am having some pretty unpleasant issues too and will be trying apple cider vinagar. I think there's even a thread about it!
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Monday, November 19, 2007 - 6:06 pm
Well, I stopped drinking and eating ANYTHING, cuz I am okay if I don't put anything down my throat. (I know all the recommendations are to drink lots of water and cranberry juice. But the pressure was unbearable.) Water is actually helping more than the cranberry juice for some reason, but still hasn't help much with mitigating the urgency after drinking anything. The pain is still there, but it has lessened. Caffeine, as I read--and then had to confirm myself--duh, just makes this whole thing worse. So coffee yesterday and a Diet Coke today were not good choices. The doc on call last night was no help. Just told me cranberry juice or go to ER. Not going to ER for that--don't think Blue Cross would approve that as a true emergency. Though I FELT like it was just about to that point last night. (Last night was pretty terrible.) Today, I awoke and had a dull ache in my back but no pain when I 'went'. What's with that? I called my doc at 9 a.m. anyway, cuz I knew this couldn't have disappeared that easily. (I attribute it to stopping all fluids and food.) Got a callback about 11--sent for urinalysis. Got that done, but no callback from doc. So no meds yet! Fortunately, I am keeping the pain at tolerable levels by limiting food and drink. (I don't think I'll waste away.) I will call my doc first thing tomorrow to underscore my need for SOMETHING, even if the results aren't back yet. Lum, I saw that site last night, but didn't think I had anything on the list. Thanks for posting it here, cuz I looked more carefully and will try the lemon tonight. Ny, thanks, and I will look for the thread! (I have heard that recommended for acid reflux. Who knows? May work. I will try it if things get bad again and the lemon doesn't work.) Course this puts a huge crimp in my grocery shopping plans. (Got the turkey and most veggies, but not everything yet! Poor Ed will have to help til I am 100%!)
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Monday, November 19, 2007 - 6:53 pm
Pain in back could be kidney pain..
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