Ok, I think I finally found what may be causing some of the problem of what is making me sick

[Wish]

So it is now 4:57 am where I am at in the world as I sit here and begin to write this.

About 4:30 am, only a half hour ago, as I am wiping down the kitchen counters (cleaning), I look next to my counter where all my arts and craft sets are, that are sitting on a table and on that table there is........

This big vase of stagant water that has been there for months. Big vase.

Oh !

Went to work right away.

Grabed a scarf, wrapped it around my nose and mouth. Poured the moldy (the mold was pink or copper in color) down the drain. There were hundreds of marbles (for decoration) in the vase. Dumped them out. Put the vase, marbles and the colander that I used to catch the marbles from going down the drain, all into a trash bag and put in the trash outside. The kitchen sinks are now sitting full with bleach to disinfect any mold or bacteria that might have gotten on it while I was pouring the moldy water out.

I am dumbfounded that I had not caught this sooner and very disappointed in myself for allowing it to sit there that long. I just never thought of it. I don't know what made me finally think of it today, but I do believe a guardian angel pointed it out to me. I really, really do.

I know I had strep but I know something else was going along with it too. When I went back to the doctors, she said my strep was gone but my throat was still bright red which is why she put me on steroids. I kept saying over and over and over again to my friends and family that my throat is so very dry. My mouth is so very dry. Over and over again. Could this possibly be the reason??

Here I go with the swirling thoughts and questions in my head. How much damage did I do to myself with this vase of moldy water? How come it didn't affect my daughter or my roommate? Maybe I am wrong and this moldy (no black mold. It was pinkish mold) vase water really didn't cause any of my issues because it's not that big a deal. I am very confused. Ugh. I have no idea about any of this type of stuff.


Anyway, if it was dangerous and causing some of my symptoms, I hope I got it in time and my issues will start clearing up soon. Oh mamamia

 

[Wish]

Here it is a couple of hours later and I feel no difference

Sigh I dunno, I know it will take some time if that vase of moldy and bacteria filled water was the issue.

Regardless, the medications anti-biotic and steroids I am taking don't seem to be helping much. They are helping but only 50% it seems. I'm starting to get concerned because if this is still strep, it can lead into serious and life threatening situations and I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried about that. The top of the roof of my mouth hurts down to the tip of my throat. I never this particular symptom before so it can be concerning when you are not familiar with it. I am going on a few weeks now with this issue and when I tell people how long it's been, they get alarmed saying I shouldn't have strept for that long. And my major symptom is severely dry mouth and nose no matter how much I drink water and try to soothe it with different medication and humidifers. It's so dry, sometimes it feels like I am not going to be able to breathe. What is going on with me?

 

[BusynMember]

Time to see an ear, nose and throat doctor?? I would. That is their specialty.

 

[Wish]

Time to see an ear, nose and throat doctor?? I would. That is their specialty.

You know what Swot, thank you. That did not even occur to me and it should have. You would think my urgent care doctor would have referred me by now and to be honest with you, I really can't stand her. I wonder if I need a referral because it will be hard to get one from her. I am going to make some calls today to see if I need a referral. My insurance changes every year, sometimes I need them and sometimes I don't. I am going to demand to go either way if this isn't better by Monday. Thanks Swot!

 

[Lil]

You know, my husband has basically been sick since October! Stuffy head, loses his voice all the time, just generally icky a lot of the time. He finally got allergy tested and he's now taking allergy shots, two times per week. It seems to have gotten better, though mowing the yard takes a toll, even wearing a mask. He's had bronchitis two or three times, been on many antibiotics and steroids at least twice.

Might be worth having an allergy test if you haven't before.

 

[Wish]

You know, my husband has basically been sick since October! Stuffy head, loses his voice all the time, just generally icky a lot of the time. He finally got allergy tested and he's now taking allergy shots, two times per week. It seems to have gotten better, though mowing the yard takes a toll, even wearing a mask. He's had bronchitis two or three times, been on many antibiotics and steroids at least twice.

Might be worth having an allergy test if you haven't before.

Since October?? Yikes. Has he had the bronchitis two or three times since October too?

Same here. I keep losing my voice. What did he wind up being allergic to?

Even though I don't want anyone else to be sick , that does make me feel better to know that I am not alone.

 

[Lil]

Same here. I keep losing my voice. What did he wind up being allergic to?

Lots of stuff. Pollen and leaf mold especially. Dog dander. I don't remember what else. I know he had bronchitis two times at least. His last antibiotics he was on for a MONTH. Before starting shots he literally would have to call in sick every time he mowed the yard. Maybe he will respond if I tag him. @Jabberwockey

 

[Wish]

Lots of stuff. Pollen and leaf mold especially. Dog dander. I don't remember what else. I know he had bronchitis two times at least. His last antibiotics he was on for a MONTH. Before starting shots he literally would have to call in sick every time he mowed the yard. Maybe he will respond if I tag him. @Jabberwockey

So it's true then that you can develop allergies to things that you never had allergies to your entire life, right? Oh boy. Leaf mold eh? Never heard of that one but they say the mold allergen is up in my area.

 

[Wish]

They are also building homes right next door to me. Wonder if that has anything to do with it.

 

[Lil]

So it's true then that you can develop allergies to things that you never had allergies to your entire life, right? Oh boy. Leaf mold eh? Never heard of that one but they say the mold allergen is up in my area.

I think all leaf mold really means is there's a mold specific to leaves and duff in the woods. Leaf mold is actually a really good thing for gardening. You'll find a lot in compost. In fact, if you just pile up fallen leaves and leave them to rot, your final result is a compost-like material generically called leaf mold.

I'm sure you can develop allergies to all kinds of things over time. I was never allergic to antibiotics, until I wound up in the ER from taking some. I also have some type of environmental or food allergy that I just ITCH constantly if I don't take a antihistamine every single day. Literally, I miss one dose and I'm itching like crazy. I would love to get allergy tested and find out what causes that, but you have to go without antihistamines for 5 days or so and I'd peel my skin clean off before I could manage that!

They are also building homes right next door to me. Wonder if that has anything to do with it.

Quite possible. They're stirring up all kinds of dust and pollen and such when they do that.

 

[Wish]

Yep. I just read all about leaf mold when you posted it so I am officially learned lol. And that's crazy that you can develop an allergy at any point in your life that you never had beforehand. Seriously crazy. I hope I find out soon what it is. Did they give your husband an inhaler?

 

[Wish]

also have some type of environmental or food allergy that I just ITCH constantly if I don't take a antihistamine every single day. Literally, I miss one dose and I'm itching like crazy. I would love to get allergy tested and find out what causes that, but you have to go without antihistamines for 5 days or so and I'd peel my skin clean off before I could manage that!

Ughhhhhhhhhhh that must be so miserable. That must drive you nuts at time wondering what it is. I know it would me.

 

[Jabberwockey]

Did they give your husband an inhaler?

Yes, Albuterol every four hours. I've had sinus issues all my life but they've gotten bad in the last 15 or so years. I don't think we really "develop" allergies later in life so much as our body loses the ability to deal with them like they did when we were younger. Either way, the effect is the same.

 

[Wish]

I don't think we really "develop" allergies later in life so much as our body loses the ability to deal with them like they did when we were younger.

Ah. Good point.

Yes, Albuterol every four hours

When I went to see my urgent care doctor, or nurse practioner rather, she looked at my throat and said "yeah, you're still red" and prescribe me steroids. Which is fine. But I was trying to talk to her and she was rushing me. I asked her if I still have strep and she said no because she didn't see white bumps. I asked her then why is my throat still red? She said I don't know but I am going to prescribe you steroids and claritin. I said so you think it's allergies? No real answer. I told her the night before I thought I may have some trouble breathing and would like an inhaler just in case. She said no, your lungs sound fine. I thought that was strange. If you are prescribing me allergy medications, then why won't you give me an inhaler? What if I do have difficulty breathing. I don't know. I never had this problem before so I am lost. But thanks Jabberwockey. Tell Lil I said thank you for asking you to help me. Much appreciate it!

 

[Lil]

When I went to see my urgent care doctor, or nurse practioner rather, she looked at my throat and said "yeah, you're still red" and prescribe me steroids.

Obviously, I don't know your situation, but the FIRST thing I'd do is stop going to urgent care. Urgent care is fine if you have a one-time thing - an illness or injury not life-threatening but still serious, but (in my opinion) you need a primary care physician who will do a full physical and run some tests. Urgent care just treats your immediate symptoms. It's not really their job to get to the bottom of things and find out WHY you're sick. So they are just treating what they can see and that's that. When something starts becoming chronic, they are just not the place to go.

Tell Lil I said thank you

You are welcome...

 

[Jabberwockey]

No problem Wish. The red throat, loss of voice, etc... is caused by sinus drainage. My throat is almost always sore from the top of my mouth at the back down to my Adam's apple. And the Albuterol isn't for your lungs being clogged or rattling with something like bronchitis, but because the allergies make it difficult to actually inhale. In spite of all of the antibiotics and steroids I've taken since November, the worst as been feeling short of breath all the time and feeling like someone is sitting on my chest.

 

[Jabberwockey]

When I went to see my urgent care doctor, or nurse practioner rather, she looked at my throat and said "yeah, you're still red" and prescribe me steroids.

Didn't read this correctly the first time. Steroids shouldn't be take on their own. The purpose of the steroids is to make the antibiotics more effective.

 

[BusynMember]

I was thinking like Lil. You need a primary doctor who k ows you well. That doctor will sendyou to a specialist if he doesnt know the answer.

 

[Wish]

No problem Wish. The red throat, loss of voice, etc... is caused by sinus drainage. My throat is almost always sore from the top of my mouth at the back down to my Adam's apple. And the Albuterol isn't for your lungs being clogged or rattling with something like bronchitis, but because the allergies make it difficult to actually inhale. In spite of all of the antibiotics and steroids I've taken since November, the worst as been feeling short of breath all the time and feeling like someone is sitting on my chest.

I am going to repeat this verbatim to my urgent care nurse practioner. You explained this so well. Something I could not put into words. Thank you so much.

 

[Wish]

Obviously, I don't know your situation, but the FIRST thing I'd do is stop going to urgent care. Urgent care is fine if you have a one-time thing - an illness or injury not life-threatening but still serious, but (in my opinion) you need a primary care physician who will do a full physical and run some tests. Urgent care just treats your immediate symptoms. It's not really their job to get to the bottom of things and find out WHY you're sick. So they are just treating what they can see and that's that. When something starts becoming chronic, they are just not the place to go.

I agree but I asked them if they do primary care and they said yes. I guess I should find a real primary care doctor because they are not living up to primary care doctor standards. I really don't know of any in my area. I haven't had one in years and years. But you're right. Time to find a family doctor.