I haven't had actual swelling, but I do know the feeling that you are trying to go "up" for air and your collarbone sort of expands to be bigger to account for trying to breath "higher up". Is this the feeling? This is what I remember from my horrendous asthma attacks in the past. I am so sorry you have this!!!

It feels like that but below my collarbone at the very top of my chest. I used to only get it with colds but since I had that month long sinus infection it happens more often.

UGH, I'm sorry. Has anything helped?

No nothing really helps. I can't use nasal rinse because of the fluid in my ears. It doesn't really help much anyway. I think I might be getting another sinus infection. I'm coughing up yellow mucus and there's yellow mucus when I blow my nose. Hope that's not too much information. I'm on the cancellation list for the ENT but if there aren't any cancellations then it's a 6 to 10 month wait!

Not TMI, the way it goes in our family if anyone coughs anything up we all immediately ask "What color is it?" That way we know if we need to prepare for illness (I have asthma and my dad has COPD) because if one of us lung people gets sick, it's for awhile and if my dad gets sick its time for the doctor for preventative meds!!

Oh my gosh, that is a horrible wait time. Why is it like that?? I'm sorry!! Fingers crossed for a cancellation!!!

The wait time was so long because the ENT triaged me as elective meaning not as important as urgent or semi urgent. Thankfully I was on the cancellation list and had an appointment with my ENT today. He did the endoscope up my nose on both sides without the freezing spray which burns like crazy. Not very pleasant and my eyes watered so much it was hard to see. He said there was a lot of mucus in there. He ordered a sinus ct which is what the nurse practitioner should have ordered instead of a sinus x-ray. He said there's no more fluid in my ears and used an instrument that showed it. He said my right eardrum is thicker than the left but that's normal. He said that my asthma/allergy medications could be causing my sinus issues but he knows I need those medications. Also that it could be inflammation from a chronic sinus infection. The sinus ct will show if anything else is going on. He said to use my steroid nasal spray twice a day instead of once a day. Also to use my netirinse before using my nasal spray. He said that lymph nodes swell during and after colds. Also that my submandibular salivary glands under my chin can swell because saliva becomes too thick and plugs them. He said to drink lots and lots of water. He said it would take 6 to 8 weeks for the ct scan. I think he meant that's how long it would take to get back the written report. That he will see me again once the report is on his desk. If I do need parathyroid surgery again(having a parathyroid scan, also a thyroid/neck ultrasound) then he and the other ENT can do that surgery. It could take over a month or more to get the results back from the parathyroid scan since the one person who reads them broke his leg so he's weeks behind schedule. That the ultrasound can take up to 4 months! I won't see the endocrinologist until the ultrasound results are back. :( How are you doing?

Oh geez!! I'm glad you got in though instead of waiting for months!!! I don't understand how you could be labeled as elective!!!

I also don't understand how a broken leg prevents him from reading scans??? Maybe he/she is in a lot of pain and I'm just a horrible person. LOL

I'm doing good, I stop the prednisone Monday so we'll see if I can still breathe right after that. I'm kind of nervous about that but I'll just have to wait and see. Happy Holidays!!! HUGS.

The ENT put me as elective because the referral just said recurring stuffy nose! Apparently, it's because the person who reads the parathyroid scans has been off of work for 3 or 4 weeks due to his broken leg. Wish he could have read them from home! I know that sounds horrible! So far extra avamys nasal spray and more netirinse hasn't helped my sinuses. I feel a little better for an hour or two then it comes right back. I think my allergies have a lot to do it with it.


I hope that you will still be able to breathe after stopping the prednisone on Monday!*hugs* I was nervous too and had a really hard time tapering down. I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you!*hugs* Happy holidays!*HUGS*

I agree can't he read them from home!! :)

Yes I'm nervous but I have a few extra so I can go a couple extra days if I have problems and can cut them in half to taper slower if the doc thinks I can ride it out. Which I likely can't..it took me a year to even get the prescription for them! I have been telling him forever that I can't stop coughing...it's actually a good thing it got worse!!! LOL

I hope your sinuses heal!! I like using Ocean spray for my nose it sort of helps sometimes!!

Happy Holidays!!

I had to slow down my prednisone taper during the summer because tapering too fast was too hard on me. I had the 5mg pills though. Sorry your cough had to get so bad before you were prescribed prednisone. Hope you're down to a dose where you don't have horrible symptoms such as profuse sweating, foot and hand swelling and anger. Netirinse helps some but not for too long unfortunately. Happy Holidays! :)

I am on 10mg now and so now I'm not as irritable but still always hungry!!! LOL. Luckily I didn't gain any of the weight I lost back! That was a lot of work!! :)

I'm glad you didn't gain any weight back!*hugs* Prednisone is like running a marathon! My asthma has been acting up today. I was wheezing earlier. Still have chest congestion. If I use netirinse more than 3 days in a row it makes my sinuses worse. So from now on I will try 3 days then a 2 day break.

I feel good now but my heart is pounding and I'm exhausted. My co-worker came oven sick today and came by my desk so I might need to start all over again if I get her cold. Why oh why don't people have more consideration?! Ughhh. I need to start my own business and work by myself!

I hope your heart pounding goes away and that you can get some rest!*hugs* That was inconsiderate of your co-worker! I hope you don't get a cold!*hugs* My sinuses are bothering me and I'm sore from walking home carrying six bags of groceries.

I hope so too! People just don't get it! A couple days of illness for then is months of coughing for me.

Ugh I'm sorry about your sinuses! But it's good you were able to carry the groceries home! That means you're strong. :-)