attn:Penguin

[dawn2]

Penguin:
I don't get the colored discharge like you. I get the white sticky and my ent thinks it might be the septum trying to heal. I get the swelling nasally = the turbinates. It switches from side to side - whichever the gravity is on. It gets really blocked when I lay on one side or the other. I had turbinate reduction 2 years ago and it only helped a little. I have the fibro/myofacial, tmj (that's where the disc(s) in your jaw are messed up - mine is flattened. A lot of people with fibro eventually get tmj. My tmj doc feels that it can affect you nasally (congestion). The cfids - is chronic fatigue immune deficiency - a lot of people with cfids have many allergies - along with fibro. I see the allergist next month and will probably have another skin test to compare to the blood test done recently. The allergist I had said I had no food allergies. But the bloodwork shows an allergy to 30 different foods! I am also being treated for hypothyroid and adrenal dysfunction so it's really hard to tell what is truly causing the nasal congestion. Did your doc give you anything for the nasal fungus? If he only gave you an antibiotic, that won't kill the fungus from what I've read. You have to be treated with an antifungal medicine, nasally or oral. I have just started doing a sinus cleanse and it is coming out clear. It helps sooth the membranes, but doesn't help it from still getting very dry. Have you tried that? I also have read that if you see black in the mucous that that is a sign of fungus too. Hope you can get rid of these nasal problems. Dawn2

[Penguin]

Hi Dawn
You have certainly got your share of underlying problems. It is a process of elimination that is for sure. Usually the mold I get and infection goes hand in hand. It is very difficult to treat and I have been on 2 lots of very stong antibiotics at once for weeks along with saline washes and one squirt of beconase pd to quieten down the inflammation. My ENT has also syringed out the goop twice, it is amazing how much stuff accumulates in those cavities. I have in the past had thrush in my nose and throat from oral sterioids and puffers. The thrush is white and can cause hoarsness but I can't remember if I had a discharge at the time. I am trying not to be gross! It sounds like you have a good team of Drs treating you and waiting on test results is frustrating, especially if they come back negative. My daughter had a series of skin tests for allergies, she had not one reaction but she is more allergic to things than I am and this was proven when she was admitted to hospital for 5 days for food chemical challenge tests. I am glad that you have looked at the info on molds.
I will check back on the board regularly to see if you have made any progress. The only other thing I have learnt in my journey is that if your immune system carries a heavy burden all systems become compromised and this leaves us vulnerable to other problems, this is the case with us I think.

[dawn2]

Penguin:
Wow - sounds like you've been there and back. It also sounds like you have an ENT that is on top of things. By the sounds of it, your daughter has a difficult road ahead of her too. I was unaware of chemical testing. I went for a consult at a local university and had a consult with the doctor there about chemical sensitivities. She spent about 2 hours just asking me questions. I go again Monday for her recommendations. She felt I was being exposed to some type of mold making everything worse. I know we have a cellar and once in a while, I do smell musty, but we have no leaks and run the heat down there. The doctor said, if you smell it, it's there. Also, on foods, I notice anything fermented like oil and vinegar dressings stuff me up and blue cheese dressing. (Aren't those all mold related?) I try and eat all fresh vegetables and fruit - no processed food cause I do believe I'm reacting to the chemicals. I haven't had any signs of thrush. I did get some results in the mail today that I do NOT have Sjogren's - thank God for that. I totally agree with you on that the more our system is strained that it becomes compromised. I know that when I'm in my husbands truck that there is mold in the carpeting. I smell it like it's really potent. I can smell it on my husbands clothes after he comes home from work. He can't even smell it! I can't understand why he can't because to me it's overpowering. Go figure! Well, thanks for your help and advice. Sure sounds like the sinuses can be a real pain to deal with. Take care. Dawn2

[jjaksic]

Dawn it sounds like your are hypersensitive to mold.
I am too. Esp. asperigillus which is potent.
And I think you're right in that if our immune system becomes compromised we can develop many permanent side effects & reactions to many things.
I can believe you'd smell in on your husband's clothes. Once you have an allergic reaction to it, just the smell of it, can give you a slight reaction.
I also have reactions to strong odors like: roasted peanuts; a frozen pizza I ate & got sick from; catalina dressing and vinegar. Not to mention environmental odors.
I have to turn the a/c on when he's making his frozen pizza.
Can your husband change his clothes quickly once he gets into the house? I know it's a pain. But there's no way you should just keep suffering from the odor/alleergen. I assume he brings it home from his job then? Yuk!