Sinusitis - prednisone or a third anitbiotic?, What would you do? Options

[Arlene S.]

Well there's good news and there's bad news

The good news is after tapering down the prednisone, my insulin requirements have decreased significantly. I am running at 120% basal and increasing my boluses by about 50% and have been running a little low. The huge insulin requirements lasted only a few days when I was taking the larger doses.

The bad news, my ears feel like there is fluid in them again. I wish I would have just taken the prednisone as the doctor prescribed (40 mg for 5 days) instead of second guessing him and making up my own regimen. I am very bummed out. I can't believe I went through that for nothing.

I have to decide whether to go to the ENT now or try the Flonase by itself for another week or so.

Linda B.

Linda,

I don't believe you did this to yourself. The amount of cortisone you were taking would have worked if you had an infection that responds to steroids. Flonase is a steroid spray. Based on my own experience I suggest that you see an ENT. I Flonased my poor nose for a long time but it wasn't until I went to an ENT who scoped my nose and throat that I found out what my condition responds to. When we switched from BC/BS to Oxford I panicked when I found out my ENT wasn't on the plan. I paid him out of pocket until March when he started accepting the plan.

Good luck whatever you do.

[Linda B]

Linda,

I don't believe you did this to yourself. The amount of cortisone you were taking would have worked if you had an infection that responds to steroids. Flonase is a steroid spray. Based on my own experience I suggest that you see an ENT. I Flonased my poor nose for a long time but it wasn't until I went to an ENT who scoped my nose and throat that I found out what my condition responds to.

Thanks, Arlene. I guess I better call the ENT tomorrow. Right now I have an awful sinus headache.

Linda B.

[Arlene S.]

Thanks, Arlene. I guess I better call the ENT tomorrow. Right now I have an awful sinus headache.

Linda B.

Hi Linda,

I hope you can get an appt. before the long weekend. Does anything help the headache? Good luck.

[Linda B]

I hope you can get an appt. before the long weekend. Does anything help the headache? Good luck.

I just called, and got an appt. with a physician's assistant at the ENT for 10 AM tomorrow morning.

I woke this morning very aware of the fluid in my ears. My headache is better, though. I took aspirin yesterday. Wish I could take excedrin, but I'm afraid the tylenol in it will interfere with the sensor readings.

Linda B.

[Arlene S.]

I just called, and got an appt. with a physician's assistant at the ENT for 10 AM tomorrow morning.

I woke this morning very aware of the fluid in my ears. My headache is better, though. I took aspirin yesterday. Wish I could take excedrin, but I'm afraid the tylenol in it will interfere with the sensor readings.

Linda B.

Glad you get an appointment. I thought Tylenol only interfered with the Dexcom. I've taken it without any problems. It's just that it didn't help my back. The only thing that helps is Advil. Feel better.

[gigem99]

.... I thought Tylenol only interfered with the Dexcom. I've taken it without any problems. ...

I am very curious about this whole subject. Since all 3 CGM's use the same enzyme (glucose oxidase), it would seem if it would affect one, it would affect the others. I recognize that all 3 CGMs have very different ways of calculating SG's based on the enzyme reading, but it still seems like it would affect them all.

I have read reports going both ways - some say that Tylenol dramatically affects SG's and others say there is never a problem. I took Tylenol before I heard about the controversy with it affecting sensor readings, and I don't think I ever saw that big of a discrepancy.

This will give me food for research during the break we have coming up.

Tom

[Linda B]

I went to the ENT today. The dx. is Allergic Rhinitis.

They did a test with a probe in my ear to determine if there was any fluid; there was not.
She used a special mirror to look further down my throat.

She prescribed the Flonase, to be used before bed for a month. She said it takes awhile for it to work. She said that it is likely that I never had an infection.

Allergies actually make sense - since my symptoms have been varying day to day.

I wish I would have listened to my husband and to Arlene and made an ENT appointment instead of deciding to take the prednisone. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smack.gif) Oh well. No way to go back.

If I ever need prednisone again, I know to triple my basal and double my bolus

BTW, I am back to my normal insulin dose, just 3 days since I took the last prednisone. My BG does not seem to be elevated.

Linda B.

[choochoo]

It is good to hear your BG are coming down. The reason my experience was longer was due to getting steroid depot shot in each hip on the same day. With depot injections, the effect last longer than an oral course with tablets. I do not think I want two depot injections on the same day again.... .... ..

[Arlene S.]

I am very curious about this whole subject. Since all 3 CGM's use the same enzyme (glucose oxidase), it would seem if it would affect one, it would affect the others. I recognize that all 3 CGMs have very different ways of calculating SG's based on the enzyme reading, but it still seems like it would affect them all.

I have read reports going both ways - some say that Tylenol dramatically affects SG's and others say there is never a problem. I took Tylenol before I heard about the controversy with it affecting sensor readings, and I don't think I ever saw that big of a discrepancy.

This will give me food for research during the break we have coming up.

Tom

I recently took Tylenol for a couple of weeks and it didn't affect my sensor readings at at all. According to everything I've read it's strictly a Dexcom issue.

[Arlene S.]

I went to the ENT today. The dx. is Allergic Rhinitis.

They did a test with a probe in my ear to determine if there was any fluid; there was not.
She used a special mirror to look further down my throat.

She prescribed the Flonase, to be used before bed for a month. She said it takes awhile for it to work. She said that it is likely that I never had an infection.

Allergies actually make sense - since my symptoms have been varying day to day.

I wish I would have listened to my husband and to Arlene and made an ENT appointment instead of deciding to take the prednisone. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smack.gif) Oh well. No way to go back.

If I ever need prednisone again, I know to triple my basal and double my bolus

BTW, I am back to my normal insulin dose, just 3 days since I took the last prednisone. My BG does not seem to be elevated.

Linda B.

Don't feel bad. I don't listen to my own advice. I should have gone to a neurologist instead of my PCP last summer. But there was a method to my madness. I was afraid of being told I shouldn't go to Italy. I did see my neurologist two weeks ago and he didn't even suggest cortisone shots for my back. I'm going for more acupuncture to avoid NSAIDs.

Anyhow, I'm glad you got the ENT appointment and that you are back to your normal insulin dose. The good thing is that, unlike cortisone injections, the oral cortisone doesn't have lingering effects. I hope the Flonase works quickly and that you feel better very soon.