Waiting for a call from the doctor. CT scan.

[PoppaGeek]

I may have mentioned a time a two, old age sucks. Only good thing I have found in old age are grandkids. And THAT is awesome. Everything else sucks.

Doctor did not think many of my symptoms were my sinuses or the upper respiratory infection I am now taking antibiotics for. So after a few hours of tests and a trip to radiology for a CT scan of the Scottish hard head of mine I am exhausted. But I am dealing with it in a truly Irish manner. Stopped on the way home and got a supply of Guinness.

They game me a CD of the scans. Got to see me parts, between the ears anyway. Guess I need to watch more House M.D. to know what I am seeing.

I figured out the large black area was my memory or what was my memory......

Now we wait for the doctor to call.

So if my Scottish blood is my hard hardheadedness and the Irish is my temper, what does the English blood do for me?

[Razmatazz]

Get the tarnish rag out for those "Golden Years"
No, wait…Don’t polish too hard or you’re going to get tennis elbow.
What were you experiencing, headaches?
Hopefully it is just some sinusitis.
Give us an update when you find out more.

[Charles Wirth]

I suffer from sinusitis, on meds again. ent scanned my head too, doctor decided I needed two steroids shot in the back of my skull through my sinuses.
It didn't help, it bled for a day and it cost me money. I find out later that I could have just used a prescription nasal spray, serious wtf.

Enough about you, I am sure you wanna hear more about me.

Hope at least you are feeling better after the doctor.

[PoppaGeek]

Thanks for the chuckles. Best medicine there is. Although I have found beer increases the positive effects.

No doubt there are sinus problems. But he is concerned about the headaches, blurred vision and some lost vision in eye on side of head where headaches were, sick to stomach and weak and shaky. The headaches were unbelievable.

Shot in the back of the head?

[jeanguy2]

But he is concerned about the headaches, blurred vision and some lost vision in eye on side of head where headaches were, sick to stomach and weak and shaky. The headaches were unbelievable.

Could this be caused by the English blood...? You may be needing an Irish blood tranfusion with some intra-venous Irish wisky as aan anti-biotic...

Shot in the back of the head?

In your case PG a mallet with a wooden peg or a silver bullet with a cross carved on its tip maybe much bettter suited... I suggest that you avoid sunlight and lay off the garlic..

Seriously PG, take good care of yourselve, this forum neeeds you...

[D_A]

Good luck.

[Otis11]

Could this be caused by the English blood...? You may be needing an Irish blood tranfusion with some intra-venous Irish wisky as aan anti-biotic...



In your case PG a mallet with a wooden peg or a silver bullet with a cross carved on its tip maybe much bettter suited... I suggest that you avoid sunlight and lay off the garlic..

Seriously PG, take good care of yourselve, this forum neeeds you...

Yeah, that silver bullet might do the trick... but darkness and less garlic should help in the short term.

BTW, some people round here might have enough experience with head CT's to shed some more light on what you're lookin at...

...but might be a little too much to post publicly, especially if you don't know what they say yet...

Best wishes PG - you're in my prayers!

[Mumak]

Visiting a doc is the worst option, they will always find something

But he is concerned about the headaches, blurred vision and some lost vision in eye on side of head where headaches were, sick to stomach and weak and shaky. The headaches were unbelievable.

Sometimes I've got the same symptoms! And I found that when I reduce the beer dose the night before, they go away


OK, seriously... take care (y)

[PoppaGeek]

Thanks guys. It's nice having a bunch of a$$holes for friends.

@Jeanguy2. I thought you Canadians were supposed to be nice?

@Mumak. So the blurred vision after a few and the headaches the next day might be caused by the Irish medicine?

@D_A and just where have you been hiding? Not heard anything from you in a spell. TOO long a spell my friend.

@Otis.


I laughed hard enough to start choking reading the "suggestions". With you guys I'll never make it to surgery.

[Mumak]

With you guys I'll never make it to surgery.

Here we say something like - the body must go to the grave destroyed.
(I cannot find the right words to translate it)

[PoppaGeek]

Since our British members have failed to suggest what trait my English blood provides, I did some research. According to Metro:

My comment follows the double dash --

1. Talking about the weather -- Nope, weather is fine in the pub. Nothing to discuss

2. Great at queueing -- as long as you hurry the "fook" up. Must be the 'Merican in me.

3. Sarcasm -- In bucket loads.

4. Watching soaps -- Does House M.D. count? House is my hero.

5. Getting drunk -- This one a tough call.....

6. A love of bargains -- aye

7. A love of curtain twitching -- I do not know what this is. Do I want to know what it is? Sounds suspicious. Is it outlawed in other countries?

8. Stiff upper lip -- Irish blood cancels this one out.

9. Love of all television -- Uh, no.

10. Moaning -- Only at the appropriate times.

[PoppaGeek]

Evidently "curtain twitching" is peaking out the curtains to see what your neighbors or passerby's are doing. I guess it explains my strong desire to press my bare buttocks against the window when the neighbor is mowing his grass. Not that I have ever given in to such depravity.......

[n00b 0f l337]

Sounds like there was a reason for a sinusitis with abscess or osteomyelitis. How are you feeling?

[PoppaGeek]

Sounds like there was a reason for a sinusitis with abscess or osteomyelitis. How are you feeling?

In general day-to-day for the last year I feel like sh1t. I have had problems with the ear on the same side of my head for over a year. Pain, ringing, draining and some loss of hearing. SO it would seem that there has been something going on that side of my head for some time. I did not really associate the loss of coordination, weakness and shakiness with it and was a bit taken back when doc asked if I had experienced any of it. He wants to rule out neurological causes.

I do not expect to get good news. I am 63 and have been on disability for almost 10 years. Things get worse and doctors have run tests and cannot find anything definitive. I feel the beast is just now raising it's ugly head and revealing itself. Depending on what they find and what way they would want to deal with it I may well just say fook it and let nature take it's course. I do not have the energy to deal with months of tests or weeks of recuperation.

Any idea what a CT scan costs? Medicare only covers so much. Dread to see the bill.


EDIT:
Found that average cost of CT scan of head with contrast and having Medicare is $350. Not bad. x-girl friend had an MRI and is was $6k

[PoppaGeek]

Scan was clean. Need to see eye doc for exam and give antibiotics a chance to work. Then report back.


FYI: My family names are Mcclain, Towles and O'brien. So yes I am Scottish, Irish and English. 2 family members have also done genealogy research and McClain was McLean in Scotland and changed to McClain once here. Due to some mischief or shenanigans I am sure.

[OldChap]

Know what to do when you get a headache? I do what they say on the box - "take 2 tablets" and "keep away from children"!

You say you hear ringing...If you had said music I would suggest taking of your hat and removing the band..... but ringing has less appeel.

A guy is suffering from severe headaches for years with no relief. After trying all the usual cures he's referred to a headache specialist by his family doctor. The doctor asks him what his symptoms are and he replies, "I get these blinding headaches; kind of like a knife across my scalp and..".

He is interrupted by the doctor, "And a heavy throbbing right behind the left ear".

"Yes! Exactly! How did you know?"

"Well I am the world's greatest headache specialist, you know. But I myself suffered from that same type of headache for many years. It is caused by a tension in the scalp muscles. This is how I cured it: Every day I would give my wife oral. When she came she would squeeze her legs together with all her strength and the pressure would relieve the tension in my head. Try that every day for two weeks and come back and let me know how it goes".

Two weeks go by and the man is back, "Well, how do you feel?" the doctor asked.

"Doc, I'm a new man! I feel great! I haven't had a headache since I started this treatment! I can't thank you enough. And, by the way you have a lovely home."

[OldChap]

Joe was moderately successful in his career, but as he got older he was increasingly hampered by incredible headaches. When his personal hygiene and love life started to suffer, he sought medical help.
After being referred from one specialist to another, he finally came across a doctor who solved the problem.
"The good news is I can cure your headaches... The bad news is that it will require castration. You have a very rare condition which causes your testicles to press up against the base of your spine. The pressure creates one hell of a headache. The only way to relieve the pressure is to remove the testicles."
Joe was shocked and depressed. He wondered if he has anything to live for. He couldn't concentrate long enough to answer, but decided he had no choice but to go under the knife.
When he left the hospital, his mind was clear, but he felt like he was missing an important part of himself. As he walked down the street, herealized that he felt like a different person. He could make a new beginning and live a new life.
He walked past a men's clothing store and thought, "That's what I need: a new suit." He entered the shop and told the salesman, "I'd like a new suit."
The salesman eyed him briefly and said, "Let's see... size 44 long."
Joe laughed, "That's right, how did you know?"
"It's my job."
Joe tried on the suit. It fit perfectly. As Joe admired himself in the mirror, the salesman asked, "How about a new shirt?"
Joe thought for a moment and then said, "Sure..."
The salesman eyed Joe and said, "Let's see... 34 sleeve and... 16 and a half neck"
Joe was surprised, "That's right, how did you know?"
"It's my job."
Joe tried on the shirt, and it fit perfectly. As Joe adjusted the collar in the mirror, the salesman asked, "How about new shoes?"
Joe was on a roll and said, "Sure..."
The salesman eyed Joe's feet and said, "Let's see... 9-1/2... E."
Joe was astonished, "That's right, how did you know?"
"It's my job."
Joe tried on the shoes and they fit perfectly. Joe walked comfortably around the shop and the salesman asked, "How about a new hat?"
Without hesitating, Joe said, "Sure..."
The salesman eyed Joe's head and said, "Let's see... 7-5/8."
Joe was incredulous, "That's right, how did you know?"
"It's my job."
The hat fit perfectly. Joe was feeling great, when the salesman asked, "How about some new underwear?" Joe thought for a second and said, "Sure..."
The salesman stepped back, eyed Joe's waist and said, "Let's see... size 36." Joe laughed, "No, I've worn size 34 since I was 18 years old."
The salesman shook his head, "You can't wear a size 34. It would press your testicles up against the base of your spine and give you one hell of a headache."

[Otis11]

Thanks guys. It's nice having a bunch of a$$holes for friends.

@Jeanguy2. I thought you Canadians were supposed to be nice?

@Mumak. So the blurred vision after a few and the headaches the next day might be caused by the Irish medicine?

@D_A and just where have you been hiding? Not heard anything from you in a spell. TOO long a spell my friend.

@Otis.


I laughed hard enough to start choking reading the "suggestions". With you guys I'll never make it to surgery.

Canadian! That explains why he's so nice!

And I think Mumak might be onto something - blurred vision is definitely a side effect many people have, but I've only known the headaches to come when I stopped taking the medication. I've found it works best to set one dose by the bed to take at dawn right before you roll back over. That way it's starting to take effect when you wake up for your morning bloody-mary or mojito. A few hours later make sure to take your lunch with a dose or two - preferably in bottles... then your afternoon whiskey and coke, a nice glass of Makers to sip on after dinner and something good and strong right before bed to help with the sleep.

That's what I've found works best when I have a headache... Never comes back until I stop!

Just make sure to alternate types between doses (like when you give kids motrin or tylenol)...

[PoppaGeek]

Canadian! That explains why he's so nice!

And I think Mumak might be onto something - blurred vision is definitely a side effect many people have, but I've only known the headaches to come when I stopped taking the medication. I've found it works best to set one dose by the bed to take at dawn right before you roll back over. That way it's starting to take effect when you wake up for your morning bloody-mary or mojito. A few hours later make sure to take your lunch with a dose or two - preferably in bottles... then your afternoon whiskey and coke, a nice glass of Makers to sip on after dinner and something good and strong right before bed to help with the sleep.

That's what I've found works best when I have a headache... Never comes back until I stop!

Just make sure to alternate types between doses (like when you give kids motrin or tylenol)...

WHAT??? What are you going on about laddie? If a few pints of stout or ale, maybe a good lager now and then, don't fix it then it's your time to go. That's the law of nature. The will of God, the church and all things good and decent. Not that I know a whole lot about being decent but.....

[Otis11]

WHAT??? What are you going on about laddie? If a few pints of stout or ale, maybe a good lager now and then, don't fix it then it's your time to go. That's the law of nature. The will of God, the church and all things good and decent. Not that I know a whole lot about being decent but.....

Hey, if it's your time, it's your time... no medicine's gonna stop that - I'm just talkin bout the a way to deal with things while we're still here!

[PoppaGeek]

Saw eye doc. Something in eye detached. Do not remember what it is called bit it was NOT the retina. Nothing to do about it and not related to headaches and other problems. Blurring and floater should get better but may return. So nothing bad. Still no real answers.

Guess from now on you can just call Squinty. Squinty McGee. And no sudden movements on my right side. Else we may send Knuckles over to visit ya...

[Otis11]

Oh man PG! Well best of luck! Hope y'all figure it out soon and it's easily fixable! (And that the floater doesn't bother you too much!)

[PoppaGeek]

Well I have figured out that things are not going to get better, not to an appreciative degree anyway.

So I revisit some advise I have always given my daughters. Enjoy the little things that give you pleasure as much as you can. Your favorite cup of coffee or tea. A cold beer or your favorite wine. It is still amazing to me how a cup of Bigelow Green Tea can relieve some of the misery and bring a bit of calm and a smile. I am also revisiting a old friend. I had a love affair with Killians years ago.



My daughter got me some this weekend. And all this talk of my Irish genealogy has brought about the discovery of a local Irish pub and restaurant. We are planning on a family trip next month. It has a good local reputation and family friendly. Hopefully they will still let me in.

I would also like to thank everyone here who has tolerated my silliness and even gave me some of it back. It has helped a lot to get through the last few weeks. I love a good laugh and appreciate those who can dish it out and take it as it as meant. Just for laughs.

Cheers!

[stoneageman]

[PoppaGeek]

lol I had a doctor ask me once if I had a drinking problem. I relplied "No, everything is fine. The fridge is well stocked and the mug is frosted." I think that I wasn't smiling was what gave him the most concern.

Seriously I am not a drunk. A drunk cannot appreciate the taste and texture of a good brew. I am a consumer not an abuser.