Saturday, September 3, 2022
Keith went to a new ENT yesterday. He went to her because he could get an appointment in less than 6 weeks. He has seen many, many ENTs and always hopes that the next one will have some ideas about how to fix his head. He’s had a few with some ideas – he had a surgery that helped some things for a while – he went to a special ENT physical therapist that helped a little. Most of the doctors have told him, “that’s not a thing,” when he explains the clicking and popping his eustachian tubes do ALL OF THE TIME.
The new lady yesterday had read his entire file (it has to be looooong). She knew all about all the weird things. SHE HAD DONE RESEARCH looking for examples and answers and helping things! Way to go, New Doctor! She found one case study that recommended using a neti pot kind of thing to rinse out his nasal passages. I don’t remember why or what it is supposed to do. He is telling me it is to fix palatal myoclonus, or contractions in the soft palate. Now we all understand. He went to Walgreens last night to get the thingy (while I bought stuff at Kohl’s).
He decided to try it in the morning, because we stayed up really late watching the end of Only Murders in the Building (better than season 1). I dreamt all night about it. Somehow I was the one who had to squirt water up one nostril and let it drain out of the other other nostril (OH MY GOD). The Queen Mother (who passed about 20 years ago, but dreams are dreams) was in charge of squirting the water, and there was a special chair at Buckingham Palace, and we kept waiting for her, but she was busy, and it was very stressful. I might have been accused of witchcraft and this was the test…or the punishment…it’s hard to know. I was NOT a fan and it as not a restful night of sleep.
Keith, on the other hand, was all excited to give it a try. He mixed up the potion and squirted it right into his nose. And then did it more, because you have to use up half of the potion and it was hard to know. Nothing happened yet. Just a wet inside of nose. He is supposed to do it twice or more/day. He just walked by and saw this and said, “I have to do it again.”
He is now singing “do the rinse doo doo do do da do” to baby shark and has gone upstairs to do it again. We’ll keep you posted if it has any effect. Good ENT doctor lady said she has other ideas to try after this, if it doesn’t work. It is soooo encouraging that she is trying!!
Let’s hear for doctors who 1) really listen and 2) have a list of things to TRY. The same things just don’t work for everybody. Even somebody who taught tuba players for 45 years knows that! Here’s to success….
We were so amazed that she had researched before he even got there – which seems the very right thing to do, but just hasn’t happened.
I use a neti pot every day for the past maybe 7 years – did wonders for my sinus issues.
Hope it helps Keith.
Our fingers are crossed! I have heard from several people that neti pots are a thing. It seems like a torture thing to me! I’m glad you don’t think that 😃
Wow! I had no idea there could be contractions in the soft palate, but they certainly sound uncomfortable. It would be ironic, but also kind of fun, if something that has been around as long and is as low-tech as a neti-pot turned out to be the answer to something that has stumped so many doctors.
Now what will Keith do to get rid of the baby shark ear worm?
I hope the royal neti pot stays out of your dreams from now on!
Maybe the neti pot thing will wash the sharks away!