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#11100 - 10/20/05 07:30 AM More tests no diagnosis
Bookie Offline
Member

Registered: 09/18/05
Posts: 99
Loc: Arizona
Three months ago my husband (age 67) started having dizziness, fuzzy eyesight, blackouts, difficulty breathing after exerting himself doing simple chores around the house, walking short distances and he has been overly exhausted.

All of his life he has had allergy's and the last couple of years he has had a lot of problems until.....HMMM

About three months ago the VA prescribed a nasal allergy spray – Beclomethasone, a corticosteroid. I did a little research and found this information:
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
· increased difficulty breathing
· swollen face, lower legs, or ankles
· vision problems
· cold or infection that lasts a long time
· muscle weakness
Except for the swollen face and cold or infection, he has experienced all of these symtoms and more.

When all of these problems started I asked him if it could be the nasal spray and had he checked with the doctors? He pooh-poohed me and told me I didn’t know what I was talking about.

Also during this time, he had a very painful bone spur which the podiatrist treated over a months time with cortizone injections (every week for 4 weeks)

This concerned me a lot because I’ve heard so much about steroids and how harmful they can be. I realize that short-term use is not usually a problem but sometimes there are exceptions. So, between the nasal spray and the injections, he was getting a lot of steroids in a short period of time.

I am still wondering if there isn’t some correlation especially since he has been seeing the doctors at the VA and they have run every blood test imaginable, EKG's, Xrays, TB tests, pulmonary tests and today a heart stress test. And still, no idea what is wrong with him.

They have ruled out heart problems, and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder) which were their first guesses.

He had cateract surgery last December and went to the eye doctor last week for checkup. No problems there.

I still think he is experiencing adverse effects from the Beclomethasone but he will not even get a second opinion. He got so angry at me tonight when I asked him to talk to another doctor or at least bring it up again with the VA doctors.

I know he doesn’t want to stop using it because it is the only thing that he has found in years that relieves his major allergy symptoms but if he can’t breathe…..?????

I don’t know what to do? I have little faith in the VA doctors.

Any suggestions?

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#11101 - 10/20/05 08:28 PM Re: More tests no diagnosis
Dotsie Offline
Founder

Registered: 07/09/08
Posts: 23647
Loc: Maryland
As far as VA doctors, I think it depends on the hospital. I've heard great things about the doctors in the VA hospital at our town.

I am clueless, but I hope someone in here might have some insight.

I'm in favor of a second opinion. The first one got him nowhere.

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#11102 - 10/20/05 11:53 PM Re: More tests no diagnosis
Bookie Offline
Member

Registered: 09/18/05
Posts: 99
Loc: Arizona
Dotsie I know that I should not be down on VA doctors and if I offended anyone by this comment I apologize. But I guess that comes from various bad experiences we went through with my brother,(Indiana) brother-in-law (California) and a friend (Utah)

Also, my own experiences in the last 5 years with the skin cancer hasn't left me with a lot of faith in doctors period. Two of them said my tumors were pimples. Hah! If they had diagnosed me correctly in the first place maybe I'd still have my nose, insurance and money in the bank.

Sorry, having one of my bitter days.

But I would like to know if anyone else has had any health problems after using nasal sprays.

Thanks

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#11103 - 10/21/05 01:42 AM Re: More tests no diagnosis
Dianne Offline
Queen of Shoes

Registered: 05/24/04
Posts: 6123
Loc: Arizona
I've used Flonase (sp) and didn't have any reactions but then, it didn't help me either!

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#11104 - 10/21/05 02:33 AM Re: More tests no diagnosis
chatty lady Offline
Writer

Registered: 02/24/04
Posts: 20267
Loc: Nevada
Your husband is being foolish and if this nasal spray helpe him but has bad side effects then maybe a new one would help as well without the side effects. Sorry but I have heard and been witness to some real horror stories about VA doctors. You may find some good ones but don't think their the norm because their not...

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#11105 - 10/21/05 05:40 AM Re: More tests no diagnosis
Bookie Offline
Member

Registered: 09/18/05
Posts: 99
Loc: Arizona
Dianne, He has also tried flonase and it did nothing for him.
According to my doctor nobody should use nasal sprays. Saline ok but not OTC or even prescription nose sprays. They may provide temporary relief but they also do damage to the sensitive nose lining.

I guess something that I said last night got through to him. At least he read the article about the beclomethazone that threw at him when he told me...."When you become an MD maybe I'll listen to you but until then you don't know what your talking about."

Husband has an appointment with the VA Dr on Monday. He told me today that he is going to take the article to them and see what they have to say....well...
That is the closest he will ever come to telling me that I could be right about something.. So, we shall see.

Will keep you posted. Thanks for your input.

[ October 20, 2005, 10:41 PM: Message edited by: Bookie ]

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#11106 - 10/28/05 10:15 PM Re: More tests no diagnosis
DallasGal Offline
Member

Registered: 04/14/05
Posts: 218
Loc: Dallas, Texas
Bookie,

Metabolically, we are all changing daily. Our hormones flunctuate and in men "of a certain years" they experience this just as women do - only it is less talked about. There are substances - natural and man-made - that we might not have not ever had a reaction to until an exposure sometime later down the line is countered by a different set of hormone levels in the body.

From what you have said, your husband has now become REACTIVE to the Beclomethasone. it is now longer beneficially to him.

As gently as possible, continue to recommend a change - I know our entire family has seen marked benefits of using NASONEX nose spray. (We had also no results with Flonase) That is something that can be done from a MEDICATION stand point.

BUT we have also done the following for lifestyle/environmental changes:

Purchased a SEBA Vacuum cleaner w/ a hospital grade filtration system. It has ease of movement transitions immediately going from hardwoods to our carpets. The attachments extend and retract and it has an excellent warranty. It is pricey - and was my husband and mine valentine's gift to each other (trust me, you need to BREATHE in order to really enjoy one another...so this vacuum was the gift that keeps on giving.) - but we have also bought and "killed" 3 vacuums in the last 5 years that just couldn't keep up with daily vacuuming - so the cost-to-benefit was no question for us, it was worth the investment.

We clean our carpeted areas every six months by a company called ZEROREZ - which does not use chemicals only natural enzymes in a "charged water" type cleaning.

We have an air filter in our house that has I believe a 10+ layer filtration process that allows it to filter out the majority of the impurities while allowing us to clean the air filter itself every month using water. (we got ours from Zerorez http://www.zeroresidue.com/ )


We had our allergies tested - both seasonal, environmental and food - to determine if we were contributing to our symptoms.

What do you know, we were.

These allergy tests are comprehensive and uses little needles that have samples of the allergent on the tip and then after a certain period of time the "whirls/swirls" (whorls?) are evaluated and then it is determined what you are allergic to and to what extent.

For example, I am allergic to almost every tree in the Dallas area - which explains why last year I declared myself, at our first fall here - to be "Allergic to Dallas". My voice was gross and so was the stuff I was hacking up. And since I sing and do public speaking - I couldn't do that, I can't have allergies affecting my voice.

A remedy that I heard about last year, but didn't believe until THIS year when all of the pollen seasons hit and I have had little if any symptoms is EAT THE LOCAL HONEY.

Eat the local honey.

Sounds crazy, but it is true. If you eat the local honey from your IMMEDIATE area (30 - 40 mile radius) you will be building up an immunity to the pollen allergants...sort of like "nature's allergy shots". The bees use the pollen, process it, and if it is NATURAL/Pure honey (like the ones from North Dallas Honey Co. for me) then you get nature's allergy shot every time you add honey instead of sugar to teas, cereals, sandwiches and recipies. I consume roughly 4-5 tsp. of honey a day instead of sugar and I know it has helped my seasonal allergies. Same is true for my daughter who is allergic to just about everything green out there, but LOVES the great outdoors. Every day she eats a Natural Peanut Butter and Pure Honey sandwich.


If there are proactive steps that can be taken to identify and reduce or eliminate the things your husband is allergic to then he won't have to be reactive to symptoms and to take medications that have harmful side effects to have relief.

Modern medicine misses out on the fact that we can make informed choices once we have all of the information. Whether we choose to get relief and get better or choose to suffer is up to us.

i.e. My being allergic to cats does not prevent me from having a cat - I simply ensure that my kitty cat Hobby no longer thinks that it is okay to sleep on my pillow! Which used to be his FAVORITE napping spot - and I had no clue why I was waking up feeling stuffy and congested. lol

Bookie, having had cortisone steriods for the surface treating of many things (allergies, psoriasis/seborrhea dermitis) I am finding that most of what is actually CAUSING these symptoms with me had more to do with allergies/food sensitivies than any metabolic imbalance that cortisones could actually fix. The bad thing about Cortizones is that they deplete the processes of many of the natural systems of the body: endocrine and adrenal for example - the body does not even TRY to heal itself and because of this the problems will get worse.

Hope that helps...bottom line - get full allergy tests (usually takes a couple visits) for diagnosis of seasonal, environmental and food allergies. Analyze foods - if eating a lot of things that are processed instead of natural - organic, consider switching - some preservatives and foods interact adversely with prescription medications...

and Eat the Local Honey. =)

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#11107 - 10/28/05 10:28 PM Re: More tests no diagnosis
Bluebird Offline
Member

Registered: 09/20/05
Posts: 2560
Loc: Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Dallas, I had to laugh when I read " Allergic to Dallas"... For years in NY, I kept telling my husband "I'm allergic to our house". I could be outside or at the store or anywhere else, for hours and be fine. As soon as I'd walk in the house, I would sneeze! It drove me crazy. And I've been a SAHM for 24+ years. Now that we've moved to CO, I've been fine. Not allergic to this house.

Eat the local honey!! Gonna tell my daughter that one. She has allergies everywhere...
Thanks! [Smile]

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#11108 - 12/04/05 09:40 PM Re: More tests no diagnosis
Bookie Offline
Member

Registered: 09/18/05
Posts: 99
Loc: Arizona
quote:
Originally posted by DallasGal:
Bookie,

A remedy that I heard about last year, but didn't believe until THIS year when all of the pollen seasons hit and I have had little if any symptoms is EAT THE LOCAL HONEY.

Eat the local honey.

Sounds crazy, but it is true. If you eat the local honey from your IMMEDIATE area (30 - 40 mile radius) you will be building up an immunity to the pollen allergants...sort of like "nature's allergy shots". The bees use the pollen, process it, and if it is NATURAL/Pure honey (like the ones from North Dallas Honey Co. for me) then you get nature's allergy shot every time you add honey instead of sugar to teas, cereals, sandwiches and recipies.
Eat the Local Honey. =)

Dallas
First of all, your email is so informative. Thank you for taking the time to write it.

We heard about this last year also and for once, my husband did not tell me I didn't know what I was talking about. He started drinking green tea with honey every day and did see a difference in the intensity of his allergy symtoms. However, when he started with the Beclonase he quit the honey.

Well follow-up on the Beclonase. He quit using it a month ago...The doctor told him that because all of the tests he's had thus far have come back showing all is well then "We cannot rule out that your symtoms could be attributed to your body's reaction to the Beclonase"

Well, almost immediately after he stopped using the medication, ALL of the symtoms he was having, shortness of breath, dizzyness, blacking out etc etc have gone away!! AMAZING! Of course now his allergies have kicked into high gear so now he has gone back to the honey and green tea 3 times a day.

We still have an appointment with a Pulmonary specialist this month because of some things showing up on his lung xrays they "think" is scar tissue from years of damage due to incessant allergies. Don't know what they will do about it if this is the case. Hopefully it is nothing worse...perhaps having to do with 10 or 15 years of smoking 3 packs of cigarettes a day. Yes he quit more than 20 years ago but still...you never know.

Again Dallasgal thanks for the info. You can be sure I will check out that vacuum although we are considering taking all the carpet out of the house. Last week, we had three contractors in to give us bids on removing all the carpet and laying laminate flooring.

Two of the contractors said that carpets with polyester fibers definately contributes to allergy problems because of the way that dust etc clings to polyester fiber. Nylon carpet is the way to go if you are going to do carpet. I guess we'll do some research on that one.

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