[Thad E Ginathom]

I do know, and attend, an ENT surgeon in Chennai. He is in the Mandaveli area, and I can pass on the details if needed.

Of course, my impression is only that of that layman patient, but I was sent to him by a general medical practitioner that I have known for as long as I've known Chennai,

[carboy]

My wife usually gets a stomach infection once a year. The last few times the doctor has prescribed Norflox-TZ (norfloxacin 400 mg, tinidazole 600 mg.) twice a day for 5 days. This always cures my wife, but it also knocks her out on the days she takes it - she feels dizzy, weak etc.
She usually feels better by 2nd, 3rd day, but she continues it for 5 days (yeah I have read about the resistant bacteria thingy).

However,I was wondering if both tinidazole & norfloxacin are necessary to be continued for 5 days - i.e. this NDTV doctor pages says that the combination is irrational.
http://doctor.ndtv.com/faq/ndtv/fid/...zole_safe.html

The fixed-dose combination of norfloxacin with tinidazole is irrational. Such a combination is not allowed to be sold in any country other than India. Norfloxacin is an antibacterial while tinidazole is anti-amoebic. A correct diagnosis of the disease should be made and appropriate medicine should be prescribed. A combination of this nature renders bacteria, such as typhoid, resistant which can be life-threatening.

I know bacteria become resistant if you don't take the full course - but is it the same case with a anti-amoebic like tinidazole. i.e. after 3 days, can just norfloxacin (purchased separately) be taken?

[drkakkilaya]

Originally Posted by carboy

My wife usually gets a stomach infection once a year. The last few times the doctor has prescribed Norflox-TZ (norfloxacin 400 mg, tinidazole 600 mg.) twice a day for 5 days. This always cures my wife, but it also knocks her out on the days she takes it - she feels dizzy, weak etc.
She usually feels better by 2nd, 3rd day, but she continues it for 5 days (yeah I have read about the resistant bacteria thingy).

However,I was wondering if both tinidazole & norfloxacin are necessary to be continued for 5 days - i.e. this NDTV doctor pages says that the combination is irrational.
http://doctor.ndtv.com/faq/ndtv/fid/...zole_safe.html

I know bacteria become resistant if you don't take the full course - but is it the same case with a anti-amoebic like tinidazole. i.e. after 3 days, can just norfloxacin (purchased separately) be taken?

My sincere advise is not to go by info on internet. You cannot replace the experience of the doctor on how the drug would act. Cases are rarely classical like in text books , which is never revealed on net.
Once a year more or less most people would get affected. Guess not to worry. But see to that drugs are taken for prescribed days. We wouldn't prescribe it if the adverse effects outweigh the benefits. Don't worry mate. Try not to look too much into the info of the condition, few pages of text online cannot replace years of experience. Tak care .

[an_and]

Originally Posted by motorhead1981

Hi vijay

I came across your post by chance. I am a pulmonologist. I want to know whether you also have frequent headaches, nasal blocks & a sense of phlegm hitting the back of your throat when you take a deep sniff & any wheeze ?

I do not know any ENT in chennai though.

Hey, dont know about Vijay, but I do get very frequent headaches and nose block, and at times the sense of the phlegm hitting back. Wheeze I am not so sure.,

What does that indicate? Been suffering from headaches atleast once a fortnight if not a week from forever. the only thing that works is two disprins, and if i have a cold then an alerid as well. Even yesterday nite was bad, took two disprins, did not take anything for the cold, mild headache was lurking when i reached the office. Popped in a combiflam and been up and about since then.

Would be glad and very greatful if someone tells me how to get rid of them.

[motorhead1981]

Originally Posted by an_and

Hey, dont know about Vijay, but I do get very frequent headaches and nose block, and at times the sense of the phlegm hitting back. Wheeze I am not so sure.,

What does that indicate? Been suffering from headaches atleast once a fortnight if not a week from forever. the only thing that works is two disprins, and if i have a cold then an alerid as well. Even yesterday nite was bad, took two disprins, did not take anything for the cold, mild headache was lurking when i reached the office. Popped in a combiflam and been up and about since then.

Would be glad and very greatful if someone tells me how to get rid of them.

It would be difficult to conclude without examining you first but your symptoms seem consistent with allergic rhinitis with possibly sinusitis. I think you should consult ENT / pulmonologist for further evaluation

[callvvijay]

Originally Posted by motorhead1981

Hi vijay

I came across your post by chance. I am a pulmonologist. I want to know whether you also have frequent headaches, nasal blocks & a sense of phlegm hitting the back of your throat when you take a deep sniff & any wheeze ?

I do not know any ENT in chennai though.

Thanks a lot for the reply, motorhead! Somehow, I didn't get the "You have been quoted" message and so didn't check this thread at all for the past few days.

I don't get headaches/nasal blocks. However, as you rightly said, I always have a feel of phlegm in the back of my throat. Sometimes, when I gargle after having my food, I spit out some phlegm too. Please advise. Also, I felt its more of a throat related problem as 2 doctors told me that I have severe throat infection (read my prev post). Should I also consult a pulmonologist for this?

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

I do know, and attend, an ENT surgeon in Chennai. He is in the Mandaveli area, and I can pass on the details if needed.

Of course, my impression is only that of that layman patient, but I was sent to him by a general medical practitioner that I have known for as long as I've known Chennai,

Thanks Thad! Please do let me know of his details.

[an_and]

Originally Posted by motorhead1981

It would be difficult to conclude without examining you first but your symptoms seem consistent with allergic rhinitis with possibly sinusitis. I think you should consult ENT / pulmonologist for further evaluation

Thanks motorhead, will do. I already have sinusitis as well, and have been advised an operation to correct the nasal pathway, but somehow I am not comfortable going under the knife. Do share your views on this as no doctor says that this will be good, all they say is a rider that there is no guarantee.

I also have some level of spondylasis (just discovered) and am exercising somewhat regularly for that as well.

[Abhi_abarth]

Originally Posted by carboy

Not a doctor - but personal experience advice for pain.

Avoid carrying a wallet or anything else in your backpocket - especially when you are sitting (on bike or chair or anything). I have stopped using my backpocket totally all through the day.

Thank you Carboy.

Yes, the first thing I do after reaching office is take out the wallet from back pocket. I avoid carrying it as much as possible.

[carboy]

Originally Posted by Abhi_abarth

Yes, the first thing I do after reaching office is take out the wallet from back pocket.

Does that mean you have your wallet in your back pocket when you are on the bike - if so, don't have it in your backpocket even when on the bike.

[motorhead1981]

Originally Posted by an_and

Thanks motorhead, will do. I already have sinusitis as well, and have been advised an operation to correct the nasal pathway, but somehow I am not comfortable going under the knife. Do share your views on this as no doctor says that this will be good, all they say is a rider that there is no guarantee.

I also have some level of spondylasis (just discovered) and am exercising somewhat regularly for that as well.

Couple of points.

Lot of your symptoms can be explained by sinusitis.

If you have issue with septal deviation / sinus involvement then a surg is likely to help

Procedure is fairly routine & usually has no major complications

As far as the rider goes medicine is little different from other specialties in no doctor however good will give you 100% guarantee however simple the procedure is because of unpredictability of human body.

So in conclusion, if you have problem on a regular basis with significant loss in quality of life it is worthwhile giving this a shot as it can give you permanent relief.


Hope this helps

[carboy]

Doctors - Is common cold always caused by a virus?

2-3 times a year when accidentally water goes into my nose (while bathing) or while drinking water, I get a cold after exactly 2 days. The day the water goes into the nose, I get a mild pain in a place somewhere in the back of the nose. This is just at a tiny spot. Next it's a little worse. And 3rd day I get cold symptoms - runny nose & watery burning eyes. I feel miserable for 3-4 days before it goes. I can predict with 100% accuracy that I am going to get a cold in 2 days when I feel the mild pain in the back of my nose. Is this really a virus or some kind of irritation caused by the water - what can I do to relieve the symptoms?

[MaNishi]

Originally Posted by an_and

Thanks motorhead, will do. I already have sinusitis as well, and have been advised an operation to correct the nasal pathway, but somehow I am not comfortable going under the knife. Do share your views on this as no doctor says that this will be good, all they say is a rider that there is no guarantee.

I also have some level of spondylasis (just discovered) and am exercising somewhat regularly for that as well.

Hi an_and, I also have similar experience with frequent headaches and sinusitis, but with proper care (avoiding cold(things) drinks, ice cream etc, sleeping directly under fan) have been able to control it now, however one thing that has majorly helped control the sinusitis infection is an anti allergy nasal spray called fluticone (cant remember the exact drug), I use it mostly during monsoons and when the weather changes for about couple of weeks, it helps me avoid any nasal infection and those sneezing bouts in the morning. Hope this helps.

[carboy]

Originally Posted by MaNishi

however one thing that has majorly helped control the sinusitis infection is an anti allergy nasal spray called fluticone (cant remember the exact drug)

Not a doctor. But because my wife used this a few times and I had done a lot of reading on this (my wife is super sensitive to all medication - many a times she gets the very rare side effects mentioned in the pamphlet) & here was what I found.

The doctors here - please correct if my half baked understanding is wrong.

- Fluticone (Fluticasone) is not an anti-allergy spray - it's actually a kind of steroid.
- Long uses of nasal steroid can cause Iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome - but it's reversible on quitting it. This is typically for very long period usage (I think asthmatics use it for long periods). But good to keep in mind even for a couple of weeks usage.
- Taper off use instead of quitting suddenly - i.e. slowly reduce the dosage to 0 instead of quitting cold turkey.
- Using the steroid in the mornings is far preferable to using it in the evening/night time. This reduces taper off time.
- Also I don't think it's advisable to use this OTC without a doctor's advice.

[bblost]

I experienced a very weird issue with my eyes.

I parked my car and entered my office. The time was around 10 AM. So it was quite bright outside and inside the office the illumination is quite decent.

My eyes were acting funny. I was not able to focus on anything. Unable to read anything on the TV, phone or laptop as the screen was appearing like an overexposed film.

I was actually getting worried when this did not subside for almost 30 minutes.

While talking with a friend, I look outside the window. Everything appeared normal.
I look back on my phone and the issue was gone.

What the hell happened to my eyes.

I am very confused.

I had slept late the previous night after watching a movie on my laptop till around 2 AM. Could this be the cause. Should I get something checked?

[motorhead1981]

Originally Posted by carboy

Not a doctor. But because my wife used this a few times and I had done a lot of reading on this (my wife is super sensitive to all medication - many a times she gets the very rare side effects mentioned in the pamphlet) & here was what I found.

The doctors here - please correct if my half baked understanding is wrong.

- Fluticone (Fluticasone) is not an anti-allergy spray - it's actually a kind of steroid.
- Long uses of nasal steroid can cause Iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome - but it's reversible on quitting it. This is typically for very long period usage (I think asthmatics use it for long periods). But good to keep in mind even for a couple of weeks usage.
- Taper off use instead of quitting suddenly - i.e. slowly reduce the dosage to 0 instead of quitting cold turkey.
- Using the steroid in the mornings is far preferable to using it in the evening/night time. This reduces taper off time.
- Also I don't think it's advisable to use this OTC without a doctor's advice.

Hi

Few points

-Fluticone is steroid nasal spray

-Steroids used locally are the backbone for controlling allergy be it allergic rhinitis / bronchial asthma / skin allergy

-The chances of developing Cushing's syndrome with topical steroids is non existent unless you are using the spray as & when you like and finishing off a canister in a day or so. Cushing's syndrome develops after use of systemic steroids (oral / injectable) for prolonged periods of time.

- Tapering of steroids is again relevant only with systemic steroids or high dose topical steroids is very young kids

- I would suggest evaluation by an appropriate doctor for your symptoms for achieving a diagnosis and once that is achieved if a topical steroid is needed for a prolonged period for symptom control, you can take it without any fear if you can follow up regularly with your doctor.

- As far as your last point you are absolutely right, do not take any of these meds on your own without consultation with a doctor

Hope this helps

Cheers