Neti

[chyna]

This is the next thing in the endless "what to do with Tanya" cycle. My new allergist wants me to use the neti system (not the tea pot looking thing) a couple times a day until things level out. Fine but it feels like when you get water up your nose while swimming. :( What am I doing wrong? The water was nicely warm, I really shook that bottle and got the solution mixed. Am I squeezing it too hard and shooting it up there too hard? If this doesn't get better it will quickly turn into a torture session. :eek:

[Lisa S]

I'm a pro netti user! I'll feel strange the first few times you use it, but then it's much more comfortable. I think it's a combo of you know what to expect and the fact that your sinues are more clear.

I really advocate the netti pot. "No meds" are the best option whenever possible.

[RoseMary]

I've only used the neti pot, too, not the bottle thing. I think the neti pot system is supposed to be more gentle on your sinuses. Can you start with it and get used to it first? It really does clean our your sinuses.

[rubyslippers]

Tanya ... you can do this ... you are going to feel like a little kid in a swimming pool doing a somersault the first time you try this ... then, after that you will graduate to sounding like a cat having a hair ball ... then, you'll find a happy medium. I don't think anyone really uses the salt mixture bottle thing correctly, but I live in the land of pollen and it makes a huge difference. Give it about a week and let us know. I really don't think you are doing anything wrong. You can put a little less of the powder in and/or make the water a little hotter/colder for comfort while you get used to it. However, it is just awkward no matter what. Good luck.

[chyna]

Thanks ladies.:) So far I'm hating that thing, I've figured out that if I sort of blow my nose while irrigating it isn't half as bad so maybe that will be my trick. I was reading the pamphlet and thinking I may try the pot if I don't get the hang of this thing.

[ChapterTwo]

My friend swears by the Neti pot, but I always hated getting water in my nose when I swam, so it's not appealing to me. I try to use the saline solution spray often...I should use it every day.

[chyna]

I would much rather use saline spray myself. I wonder if that is really what he meant and the assistant screwed up. For someone with NO allergies I'm drugged to the gills with twice daily allergy nose spray and fexofenadine (Allegra I believe) each and every day. I talked to someone here at work and she swears by her allergist and he happens to be one of the people my old allergist suggested so I may be bailing ship and going to him instead. can't wait to explain that to my insurance company of why I've had 3 allergists in less than a year or more like 2mos. :(

I'm not liking this guy, he talks over you, discounts everything you tell him and for crying out loud I went in there with documented allergy testing that his testing completely negates. According to him I'm allergic to nothing! Sad to be mad that I'm negative about having allergies instead of happy huh?:o

[ChapterTwo]

Tanya...I find that the best thing to do regarding doctors, is to follow your instincts. If you don't like him, if he doesn't listen to you, and you don't have confidence in him, then I'd definitely go elsewhere (and I'd stop taking the meds if you don't feel you need them or they're not helping.)

[chyna]

This guy does remind me of my dd's peditrician who would ignore everything you'd bring up to him because he'd never seen it happen. He doesn't even know yet that I've fired him. :p This guy is supposed to call me in 6-8wks and have me make a follow-up appt. I don't believe I'll be doig that. My dh has even said that I should go to someone else because he has little faith in him.

So much for a good first impression!!!:eek: Now I need to figure out a way of telling him that I'm going elsewhere. sigh

[Lisa S]

You don't need to tell him you're going to another doctor. Just go to another doctor and have them request your records.

[ChapterTwo]

Tanya...Lisa's absolutely right. You just need to get your records transferred to the new doctor. AND...if this doc ever inquires why you're not coming back to him, I'd be straightforward and say that you didn't feel that he was hearing you! Hey, there's nothing wrong with telling him the truth - maybe it'll help wake him up. ;)

[RoseMary]

Oh, I hope the new one works out much better for you. It can be so hard to find a good doctor.

[Lisa S]

Our pediatrician's office is very busy. It never bothered me much until my daughter was diagnosed with asthma. It seemed like we got bounced to whatever doctor was available instead of the one doctor we had picked. It seemed important to have a direct line of communication with one MD when I was giving my daughter so many potentially harmful medications.

I found another doctor in a smaller practice and asked for our records to be transferred. Our original doctor called me and asked why we were leaving. It was very difficult to tell her, (I thought I'd hurt her feelings, I guess), but I gave her our reasons.

She was very open, honest and respectful. She said her office had grown more than she anticipated. While she liked having a bigger business, she didn't like the feeling of losing touch with her patients. She asked if I would bring the kids back if she promised to be available whenever we needed to be seen.

That was three years ago, and very true to her word, our doctor has been there for us whenever we've needed her. In fact, we came in on her day off one time. She was going through some charts in her office. As soon as she saw us, she took care of my kids.

LONG story short. There are good and bad people in every profession. The medical profession seems to have more than it's fair share of egocentrics. But be clear about your needs, have reasonable expectations, ask questions when you don't understand and don't be afraid to find better care some place else.

[chyna]

What really makes me scratch my head is that the guy used to be in pediatrics so apparently he didn't do so hot there either. I got a questionairre yesterday from a group I participate in and it happened to be on recent dr appts and it drove the point even that more clear that this visit with him really didn't go well in the least.

I need ot make that new appt with the other guy. I'm so sick of making appts!!!!!:mad:

[ChapterTwo]

Lisa...you did the best thing in being upfront with the doctor, and I'm glad you had good results.

When my children were little, we went to a practice with not only a lot of doctors, but three different locations. The "plus" was that we could usually get an appt. (even on Saturdays and Sundays) but didn't always see the doctor we wanted to. If it was a planned appt., we could, of course.

The bottom line was as you said - some doctors were better than others.