Questions for ENT Doctor?

[mzschaumkell]

Hi guys, we have an appointment with an ENT doctor tommorrow. They initially reviewed my partner in the hospital, and although he had a "blocked" ear for 3 weeks, they said there was only a very slight inflammation in the ear and "nothing interesting" in his throat or nose.

What are some good questions to ask them? Most likely they have not had much experience with Wegener's.

Thanks in advance.

[drz]

Hi guys, we have an appointment with an ENT doctor tommorrow. They initially reviewed my partner in the hospital, and although he had a "blocked" ear for 3 weeks, they said there was only a very slight inflammation in the ear and "nothing interesting" in his throat or nose.

What are some good questions to ask them? Most likely they have not had much experience with Wegener's.

Thanks in advance.

What do they see? Any evidence of scaring, crusting, erosion, inflammation, excess mucous, bleeding etc?

[Dirty Don]

"they said there was only a very slight inflammation in the ear and "nothing interesting" in his throat or nose."

Well, any slight inflammation should be a warning sign to any doc who's familiar with WG, particularly in the ear nose and throat areas...you don't ignore inflammations with WG...that's the base sign of WG. When the ENT examined my nasal area, she found only a spot of inflammation and wasn't sure about it either, but, after some consultation among THE team, it was determined that that little bit of inflammation was, in fact, WG.

[mzschaumkell]

Thanks guys, I think I will just ask lots of questions!!! It seems he is fine when he wakes up, but as soon as he takes the meds the ear goes funny....they are going to put a camera in the nose so hopefully can get some answers.

[Dirty Don]

Thanks guys, I think I will just ask lots of questions!!! It seems he is fine when he wakes up, but as soon as he takes the meds the ear goes funny....they are going to put a camera in the nose so hopefully can get some answers.

Ooh, ooh, oohooh...I did THAT! The camera up the nose thingy...ENTs have more toys than I've ever seen in one office! And, I got to watch her wanderings on not one, not 2, but THREE effing color screens...what was that film where they ventured into the bloodstream in some kind of nano vessel to save a life?...well, I thought I was watching that in MY nose! Anyway, seriously...what! No, seriously, DO ask any and all questions...docs don't always tell or make us understand well enough as to what's going on, what may happen, etc. ANY kind of question! Remember, the docs are YOUR employees, you have all kinds of right to ask anything at anytime, especially with something so rare as this. Best of luck to you both.

[Debbie C]

Darn it Don.. I remember that show and I can't remember the name of it,now I'm gonna go crazy wondering about it...oop too late I'm already there !!! Thanks alot! Wait a minute ,just when I was ready to hit enter was it called "The incredible journey" ????I will have to google it now

[Debbie C]

I had to google it...it was called The Fantastic Voyage, I was close, now I can rest !!!

[mzschaumkell]

Appointment went well...Doctor treats all the Weggies with ENT problems in NZ so knows his stuff....put the HD camera up his nose, it was AMAZING could see every individual blood vessel!!

Good news is, no inflammation or fluid in ears, no throat inflammation. No crusting in nose, so that's awesome. Blocked ear he thinks is due to weight loss as my partner has lost 15 kgs. But referred him for a hearing test....

[Dirty Don]

When I had the sudden weight loss from the first flare, I also incurred a collapsed Eustachian tube, resulting in what felt/appeared to be a blocked ear canal. ENT performed a deviated septum surgery as well as trying to strengthen the E tube...the E tube failed, but, now, after nearly 2 years it has come back to its previous state...still pops a lot, but can hear better and doesn't 'feel' blocked. Who knows why...ENT doesn't, guesses it's cuz I gained a lot of me previous weight back.

[Barbara N]

Ooh, ooh, oohooh...I did THAT! The camera up the nose thingy...ENTs have more toys than I've ever seen in one office! And, I got to watch her wanderings on not one, not 2, but THREE effing color screens...what was that film where they ventured into the bloodstream in some kind of nano vessel to save a life?...well, I thought I was watching that in MY nose! Anyway, seriously...what! No, seriously, DO ask any and all questions...docs don't always tell or make us understand well enough as to what's going on, what may happen, etc. ANY kind of question! Remember, the docs are YOUR employees, you have all kinds of right to ask anything at anytime, especially with something so rare as this. Best of luck to you both.

Good advice; I will remember that because I am seeing the kidney specialist in a few weeks and next time I gert my blood results back I will ask what they mean instead of seeing a little star next to it to say it is too high but they never say where is too high and what it means.