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Are These Signs Of Allergies?

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Posted 9/16/2006 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
Here is what has been going on with me for the past 2 months... July 4th weekend I was diagnosed with Strep Throat. I went to the doctor and he prescribed me Zithromax which helped out a lot. On the last night of my 5-day prescription, I had ear popping/fullness which I am pretty sure it was from going to the beach and getting wiped out under the water about 5 or 6 times, and I went to the beach WHILE I had strep throat, (wasn't such a good idea...)  I also had a fever that night, but that was probably because I was forcing myself to stay under the covers so I wouldn't get sick again. Next day I had a racing heartbeat, fatigue, and aches. (I had A LOT of anxiety at this time as well because of what was happenening to me...) I went to the doctor again and described my symptoms, and the doctor put me on a 10-day Keflex prescription as he thought there might be some infection from the Strep Throat left. He also ordered a Throat Culture and a Complete Blood Count to make sure everything was ok. All the tests came back normal. It turns out that the aches I had been complaining about were all because of the anxiety I was experiencing.  On July 25th, I was on a plane to Los Angeles with my mom, and when we were desceding, the strangest thing happened. My nose suddenly filled up with so much mucus that I was blowing it all out for about 20 minutes straight. August 24th I came back, same thing happened, but not as dramatic. The only symptoms I have left are:

Ear popping/fullness-ALL THE TIME
Congested nose (One nostril blocked while the other is fine/constantly switches nostril to nostril)-ALL THE TIME
Headaches-Ocasionally
Constipation/Diarrhea

Tingling Head-Barely

^I am not sure what the constipation/diarrhea is from, but I think it's from all the medicines I have been taking lately.  In the paragraph at the top of this post, I mentioned taking Zithromax (July 5th - July 10th) and Keflex (July 23rd - August 3rd), and after taking Keflex I tried taking Tylenol and Sudafed to relieve my sinus problems which didn't seem to help.  (Sometime between August 6th - August 20th/On and off.)  Also 2 nights ago I took a Benadryl to help relieve my sinus problems, (it helped A LOT,) and took one again last night.  Could the constipation/diarrhea also be from past anxiety I have experienced?  Or could the constipation/diarrhea be caused by my seasonal allergies?  I have also been recently drinking more water and eating healthier, but that probably isn't the cause because the constipation/diarrhea started after I started taking Zithromax until now.  I am pretty sure the constipation/diarrhea symptoms I am experiencing are nothing serious because alllllll of this mess started with a simple Strep Throat.


Could all this be caused by seasonal allergies? My dad also has severe seasonal allergies, my dad's dad does too. I'm only 15.

Post Edited (Armobro1918) : 9/15/2006 7:40:12 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/16/2006 12:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hmm it could be allergies but it sounds like maybe it could be something else too. I don't know what but I highly recommend that if these symptoms do not go away to get into the doctors again. If you found that antihistimines help you then maybe you should go in for allergy testing. You could also be having allergic reaction to foods. You can either keep a food diary or you can have that tested in allergy testing as well. If you are allergic to foods, it could explain the constipation/diarrhea aspect too. To keep a food diary, write down everything you eat, even if it's a stick of gum, for a few weeks. Try to notice if there is common food you eat and notice an increase of symptoms. Keep in mind that that foods take 12-48 hours to go thru the digestive system, so the constipation or D may not be noticable until that time but if you allergic to a certain food, you could notice an increase of mucous production right away.

And btw, welcome to Healingwell. I hope you feel better soon and you find the answers you need.
Posted 9/16/2006 1:39 PM (GMT 0)
The ear popping could be from your flights and traveling while ill. I traveled by air with a sinus infection once and my ears were popping for a month!!! I agree with red_34 you should go see your doctor. Hope you feel better soon scool
Posted 9/16/2006 6:11 PM (GMT 0)
I have already been to 5 doctors and every one of them have said it's nothing to worry about.  I even exaggerated my symptoms a bit to see if the doctors would get worried, but they didn't.  The ear popping developed before the trip I went on to Los Angeles, and I am pretty sure the ear popping is a common problem called EUSTACHIAN TUBE DYSFUNCTION.  It's when your ears don't drain fluid properly and fluid then builds up in your ear causing allergy-like symptoms.  They say it could take many months for the ear popping/fullness to go away, and I am pretty sure that if Benadryl Allergy is helping me I shouldn't be worried about it because if Benadryl Allergy didn't help, then I would start to worry a bit.  All the doctors I went to after the first 2 visits where they gave me antibiotics to take told me to take an antihistamine every once in awhile to quicken the process of healing from my allergy symptoms/Eustachian Tube Dysfunction.  As for my constipation/diarrhea:  I am pretty sure what's causing my constipation/diarrhea, and it's all the medicines I have been taking because the constipation/diarrhea started after the first does of taking Zithromax.  I think my bowel habits should return to normal in the next couple of weeks.  I've taken Zithromax, Keflex, some doses of Tylenol, Sudafed, Nasal Spray, and Benadryl

all in less than 2 months so I am pretty sure this is the reason of my constipation/diarrhea and it will take some time to get back to normal.  I am tired of seeing the doctor, all together since my strep throat I have seen 7!!!!  They have all told me "YOU ARE ONLY 15, IT'S NOTHING SERIOUS, YOU SHOULDN'T BE WORRIED!"  Which is true.  Every doctor I saw though did notice that my ear drums were a bit bulged out, (sign of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction,) that's why they told me to take an antihistamine every once in awhile...

Also, I went onto a Zithromax forum, and I noticed a hand full of people that also experienced constipation/diarrhea for the next couple of months after taking Zithrox.  And on top of that, I took Keflex, and all the other non prescription drugs!)

Posted 9/17/2006 3:00 AM (GMT 0)
So sorry you've had a hard time with all the doctors. Do you get relief from anything? Drinking fluids is good, some are better than others water is always best, but have you tried tea or chicken noodle soup? Do warm liqiuds help? We're just trying to give some helpful advise here. Have you seen a Specialist(ENT)? Really don't know what else you should do confused Have you looked up the medications (antibotic) on a google search to see the side effects are? Constipation and diarrhea are sometimes cosidered mild side effects to Antibotics. Have you looked up the ear popping on a google search?
Really do hope you're feeling better soon! yeah
Posted 9/17/2006 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
Somtimes you have to make the doctors listen!!! Have you tried standing up and saying "Are you for Real" to one? Even as a teenager you have some rights in your healthcare,make the doctors listen just like you voiced it here, just please don't take it out here because we all want the best for you and everyone and ourselves too!!! yeah
Sorry, I got carried away take care and best wishes.
Posted 9/17/2006 9:06 PM (GMT 0)
Benadryl Allergy really gives me relief, and yes, every doctor I have been to, just before the appointment has ended I have asked them, "So are you positive there is nothing wrong with me?" or "Should I be worried?" The answer has always been no. My mom even pulled the last doctor I visited out of the room and asked him if she should be worried, and if there were any serious health problems I could have. The answer? NO!

PS - My grandma gave me some advice on my constipation/diarrhea and it really worked!

(Drink 2 tablespoons of olive oil) I started last night and I drink 2 tablespoons in the morning and 1 at night. It's helping regulate my bowel movements now, so I am not having anymore constipation/diarrhea symptoms!
Posted 9/18/2006 12:32 AM (GMT 0)
I've very glad your grandmother was able to give you some good advice. Sounds like your family is trying to help you. If you still have problems with the diarrhea you could probably do a google search on home remedies. Glad the Benadryl Allergy helps, maybe you could try a saline nasel spray that would help clear up your nose a little. Maybe start a family medical history chart to find out what family members are allergic to and if they had any allergy testing, that way you'd have something to give the doctors. It's hard to find good doctors that'll take the time to listen. I've had an allergy doctor once tell me I don't have asthma and not to come back, just because I wasn't symptomatic at the time, you're not alone in this, there's probably not one person on this website that's not had a problem with a doctor.
Have you been improving?
If you can find a place that sells "Honey Made Locally", a teaspoon a day helps, it's a natural remedy for allergy. This has helped me once in awhile.
Hope you feel better soon, Good luck yeah
Posted 9/18/2006 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
Well see, it's not really constipation or diarrhea I have been experiencing, because my stomach doesn't hurt or anything, but my bowel habits have changed. I don't go to the bathroom as frequently as I used to, but when I do, it's usually constipation symptoms like it doesn't come out easily. That's what I mean when I say constipation/diarrhea. I am going to an ENT specialist sometime next week to fix up my sinus problems, so hopefully in the next 7 or 8 days I will start to get better! I AM FINALLY SEEING A DOCTOR THAT WILL BE ABLE TO HELP ME! NOT JUST A GENERAL DOCTOR! :) Thank you all so much, I appreciate you guys looking after me. I'll post every day just to let you all know how I am doing, thank you all.
Posted 9/18/2006 7:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hey we're rooting for you!!! Good luck with the ENT, you'll probably get a CT of your sinuses that's not a hard test and then sometimes they spray you nose to get a better look at your sinuses and it gives a very bad taste in your mouth so you'll need a sodapop to drink after you appointment. Just a heads up.
Take care and always best wishes yeah
Posted 9/18/2006 8:23 PM (GMT 0)
Do you guys think this is something I should be worried about? Pretty much everyone I have talked to about it has told me I am overreacting! What do you guys think?
Posted 9/18/2006 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
It's always scary when you've been sick for so long and it's scary having to see a specialist. everyone reacts differently in different situations. Plus your still a teenager just trying to make out whats heads and tails in life, in general. Hopefully the specialist will put your mind at ease, just kinda chill a little til then. scool
Posted 9/18/2006 9:48 PM (GMT 0)
Do you think my constipation/diarrhea symptoms are something I should be worried about? I have gone completely mad/insane! (I thought I had colon cancer for about an hour) Do you think I have permanently damaged my stomach from taking all those medications? What do you think the constipation/diarrhea is from? The medications I have been taking? The sinus problems maybe could be linked to constipation/diarrhea?

Post Edited (Armobro1918) : 9/18/2006 3:57:03 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/18/2006 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
The Antibotics can cause diarrhea and the stress/worry could be causing the constipation. Please try to relax and let the specialist your going to help you. I know it's hard, sometimes impossible, but please try to relax a little, play a computer game or call a friend maybe that would help you. Have you tried going to the chat rooms here.
Posted 9/19/2006 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
Also, I have noticed that I burp a lot more frequently than I used to.
Posted 9/27/2006 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
Have you been to the specialist yet?? any news?? Keep us posted yeah
Good luck!
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