Three doctors, three different opinions

[Auryg]

My girlfriend has been having troubles with smelly sinuses for about the past year or so. It seems to come and go relatively randomly - it'll be smelly for 3 weeks, then OK for 2. The smell ranges from "I can smell that a bit" to being able to smell it and being disgusted when you enter the same room she's in.

She's gone to three doctors - first one (old guy) "You're imagining things"
Second one - "Live with it!"
Third one (who is some sort of nose expert - not ENT) "It's your tonsils"

The last opinion is the best, but it doesn't make sense to me. For one, the smell is worse coming out her nose than her mouth. Secondly, she tried listerine (on the third doctor's suggestion on the appointment before this most recent one) and that didn't help one bit. I'd hate to have her get her tonsils out and then find out that's not the cause. She also has a deviated septum, and her nose seems to hold on to smells, such as food, for much longer than anyone else.

Anyone have any ideas? This is taking a real toll on our relationship, and we've tried everything we can think of. Nasal washes, getting rid of all potential allergins, antibiotics all didn't work. The nasal washes seem to keep it from getting *horrible*, but I'm not sure.

 

[FoBoT]

nose/mouth are tied together through the sinues and all that plumbing

if your insurance will pay, get the tonsils out, it isn't a big deal and maybe it'll work

 

[Anubis]

they have things for people with chronic bad breath i forgot what, i think a pill you can take

 

[Skunkwourk]

well out of those 3 opinions, the 3rd seems to the only one to imply an actual solution.

 

[M0R0NI]

Wow that is one I have never heard of! But remember that doctors call it a practice for a reason. Check their background real well and then ultimatly you have to decide which one to believe. In this case the last one atleast has a medical reason for it.

 

[ViviTheMage]

something crawled up in her and died maybe?

true story, my bosses friend had something crawl in his ear and die while he was camping...and a few days later he just stank of death. They eventually found out something died in his ear.

 

[dainthomas]

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
something crawled up in her and died maybe?

true story, my bosses friend had something crawl in his ear and die while he was camping...and a few days later he just stank of death. They eventually found out something died in his ear.

<projectile vomit>

seriously though, sounds like a chronic infection. get a real doctor and some antibiotics for her.

 

[Bryophyte]

She should get a referral to an actual ENT. Has she been to the dentist lately?

Bad teeth, sinus infections, tonsil stones, stomach ulcers, there are many reasons for having horrendous breath.

 

[warmodder]

That's pretty gross. I'm guessing she didn't stink when you got together, so has she done anything recently that could cause this? It could be you ya know.

 

[preCRT]

Originally posted by: Bryophyte
She should get a referral to an actual ENT. Has she been to the dentist lately?

Bad teeth, sinus infections, tonsil stones, stomach ulcers, there are many reasons for having horrendous breath.

ye-up

 

[homercles337]

D00d, clinicians dont know shit. Do not trust them.

 

[Auryg]

Originally posted by: homercles337
D00d, clinicians dont know shit. Do not trust them.

I don't - that's why I'm trying to do research for her. The problem is the people that have this problem online don't seem to know why they have it either, and their doctors are just as clueless as these seem to be.

She's tried antibiotics, but I didn't ask her which kind. I've got a month's worth of cefadroxil back home that maybe she should try; I know that stuff is supposed to target a lot.

And her insurance should cover the surgery, but for all we (and the doctor knows) it'll make the problem worse. I can't believe he's advocating surgery when he doesn't even seem that sure.

Edit: And I know taking the tonsils out isn't a huge deal, but still...

 

[manowar821]

Seriously, go to a Canadian doctor, they're not paid to treat or turn you away, they're paid to fix the problem.

I'm not trolling, that's pathetic, you need a real doctor.

 

[skace]

Dentists usually check for bad breath and know several of the reasons for it. I would go to a Dentist and even if they don't find anything maybe they can recommend another contact to go from there.

I will tell you though, you sure as hell don't have three opinions right now, you have one and the ramblings of 2 retards.

 

[conehead433]

Get her to drink freshly made cabbage juice two times a day for three weeks and see if that doesn't clear it up. That'll be $100.

 

[warmodder]

Oh I'm not a doctor, but sinusitis seems to fit the bill. Take it to a specialist and he can recommend a treatment.

 

[TehMac]

Originally posted by: manowar821
Seriously, go to a Canadian doctor, they're not paid to treat or turn you away, they're paid to fix the problem.

I'm not trolling, that's pathetic, you need a real doctor.

:roll:

 

[HybridSquirrel]

i ended up with the mumps last week.

3 trips to urgent care 1 to er 1 to doctor.

urgent care said, just a bad sinus drip, second time just a bad cough(can be from sinus drip) 3rd time was unable to swallow and glands were swollen they gave me a perscription for vicodin -_-

ER just said to keep taking the vicodin for pain -_- still couldnt swallow well

my primary care doctor came to my house and saw me, my face was the size of a soccer ball due to swelling and i have pics if anyone wants to see. she wrote me a perscription for an anti-biotic and it was gone within 2 days of being on it.

anyway just thought id rant. and share my story

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: Auryg

Originally posted by: homercles337
D00d, clinicians dont know shit. Do not trust them.

I don't - that's why I'm trying to do research for her. The problem is the people that have this problem online don't seem to know why they have it either, and their doctors are just as clueless as these seem to be.

She's tried antibiotics, but I didn't ask her which kind. I've got a month's worth of cefadroxil back home that maybe she should try; I know that stuff is supposed to target a lot.

And her insurance should cover the surgery, but for all we (and the doctor knows) it'll make the problem worse. I can't believe he's advocating surgery when he doesn't even seem that sure.

Edit: And I know taking the tonsils out isn't a huge deal, but still...

Using antibiotics just because they might work is a bad idea.

 

[manowar821]

Originally posted by: TehMac

Originally posted by: manowar821
Seriously, go to a Canadian doctor, they're not paid to treat or turn you away, they're paid to fix the problem.

I'm not trolling, that's pathetic, you need a real doctor.

:roll:

Did I stutter?

 

[IceBergSLiM]

nasty.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: HybridSquirrel
i have pics if anyone wants to see

:camera:'s?

 

[Mo0o]

Find a certified ENT to have it checked out. And taking antibiotics because they might work is socially irresponsible and could end up making it worse for your gf

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: conehead433
Get her to drink freshly made cabbage juice two times a day for three weeks and see if that doesn't clear it up. That'll be $100.

This is good advice. If it doesn't clear up the problem, it'll make her fart so much you won't notice the other smell...

 

[Auryg]

Originally posted by: Mo0o
Find a certified ENT to have it checked out. And taking antibiotics because they might work is socially irresponsible and could end up making it worse for your gf

Considering I was on them for 4 years for acne I think one month wouldn't be too irresponsible. I don't really see how it could make it worse.

If anything, getting the insurance would be socially irresponsible. Higher insurance prices for everyone for a no-fix solution.

She's kind of burnt out on doctors right now, even though the first two I knew were worthless before she even went to them. Going to a 64 year old doctor with a problem that isn't "classic" doesn't accomplish anything. I've had much better luck with younger doctors - mine is very good.

Oh, and she's been to the dentist recently, but I don't think she mentioned it to him. It's a good idea though.