Have Cold and about to undergo Barochamber Tests - Advice Needed!

[1ceman]

Hello,
this winter, I have a problem that I couldn't get rid of so far. It is a goddamn cold :\ . I have no temperatures no sore throat just blocked nose. I have tried everything - nose spray (it helps a lot but only during the day - during night it develops again and when I wake up my nose is blocked...), vitamins, mentol candies, even homeopatics. Nothing got rid me of it. Before Xmas, I was to the barochamber for hypoxia tests but I couldn't undergo them because of the cold - blocked nose. So the doc there told me to get rid of the cold and arrange a new date when I'm 100% ok. It appears that the 'new date' will be in a couple of weeks (some other guys are going there too so i'm going with them). I should also say that I have never had these problems - every cold was away in like 3 days - until this winter :\
Could any one give me any advice on this? How do I get rid of it when these 'standard methods' don't work? I'm beginning to be quite desperate about this 'little' problem... I'd be VERY grateful for any advice. Thanks in advance.
1ceman

[1972]

Well, I'm no doctor but had a similar experience. Clogging at night, blow your nose and all the gunk blocks you up again immediately. No temperature or fever. Had it for about 8 weeks!!! (But only 'cos I couldn't be arsed seeing the doc).

Eventually saw the doc, who told me 'no-one has a cold for that long'. It's a sinus infection, caused either by an allergy or an infection.

He prescribed me some serious steroid-based nose spray and tablets. Gone in about a week.

If your (sorry to be graphic) snot is clear, it may be this. Also, if you blow your nose, your ears pop and you then have trouble equalising the pressure, it's also a sign. If you tilt your head forward and your eyes hurt, that's another pointer. You don't necessarily get all of these symptoms though if it's sinusitus.

Sinusitis is all the gunk building up in your sinuses and behind your eyes that won't clear, and the only way is to get your doctor to sort it with prescribed drugs. Nothing drastic, just a major pain in the arse.

Course it could be something else entirely. But if you've had this now for a while, its quite possible. Hope this helps.

[got caught]

It may be worth visiting your doc to rule out an underlying bacterial infection, or nasal polyps, but, unfortunately the frequency, duration and intensity of your symptoms are not that unusual, of the common cold.

It does sometimes appear, that these symptoms seem to go on for ever, but one morsel of good news, I would wager my annual salary, that you will feel better by the spring:ok:

PS what's a barochamber- is it that thing where Richard Gere's mate went a bit crazy in the film, "Officer and a Gentleman?"

[soviet bloc]

I've had a similar thing recently, the bottom line is of course don't fly until you're 100%, now I'm better my instructor has it !!!

something that always worked well for me was Friar's Balsam, my dad used to give it to me when I was a kid and I hated it, you boil it with water and brethe in the steam, smells aweful and puts you to sleep but usually in the morning I was better. Last week I was surprised to find it in the local chemist for 99p so it's worth a try, PM me if you can't find any. cheers.

[1ceman]

Thank you for the replies guys...
Well, I'm no doctor but had a similar experience. Clogging at night, blow your nose and all the gunk blocks you up again immediately. No temperature or fever. Had it for about 8 weeks!!! (But only 'cos I couldn't be arsed seeing the doc).
Eventually saw the doc, who told me 'no-one has a cold for that long'. It's a sinus infection, caused either by an allergy or an infection.
He prescribed me some serious steroid-based nose spray and tablets. Gone in about a week.
If your (sorry to be graphic) snot is clear, it may be this. Also, if you blow your nose, your ears pop and you then have trouble equalising the pressure, it's also a sign. If you tilt your head forward and your eyes hurt, that's another pointer. You don't necessarily get all of these symptoms though if it's sinusitus.
Sinusitis is all the gunk building up in your sinuses and behind your eyes that won't clear, and the only way is to get your doctor to sort it with prescribed drugs. Nothing drastic, just a major pain in the arse.
Course it could be something else entirely. But if you've had this now for a while, its quite possible. Hope this helps.
I am quite sure it's not an alergy. Perhaps you're right about the infection (well I hope you aren't :D )... If I tilt my head forward my eyes don't hurt. If I blow against closed mouth and nose (i.e. Valsalva maneuver) my ears pop and then the pressure slowly equalizes but I have to help myself by yawning. I have already been to doc - my military doc advised me some nasal spray and vitamins. I also went to a civilian doc (while the military one was on vacation) and he told me this wonderful thing: "You got cold? So why don't you blow your nose?"... I bought some solution of mental crystals and mint an hour ago, so I'll give it a whirl and 'll also try a steam bath. If it doesn't help, it will most likely be an infection.
Thanks again for reply! :ok:

[1ceman]

It may be worth visiting your doc to rule out an underlying bacterial infection, or nasal polyps, but, unfortunately the frequency, duration and intensity of your symptoms are not that unusual, of the common cold.
It does sometimes appear, that these symptoms seem to go on for ever, but one morsel of good news, I would wager my annual salary, that you will feel better by the spring:ok:
PS what's a barochamber- is it that thing where Richard Gere's mate went a bit crazy in the film, "Officer and a Gentleman?"
Hey man, those meteo guys have been promising spring for a couple of weeks and nothing yet! :D
PS barochamber is a steel can you sit in which makes you feel like you're at high altitude :ok:

[got caught]

Thanks for that.

I had the pleasure of visiting the czech republic last year- fantastic beer, but I'm not sure if those outdoor beer gardens are such a good idea !

[Flyin'Dutch']

Go to the quack so they can have a look up your snout!

[Loose rivets]

This ‘can't get rid of this cold' thing is a problem that hits most people sometime in their lives.

A cold virus will usually go through a cyclic battle with your immune system in a few hours...or days if you have a bad influenza. Often there follows a residual bacteriological infection--sometimes termed a secondary infection.

The first type of ‘germ' will not respond to antibiotics, the second hopefully will.

Doctors tend to prescribe antibiotics--even during the viral stage, cos they know that the odd are that you will get the secondary. I usually try to avoid the use of such sledge-hammer remedies, but I do like to have the antibiotic ready. Especially while away from base.

Back to your specific case. One question. Do you have children in the house? Sometimes one can get back-to-back viral infections, leaving you with the impression that you are just not getting better from the first one. Kids do this to their parents.

One of my kid's ‘specialty subjects' is the immune system. He had such grand ideas about not allowing his lot to be rushed onto antibiotics...until he came here. Both parents have been knocked over by repeated infections brought home by their kids.

As an aside for general interest. This information came from one of my neighbors, a PhD teaching a relevant subject.

Many infections are caused by the Mexican children in day care here being mixed with the local kids. The Mexican worker go home each night allowing a much more interesting mixture of viruses. Relief nursing staff come here for a six week stint, and often spend half of the time laid out with severe infections.

In this modern world, where there are few boundaries for this type of population mixing, we are all likely to go through a really rough period now and then.

[1ceman]

Loose Rivets, thank you for the info. As to your question - no children are at the house... I am going to see the doc tomorrow cause it seems to be sinus infection as 1972 said. The rhinitis itself is not the major problem - it is the effect it has on the functionality of the Eustachian tube that disturbs me, because as I said, I have to be fit for the barochamber tests (ascent,hypoxia,descent). I'll see what the doc tells me tomorrow.

[1972]

1ceman,

Not sure if natural remedies will do the trick.

Typical symptoms of sinusitus can be explained by the factors I mentioned before, but I personally only had the congestion and equalising problem, as you do. Of course I have no idea whats wrong in your case, but it sounds likely you have Sinusitis, which can be caused either by allergies or infections.

You won't have any idea if it was caused by allergies or not. You may not be susceptible, but allergies can crop up without any previous history. Often even a doctor cannot be sure if an allergy or infection causes Sinusitis - the only way for him to know is try one set of drugs first, and if they're no good, he'll try another. Only then can they often make a call on what caused it.

Coming back to my Sinusitis experience, after dismissing my 8 week problem as a nasty cold, I was forced to see the doc after an incident happened whilst I was driving. I decided to blow my nose, the pressure built in my ears, and for the next hour it was like wearing a pair of ear defenders. I could just barely hear and couldn't clear it.

In Australia, there is a drug called Sinutab which helps clear the blockage by diluting it; this is an over-the-counter drug (non-prescription) which I bought about an hour after this happened, which helped me equalise pressure again. I kept taking this stuff until seeing the doctor, which relieved but it certainly didn't cure the condition. Had I not seen the doc., I'd probably still be suffering now. Remember that drugs like these serve only as a temporary measure, and for it to be cleared permanently (should it be an infection like Sinusitus), it must be treated more thoroughly.

Some people might not like the thought of taking power-packed, steroid-based drugs, but something like Sinusitis has to be given a powerful kick - prescribed medicines (poss with steroids) are often the most effective way, and in a small dose (week or so) is not a big worry.

I know it sounds like an insignificant and rather lame condition, but it's only the people who haven't experienced it who think like this. It can give you quite nasty head-pain, and as a result of impaired hearing and disturbed balance, can make you feel bloody lousy.

Oh, and in response to your comments about your civilian doctor, the man sounds like an absolute moron, and that's putting it politely. Find a new doctor, one that doesn't make condescending remarks and takes your problem seriously.

PS. I tried the head over the steaming bowl trick with various remedies, and it didn't have any effect. I also had a Beconase nasal-spray, but in this case it did nothing to cure the problem. The doc gave me prescribed nasal-spray and tablets, both of which seemed to pack plenty of whoop-ass!

[1ceman]

1972, thanks for the very useful info. I was to my doc (the military one) this morning once again, and told him about it. He took samples of my blood and swab of my nose and throat. He also prescribed me a nasal spray, which is cortico-steroid based, plus some tablets. I'll see if it helps... An hour later I phoned the nurse to see how my blood sample was. She told me that it's normal and therefore antibiotics won't be neccessary.

As to your sinusitis case. Your symptoms seem to have been much stronger than mine. If I blow my nose, I can feel the pressure in my ears, but that's nothing abnormal and it equalizes within one or two moves of my mouth.

And the civilian doc - yes, he really IS a complete moron... I was to him only that once and will never go to him again.

I have the same experience with inhalation of those menthol crystals etc. as you. Almost no effect - just a placebo I think.

[1972]

Glad to be of help, if in fact I was any!

Your nasal spray, in conjunction with the tablets will doubtless get you sorted, and I'm glad to read your military doc is a whole heap better than the muppett you saw before, who'll probably be out of work in no time!

Good luck with your chamber tests.

[petitfromage]

DO NOT go into the chamber with any sort of flu, cold or sinus condition!

Whats the profile of your chamber run? Is there an explosive decompression?

If youre not 100% do not take the risk. You could do damage that destroys your flying career.

See your Military Dr or Flight Surgeon as close to the chamber run as possible. Ensure you get a Dr who is an aviation specialist.

The explosive decompression is a incredibly worthwhile experience but most countries/militarys only allow you to do one in your whole career. There are risks involved........so dont go into it unless you are medically cleared.

That said, enjoy the chamber run and if you can get a copy of the video....because you wont remember much of your hypoxic experience! :ok:

** I have to say that I think the hypoxia demonstration should be compulsory for ALL pilots, civil and military a like. I know that recognising the symptoms/onset of hypoxia potentially saved my butt of 2-3 occasions.

[Sparkle]

If you don't have a bacterial infection, just gunk clogging up your system, try FLUIMUCIL or the generica called ECOMUCIL.
It is a very effective mucolyticum helping the body to dissolve the mucus stuck up in your sinuses.

The drug itself is Acetylcysteine. It is prescription only in some parts of Europe, but I bought stacks of it in Singapore in a normal pharmacie.

Obviously ask your doctor before you take anything.

And remember: never ever fly or go playing in a barochamber with your sinuses blocked! Eardrums that are ripped to shreds are not very useful and hurt like :mad: !!

[1ceman]

I was to the barochamber today and everything went okay. So thank you very much for help! The cortico-steroid nasal spray did a really great job. Thanks again and have nice time! :ok: