I know he was doing it because he thought that I would think it was cool. And, in theory, it should have been. But, staring at my own eardrum projected on the mounted flatscreen in front of me was…nauseating.
I thought about closing my eyes, but in his enthusiasm, my ENT at University Hospital was pointing out landmarks to me, “The stapes is between 12 and 4, and the incus is the yellowish spot you see adjacent to it. Wow! You can see your chorda tympani. It’s the stringy thing you see between 12 and 3. Your ear drum is nice and translucent.”
I make jokes about how if I could look into my own eye with an ophthalmoscope, I would do it, but it has been confirmed that this is simply not true. I can look at other people’s anatomy all day long, but apparently not my own.
Anyway, after successfully holding down my lunch, the ENT told me what you good people of the internet had already suggested: He thinks that my ear issues are nothing more than some aggressive allergies and he wants me to take a decongestant for two weeks and follow-up. He doesn't think I have otitis media or that I should be on an antibiotic.
So basically, instead of wasting time and money next time, I’m coming straight to you, future (and current) healthcare providers of the internet. You guys are smart.
7 comments:
You got to see your own eardrum? SWEET! And UGH!
(This coming from someone who has seen her colon, esophagus, slides of her kidney biopsy, and scans of her stroked out brain, sometimes finding a little perverse pleasure in it, sometimes wanting to gimp away and hide. For some reason, though, the thing I couldn't take - the naked parts of my skull. I was majorly disturbed when I saw the weirdo occipital protuberance of my skull via the bald spots on my knotty head...Shiver. So, I feel ya!)
Hope you start feeling better (and more auditorily functional) soon!
Oooh wow, Headstrong! You are tough! I think what got me was that I could feel the otoscope moving in real time with the images. It was a weird sensory overload sensation. However, I don't think I'd do well seeing my own naked skull either!
Oh my goodness. I had to get a colposcopy last year. The doctor was all gung ho on me watching it on the flat screen monitor on the wall. I tried to decline, but he really wanted me to watch it! So, I observed the colposcopy and biopsy. It was so weird!!!!!
Man, I think it is awesome that your ENT gave you the play by play. It's really interesting that your own stuff kinda grosses you out. I don't think I've ever gotten to see much of my own anatomy, except my placenta. I had an adenoidectomy years ago, though, and think maybe I should have asked the surgeon to save them. Oh well.
Ooh, that is kinda cool. I would wonder how I measure up to the textbooks, you know?
I hope the decongestant gives you some relief--if not, and at the risk of sounding like one of THOSE people, maybe you can find a good chiropractor. I have an ongoing thing with my left ear and getting the "atlas" plate adjusted helps take the pressure off.
When in doubt, consult us VERY educated doctors ;)
I hope the allergy medication will do the trick!
Yay! I hope he's right and it works!
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