I Know I'm Whining

Dr. Oz recommends placing a clove of garlic in the ear, and holding it in place with a bandaid (as I am writing this post, both garlic and bandaid are pressed firmly against my left ear). A colleague suggested cold compresses, another hot, yet another said to alternate between the two. One helpful friend proposed a mixture of peroxide and warm water. After prescribing my second round of a more potent antibiotic, my doctor mentionned drops of mineral oil for my ear, and a Neti Pot for my nose. I blindly (or deafly) put my trust in these two suggestions despite the fact that the mineral oil that I purchased at the pharmacy made no reference to ears for recommended usage, but insisted that it was beneficial as a laxative. As for the Neti Pot, anything that looks like a teapot and pours like a teapot, should not be inserted into any body parts. What goes in must come out as I tipped my head, poured the warm salt water solution in one nostril, felt the uncomfortable path that the solution was making through my nasal passages, watched it drip with indignity out the other nostril, while at the same time listening to the demanding instructions of my oldest daughter "Do it again, mom, you have to do it twice in each nostril for it to work...and keep your mouth closed!" She was right about the mouth; funny how all those cavities are connected.

After two weeks, a diagnosis of both an ear infection and sinus infection, time off work, and thousands of "pardon me", "what did you say", "could you repeat that", I am open to all suggestions...within reason, cost, and dignity. Truthfully, the dignity probably isn't a factor at this point as I sit here with a garlic clove sticking out of my ear; or as I remember walking around Home Depot last weekend with some form of mucus draining out my ear and a kleenex stuffed as indiscreetly as possible inside, all while trying to listen intently to the helpful salesman explain how effectively this model of toilet flushes everything away! Honestly, where else could it possibly go?

As with each sickness or injury that I find myself inflicted with, when I start to whine or get frustrated, I once again remind myself of the appreciation of being healthy, and how fortunate I am to be able to drive myself to my doctor, get a prescription, and expect to get better. Although I'm thinking that maybe all I had to do was drive to the grocery story and buy some garlic!