Question:

Thanks for your suggestions everybody.  I am upset at my ENT doc for not checking into this fungal sinsusitis before now.  I’m suppose to see my PCP next Thursday and I’m going to show him the pathology report and tell him my situation and what meds I’m on, etc.  Maybe he will refer me to a specialist or someone who can get a culture done and confirm my diagnosis of Mucormycosis or whatever it may be.  It makes since that it is fungal "something" because of my symptomatology and being on chronic antibiotic therapy for many years. I’ve had to be on antibiotics a lot because I have a total joint replacement (metal implant) in my right temperomandibular joint (TMJ).  Funny, that is the same side that my maxillary fungal sinusitis is on.  I hope this fungus stuff doesn’t get inside my implant!!!!!! By the way Dr. Tichenor, I can’t have an MRI because of the metal implant in my right TMJ.   Will a CT scan show fungal sinusitis?  I had a sinus CT scan done 2 months ago which showed a lot of sinus disease in both sides (maxillary, ethmoid, and frontal sinuses).  That is what caused my ENT doc to suggest the sinus surgery 6 weeks ago.  Also, my ENT doc knows all about my TMJ implant but he refuses to have anything to do with it.  If I mention to him that it hurts or that it is swollen or tender, he acts like he didn’t hear me and doesn’t respond.  If I "insist about the pain", then he says I need to see my OMS about it.  It’s a shame that my ENT doc and my OMS can’t work together on this sinusitus/TMJ thing.   I can’t wait to see my PCP because he will listen and try to help.  Again thanks for everybodies help.                 Sherry "Wellington S. Tichenor, M. D." wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> The diagnosis of Mucor can only be made by culture.  The pathologist can > suspect it on the pathological examination, but cannot confirm it.  It > sounds like the diagnosis was not confirmed.  From the description, it > is not clear what type of fungal sinusitis you may have.  It is also > possible that it may not be significant.  It is also not clear that > Nizoral is the best drug. > Typically MRI scans may be done for fungal sinusitis. > For more information about fungal sinusitis, please search through my > website. > Sincerely, > Wellington S. Tichenor, M. D. > 642 Park Avenue > New York, New York 10021 > 212 517-6611 > wtiche…@sinuses.com > Visit our award winning website at: http://www.sinuses.com > Sinusitis: A Treatment plan that works for allergy and asthma too > Use our internal search engine to find information on the website.

Response:

The diagnosis of Mucor can only be made by culture.  The pathologist can suspect it on the pathological examination, but cannot confirm it.  It sounds like the diagnosis was not confirmed.  From the description, it is not clear what type of fungal sinusitis you may have.  It is also possible that it may not be significant.  It is also not clear that Nizoral is the best drug. Typically MRI scans may be done for fungal sinusitis. For more information about fungal sinusitis, please search through my website. Sincerely, Wellington S. Tichenor, M. D. 642 Park Avenue New York, New York 10021 212 517-6611 wtiche…@sinuses.com Visit our award winning website at: http://www.sinuses.com Sinusitis: A Treatment plan that works for allergy and asthma too Use our internal search engine to find information on the website. Any information must be discussed with your physician and should not be used as medical advice.   – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Sherry wrote: > Well, I saw my ENT doc yesterday for a post-op sinus surgery visit (6 > weeks) and I questioned him about "why" I was still having sinus > infections.  He said he couldn’t figure it out because he knew he got it > all when he did my surgery 6 weeks ago.  I then asked my ENT doc to > please read me the results of my Pathology report and he opened up my > chart and started looking for the report. When he found it he started > reading:  Right maxillary sinus contents: Acute and chronic sinusitis > with Colonies of Mucormcosis showing no evidence of tissue invasion. > Right ethmoid sinus contents:  Submucosal fibrosis.   Left ethmoid sinus > contents: Focal chronic sinusitis.  My ENT doc sat back and said "oh, > you have fungal infection!"   duh! > He said "all we need to do is take you off the antibiotic and put you on > a fungal medicine and it will cure you".  duh!     Well, it took 3 years > to find out that I’ve had fungal infections in my sinuses all this time > instead of bacterial infections.  I got my suspicions about the fungal > infections from reading some of the other posts on this newsgroup and > that is why I "asked" my ENT to read my Pathology report yesterday. > Thank goodness I asked him about it or I would still be on antibiotics > and still suffering.  I’m now on Nizoral (fungal medicine) and hopefully > it will help kill this fungus (I sure hope so anyway).  It also explains > why I had such a bad case of thrush immediately after my surgery.  If my > doc had just read the Pathology report immediately after my surgery or > even done a culture before the surgery, it would have probably save a > lot of time and suffering.  Has anybody else had this problem before? > By the way, I’m not diabetic or anything so I don’t know why I would > have mucormycosis except for being on antibiotics every month for the > past 3 years.  My ENT doc told me (on the way out the door) that he > wanted me to get another CT scan in about 3 months so he can check > things out.  This has been a nightmare!  I’m ready for it to be over. > Does anybody know if the mucormycosis will completely go away or if it > can get worse and cause serious problems in my head/face?  I’m really > concerned about this "fungal thing".  I feel like it’s all throughout my > system because I’ve got several spots on my chest and arms that my PCP > says is fungal. I’ve also got a couple fingernails that have fungal > infections.  Will this stuff ever go away?  Sorry for all the > questions!                Sherry

– I am unfortunately unable to personally answer all of the email I receive. If you have a specific question, please use the internal search engine on the website.  If you are looking for suggestions about treatment, please read through the website, particularly the treatment page, and, if you have had surgery, the post-surgery page.  If you submit a brief email, it is much more likely to be answered. In most cases, I am unable to make specific recommendations about physicians, but suggest that you copy the section for physicians for your doctor. Finally if you would like to make an appointment to see me, it can be handled by email or you can call my office.

Response:

Sorry the spelling is ketoconazole. Liver function tests should be closely monitored whilst on this drug. Heather Collins UK Mikecheath…@oakwellmount.freeserve.co.uk Mike & Heather Collins <mikeheath…@oakwellmount.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message news:82odce$8d6$[email protected]… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Sherry, > I very strongly concur with James that this man ( I cannot call him a > doctor) should not be treating you. I am not even sure that Ketonazole is > the correct antifungal for you. You might be better with an Infectious > Disease Specialist or getting an urgent appointment with the doctor who > treated Wayne at the Mayo Clinic. This is a completely dfferent kind of > fungus to thrush. Thrush is caused by Candida albicans, this is caused by a > type of Mucor. An Infectious Disease Specialist would be my choice and take > with you a copy of the pathology report. > — > Heather Collins > UK > Mikecheath…@oakwellmount.freeserve.co.uk > Sherry <se…@prodigy.net> wrote in message > news:[email protected]… > > Well, I saw my ENT doc yesterday for a post-op sinus surgery visit (6 > > weeks) and I questioned him about "why" I was still having sinus > > infections.  He said he couldn’t figure it out because he knew he got it > > all when he did my surgery 6 weeks ago.  I then asked my ENT doc to > > please read me the results of my Pathology report and he opened up my > > chart and started looking for the report. When he found it he started > > reading:  Right maxillary sinus contents: Acute and chronic sinusitis > > with Colonies of Mucormcosis showing no evidence of tissue invasion. > > Right ethmoid sinus contents:  Submucosal fibrosis.   Left ethmoid sinus > > contents: Focal chronic sinusitis.  My ENT doc sat back and said "oh, > > you have fungal infection!"   duh! > > He said "all we need to do is take you off the antibiotic and put you on > > a fungal medicine and it will cure you".  duh!     Well, it took 3 years > > to find out that I’ve had fungal infections in my sinuses all this time > > instead of bacterial infections.  I got my suspicions about the fungal > > infections from reading some of the other posts on this newsgroup and > > that is why I "asked" my ENT to read my Pathology report yesterday. > > Thank goodness I asked him about it or I would still be on antibiotics > > and still suffering.  I’m now on Nizoral (fungal medicine) and hopefully > > it will help kill this fungus (I sure hope so anyway).  It also explains > > why I had such a bad case of thrush immediately after my surgery.  If my > > doc had just read the Pathology report immediately after my surgery or > > even done a culture before the surgery, it would have probably save a > > lot of time and suffering.  Has anybody else had this problem before? > > By the way, I’m not diabetic or anything so I don’t know why I would > > have mucormycosis except for being on antibiotics every month for the > > past 3 years.  My ENT doc told me (on the way out the door) that he > > wanted me to get another CT scan in about 3 months so he can check > > things out.  This has been a nightmare!  I’m ready for it to be over. > > Does anybody know if the mucormycosis will completely go away or if it > > can get worse and cause serious problems in my head/face?  I’m really > > concerned about this "fungal thing".  I feel like it’s all throughout my > > system because I’ve got several spots on my chest and arms that my PCP > > says is fungal. I’ve also got a couple fingernails that have fungal > > infections.  Will this stuff ever go away?  Sorry for all the > > questions!                Sherry

Response:

If your doctor was treating you incorrectly as a result of him not reading your pathology report, then you would be foolish to continue being treated by him. He’s not a good doctor. Sherry <se…@prodigy.net> wrote in message

news:[email protected]… | | Well, I saw my ENT doc yesterday for a post-op sinus surgery visit (6 | weeks) and I questioned him about "why" I was still having sinus | infections.  He said he couldn’t figure it out because he knew he got it | all when he did my surgery 6 weeks ago.  I then asked my ENT doc to | please read me the results of my Pathology report and he opened up my | chart and started looking for the report. When he found it he started | reading:  Right maxillary sinus contents: Acute and chronic sinusitis | with Colonies of Mucormcosis showing no evidence of tissue invasion. | Right ethmoid sinus contents:  Submucosal fibrosis.   Left ethmoid sinus | contents: Focal chronic sinusitis.  My ENT doc sat back and said "oh, | you have fungal infection!"   duh! | He said "all we need to do is take you off the antibiotic and put you on | a fungal medicine and it will cure you".  duh!     Well, it took 3 years | to find out that I’ve had fungal infections in my sinuses all this time | instead of bacterial infections.  I got my suspicions about the fungal | infections from reading some of the other posts on this newsgroup and | that is why I "asked" my ENT to read my Pathology report yesterday. | Thank goodness I asked him about it or I would still be on antibiotics | and still suffering.  I’m now on Nizoral (fungal medicine) and hopefully | it will help kill this fungus (I sure hope so anyway).  It also explains | why I had such a bad case of thrush immediately after my surgery.  If my | doc had just read the Pathology report immediately after my surgery or | even done a culture before the surgery, it would have probably save a | lot of time and suffering.  Has anybody else had this problem before? | By the way, I’m not diabetic or anything so I don’t know why I would | have mucormycosis except for being on antibiotics every month for the | past 3 years.  My ENT doc told me (on the way out the door) that he | wanted me to get another CT scan in about 3 months so he can check | things out.  This has been a nightmare!  I’m ready for it to be over. | Does anybody know if the mucormycosis will completely go away or if it | can get worse and cause serious problems in my head/face?  I’m really | concerned about this "fungal thing".  I feel like it’s all throughout my | system because I’ve got several spots on my chest and arms that my PCP | says is fungal. I’ve also got a couple fingernails that have fungal | infections.  Will this stuff ever go away?  Sorry for all the | questions!                Sherry |

Response:

Sherry, I very strongly concur with James that this man ( I cannot call him a doctor) should not be treating you. I am not even sure that Ketonazole is the correct antifungal for you. You might be better with an Infectious Disease Specialist or getting an urgent appointment with the doctor who treated Wayne at the Mayo Clinic. This is a completely dfferent kind of fungus to thrush. Thrush is caused by Candida albicans, this is caused by a type of Mucor. An Infectious Disease Specialist would be my choice and take with you a copy of the pathology report. — Heather Collins UK Mikecheath…@oakwellmount.freeserve.co.uk Sherry <se…@prodigy.net> wrote in message

news:[email protected]… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Well, I saw my ENT doc yesterday for a post-op sinus surgery visit (6 > weeks) and I questioned him about "why" I was still having sinus > infections.  He said he couldn’t figure it out because he knew he got it > all when he did my surgery 6 weeks ago.  I then asked my ENT doc to > please read me the results of my Pathology report and he opened up my > chart and started looking for the report. When he found it he started > reading:  Right maxillary sinus contents: Acute and chronic sinusitis > with Colonies of Mucormcosis showing no evidence of tissue invasion. > Right ethmoid sinus contents:  Submucosal fibrosis.   Left ethmoid sinus > contents: Focal chronic sinusitis.  My ENT doc sat back and said "oh, > you have fungal infection!"   duh! > He said "all we need to do is take you off the antibiotic and put you on > a fungal medicine and it will cure you".  duh!     Well, it took 3 years > to find out that I’ve had fungal infections in my sinuses all this time > instead of bacterial infections.  I got my suspicions about the fungal > infections from reading some of the other posts on this newsgroup and > that is why I "asked" my ENT to read my Pathology report yesterday. > Thank goodness I asked him about it or I would still be on antibiotics > and still suffering.  I’m now on Nizoral (fungal medicine) and hopefully > it will help kill this fungus (I sure hope so anyway).  It also explains > why I had such a bad case of thrush immediately after my surgery.  If my > doc had just read the Pathology report immediately after my surgery or > even done a culture before the surgery, it would have probably save a > lot of time and suffering.  Has anybody else had this problem before? > By the way, I’m not diabetic or anything so I don’t know why I would > have mucormycosis except for being on antibiotics every month for the > past 3 years.  My ENT doc told me (on the way out the door) that he > wanted me to get another CT scan in about 3 months so he can check > things out.  This has been a nightmare!  I’m ready for it to be over. > Does anybody know if the mucormycosis will completely go away or if it > can get worse and cause serious problems in my head/face?  I’m really > concerned about this "fungal thing".  I feel like it’s all throughout my > system because I’ve got several spots on my chest and arms that my PCP > says is fungal. I’ve also got a couple fingernails that have fungal > infections.  Will this stuff ever go away?  Sorry for all the > questions!                Sherry

Response:

Well, I saw my ENT doc yesterday for a post-op sinus surgery visit (6 weeks) and I questioned him about "why" I was still having sinus infections.  He said he couldn’t figure it out because he knew he got it all when he did my surgery 6 weeks ago.  I then asked my ENT doc to please read me the results of my Pathology report and he opened up my chart and started looking for the report. When he found it he started reading:  Right maxillary sinus contents: Acute and chronic sinusitis with Colonies of Mucormcosis showing no evidence of tissue invasion. Right ethmoid sinus contents:  Submucosal fibrosis.   Left ethmoid sinus contents: Focal chronic sinusitis.  My ENT doc sat back and said "oh, you have fungal infection!"   duh! He said "all we need to do is take you off the antibiotic and put you on a fungal medicine and it will cure you".  duh!     Well, it took 3 years to find out that I’ve had fungal infections in my sinuses all this time instead of bacterial infections.  I got my suspicions about the fungal infections from reading some of the other posts on this newsgroup and that is why I "asked" my ENT to read my Pathology report yesterday. Thank goodness I asked him about it or I would still be on antibiotics and still suffering.  I’m now on Nizoral (fungal medicine) and hopefully it will help kill this fungus (I sure hope so anyway).  It also explains why I had such a bad case of thrush immediately after my surgery.  If my doc had just read the Pathology report immediately after my surgery or even done a culture before the surgery, it would have probably save a lot of time and suffering.  Has anybody else had this problem before? By the way, I’m not diabetic or anything so I don’t know why I would have mucormycosis except for being on antibiotics every month for the past 3 years.  My ENT doc told me (on the way out the door) that he wanted me to get another CT scan in about 3 months so he can check things out.  This has been a nightmare!  I’m ready for it to be over. Does anybody know if the mucormycosis will completely go away or if it can get worse and cause serious problems in my head/face?  I’m really concerned about this "fungal thing".  I feel like it’s all throughout my system because I’ve got several spots on my chest and arms that my PCP says is fungal. I’ve also got a couple fingernails that have fungal infections.  Will this stuff ever go away?  Sorry for all the questions!                Sherry

Response:

Related Articles

• Chlorpheniramine. Question for Young Medicine Master Margrove
• 20mg of inderal/propranolol instead of 10mg?
• Can changes in weather affect sinuses?
• Stopping repetitive swallowing
• OT: *Bonus* Question of the day…. 3/29/06