Sinuses and Neti Pots and Books, oh my!

In which I share way more than you ever needed to know about the inner workings of my sinus cavities.

So, I finally broke down and went to the doctor's office today. Dan made me. He went to work late today so he could watch the kids while I visited the urgent care clinic--which I will never again refer to as "Doc in a Box." They were absolutely lovely to me. I was in and out of there in less than 45 minutes--faster than my regular doctor's office. The itty bitty Filipino grandmother doc who treated me was more compassionate than my regular doctor ever thought about being. She actually patted my back and said, "Poor baby." So sweet. She gave me a steroid shot in the butt and a prescription for antibiotics for my sinus infection.

And, get this, she told me to stop taking Sudafed! She said my beloved Sudafed was not good for me right now. Everything in my sinus cavities is all dried up and solid and so very packed in there that it's a big wad of infected mucousy grossness. She said I should take Mucinex instead because I need guaifenesin to thin all the secretions--not make them even drier. Right now my friend Kathy is shaking her head and saying, "I told you so." Yeah, I know. I never listen.

I've been using saline spray all along so the tiny doc told me to use a neti pot. I keep hearing about these online but I've never tried one. I bought this one by SinuCleanse at Kroger for $10. The video is a hilarious example of really bad commercial acting. But I tried it and, after a few choking, sputtering, near drowning attempts, I think I finally got the hang of it. This one came with some convenient little packets of salt, but it would be cheaper to measure your own. I could feel some of the pressure in my head starting to ease a little bit.

Then I made the mistake of reading Kristin Hannah's new book.

Not a good idea with a sinus infection. Oh. My. Gosh. This is such a sad, beautiful, gut-wrenching, horrible, crappy, awful, wonderful book about friendship. Mom and Grace you should NOT read this. Really. Think Beaches meets The Saving Graces. Everyone else, you'll probably love it but Mom and Grace you really don't want to go there. Books like that make me FEEL so much that when I'm finished with them I feel kind of like I'm on the verge of a panic attack. I have all these really strong emotions and no place to put them. Wow. I need a really silly, happy, fun book after all that angst. But, alas, I have to do homework now. Then I have to go irrigate my nasal passages again. Do I know how to party or what?

Oh, and since someone asked: No, I was NOT mad at Dan when I wrote the Valentine's Day post. Quite the opposite, in fact. I feel sorry for men this time of year because the pressure to be romantic is just too much. I'm mad at the DAY, not the Dan. I gave him full permission to completely ignore the holiday.

If he wants to woo me he can vacuum.

Hint, hint.