Oooh! I have miserable sinus problems, so you have my total sympathy!! Recently I took my son to an ENT for his sinuses. He's a mouth breather, and is always congested, but over the last couple of years it's gotten really bad. He's had infection after infection, and is always feeling crummy. I know he has trouble sleeping, and I thought the sinus situation was making things worse. I also thought this was making it harder for him in school, since he wakes up exhausted and falls asleep in class. The ENT took some blood, and it turned out Max is extremely allergic to....trees. And grasses. Like all kinds. Olive trees, eucalyptus, oaks, elms and sycamores. All very prolific in California, and everywhere around where we live, work and play. The treatment consists of giving small amounts of the allergans in injection form over several months, allowing the body to build up the necessary antibodies and permanently eliminating the allergies. We're into the second week already. I really thought Max would have to have surgery, but it turns out the allergies were controllable. Maybe that will be what is causing all your sinus infections? By the way, when I asked the doctor about sinus treatments, I told him about the time my mom took me to an ENT for my terrible sinuses when I was about 12. He drained my sinuses. I remember how good it felt. I said I didn't remember what the treatment was called. He said "today, we call that treatment malpractice!" Oh well.

Sorry for the complications. Medicine can do so much, and usually with great success, but we forget that nothing this serious is ever 'simple', and 'once and done' may be uncommon. Hang in there, all who are waiting and hoping. The good result may be a little slow in coming, but it will arrive!

Ruby, I’ve been wondering about you and your sister. I’m sorry that her recovery is taking so long. I also understand her desire to be in her own home. I don’t know about being released from a rehab center, but to be released from the hospital we (DH and I both released from hospitals too recently) had to sign paperwork stating that - 1. Stair climbing was not necessary to function at home. 2. there would be another adult home around the clock 3. agree to home PT and OT 4. probably more stuff I can’t remember. We already had walk in showers, with pull down shower heads. Our handyman came immediately to install grab bars in the primary bathroom. This was an emotional step for me (I didn’t want old people stuff, even though we are old people) but having grab bars has been a godsend. The one thing I needed, that my DH didn’t, was a raised toilet contraption. It, too, was necessary. I did a happy dance when I was able to sanitize and donate that. Once she is home I hope she’ll take advantage of every home health professional available (insurance coverage) to her. Good luck to her, you and team of caregivers.

Alisande, I'm glad your surgery is over and everything went well. I, too, rejected the pain med in favor of Tylenol and did just fine. I have bad reactions to medicines as well, and have to be my own advocate for what I can take and what I can't bear the side effects of. We know our own bodies and what works for us, or doesn't. I had my gallbladder surgery in 2002, and except for the anesthesia making me sleep a lot for a few days, the main aftereffect was tiredness/lack of energy. It took weeks for me to get back to normal. I hope you feel better soon and get your energy back much faster than I did.