Seeking Relief for Ongoing Health Issues
At 26 years old, I find myself struggling with persistent health problems. My current symptoms include a painful throat and a dry mouth, which have worsened to the extent that I once found it difficult to breathe. In a panic, I sought help at the emergency room, but instead of receiving assistance, I was turned away. Despite my insistence that I was barely able to breathe, the hospital staff asked me to leave. Feeling desperate, I chose to stay, only to end up spending the night in uncomfortable surroundings without access to my preferred remedies, honey and hot sauce, both of which provide me some relief. In addition to this distressing experience, I had attended a clinic hoping for some resolution, but they promised to follow up and never did. For over a decade, I’ve dealt with a dry throat and mouth, along with sharp, chronic pain in my right inner ear. If neither the clinic nor the hospital is able to provide help, is there any hope for relief from this continuous suffering? What steps can I take next?
Answers (1)
2/14/2026, 9:20:45 PM
OpenHealth AI
I'm truly sorry to hear about the persistent and distressing symptoms you're facing. It's understandable to feel frustrated when healthcare settings don't provide the help you need. Let's see how we can address your health concerns in a structured way.
Main Points
- Your symptoms suggest chronic issues, potentially linked to a condition affecting your throat, mouth, or ear.
- It's important to manage symptoms effectively while seeking ongoing medical support.
- Immediate relief can be sought from home remedies alongside better communication with healthcare providers.
Explanation
You've been experiencing a painful throat, dry mouth, and ear pain, which can significantly impact your quality of life. These symptoms could stem from various underlying issues, including allergies, autoimmune conditions, or other chronic health concerns that may need thorough evaluation. The feelings of urgency and distress when experiencing difficulty breathing are very real, and it's vital to address these feelings and symptoms, especially if they've been ongoing for more than a decade.
Next Steps
-
Immediate Relief:
- Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids to soothe your throat and keep your mouth moist. Warm teas (with honey, if you prefer) can be especially comforting.
- Use Humidifiers: If the air in your home is dry, using a humidifier can help alleviate throat and mouth dryness.
- Saline Mouth Rinses: Rinse your mouth with warm saline water to reduce discomfort and moisture.
-
Symptom Tracking:
- Maintain a symptom diary documenting your throat pain, dry mouth, and any ear pain. Note when symptoms worsen or improve, what you’ve consumed, and any other relevant activities or exposures.
-
Explore Remedies:
- If honey and hot sauce help, consider continuing to use them in moderation. However, be cautious if you notice any adverse reactions, especially with spicy foods, as they may irritate your throat.
-
Seek a New Healthcare Provider:
- Given your past experiences, consider seeking out another doctor or clinic that specializes in chronic conditions, such as an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor) or a rheumatologist (especially since you've tagged conditions like lupus and fibromyalgia). Prepare your symptom diary, as it can help the new provider understand your situation better.
-
Patient Advocacy:
- When seeking medical attention, be assertive about your symptoms and the impact they have on your life. Communicating your worries about breathing difficulties clearly and persistently can help convey the seriousness of your situation.
-
Mental Health Considerations:
- Given the chronic nature of your suffering and the distress you’ve described, consider engaging with a mental health professional for support. Chronic health issues can take a toll on mental well-being.
Remember, you are not alone in this, and persistent symptoms deserve attention and care. Continue to advocate for yourself in medical settings, and don't hesitate to reach out again if you have more questions or need further guidance.
Related Questions
Exploring the Impact of Dorsal Tethering and Multiple Syrinx Shunts on Hand Weakness
**Patient Profile:** - **Age:** 54 years - **Height:** 169 cm - **Weight:** 77 kg - **Ethnicity:** Caucasian/Finnish **Chief Complaint:** The patient reports experiencing a gradual weakening of the left hand over the past two years. **Medical Background:** The individual has a history of thoracic spinal cord injury (T4 level) sustained in 2014, leading to post-traumatic syringomyelia affecting the spinal cord from C2 to T8. Over the course of 6 surgical interventions between 2015 and 2023, five intradural syrinx shunts have been implanted, along with the placement of an intrathecal baclofen pump to manage symptoms. **Current Medications:** - Intrathecal baclofen: 630 mcg per day - Gabapentin (Neurontin): 1200 mg taken three times daily (total 3600 mg) - Venlafaxine: 150 mg per day - Lamotrigine: 100 mg taken twice a day (total 200 mg) - **Alcohol Use:** Infrequent - **Smoking Status:** Non-smoker - **Recreational Drug Use:** None reported **Clinical Development:** Following the thoracic spinal cord injury, the patient progressed to develop significant syringomyelia. The multiple surgical interventions resulted in the placement of various shunts. A recent MRI scan from 2024 to 2025 revealed generalized atrophy of the spinal cord and dorsal tethering at the cervical region, while no significant expansion of the syrinx was noted. **Symptoms in the Past Two Years:** - Deterioration in fine motor skills of the left hand - Decreased grip strength - Noticeable atrophy of intrinsic muscles (consistent with a C8–T1 pattern) - Sensory loss has progressed from the ulnar digits to the entire left arm Electroneuromyography (ENMG) results did not indicate a clear peripheral cause for the symptoms. **Neurosurgical Consultations:** While several evaluations were conducted, no identifiable new surgical targets emerged. The potential for additional surgery is deemed high-risk at this stage. In cases similar to this patient, where stable imaging exists alongside a clinical decline, there is a question of whether procedures such as detethering, duraplasty, or shunt revision can effectively slow down the disease’s progression, or whether this represents an ongoing loss of anterior horn cells that is typically irreversible. **Imaging History:** *Visual documentation of imaging results is available.*
Ciprofloxacin Ear Drops: Concerns and Alternatives
Recently, I was given a prescription for Ciprofloxacin ear drops combined with a steroid. However, I must admit I'm apprehensive due to the information I've come across regarding Ciprofloxacin. Having recently stopped taking benzodiazepines, my nervous system is quite sensitive, and I’m still dealing with digestive issues stemming from several rounds of antibiotics in the past, which have led to food intolerances. Although I’ve managed to achieve a bit more stability, I am anxious about the prospect of using antibiotics to treat an outer ear infection. Are there any alternatives to Ciprofloxacin ear drops? Perhaps some natural remedies to consider, especially since my symptoms seem mild?
Struggling with Persistent Illness
Age: 37 Height: 5’2 Weight: 186 Gender: Female Medical Background: Allergic asthma, chronic pain, unilateral vestibular hypo-function, binocular vision dysfunction (all resulting from a motor vehicle accident four years ago), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Greetings, Medical Professionals! My family of four and I have been experiencing intermittent illness since New Year's Eve. We’ve tested positive for Influenza A, and that's the only diagnosis we currently have, here in Southern California. Given my medical history, I tend to feel the effects the hardest, while my children, who also suffer from asthma and allergies, are similarly affected. My husband is generally healthy and appears to be in better shape, but he does manage Type 2 Diabetes. My children and I have been really unwell; we've dealt with high fevers, persistent coughs, severe colds, and sinus infections (we usually end up on antibiotics after a week of no improvement). I’ve had chest X-rays done, and thankfully, the results came back clear. We have consistently tested negative for both COVID-19 and strep throat. What are we missing? Why do we keep facing these health challenges? I trust my healthcare provider completely, yet my mother has started to influence my feelings, suggesting that the doctors aren’t thoroughly investigating our symptoms. While it’s true that my kids and I have been ill frequently, I assumed it was due to our existing conditions of asthma and allergies. My mom mentioned knowing someone who experienced frequent sickness and later was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. I stay on top of my mammograms, gynecological check-ups, and my lab results are largely normal, aside from the fatty liver issue, which I am actively addressing. We’re not engaging in risky behaviors, so why are we being hit so hard? At what point should we be really worried about our health situation?
Persistent Rapid Heartbeat and Anxiety
I’m a 28-year-old female, weighing 110 pounds and standing at 5 feet 1 inch, and I follow a vegetarian diet. Recently, I have been grappling with severe panic attacks right after I wake up. These episodes have caused excessive sweating and nausea, often leading me to vomit, and then I typically drift back to sleep. When I eventually wake up again, even if it's only after a short nap of about 20 minutes, I generally feel significantly improved. Initially, I suspected that my frequent use of marijuana was the underlying cause of these disturbances. As a result, I ceased all marijuana usage a few weeks ago, only indulging in an edible during the Super Bowl. Since I stopped using it, the panic attacks have subsided. Though I still experience acute anxiety attacks, they do not include a rapid heartbeat; rather, the symptoms are characterized by overwhelming anxiety, nausea, profuse sweating, and episodes of shivering. Last Thursday night around 10 PM, I began to feel anxious, and by midnight, as I was preparing for bed, my heart began racing uncontrollably. It took nearly two hours for my heart to stop pounding so forcefully that it felt as though it might leap from my chest, allowing me to finally get some sleep. This morning, I awoke around 8 AM with a surge of anxiety and a racing heart. Although the anxiety subsided within two hours, my heart rate showed no signs of returning to normal. Typically, my resting rate is around 65 beats per minute, but today it has fluctuated between 80 and 105 beats per minute. It is now approaching 3 PM, and despite continuing with my daily activities, I am increasingly anxious about my heart rate's inability to stabilize. Is there anything I can do to help regulate it? At what point should I seek medical advice?
26-Year-Old Man Seeking Urgent Help for Severe Neurological Issues
Hello, everyone, I am a 26-year-old male from the Netherlands, standing at 180 cm and weighing 70 kg. I enjoy drinking but do not smoke. I am reaching out in a state of desperation, looking for assistance as my health has sharply deteriorated. I struggle with maintaining control over my body; my right shoulder droops noticeably lower than my left, my right leg buckles under me unexpectedly, and I find myself unable to walk or sit up straight. Completing simple daily tasks such as laundry and cooking has become increasingly challenging. I feel as though I am nearing a point where I cannot care for myself at all. This situation has developed over eight years, filled with various medical and neurological problems. To provide some context, I feel it’s important to describe how significantly my life has changed. Until I turned 18, I enjoyed robust health. I played tennis at a high national level in the Netherlands and excelled academically, generally living a fulfilling life without any mental health concerns; I truly loved life. * **2017 (Initial Symptoms):** The gradual onset of symptoms began with a peculiar sense of detachment between my mind and the right side of my body. I experienced: * Episodes of incontinence and a decline in morning erections. * Diminished sensation on the right side of my body. * Cognitive challenges, including brain fog, difficulty in planning, and a distorted sense of time. * Respiratory complications, often feeling as though my breathing was obstructed and I couldn’t inhale deeply. * Discomfort in my pelvic region, particularly while sitting, alongside lower back pain. In pursuit of relief, I consulted several specialists such as a pelvic floor expert, a urologist, and a sexual health professional. However, I grew skeptical of these approaches because I sensed a deeper issue at play. My pelvic function appeared normal. The urologist's only inquiry was about my smoking habits, and upon learning I didn’t smoke, I was immediately directed to a sexual health specialist. This felt misplaced, as my challenges were not related to sexual function. Despite my frustrations, I decided to carry on, hoping my situation might improve. However, for several years, nothing changed. * **2019 (Temporary Improvement):** In December of that year, I experienced a sudden resurgence of energy while lying on my bed. It felt as though something in my body had reset; my leg trembled, warmth surged through my right side, and all cognitive and physical functions appeared to return to normal, albeit briefly. * **2020 (Worsening Condition):** Soon after my brief reprieve, while preparing for exams, I found myself seated for prolonged periods. Subsequently, my symptoms returned with greater intensity, including burning sensations, cold extremities, tinnitus, and impaired taste and smell. The situation prompted another visit to the doctor, leading to neurological evaluations, including MRIs which yielded no clear findings. * **2021 (Deterioration Triggered by Chiropractic Treatment):** Following a chiropractic session focused on my neck and pelvis, my condition escalated dramatically. I noticed an immediate decline in posture and a significant increase in muscle weakness radiating from my core to my neck on the right side. * **Current State (2026):** I am experiencing a severe and progressive decline, characterized by: * **Muscle Atrophy:** Noticeable thinning of muscle mass on the right side of my face, right arm, and tongue. * **Physical Deformation:** My right shoulder is much lower, and my right leg often gives way under weight. * **Functional Loss:** I struggle to maintain an upright position or walk, and my tongue strength has diminished, removing my ability to participate in sports and live a normal life. **Medical Background & Assessment:** * **Imaging:** Numerous MRIs (brain, full spine, neck, pelvis) have shown no significant results. * **Consultations:** I have seen urologists, undergone pelvic floor therapy, and met with neurologists and osteopaths. * **Current Diagnosis:** Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). * **Treatment History:** Pursued multiple treatment plans focusing on FND which yielded no improvements. I am increasingly doubtful about my FND diagnosis because of the progressive muscle atrophy and physical decline directly following a specific treatment that intensified my neurological symptoms. I feel trapped in a situation where medical professionals are categorizing my condition without a true understanding of the underlying problem. As my symptoms evolve from pain and numbness to pronounced weakness, I feel as though I am losing the ability to support myself. If anyone here can provide insight, guidance, or is aware of alternative diagnostic methods for my condition, I would be eternally grateful. I believe there is a misalignment in my overall physiology contributing to these issues. I am willing to offer financial compensation for anyone who can genuinely assist me in this matter—$10,000 for the person who provides a viable solution. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.