Originally Posted by crash_override

Ha, my first day on this forum I made a post about Bruce ****inson, the lead vocalist from Iron Maiden. Thankfully, MB has become a little less conservative over the years. Now they only censor ****, ****, ***, ****, and ****. Thanks MB

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

This sounds awful, Liz. I hope your hearing will return quickly in your right ear as the antibiotic prevents further growth of the bacteria. I also hope that you can get through the workday with little pain.

I looked up the medications to learn more about them.

I read here ( Vicodin Information from Drugs.com ) that Vicodin "may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert."

I read that Augmentin contains the antibiotic Amoxicillin, which is in the penicillin class of antibiotics, and does not kill bacteria directly but stops them from multiplying by preventing their formation of walls that surround them, which they require to survive. (While working with bacteria in the lab, I have used Ampicillin, which has the same structure as Amoxicillin, and it prevented the growth of E. coli very well.)

Amoxicillin is effective against many different bacteria including H. influenzae, N. gonorrhoea, E. coli, Pneumococci, Streptococci, and certain strains of Staphylococci, the latter two being involved in ear/sinus infections and skin infections, respectively.

Augmentin also contains the newer antibiotic called Clavulanate potassium, which is similar to penicillin but fights bacteria that are often resistant to penicillins and other antibiotics. Augmentin Information from Drugs.com

So Augmentin looks like a good choice of antibiotic for your ear infection.

If your bacterial invaders are Streptococci pneumoniae, a common cause of ear infections, then they might look like these below. They are pretty, aren't they? They look deceptively harmless, like breakfast cereal.

Your invaders:



Panda Puffs Breakfast Cereal:

Originally Posted by ThePhanastasio

Still got a little bit of a cough, but my sinuses are mainly cleared up, and I'm going jogging in a few hours.

My great-grandmother is in the hospital right now; really minor brain bleeding. They say it's really not serious; they isolated where it was happening and say that there were no complications, and none anticipated.

She's 87, and is still in good health, considering her age.

Still worrisome, but they told us it really wasn't anything to worry about.

Originally Posted by ribbons

Thanks so much, Erica, for the information about the medicines. You are so incredibly knowledgeable and smart, I trust your insights and opinions more than the doctor's! Unfortunately I wasn't able to return to work today because my fever was too high, but my supervisor was very nice and said no worries. The bacteria really does look like Panda Puffs -- that must account for the cereal-like crunching sensation in my head!

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

I'm sorry your fever was so high today! I guess the positive was that you got to hang out at home doing something fun, I hope...like replying to me!

Oh, I *am* knowledgeable and smart, Liz , but all that bacteria information came from websites, except for the parts about my lab experiences with E. coli and my kitchen experiences with overly sweet Panda Puffs.

I do feel it is always good to make sure doctors prescribe medications and make recommendations that fit the ailment. I think most doctors don't know much about the mechanisms by which medications act. The good doctors are the humble ones who appreciate questions, admit the limits of their knowledge, and help patients get second opinions.

This afternoon after work, I shoveled snow from the driveway and took out the recycling. I also played my electric guitar a little and plan to again after finishing some online classes I need to take for work. (Playing the guitar will be my prize for finishing the class on Hazardous Materials Shipping Awareness...ugh.)

Speaking of guitars, I wish I could hear your not-really-a-solo guitar solo!

I hope you'll feel better tomorrow.

Originally Posted by Janszoon

We still can't talk about Van **** Parks though.

Originally Posted by The Virgin

what? i don't understand you. farming is for vegetables, not for meat. if ou disagree with a farming practice, you disagree on a vegetable. unless you have a different definition of farming.

Originally Posted by The Virgin

what? i don't understand you. farming is for vegetables, not for meat. if ou disagree with a farming practice, you disagree on a vegetable. unless you have a different definition of farming.