Under Pressure

Wow, sinuses are charged! Next to drinking a brisk glass of chunky milk, this is my favorite feeling. I've got that constant, eye-watering tingle behind my septum that allows my ears crackle when I swallow. Here's something I find odd: I can blow my nose and the pressure afterwords makes a "squeek," but nobody else can hear it but me...

I am reminded of bull-rider named Dee when I was a Wrangler Pro-Rodeo Team physician. We were in Wheaton, Missouri when Dee got hurled from a very pissed bull. Before the clown-guy could get the rope off the bull's balls, the bull gently pounded the side of Dee's skull with it's hoof. (Yes, ladies... they bull's balls are tied with a rope to make it jump around-- but it doesn't work with men, so don't try.)

During the evaluation to see if he was okay I checked his hearing. Dee got a big grin and said, "Yeah, Doc... I kin hear ya fine. Can you hear this?" He held his nose, blew hard and his right ear whistled. He told me he could play the Mary's Lamb song, but I really didn't care to hear it...