Sinus issues you didn't know you had

[steve161]

As a smoker I didn't experience a lot of seasonal sinus issues. But I sure did after I quit. Pure misery for six months. It got so bad I had to by-pass my regular doctor and seek specialized care due to the fact that I started to have anxiety attacks that revolved around not being able to breathe at night. Nothing prepared me for that experience. Weird, weird, weird! Coming out the other end of that particular dark tunnel is a true relief! I finally get to experience the rest of what is so good about not smoking. Deep nose hits of fragrant spring air that  are like a delicious snack to the ole nasal palate! Yum!

The ear, nose, and throat guy I saw is a big believer in washing the crud out of the sinuses with water.

I was pretty much thinking to myself: "Oh, yeah...like that's gonna happen." But eventually I went and got the supplies which amounts to a squeeze botte, distilled water, and packets of the saline stuff you mix in the water. And I found out it works to keep El Schnoz in tip-top working order. If you're one of those who discovered the "joy" of allergy/sinusitus/rhinitus, etc. after ditching the smokes, you may want to pick up a box of the nasal wash stuff from Walmart and give it a shot. I would recommend the squeeze bottle over the neti pot.  I also like to keep a Vicks Inhaler with me to have something to inhale for a little buzz, and Fisherman's Friend Lozenges for a nice substitute hit when one of those instinctive habitual urges to

"do something" comes along. They aren't so imperative any more, but sometimes it's nice to have something to answer them with that feels good and helps me appreciate breathing more rather than less.

I smoked fairly regularly for something around 45 years. I wasn't a particularly heavy smoker, and the medicos tell me I have little if any bad consequences from it. I suppose moderation,a very active lifestyle, and decent diet helped dampen the damage, but at 60, it seems like I needed to quit tempting fate and

start acting like a grown-up instead of a little kid sucking his thumb to keep his cool. I've had a relatively easy time quitting this time. I guess it was just my time. Whatever reason for it, I'm grateful. That gratitude

attitude will get you places you could neve otherwise go. Quitting smoking is probably a minor miracle, but

It's doable. I would hope that we attract more who get it done earlier rather than later.  I will mention that I was a black-out drinking chronic alcoholic who was in rehab 3 times beforehe was 21...(old enough to drink)....HAHAHA. I've been sober and happy since and believe that alcohol is a hundred times easier to kick than the pernicious weed.

Ask for help when you need it, and give thanks when you get it. Tell the devil to get behind you!

[craftylady]

CONGRATS!!  And thanks for the info!  I have sinus problems, allergies anyway.  I have tried a nettie pot before but wasn't really good at it.  Always thought that if I was going to drown myself it should be more dramatic than a little green pot in the bathroom!!  LOL  Will have to look into the squeeze thing??? 

[steve161]

Sinus remedies are a huge industry here and globally, for sure. What to do, what to do?

Yeah, the squeeze bottle is the way to go if you're going to start guzzling water through your nose. It's a straight shot up the ole shnozzola with no gymnastics or contortions. I went with the Ayr brand, but the other is pretty much the same. Think it's Neilmed or something similar The first few times it's a little spooky, and kind of gross, but damned if it doesn't keep things cleared out. Just relax, lean over a sink, open your mouth, and give it a gentle squeeze into each nostril. Keep calm and it will work just fine for you. No gagging or choking or coughing. Oh, you'll want to warm it up a little...not as pleasant if the water is cold. For desperate times I was resorting to the Sinex type decongestant spray at night to get to sleep, but they say that creates as many problems as it solves so I was reluctant to use it more than a couple nights in a row, though it never failed to work. (My ace in the hole!) Yeeee haaaaw! 

As a natural replacement, for the Sinex type stray, I tried something called Sinus Buster. It works, but not as completely as Afrin or Sinex, etc. And the first few times you use it, hang onto your butt with both hands. The active ingredient is pretty much the same stuff they use in pepper spray and it can be a consciousness-raising experience until you get used to it. Woo woo! My brain is on fire! Ain't I special!

I was not aware that smoking could  block allergy type reactions so it was a big surprise to find I am susceptible to pollen, or mold or dust or whatever. I spend a lot of time working outdoors in the NE Texas woods and bike riding around the area, so I do indeed need to identify what works to treat the sinus stuff. All kinds of pollens, molds, dust and I periodically mow pastures and do some logging and sawmilling. None of that stuff ever bothered me before when I smoked.  And  I had never experienced an anxiety attack before either, and thought I was having a stroke or heart attack, what with the chest tightness, panic, sweats, etc. Spent my birthday parked outside the emergency room from midnight to 2:00 Am this past Sunday so my wife wouldn't have to load me in the vehicle by herself "just in case." A couple of hours of wondering if you're going to drop dead has a way of putting a damper on things. HAHAHA. I ended up getting some anti-anxiety meds Monday, and they also convinced me to take something to keep my blood pressure down at least temporarily. Not entirely convinced I have a blood pressure problem, but on the occasions it has been checked it's been higher than normal, so I figure if it will help me get through the smoker to non-smoker transition more comfortably, I'll go for it, and see what I can do about getting off it later.

[Strudel]

Congrats on your quit and welcome to the site! I also had allergic reactions to some things the first fall and spring of quit......now - after almost 2 years things are much better. I even had lots of nose bleeds that first fall - first time in my 60 years!! But - as I said - I am much better now. Hopefully that will be the case for you. Again - welcome and congrats! 

[steve161]

Thanks for the encouragement Strudel. I have it in mind that 8 months is a relatively short time compared to all the time I spent smoking and that some things will need some readjustment and recalibration to bring my ornery ole self in sync with the new reality. I am mostly patient and tolerant with the process but the anxiety atttacks came out of left field and were totally beyond anything I'd ever experienced and didn't know what the hell was going on the first few times. I think with a few days of taking the anti-anxiety stuff I will probably be a lot less prone to have one and be able to stop taking the meds. Not big on taking medications of any kind unless absolutely necessary. It's a better path I'm on these days, and it's good to be out from under the thumb of the tobacco companies. It's a good time of life and now I'll be able to enjoy it just that much more. I have gratitude to spare if anyone is feeling a little short today. HAHAHA