I’m a fairly new snuffer who has had sinus problems for many years. As a result, like many such people, I became dependent on Afrin Nasal Spray about 3 decades ago and have used it several times every day without interruption. I was hospitalized three years ago with a severe abdominal problem, and even with the tube they run up your nose and down into your stomach, I had to have my Afrin, much to the distress of the Nurses who kept confiscating it from me after my friends would smuggle in a bottle, until they finally gave up after I threatened to stop letting them inject me with blood pressure medication unless they let me have my nasal spray. At any rate, the Afrin dries out your nasal passages, and makes me extraordinarily susceptible to bloody noses (especially in winter), even without snuff, but the snuff seems to make it worse. I’m more likely to get one when I’m congested than during the two hours or so after I’ve used it. Does anyone have any advice on how to minimize the bloody nose problem short of quitting the nasal spray, which is out of the question? Of course, quitting the snuff is also out of the question. I currently used saline solution in an attempt to dilute the Afrin, but I seem to be getting a nosebleed about once a day, and some of them are quite bad. I’d love a pinch right now, but since I’m on the verge of another one, I had to insert a snus portion (in my mouth), which is not nearly as pleasurable. I’ve heard of people getting such severe nosebleeds that they have to have one of their sinuses cauterized, which I should think would seriously diminish the pleasure of snuff taking.
Have you ever tried using a neti pot instead of the Afrin?
That Afrin will get you. It is worse than cigarettes. If you could get off of it, you may not have high blood pressure. If you don’t, well, I don’t want to be a purveyor of gloom and doom.
Some years ago I did suffer from severe seasonal allergies and their attendant nasal miseries. Daily use of a neti pot (with sea salt) cured me. This was many years before I ever thought of snuff. I have since been a firm believer in the neti pot, and have used it daily for years. It is no coincidence that I have not had severe allergic reactions, congestion or sinus infections ever since. Never mind snufftakers, EVERYONE who suffers from allergies and/or congestion would do well to use a neti pot daily. I think it is as vital as brushing your teeth.
Thank for the advice; I’m off to the Pharmacy after work to track down a neti-Pot, which I had never heard of before! Nachman is right about Afrin being worse than cigarettes. Over the years, you’d be suprised at how many Afrin addicts I’ve met. Whenever I see a movie where somebody ties sombody up and puts masking tape over their mouth as a gag, I’m thinking “You might as well shoot me in the head if you do that, because in a few hours I won’t be able to breath even slightly through my nose, and I would die of suffocation.” It’s a terrible feeling. So it’s off to hunt down a neti Pot, even before hitting the liquor store!
I just bought a Neti a few days hence after being sick for almost 2 weeks straight with a parade of sudden viruses. I love the Neti. Of all the things this site has turn me on too, that is the best. The difference it makes is night and day. I’m not sure what all makes and models are out there but I got a NeilMed porcelain one and I would heartily recommend it