My wife has been a cigarette smoker for years, but has recently entertained the idea of switching to snuff like I have done for health reasons and the side benefit of economical considerations as well. One thing that she presented to me the other day in her considerations of the ‘snuffing option’ was a question regarding her past nasal health history and one in which I didn’t have a ready answer for, so I thought that I’d post it on the forum in hopes that someone might be able to offer a word or two. When she was a youngster she had a deviated septum and also had poor sinus drainage, resulting in frequent nasal infections. She underwent a surgical procedure wherein they straightened the deviated septum and cut ‘windows’ in her sinus. She has had no problem since and that was some 25 years ago. Her question to me was “If I change over to snuffing regularly will it impact me (negatively) unlike most people since I have these ‘windows’ somewhere in my sinus?” The issue is whether or not the procedure opened her natal sinus cavity into the other parts of her sinus, and if so, would snuff cause a congestive or infection issue? Does anyone have any reputable knowledge on this subject, first-hand or otherwise? (Just asking for what the peeps might know. No accountability here. )

Only one way to find out for sure. Get some snuff into those custom-shop sinii. I can’t imagine anything more than temporary discomfort if she finds it disagreeable.

SCasey While I too had my deviated septum fixed I do not believe ‘windows’ were cut into my sinuses. Regardless, seeing how tobacco contains natural anti-bacterial properties I would’nt imagine having any infections caused by snuffing. However, being a recipient of such a procedure, I am quite aware of how my day-to-day nasal passages are behaving because I have been obsessed with finally being able to breathe freely through my nose. This new “awareness” has caused me to notice stuffiness from improper snuffing and the occasional nasal blockage of one nostril or the other due to irritation, allergies, dryness, etc. But I have never experienced any sinus infections from using snuff, in fact, I haven’t had one since my surgery 5 years ago.

Amazed to see two fellow sufferers in such a short space of time. I also underwent this procedure and had holes bored to help breathe and get my sense of smell back (I was in the wine trade at the time). I bet she remembers the yards and yards of gauze packing they pull from your nose. I think it really improved my appreciation of snuff as well as my enjoyment of wine and other olfactory pleasures. I recommend a Neti-pot and I use mine virtually every day. The Neti-pot really helps with my hayfever and I also think snuffing keeps nasal infections to a minimum.

I dunno I’m not a doctor. That’s who I’D be asking.

I would think that using snuff properly, like sniffing into the nose and not the sinus, wouldn’t affect it.

Thanks for the comments y’all (yep, I’m a Texan ). I think she may try it, although she thinks it a little unseemly for a lady, I think–blowing the nose, and occasionally spitting, etc.-- but if she can find a way to be subtle about all of that she may give it a whirl. She’s definitely tired of sinking so much $ into the cig habit as well as having to go outside to smoke in so many situations. …thanks again.

Maybe she could consider Swedish snus if nasal isn’t an option…

@SCasey you’re a Texan too?? Wheryres abouts you’s reckon yer frum? I just moved to FL from Fort Worth a month ago. Glad I missed out

What? Didn’t get that whole posting in the first time stupid iPhone. @SCasey you’re a Texan too?? Wheryres abouts you’s reckon yer frum? I just moved to FL from Fort Worth a month ago, lived there all my life and glad i just barely missed out on those 110 degree temps. I feel your pain

@Jrabevill Austin. Yes, it’s hot. That’s for sure.

@irabevill and @scasey - I moved from Arlington to New Jersey this past winter, and while my friends in Texas were melting from the hundred degree temps, I’ve been enjoying the low 80s lol… also, for all who are interested, I found this very interesting article on the health BENEFITS of tobacco use; it focuses on smoking, but it seems that nicotine is the chief proponent… http://www.eflanger.com/pipes/health-tobacco.htm

@ falconfive Ah yes Arlington, home of the new Jerry World

Born in dfw…but after living all over the country, its my least favorite place in the world lol…next to iraq of course haha

Arlington eh? I graduated from the old Bowie High School back when I lived there. I’m afraid this heat wave and drought is about to reduce the Metroplex to an irradiated wasteland if things don’t give soon. You guys aren’t missing out on anything this summer. It’s even too hot for the locusts.

…And the mosquitos!! I have hardly seen anything of them this year and that’s saying a Lot for Central Texas! Around here they can usually carry you away at this time of year if we’re getting enough rain.

I’ve noticed that too. I’m sure they’ll return with a vengeance in the Fall. Just hoping the West Nile virus doesn’t start flaring up again.

@Scasey you miss mosquitos? Come to Tennessee! You can have 'em all!

@transistor Miss 'em? No, but thanks.

I had two nasal operations for polyps and blocked nasal passageways when I was a teenager… I’ve been snuffing for 1 year now without any nasal problems.

@OscarWabbit Thanks. I think she’s going to give it a shot if she can find a way to do it in a girly kind of way. Not sure that she’ll have much success in that (smile), but we’ll see. (If I excused myself to the bathroom every time I had to wipe my nose or blow or take a pinch, it would look like I had a prostate problem. Haha.) …We’ll see… It may seem like too much of a guy thing to her. She and my daughter both have said “Ooh, gross” at times when I’ve had to attend to my nose, so maybe there’s not much hope, if you could call it that.

@SCasey - You could try telling your wife and daughter about how a lot of women would take snuff in the old days when snuff was more widespread in general, so traditionally it’s not an ‘unladylike’ thing to do. For instance, with floral snuffs - personally I love WoS Jockey Club, but as can be seen in the WoS Jockey Club thread, it was originally targeted towards a female customer base. Also of course there are plenty of female snuffers around nowadays as well, even though snuffing in general isn’t such a widespread thing.

@Sloth I did. That didn’t really do the trick. I guess she’ll keep smoking for now. She said that she thought that she saw blood the other day when she blew out. I’m not convinced that it really Was blood. She had just took some Abraxas and the stuff is kind of a deep red brown. I think it might’ve been the snuff mixed with mucus. I’ll take a look if she tries more.

@SCasey - Fair enough. Inspecting your partner’s nasal discharge… now, that must be a sign of true love! Seriously though, I’m sure it was OK. Perhaps she was particulary concerned about it due to her past medical history, which would be completely understandable. But the contents of the tissue or hanky always look pretty grim when one blows out after snuffing.

@Sloth That’s what I told her, but I don’t think she bought it. Haha. Fair enough. She is pretty opened minded though. So, well see.

SCasey just exagerate your enjoyment. Set up mild flim flams where you let her see you refuse to share snuff with friends, because it’s too precious. Then let her see your friends steal it from you while muttering it’s worth the loss of a friend. She’ll find her self craving it even more.

When I first tried to get into snuffing I thought that the menthol snuff I had was making my nose bleed a little but now I realize that occasionally my nose will dry up sometimes…guess I’m still not used to this countries air lol. Hope she comes around