Congrats to you!!! That is alot to give up at once but you are doing it!! Stay close and keep posting. When you are having bad days or even good just talk to us.
Hello & Welcome Quit123
I would not worry yourself into a panic. You did and are doing all the right things to heal this. I come from the later 60s, 70s & some into the 80s, when I would snort those type of drugs. Back in the 90s I got in trouble with the opiates that lead me up to snorting my Methadone with illegal adderral at the end. I did notice that I could no longer snort out of one nostril and the hair was gone, so as a Addict I switched nose holes. Anyway, both felt sore and dry when I came clean back on 2012. It did not take to long for both my nostril to heal. The thing I am a bit confused about is the outside of the nose. My nose was always peeling and kind of flaky (sort of speaking) but that had to do with some sun damage. I had some of the nose and face spots freezed and it removed this. YOU are seeing a Dr coming up and this is good, plus I think you got some good news from that other one. SO, just try to stay calm and give this time. Stay away from the drugs too. You are lucky that you did not enter to far into this Addiction, but sooner or later it would of got SO out of control. It all has to do with the changes in the chemical makeup of the brain chems. Also, genes & environment plays a big role as does tolerance. Keep stepping forward and try not to be around anything or anybody that will cause you to have triggers to use again.
I wish you all the best, and I am happy you stopped now!
Vickie
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mom out there. Mother’s Day 2016 was the first time I decided I was done with cocaine. Between that day and July 2017 I relapsed 3 times, each time using only once. But then for some stupid reason after that last relapse in July 2017 I went crazy and started using regularly again. My use tapered off as I was starting to feel the effects (dry, sore, scabby nose and fatigue). I would have to inhale water to wash down the coke from nose as it would just stay there. The last time I used was November 23, 2017. My nose hurt and was irritated so to numb the pain I would smoke weed and drink alcohol daily. I was also aggressively going to the gym to try to heal fast. All of this lead to an extremely dry septum and nose that was not getting any better. So I quit drinking and smoking and put the gym on hold and saw doctors and ENTs. An initial endoscopy revealed no perforations but the nasal lining in my nose is completely stripped. The ENT said it should heal back. Since January I’ve been coke, alcohol and smoke free and eating super healthy, vitamins, humidifiers, saline sprays etc.
It’s been 4.5 months and the lining in my nose still has not healed. The nose is still dry and scabby especially in the morning when I wake up. I have to use netipot everyday to drain the dried mucus from my nose otherwise it stays in there all dried up. My nose is dry on the inside and outside. My eyes are dry. And I can’t hold conversations for long because I get fatigued and dehydrated quickly. I obviously can’t do any physical exercise either because I don’t want to dry out my septum and nasal cavity even further.
Does the nasal lining always heal or if blood supply is compromised it just won’t ever heal?
Sometimes after waking and still lying bed I can hear some pop/crackling sounds from inside my nasal cavity. Wtf is that?
Is it possibly to develop a septal perforation even 5 months after quitting cocaine?
The front part of my septum(close to my nostril) is very pale/white/dry and when I shine a phone light through one nostril I can see a few areas on it that are more see through than the rest. Can this still perforate? And what can I do to minimize the risks?
Don't over worry yourself.... I have been free of cocaine for about a year and experienced the same physical symptoms you did. Vitamin E is a huge relief... Make sure you keep your water intake high along with your vitamins.. I have found airavle supplement called "biosil" it is a capsule taken daily and started 6months ago iv regained my original skin (also on my nose) back, nails & hair have got significantly stronger since taking this supplement! I physically feel a lot better since taking this product...it's worth every penny. I feel great on the outside again (recharged) & that is slowly helping my mental state. Keep up the healthy lifestyle! It will keep getting better.
I had troubles back in the day with coke but my symptoms cleared up pretty quick. Nowadays you have no idea what it is cut with so this may take longer. I do know others have had a hard time with their nose healing but it did eventually heal. I would give it more time. Congrats on the clean time!
You are doing really great so keep it going! I really liked how honest you were with the doctors. Your nose will continue to heal. Keep us posted on how you are doing~
Hi Again, Quit123
I would first like to say this, that I think I did not do those drugs in the 60s but in the 70 & 80s and I too just did this occasionally. I could always tap a little in drugs and booze but walk away with no draw backs or withdraws. Heck, I did not even know what a w/d was until I first ran out of my pain pills. However, this also opened up my Addiction that did carry for yrs & yrs, without understanding it. My point is, if you did this drug for weeks or months on a daily basis you could be going through a mental withdraw, which can cause some serious depression. As I stated above, these type of mind-altering substances change our brain chemistry. This is what takes time to balance back.
I have seen so many people come on here afraid to tell there loved ones and when they did they felt surprised and a BIG weight lifted. We have to have SUPPORT. What I would like to suggest to you, is to go hit a few NA meetings and tell your story and reach for help. You will be surprised to find someone there with your same story. We have to talk, and let our so called demons out of our back pocket. Other wise, we just keep stuffing it and stuffing it until we explode. After I read your post I started thinking of the last time I did do this type of drug, but it was crank. I only did a little months & months before I came clean. This time I did feel the comedown and I did feel very depressed. If you go and do some homework, you could find out were this type of drug hits what area of the brain and what this area of this brain is responsible for. I have seen a c/t of the brain after long use of crank/meth, as it looked like swisscheese holes.
I am no sure what you are taking about on the outside of your nose, but if the Dr thought there was no damage, then maybe you just need this time to heal. Have you tried some Vaseline? I just can not see the fact that you did do any serious damage for that short of time..but..I am not a Dr either. Just try to stay clam, give this time, and go try a meeting or two and listen and talk. Someone will come up to you after I am sure. You can show them what you are talking about and maybe they will have a answer. Maybe it happen to someone there too? Just do not let it bring you to a breaking point. We as Addicts have no patience and that is a big drawback. Keep in touch and let us know how you are..OK?
Prayers out to you!
Vickie
I know my post is a little long to read but I’m hoping someone can offer some support or share something. Feeling really along right now and there’s no one I can talk to.