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Chronic sinus congestion after quitting smoking
I am a 28 yr old male with no history of allergies or ear infections. I had been smoking cigarettes liberally for about 10 years and quit smoking completely as of January, 2009.
About 6-7 months ago I developed (as if overnight) extreme sinus congestion. Usually my nose is completely blocked up around the clock, especially in the morning. Blowing my nose tends to do nothing, except for the rare occasion that while standing in a hot shower I can get a bit of gunk out now and then. I also have had extremely red chapped lips ALL the time. My family physician did blood tests to test for vitamin deficiencies and found nothing out the ordinary.
I saw an allergist about 4 months ago, they did all the standard allergy tests and didn't find anything. The doctors suggested that perhaps it was seasonal allergies and placed me on Clarinex, Nasonex and Astepro - none of which have had any sort of effect. I purchased a Neilmed Netipot, but my sinuses are so blocked that I can't use the product, as the nasal rinse wont travel through my nasal passages.
The ONLY medication that I have taken that helps is Neo synephrine nasal spray. Within minutes of using that stuff I get instant relief and can actually breathe through my nose (still can't blow anything out). However, it says on the label that you're not supposed to use it for more than 3 days.
I'm not sure of where to look for answers next. I've always read about people have quit smoking and felt so much healthier, and I feel like since I've quit smoking I've simply opened another door of health concerns. Has anyone else experienced something like this? I've never had any sort of health issues that have onset so quickly and persisted for so long!
About 6-7 months ago I developed (as if overnight) extreme sinus congestion. Usually my nose is completely blocked up around the clock, especially in the morning. Blowing my nose tends to do nothing, except for the rare occasion that while standing in a hot shower I can get a bit of gunk out now and then. I also have had extremely red chapped lips ALL the time. My family physician did blood tests to test for vitamin deficiencies and found nothing out the ordinary.
I saw an allergist about 4 months ago, they did all the standard allergy tests and didn't find anything. The doctors suggested that perhaps it was seasonal allergies and placed me on Clarinex, Nasonex and Astepro - none of which have had any sort of effect. I purchased a Neilmed Netipot, but my sinuses are so blocked that I can't use the product, as the nasal rinse wont travel through my nasal passages.
The ONLY medication that I have taken that helps is Neo synephrine nasal spray. Within minutes of using that stuff I get instant relief and can actually breathe through my nose (still can't blow anything out). However, it says on the label that you're not supposed to use it for more than 3 days.
I'm not sure of where to look for answers next. I've always read about people have quit smoking and felt so much healthier, and I feel like since I've quit smoking I've simply opened another door of health concerns. Has anyone else experienced something like this? I've never had any sort of health issues that have onset so quickly and persisted for so long!
I had the reverse. As a child, I used to suffer from Sinusitis. My nose would block up most of the time, causing it almost impossible to breathe. I tried a lot of medications, nothing actually helped. Then I started smoking at around the age of 19-20. I am 27 currently, still smoking, eager to quit.
The point is, once I started smoking, my sinusitis problem vanished. Smoking cured me actually.
The point is, once I started smoking, my sinusitis problem vanished. Smoking cured me actually.
https://scienceblog.com/21093/allergy-season-cigarettes-to-the-rescue/ I found that link after googling around in frustration - here's why. I am 61 years young and have been plagued with nasal allergy issues since my middle teens. After years of investigating I am convinced my allergies arise from a badly damaged gut - initially I believe through antibiotics being prescribed for acne, obviously when I was said teen. I believe my diet, lots of processed grains, white bread etc also contributed to gut damage and resultant allergies. I think damage to the gut through prolonged antibiotic use etc is quite well understood now by the more enlightened medical minds and it's certainly my conclusion. I started smoking when I was about 18 or 19 - quit in my mid 20's for 4 or 5 years then smoked again till my late 30s when I stopped again. This time I really noticed my allergies I seemed to have constant sinus issues till 5 years after quitting I took it up again. Presto allergies under control. I then happily smoked till I reached 60, then with the ridiculous cost of tobacco in Australia I decided to quit once more. This time I checked into a water fasting centre and fasted for 9 days, during which strangely I had no withdrawal symptoms - I won't say it was easy because water fasting can be a bit confronting in terms of what comes up - I had to cope with everything from hives to boils to anxiety which according to the practitioners was quite normal given I had a history of those types of maladies. Well after the fast was broken I could freely breath through my nose in a way that I had never felt in my life, both nostrils completely open, not a hint of having to mouth breath and that's the way it was for 6 months. A year ago I started getting all blocked up again, worse than ever - bloody nasal polyps GRRRRRRR. My feeling is I suspect they had been there for a long time but the smoking keep them under control. I believe the fast healed my gut issues to a degree, but then after a time old gut issues reemerged, perhaps due to histamines, amines, salicylates or the old culprit gluten ( yeah I know I wasn't supposed to go back to it - but hey cigarettes were off the menu and call me weak if you must, but food and not always the most nutricious kind became my friend. Yeap I swapped the ***** for the witch - anyways I have done a few short fasts since - 2 or 3 days which haven't really helped, I have tried alsorts of dietary modifications (still persevering) and I am just about convinced that the feeling I have had for a long time that smoking does dampen the symptoms of nasal allergy response is well founded, in spite of all the negatives attached to the habit . The link that I started my post with supports this belief. However due to the cost and not wishing to get my self addicted I will keep trying to control my issues with natural methods rather than the pharmaceutical sprays etc which to me are more harmful than tobacco and I hope in time to get things under control. If not well I must admit the odd roll your own organic cigarette may cross my lips - I will keep you posted. PS a naturopath recently referred to me as a "walking experiment" lol at least I am still walking and trying anything and everything. I can recommend long term water fasting thou - but supervision by trained practitioners is essential I feel which does get a little pricey because you have to stay in a centre that's why I am not rushing to do it again - I don't have the cash. I will see how intermittent fasting and further dietary modification goes.
Hello everyone, I quit 3 years ago and went through anxiety attacks, hyperthyroid and sinus congestion. I am totally well now and am so happy. The sinus congestion took the longest to go away and it was difficult not being able to breath. It was very frustrating but now my sinus is well. No more congestion. I started walking and exercising a lot and also took probiotics every morning. Hang in there. It's totally worth it!
I don't have an answer, but am experiencing the same exact problems. I have tried everything also. My husband finally asked me if it was possible that this happened when I quit smoking, which was around the same time my nose started getting clogged up so severely that I felt like I was suffocating. I have actually wanted to re start smoking to see what happens. Not the best solution, but interested to see If I can breath!!
1 Comments
How long ago did you quite smoking winegoddess? Smoking changes our nasal passages so my guess it takes a bit for it to bounce back. Don't think this will make you feel better, but this study talks about sinus recovery DOES happen over the course of 10 years after smoking. Boo, hope it is much sooner for you. https://consumer.healthday.com/head-and-neck-information-17/sinus-problems-news-614/quitting-smoking-can-bring-healthier-sinuses-years-later-study-724486.html I like this study better which says up to 12 months and you should be better. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4930664/
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