Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Confession Time


OK. Here I sit, suffering, due in part to a horrible cold I happened to pick up about a week ago and the other fact that for the last two years, I have an addiction. One that started with seasonal allergies but for the last hour have been documented in hundreds of forums all over the internet.

Nasal Spray! I am addicted. Yes that's right for the last two years, faithfully I have been using it to breath, because without it, my nasal passages block up worst that cement being poured into them and allowed to harden. So what's a person to do besides be honest and come clean? Well the latest findings I have researched is one of three things:

1. Quit cold turkey, which sounds easy until you attempt to try it and live for the next hour or so, breathing out of your mouth until your throat drys out and you develop a horrible cough.

2. Try diluting the spray with saline by 50% and keep using it as you normally would, adding more saline as your bottle empties. (This one will probably be my final option)

3. Only use it on one side, allowing up to three to four days for one side of your nose to open up again and heal in other words using the spray like you have been just on the other side. The belief is, as long as you can breath out of one side, you'll be likely to deal better than the cold turkey option. This one I am trying today, along with prayer that God will help me deal with this addiction. Once I break free, I vow never to go back. So far, I've made it through the first four hours with one side remaining blocked, but using spray to keep at least one option open.

People have claimed all kinds of horrible concoctions from pepper spray if you can believe that one, to steroids shots or worse case, surgery. I have to get rid of this addiction and of course, trying to do this while you have a horrible head cold is the absolute worst but if I don't do this now, there will be no way out. By the way, allergy and sinus medication via pill form does not help at all to reduce the symptoms. If it were that simple, I'd simply take pills until my nose stops rebounding and then simply stop taking the pills.

I'd love to hear your comments and could use those prayer warriors to really lift me up at this time. I'll keep you posted and let you know how it's going.

11 comments:

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Seriously? You can get addicted to them? I had no idea. Keeping you in my prayers.

Heart2Heart said...

Debby: I didn't either until I started researching it today. There are pages of people that are stuck right where I am with no way out. Sad state of affairs but I guess like anything, too much of something has a tendency to be bad for you, unless is LOVE! :D

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

Mari said...

I've heard that nasal spray is something that you can easily become addicted to. It sounds miserable and I'll be praying for you!

Heart2Heart said...

Mari: Yup I can speak from experience, you can get addicted to it. Great news is that I have been nasal spray free on one side for almost 6 hours, reports say it takes about 18 for your nose to recover. Thanks for the prayers and believing good thoughts. Anything is possible for those that believe in God and I am believing! :D

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

Saleslady371 said...

I'm praying for you, Kat, because I caught a cold, too. Miserable isn't it? I use the netti pot with a saline solution often just to prevent sinus infections.

David C Brown said...

It's good to know a father who is interested in all our needs, body soula nd spirit.

Girly Muse said...

It's strange~ another friend of mine was just telling me two days ago that she's addicted to nasal spray too. She knows if she gives it up, she'll suffer and not sleep for days and so she just keeps using it. Will pray for you!

Kat said...

I have heard of this and for that reason, no matter how severe my allergies get (and they are very bad) refuse to use them even though my doctor keeps prescribing them. I am sorry to hear of your trial and have lifted you up in prayer. I like saline spray (Ocean brand) for stuffiness.

Hugs,

The other Kat

LisaShaw said...

Hi Kat,

I am so glad I was able to pop in on you today and see this so that I can pray for you. I knew someone close to me that struggled with that same thing. I felt so bad for her. She is off the nose spray now but it was a grueling process for her. We prayed over her often and she took it one step at a time with God's Divine help. She had to also make some tangible changes in the ventilation of her home, how she slept at night and so on. I guess each persons situation is very different.

I said a prayer for you sister! I pray that all is well with you and your family!

Blessing and peace!

Beth Herring said...

this is one addiction that i don't have to worry about. i hate anything going up my nose!

praying for you!

Sew What! said...

Uplifting you in prayer, my sister!

Blessings~
Laura