Nasal spray, breathing, and ejaculation

Hmmm… how to sum everything up concisely and not ramble?

I have breathing problems. More precisely, congestion problems. Have done for a long time.

Also a few years ago; about 8 years ago, I started to get persistent dry tickley coughs. They would often come after a cold and hang around albeit mildly sometimes, for months.

A couple of years ago, after two very physically demanding jobs that lasted for about 8 months, I came down with a debilitating flu that put me in bed for a week, and gave me the worst cough I’ve ever had. It lasted a couple of months. I went away to a warm place on vacation, and I still had it. Took a couple courses of anti-biotics too, that just seemed to make it worse.

Then I got offered a job that I needed to be able to speak without coughing for, so I payed to see an Ear Nose & Throat specialist on Harley Street. I thought surely one should see a chest specialist for persistent coughs, but my doctor said that I should see and ENT. He was right. The ENT guy said that, the root of my cough was most likely a persistent re-occurring infection somewhere in my nasal cavity, and he prescribed two things:

Anti-biotic nasal drops

Salt water nasal irrigation spray.

This combo indeed knocked out the cough, and gave me clearness of breathing that I had hitherto never experienced. I liked it so much that I wanted to continue. The doctor said it would be very hazardous to my health to continue with anti-biotic nasal drops, but that nasal irrigation would probably help on it’s own.

It did to a lesser degree. Also the salt water spray ‘Sterimar’ that he prescribed was expensive. So I researched other nasal irrigation techniques I’d heard of, and came up with the Ayuervadic technique of Jala Neti. It essentially involves pouring a saline solution through one nostril and out of the other. Also the slightly more advanced technique of sucking through your nose into your throat and out of your mouth. It’s great. Gross but great. The downside is that it’s fairly time consuming and adds a big chunk of time to your daily routine. However since discovering this I’ve been able to knock out colds in half the time they usually take to go, and any coughs within a few days.

The other thing I’d have to add, is that it can be a little unreliable for giving clear breathing. Doesn’t seem always to work.

Last week I came down with a cold and a cough, and was getting back to the old Jala Neti. My brother said why don’t you just use this? He gave me his Vicks Sinex Micromist, the active ingredient in which, is Oxymetazoline (or Afrin).

That stuff is fantastic. It gets down to business in no time, and I love the clearness of breathing that it’s giving me. It has also had a great unforeseen side affect:

It’s delaying my ejaculation.

I was so pleased with this combination of benefits, that I thought this is too good to be true!

Appears it is. I went online earlier today, and read from more than one source that extended use (over one week) of this kind of nasal spray can lead to chronic congestion, or Rebound congestion, and addiction to the spray!

I’m really disappointed, if not totally surprised to read this. I wonder if any of you have any thoughts on this, or any experience of the same.

It’s probably worth mentioning that I’ve been tested for allergies and only have a very slight allergy to dust.

What an interesting read. Im sorry to hear about your chronic health problems, but my mom has these exact symptoms. This is switching up the topic a little, but my uncle got addicted to nasal sprays. So much so that he had to be weened off of them. he still uses them and this is almost 2 years later! I couldnt tell you the exact brand he uses, but i know for a fact it wasnt a prescription brand. At family gatherings he would sneak sniffs on these nasal sprays as if he was sneaking a line of cocaine. it is strange how addictive it is, but if it makes you breathe freely that it is understandable why someone would like the feeling of free breathing to congestion.

Be aware of nasal spray that contains Ephedrine

I’m a big fan of the Netipot, or more specifically the little squirt bottle. Seems the positive pressure of the bottle gets the saline up into the sinuses better. Takes bit of experience to know how to tilt the head afterward to get the excess out of one’s cavities, some of the yoga/near yoga positions do this well.

I’d stay away from the sprays, expensive and tempting to over use as they are nice. If you’re looking to go on the cheap without the little pre mixed Neti packs, 1 part baking soda to 2 parts salt is all they really are. About 1/2 teaspoon in 8 oz water does the trick for a near pittance.

Great post, Ziggaman…and one folks who suffer from congestion should well read. Freaky how rarely I get colds or any bug now that I irrigate on a somewhat regular basis. Work around individuals who are frequently ill and it just doesn’t take hold in me and stay. Simple, seemingly stupid shit like nasal irrigation has that great of an effect for some of us. Better sleep (no apnea?) has been a welcome change for me as well. Nose breathing is cool, sinus health matters:)

Do you have a lot of nightmares from nighttime O2 disruption to the brain?