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Yes, there is something I can do...have a septoplasty. Vod will be able to explain that wonderful process to you, I believe he's had it done.
Nasal sprays are usually in three groups, the decongestant, the "kinda" steriod based ones, and the saline solution ones.
The decongestants (such as vicks) are usually over the counter ones, and should only be used very short term (eg: 3-4 days), for colds...etc, as prolonged use can lead to dependance, and eventually it loses it's effect allgtogether, I've had this happen, and it took about 2 months to correct itself.
The ones with steroid type ingredients take a while to start working, and can be used for slightly longer periods. They basically "shrink" the inside of your nasal canal, making the passage "clearer"...prolonged (4 weeks plus) use can lead to nosebleeds, and a feeling of soreness and tightness/pressure around the nose. Sure, you breathe clearly, but it's annoying. I prefer using this to the standard decongestant. Most are script only, but there is a good one that's quite mild available over the counter called ?rhinocort?...
All the same, it's annoying as you can only use it every so often, and not for a great period of time.
The saline solution ones are just that - saltwater, more or less...they work incredibly for some people, kind of like when you swim at the beach and all kindsa junk pours outta your nose? I think that's the idea. However, the seawater does it a lot better, in my case, these sprays do not work.
I find chemists own brands of cold and flu tablets work very well if taken regularly, but then tend to keep you awake, as most of them contain slightly larger amounts of ephedrine/pseudoephedrine (!ZING!) than the "off the shelf" stuff...I've actually found they help me concentrate, but that's because I have strange chemistry going on...so be warned, they DO keep you awake..,
I've had a friend who had a septoplasty that claims he's never had a breathing problem since...so, it looks like that will be the eventual outcome for me...
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