Sinus problems worse since giving up smoking

[Nailz]

I've always suffered from sinus problems, but since giving up smoking and vaping they have got worse, I had really bad throat, felt like I had a head cold all the time, after a month of suffering, I went to the docs, he put me on antibiotics and mucinex D for 2 weeks, my sore throat was better, not gone but better, but I did lower my nic level too.

Went back to the doctors yesterday for follow up, and he agreed I not any better, so he sent me for ct scan, and now talking of sinus surgery, just wondered if others had worse sinus problems since giving up smoking?

I wanted to give up smoking for years, and been vaping for 4 months, I know I won't go back to smoking, just hope I can get the sinus problem sorted out, and don't know for sure it is related to giving up smoking, just guessing as only got worse a few months after I gave up.

 

[patkin]

I'm no doc and don't have sinus trouble. I do have allergic rhinitis though and my step-daughter has sinuses that sound like yours... her "weak spot" and constant problems. She has smoked for years, vaped and smoked together also. Vaping doesn't seem to affect her one way or the other... she still has trouble. Ejuice contains PG unless you're doing 100% VG and PG is anti-microbial so I wouldn't suspect vaping being the culprit with a sinus infection (anti-biotics.) JMHO

 

[alopezg1]

smoking wreaks havoc on the sinuses
but you probably already know that. I have never had major problems
but in the last year or so of my smoking my sinuses i noticed
seemed to be narrowing. I would have to blow my nose extensively on waking up
to be able to breathe properly through it. Also there were strange noises and sensations
when laying down and turning over on to my side . Since starting vaping- only week now mind-
all of these symptoms have gone or cleared up significantly . I don't know if this helps
It is certainly common for people stopping smoking to suffer flu like symptoms , have problems with
breathing and so on ; i think this is just the body getting itself together after years of abuse . Your problem
seems a little different though; i don't know i am not a doctor , but certainly giving up smoking is very unlikey
to be the cause of any harm to your health.

 

[AgentAnia]

Are you drinking enough water? Vaping can dehydrate you, so it's important to re-hydrate. Don't know, though, if beingn dehydrated would make your sinus problems worse. For the last 10 years I smoked, I had terrible sinus problems, sinusitis and severe sinus infections. Since starting to vape 8 months ago, I've had only one bout and that one was almost not noticeable. I do know that a sinus infection, if not treated properly, can linger for a long time and worsen. So it's good you're getting medical advice.

 

[b0redagain]

Vaping dries out my sinuses...causing problems. Mostly fixed by drinking more water (about 2000 to 3000 mls a day). For worse days I have a saline spray that I use.

 

[patkin]

Any time you're dealing with mucus, whether vaping or not, staying super hydrated is important to keep the mucus thin and flowing. Dehydration will make it really thick and hard to bring up from the lungs or out of the sinus cavity. When its too thick to flow, it just sits there and eventually bacterial infection can set in just like a pool of stagnate water gets full of bacteria. If dehydration is the problem, its a good idea to use something to flush that thick mucus out of the sinuses. I've seen a good one recommended here on another thread. But, does vaping CAUSE sinus trouble?... no, not in and of itself... but it can aggravate an already present condition if not done properly... staying hydrated.

 

[cuban52s]

I also find my sinuses much improved when vaping and NOT smoking. I experience an almost immediate improvement, probably because of the reduction of swelling inside the nose. I can smoke today and immediately irritate the nasal membranes. I can't verify that smoking irritate everyone's sinuses, of course. I just found that it has mine.

smoking wreaks havoc on the sinuses
but you probably already know that. I have never had major problems
but in the last year or so of my smoking my sinuses i noticed
seemed to be narrowing. I would have to blow my nose extensively on waking up
to be able to breathe properly through it. Also there were strange noises and sensations
when laying down and turning over on to my side . Since starting vaping- only week now mind-
all of these symptoms have gone or cleared up significantly . I don't know if this helps
It is certainly common for people stopping smoking to suffer flu like symptoms , have problems with
breathing and so on ; i think this is just the body getting itself together after years of abuse . Your problem
seems a little different though; i don't know i am not a doctor , but certainly giving up smoking is very unlikey
to be the cause of any harm to your health.

 

[alisa1970]

My sinuses have essentially closed up since I quit smoking. I had chronic sinusitis to the point that for 15 years I took Sudafed daily just to stay open. Afrin when needed if I couldn't sleep. About 2 years ago, I was able to ditch all my allergy and sinus meds when I started an intensive vitamin and supplement regime.

Now I'm back to square one and my throat is even swelling. Not completely shut, but enough to make me feel like I'm gagging or like there's a lump in my throat. Yes, I'm seeing a doctor about it. I'm also experiencing oral and nasal burning while vaping and it's to the point where I may have to go back to smoking temporarily until the doctor can determine exactly what's going on.

So yes, things in that area have gotten worse for me.

 

[Nailz]

My sinuses have essentially closed up since I quit smoking. I had chronic sinusitis to the point that for 15 years I took Sudafed daily just to stay open. Afrin when needed if I couldn't sleep. About 2 years ago, I was able to ditch all my allergy and sinus meds when I started an intensive vitamin and supplement regime.

Now I'm back to square one and my throat is even swelling. Not completely shut, but enough to make me feel like I'm gagging or like there's a lump in my throat. Yes, I'm seeing a doctor about it. I'm also experiencing oral and nasal burning while vaping and it's to the point where I may have to go back to smoking temporarily until the doctor can determine exactly what's going on.

So yes, things in that area have gotten worse for me.

Well at least I'm not the only one then

I had a CT scan last week and now next week I am going to a nose and throat specialist, the doc days I will probably have surgery to sort my sinus out, which have been bad for years, just seems to got worse since vaping, but could be a good thing, is get it sorted out once and for all.

 

[gmb225]

i have allergies and ocational allergic rhinitus. my doc had me go buy neilmed sinus rinse. best damn thing i ever bought! u use distiled water with it and it makes a saline solution. u flush ur nose out with it. hard to get use to at first but i nolonger need nasal spray or decongestants. sounds like u should try it the kit is 10bucks at walmart. i hate to see people start vaping and then think problems that occure are caused by it. alot say their cough is worse. well its cause they stopped smoking! i tried to stop smoking hundreds of times, and each time my cough got worse for a couple weeks. its the lungs trying to clean out all the tar build up. doesnt have a thing to do with vaping. and the nasal problems i have started 2 years before i started vaping. before that i never had allergies.

 

[alisa1970]

i have allergies and ocational allergic rhinitus. my doc had me go buy neilmed sinus rinse. best damn thing i ever bought! u use distiled water with it and it makes a saline solution. u flush ur nose out with it. hard to get use to at first but i nolonger need nasal spray or decongestants. sounds like u should try it the kit is 10bucks at walmart. i hate to see people start vaping and then think problems that occure are caused by it. alot say their cough is worse. well its cause they stopped smoking! i tried to stop smoking hundreds of times, and each time my cough got worse for a couple weeks. its the lungs trying to clean out all the tar build up. doesnt have a thing to do with vaping. and the nasal problems i have started 2 years before i started vaping. before that i never had allergies.

No, but smoking DOES inhibit certain inflammatory conditions. When you're 4 months in and getting worse, it's not necessarily the vaping that's causing it, but it doesn't always go away either.

 

[Talyon]

I've had sinus issues for the last 20 years or so, quitting smoking hasn't helped this ailment. I'm currently using Steroids which help keep my nose in check. But I'm sure I can't do them forever, so once finished its back to da Doc.

Vapeing hasn't helped or hindered my sinus issue.

 

[alisa1970]

Nailz,

Just ran across some interesting information, I just love this forum!!! Take a look at this link...I'm currently seeing a naturopathic doctor to get my issues diagnosed (hypothyroid being one possibility), and this article really struck a chord with me. Read the article, even if thyroid isn't your issue. You might want to try this product.

An Immune System and Thyroid Upside for Tobacco? Anatabine / Anatabloc Dietary Supplement | National Academy of Hypothyroidism

 

[Ramsay Bolton]

i have allergies and ocational allergic rhinitus. my doc had me go buy neilmed sinus rinse. best damn thing i ever bought! u use distiled water with it and it makes a saline solution. u flush ur nose out with it. hard to get use to at first but i nolonger need nasal spray or decongestants. sounds like u should try it the kit is 10bucks at walmart.

You beat me to it!. I use to get sinus infections from hell every fall until a
N.E.T Specialist recommended that I try using a sinus rinse (Neilmed). It's either
prevented infections or gotten rid of them when I got too lazy to go through the
procedure at least once a week. Highly recommend that people with sinus
problems give a Sinus Rinse Kit a try!.


On another note, I think I'm one of the oddballs in this thread, because
my sinus passages are starting to open up (reduced swelling) and my ears
don't feel blocked up anymore.

 

[Feisty]

I have been smoke free for almost 3 months. I started out using E-cigs and just yesterday started using an Evod. I've noticed my sinuses feel dryer along with my throat feeling dry/hoarse. I need to start drinking more water, I have never been a water drinker. My favorite all time drink is Diet Coke! I may try saline spray for my nose to see if that helps also.

I use 24mg, maybe I need to knock that down to 18?
Also, I've noticed since using the Evod that I can still smell the juice I am vaping, long after I've put it down. Has anyone else experienced that?

 

[oatmeal]

Sorry to hear you're having sinus issues. I only have 2 thoughts on this:

1. Like everyone says: Try drastically increasing your water intake per day.
2. One side effect of quitting smoking is increased blood flow to all parts of your body. This could be a temporary inflammation of your sinuses related to increased circulation.

Either way, sounds like you and your doctor are on the right track to sorting this out! Sinus irritation and congestion are awful to deal with. I hope you feel better soon!

 

[telsie]

As a long term sinus sufferer, I'd hoped my sinuses would improve when I quit smoking, but that didn't happen. For a few months, they got much worse (more pressure, more congestion) before eventually settling back into the same level of misery they'd always caused me. Since I'm approaching four years as a vaper/non-smoker, I can confidently say that vaping has had no impact one way or another on my sinuses, but quitting smoking temporarily made them feel a lot worse.

 

[truen00b]

Please let us know what the specialty doc says!

 

[WarHawk-AVG]

I've had sinus issues for the last 20 years or so, quitting smoking hasn't helped this ailment. I'm currently using Steroids which help keep my nose in check. But I'm sure I can't do them forever, so once finished its back to da Doc.

Vapeing hasn't helped or hindered my sinus issue.

have you ever tried the nasal washes or nasal irrigation?

Last time I had sinusitis so bad it about put me out of commission...hurt SO bad...not the normal sock behind the eyes this was PRESSURE and PAIN almost like a migraine...

I used the nasaflo netipot for a while and I was stopped up so bad the solution wouldn't even go into my nasal cavity to wash out all the goo...so I ended up getting a squirt bottle with one of those fliptop lids that had the nozzle on it, putting the saline in it and squeesing...tons of pressure but the bottle ended up wearing out...my wife found me a sinugator at CVS and I use that to wash out all the infection and whatnot, good pressure, good flow and when I blow out thru my nose the combination of the sinugator pump really cleans the stuff out. Even when I ain't really having problems yet and I wash out my sinuses...it's amazing how much "ick" is stuck inside your nasal cavity!

Nite and day when you actually use the saline rinse/cleaner (a little salt and baking soda)

You MUST use distilled or boiled water (after it has cooled of course)

 

[K_Tech]

I've had sinus issues for years. Every morning, year round, I've woken up with a stuff nose, clearing up (usually) after a violent sneezing fit after my morning shower. Although I've only been off analogs for a few weeks, it's gotten better (I noticed it also the last few times I quit smoking) so I guess I'm pretty lucky.