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all right, go ahead and laugh your ass off

personal User

personal User

Active Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2013
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My son and DIL did, at least they grinned a whole lot.
 
Because today, in order to smoke a cigar I took a cotton ball, tore it in half and saturated with water and pushed the halves up my nostrils so I could smoke a cigar without irritating my sinuses.
 
I've had the worst sinus infection in decades, have been a really good boy and only smoked twice in the last three weeks at times I was doing better and thought I was out of the woods.
 
I will spare you the details, but after an episode on vacation where I felt like my head was swelling from the inside I went to my local doc and he scheduled an MRI of my head due to persistent and unusual headache. MRI came back multiple sinus infections.
 
So, one course of antibiotics later, thought I was better and smoked again. Holy shit this stuff came back the worst I have ever seen. So, no cigars for this guy.
 
Now, it's been three weeks. Almost finished the second course of antibiotics and I am better but not still there.
 
Interestingly, while I have missed smoking - what I have missed the most is that type of time with my son, that type of time sitting out on the deck, the whole experience is what I have missed. A lot.
 
So, my son texted me today and asked if I was up for a smoke, and I said I would give it a try.
 
I knew anything through my nostrils would contribute to the sinus condition in a negative manner so I got to thinking there has to be a way,
 
Right before I left, I grabbed cigars, cutter, lighter and some cotton balls.
 
When I got to my son's house I tore the cotton ball in half, wet the halves and pushed them up my nostrils. Blocked my nose completely, couldn't breathe thru my nose.
 
Damn! Finally, I could smoke. Missed the retro hale, but beats the hell out of not smoking at all.
 
Just about at the end of this course of antibiotics and doing better overall, I think I will probably do another week of Z pac to be sure it gets gone this time.
 
And don't plan to even smoke as I did today during the next week. Need to get over this.
 
I hope you are grinning with me, it sure was nice to be somewhat back in the saddle today :)
 
 
 
 
 
i just keep picturing someone smoking a stogie, wearing one of those funny swimming nose plugs, lol sorry
 
CMontoya79 said:
Get well brother!
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Thanks.
 
Today is the first day I feel like I am maybe getting around the corner with it.  Tomorrow I refill the Z pac if needed.
 
May refill it anyhow so I can have it with me when I go to the Outer Banks for a week beginning Saturday, in case of relapse.  Will have to check with DR, I think there may be issues that you can't start and stop with an antibiotic.
 
I'm getting there, but think I'm gonna hold off on the cigars a while longer. I started retrohaling about a year ago, cannot help but wonder how much that contributed to this.
 
Looking forward to smoking again. Do think I will cut back to about 5 a week. Have been doing roughly ten, and had been thinking I ought to cut back.
 
whylieineedacigar said:
Good wishes going your way!
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Thanks for the good wishes.
 
 
Capt J said:
Have you ever tried a Netti pot with saline solution?
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Thanks for thinking along those lines for me. Actually, I am doing something that is more thorough.
 
http://www.ethicare.com/prodinfo.html
 
#1 AHUN, #1 AHUN
AHUN.NEW.gif

Adjustable Spray Nasal-Throat Irrigation Instrument
 
Is a product you use with certain models of water-pik, It is more forceful and the pulsing of the water-pik ensures you get more complete coverage than just a netti-pot.
 
Not for the faint of heart. Must use_saline_ or will burn like crazy.
 
I have been using one of these for 18 or 20 years, have burned out several of the pumps from ethicare, and several water-piks. While the ethicare pump is good, it is a steady stream that doesn't seem to be as beneficial as the pulsing stream from the water-pik. Plus, the water-pik is cheaper.
 
I have been using one of these since a friend sent me one after her sinus surgery. No prescription needed. Best non-prescription and non-surgical solution for sinus problems ever.
 
It is somewhat like getting water up your nose and cavities while swimming. Very unpleasant originally. Too much for my wife, she uses a netti pot.
 
Once you have done this a while, you get somewhat used to it and while never pleasant it's not as bad as the problems. Use a teaspoon of table salt per tank, and make sure the water luke warm.
 
While being somewhat industrial strength rather than gentle it will flat moisten, soften and remove crud at a good rate.
 
If I had been using it as regularly as I used to, might not be having my current issues. Only thing I can figure is something got trapped and caused problems.
 
Though I am better, still not there yet and started the second Z pac today. This has been going on since Aug 22. Worst scenario since I had sinus surgery somewhere around 94.
 
You can find pure sodium chloride at your health food store; it burns much less than table salt which can contain other stuff.
Hope you feel better soon.
 
Wow....
 
Good Luck and heal up quick!
 
I said that with a smile, thanks for the story...!
 
I would think retro haling could definitely ill effect your sinus.  It is a habit I never started, and reading what you have written, I'm glad I didn't.  I do enjoy my cigars without that extra evolution.  You might stay away from that activity for a while and see where that takes you.  Good luck.
 
Also - it may not be just sinus issues....talk to your Dr about acid-reflux.
 
Speaking from experience!
 
Oh...and the Netty pot works well to help clear things out!
 
You could always take up snorting coke...that works too!
 
Seem to be healing a bit, and generally doing better. Initial Sinus infection diagnosis came by a radiologist reading an MRI of my head.
 
I am readily aware of the potential for ill effects from retrohaling, and am giving my smoking habits considerable thought.
 
I have decided to cut back - which I had been thinking I needed to do for some time. In that case, I should over time easily achieve my goal of aging cigars, because that will give me about a six year supply on hand :)
 
I also am seriously considering reducing retrohaling or eliminating it from the mix. Frankly, I enjoy that so much, I would rather cut back even more than to cut that out completely.
 
One thing I have noticed is that the less I smoke the more I enjoy it when I do smoke.
 
The fact that our hobby is not risk free and has potential health hazards has come to mind a number of times.
 
I had somewhat figured that at age 68, it was unlikely that most hazards would hit me fully in my remaining expected life span. It appears that such is not the case.
 
All things in moderation is generally not hazardous to your health. I think maybe I have exceeded the moderation level :laugh:
 
grateful1 said:
Also - it may not be just sinus issues....talk to your Dr about acid-reflux.  Speaking from experience!
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That's not as well known as it should be.  Coughing or sinus issues that will not respond to the usual medications are often the result of acid reflux.  Every now and then I cough like crazy and it won't go away.  When that happens I take a pill for acid reflux it's like a magic kill shot for all of the sinus stuff.  Nexium is over the counter isn't it?
 
Make sure to use distilled water for sinus irrigation.  Never use tap water unless you boil it first.  I suppose I should also mention that you should let it cool before you use it.  :rolleyes:
 
Ken, I am glad you are feeling better brother!
 
I could not give up retrohaling... And I do not understand why someone would have a hobby of cigar smoking, and not want to get the most out of it... That would be like me having a hobby of scuba diving, but only going in my swimming pool because I don't want to be exposed to whatever is in the ocean...
 
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