As you all know by now, I am a hacking, sneezing, non-breathing beast right now, thanks to nature’s big O; but I see fit to have a talk with you about a little something I feel the need to get off my chest. I have an addiction, and no matter how I try to avoid its seductive powers, I am powerless in the wake of its strong hold. Whenever I get sick, or have one of my 100’s of sinus infections each year, I start pumping in the drugs; Decongestants, Claritin, Benadryl, and just about anything else I can think of that will keep me from experiencing one more second of discomfort. I reach for the pills quickly, and carry around small amounts of them, medicating not as indicated, but as I feel the need to. But this is not my addiction, this is a normal reaction that most people have in the time of sickness. This is normal.
But my addiction is real, and it rears its ugly head in times of need such as this. When the several Sudafeds don’t instantly snap my nose and throat into shape, and open my completely blocked nasal passages, I get a little panicky. It is almost like a heroin addict picking at the skin; just one more fix, I need it, I know I do. I will die with out it. I can’t breathe for crying out loud; why not use? Why not just give in to my addiction, and breathe again? And so there I am, staring at myself in the mirror, the drugs in my hand, and shaking my head in disbelief, I take it in… at first it burns… but it is a good burn. It signals the beginning of at least 12 hours of sheer breathing bliss. Afrin, you have saved me yet again. You have set me free.
I. Can. Breathe.
But damn you if you don’t have a withdrawal as wicked as the aforementioned heroin. Several nights from now, when my infection clears up, and when I want to go back to a drug-free existence, you will still have your hold on me. You will not let me go so easily as you cleared my breathing passages. You will make me suffer to let you go. There are those that do not have the power to let you go, and with every fix, I fear I am becoming one of them. And the worst, is that with every spray of your sweet nectar, I know that withdrawal time will come… but it doesn’t stop me. Afrin, you are my addiction, and I know that I need you. But please, let me down gently this time, okay?
Interesting…I’ve never had an addiction to that.
I UNDERSTAND!
Hmm… I must check this out.
I TOTALLY know what you’re talking about. Afrin is instant relief. The only problem is… after a few hours of easy breathing, the passages close up worse than before. So it’s a vicious cycle for a week.
Wow, well, stay away from the hard stuff….Flonase. I’ve added that to my myriad of wonderful drugs and this stuff kicks ASS! I can breathe through my nose again! And it doesn’t have that cocaine cycle of needing it again soon.
I always brave it out with a cold or sinuses. BUT..if have a tooth ache or something, Advil is my bitch, the more the better. I have no tolerance when it comes to my mouth.
While I’m generally opposed to direct to consumer marketing of perscription drugs… Astelin (nasal spray), for me, kicks in in less than a day and hasn’t given me any bounce back. I don’t think I’ll ever touch Afrin again.
I have been so lucky because I can get my allergy attacks under control with minimal medication. It’s usually my eyes that drive me crazy but one pill a day (generic stuff) keeps me from looking like Rene Zellweger (a good thing).
i’d say try astelin, too.
I am so one of those people who fears that if I take too many drugs my body will become immune to there powers, and when the aliens attack my weak immune system will collapse.
I don’t take drugs unless I HAVE TO.
Oh, and I hope you feel better soon!
Sheesh. I feel like such an outcast for not having allergies. Where does one get it so I can then fit in?
I have no allergies anymore ..they all disappeared. However I did have them bad at one time , I say go with what makes ya feel good Afrin Rocks !!!
I thought the cure for everything that ails ya for you guys in the South was to sniff paint (said like ‘pint’). Seems to work for the ones I see on COPS.
murf: thankfully, those people only represent a subset of the population in the south; many of us are functioning, intelligent, non-huffing professionals!
how are you love? feeling any better?
GET OUTTA HERE! Next, you’ll tell me there’s no Santa. Please tell me you at least own a pair of overalls.
I feel you on the Afrin . . . I worked in a building that (unbeknownst to me at the time) had MOLD PROBLEMS . . and I kept getting sinus infections. Afrin kept me sane. I thought I was addicted to it last winter, but I managed to let it go. I may to to look into this Astelin stuff though.