deviated septum from snorting -help

[the_void]

So I just looked in the mirror and I'm horrified to see I have a deviated septum - one nostril is twice the size of the other one and the nostrils have a different shape. The flesh in the middle of the two nostrils is shuttled to the left (towards the smaller nostril)instead of being straight. It looks exactly like other search results for deviated septum on Google images. As far as i can tell, Its not perforated. For the past 5 months ive almost exclusively used the nostril that shrunk to snort, about 3 times a week (prior to that I had been clean for 5 months, the year before I was an IV user, and before that I had mainly been a snorter for the past 8 years or so, though I wasn't a daily user) .Ive never had any physical trauma to the face. Maybe related I've been sneezing a lot the past 2 months, but I've had no signs of a cold.

I'm not going to snort again, I was going to quit drugs again anyway after sampling an RC I got today. This must be very recent; I know for a fact I didn't have it in sept-oct. Ill have my addictions Dr take a look at it later this month , but in the meantime does anybody know, is this likely to get worse even if I never snort again? Can a plastic surgeon fix it, and if so, will it stay in place or start to deviate again? Thank you.

 

[Bearlove]

Hi there, You cant get a deviated septum from snorting. It's caused by trauma or a birth defect.

Snorting can cause perforation, where the middle bit rots.

It's can be fixed very easily by surgery. Once in place it will stay in place unless it is knocked or banged etc.

 

[pasha]

homeless -> basic drug discussion

 

[T. Calderone]

See an ENT doctor because you might just have a sinus infection. I used to get them all the time, but snorting coke made it worse. Mine ended up being deviated bad and I had to have it fixed surgically and that was a painful recovery.

 

[wezface]

That's not a deviated septum. You get those from being punched in the face or born with them. But you should probably see someone.

 

[BeachBum4u]

See an ENT doctor because you might just have a sinus infection. I used to get them all the time, but snorting coke made it worse. Mine ended up being deviated bad and I had to have it fixed surgically and that was a painful recovery.

Amen to that! I had a DS and finally had surgery a few years ago. I wasn't snorting anything and it was discovered because I slept so bad and an ENT found the problem. As for trying to prevent that sort of thing if you do snort drugs. Always remember just like the shampoo bottles say, rinse repeat! You really need to make sure there aren't any particles up there killing off nasal cells and generally doing damage. BTW, that recovery from surgery really does SUCK!!

 

[the_void]

So are you saying that a sinus infection can cause a deviated septum (and if so, permanently or temporarily)? Furthermore, does snorting while you have a deviated septum make it worse (more deviated)?

 

[Bearlove]

Snorting will not make the deviated septum worse but... You already have a blocked nasal passage as the septum is crooked and partially blocking one side - if you get an infection or burnt nostril through snorting it can make your nose really blocked and give you an infection in the sinus. This is really painful.

Those sticky nose strips - can really help if you have a blocked nose at bed time.

A sinus infection will not cause a deviated septum - do you play any contact sports? Its normally from a bang to the face (ball games, physical games etc).

 

[the_void]

No I don't play any contact sports or anything

I've heard that the nose grows with age...is it possible that It was deviated to begin with but that with age it has grown to appear more deviated? Thx

 

[LilikoiMoon]

A CT scan can give you more detail about a DS.

Most of us have one, it's no biggie.

Weird thing is I like snorting on that side, even if it's a waste.

Like others have suggested, see a Dr. if you're having issues. You may have a blockage, infection, etc.

 

[sirfoxey]

Not a waste if you can get it up. I can't so just stick to the side which works.