Nose Related Question

Hi there

I've suffered from congestion for many years but only recently went to see my doctor about it. He said it was most likely a post nasal drip because of the symptoms I was describing, which may have come on as a result of an allergy but at this moment we're unsure. He has prescribed me a steorid nasal spray which will hopefully help through time. But that's really not my main problem...

My main problem is, during the 3/4 years I was suffering congestion I became addicted to over-the-counter nasal spray called Sudafed (not sure if you get Sudafed in America but it's along the lines of Afrin etc). I ended up with congestion rebound because you aren't meant to use nasal sprays long term unless they are steroid based. Anyway, I explained this to my doctor and he took a look up my nose and said everything seemed to be OK and there was nothing going on that would make him refer me to an Ear, Nose & Throat specialist. So that was all well and good.

BUT....I'm convinced there is something wrong with the front of my nose (the soft, cartlidge part). Although everything at the front of my nose feels OK, whenever I smile or make any sort of facial expression these reddish lines appear across my nose, they are actually the point when the cartlidge inside my nose ends showing up. I know it's hard to describe it but it's almost like the skin at the front of my nose is transparent or something. It has been like that for quite some time but it's worrying me. I know it sounds crazy considering the doctor was looking at my nose only yesterday and didn't seem concerned, but I feel like nobody else's nose does this and it's only mine! It's not very noticeable but it is too me and I'm always looking at my nose in the mirror!

Anyway I've tried to explain this the best I can, I was just wondering if anyone has ever heard of, or has this issue? Is it just a harmless thing that some people with a certain shade/type of skin get? I know this is an allergy/asthma forum but it was the closest forum I could see in order to post this. Any responses would be appreciated!

Hi Red_34,

Thanks so much for replying. As you could probably tell from my post, I too suffer from Health Anxiety! Which of course means whenever there is something wrong with you (or you think there is something wrong with you), then you get obsessed and blow it out of all proportion. I do need to step away from the mirror you're right!

It sounds like your grandad had the exact same problem as me. I've looked online and it would appear that nasal spray addiction is more common than people think, and my doctor did say I wasn't the first patient who had come to him with such an addiction. Although he explained to me it's not advisable to use these spray's long term, he has said to me I can continue to use it while I wait for the steroid spray to kick in, as long as I'm gradually decreasing my use of it, and eventually stopping it. Apparently, a steroid nasal spray can take up to 4 weeks before it starts working properly.

I think to hear that other people have had the same nasal spray addiction and ended up with these same reddish lines is actually a relief to me in a weird way, because you feel like it's only you! I'd love to think once I've given up the Sudafed for good these lines will disappear or at least get better. Yesterday I managed to use the Sudafed only once (normally it's 3 or 4 times a day), so I'm off to a good start.

I'll let you know how I get on. And if I do feel I need to talk to someone at ENT then I will. One thing my doctor did say to me is once I've managed to stop using Sudafed altogether, it's amazing how quickly the nose heals and recovers. I assumed he was talking about the congestion rebound but he was also probably referring to anything - red lines included!

Thanks again for responding - you've helped put my mind at ease!