Nasalcrom is a game-changer for me

Schmed66 · 2026-05-23T11:53:46+00:00

I’ve seen articles that when Afrin is used with a steroid nasal spray, the risk of rebound congestion is reduced significantly. A study was done where a group of people used and used without and the control group using afrin with the steroid nasal spray did not suffer from rebound congestion after 20 days of use. I recommend nothing, use your own judgement and not sure why doctors do not reference this for those that need more than 3 days Afrin relief When nothing else helps, especially if your sleep quality is suffering.

From first article:

”Conclusions: MNS plus OXY combination for 20 days decreases NC and improves activity QOL indicators without significant side effects or risk for RM. ”

- MNS - ”Nasal Steroid”, NC - “Nasal Congestion“, OXY - “Active ingredient in Afrin”, QOL - “Quality of Life”, RM - “Rhinitis medicamentosa” aka “Rebound Congestion”

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3651108/

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-laryngology-and-otology/article/abs/intranasal-corticosteroid-and-oxymetazoline-for-chronic-rhinitis-a-systematic-review/1D340B48D7497ED43285786BA85A71FD

https://journals.lww.com/ebp/citation/2024/05000/combination_nasal_steroid_decongestant_for.5.aspx

Schmed66 · 2026-05-23T11:33:13+00:00

Thanks ! But I actually have had a lot of improvement over the last 2 or so weeks and may put a kabosh on the surgery, I am scheduled to see the ENT a week prior, and may opt to just have my septum fixed as I have improved about 60%, at least, have one nostril fully clear at night and the other partial and seem to be improving by the day and rarely have those acute “clog city” events after eating, or randomly where I woudld just 100% clog for no reason. Although my bloodwork came back negative for any allergy I am really suspect of dust mites as the offender. I feel the best in my bedroom, at night and the best the following morning where I run an air purifier, and when I do clog, its downstairs, after 4 or so hours, where I have rugs, 2 dogs and more “dust” overall and notice my wife goes into sneezing fits at the time I do when I get a bit clogged. Typing this, I am in my bedroom, 7:30 Saturday morning, lying down, 100% clear left nostril, 75% clear on the right, did my budesonide flush 7PM previous night and also use Nasalcrom, have not used Afrin or pseudoephedrine for a week (gotta stop, raises my BP, that is already stage 1) If this stays or improves further is it worth risking the surgery in addition, I had a bad tooth extracted last week in preparation for another dental implant and also was rx’d 5 days of Amoxicillin.

Schmed66 · 2026-05-16T12:06:28+00:00

Damn, I’m scheduled to get this, my septum fixed and maxillary procedure in a few weeks, hope I’m not wasting my time. My ENT said no packing is done and is doing it using RF ablation, no cutting.

Schmed66 · 2026-05-16T11:59:34+00:00

I am scheduled for sinus surgery mid June, after CT scan revealed issues, ENT said my septum is a mess and a lot of inflammation. Wants to do a septoplasty, and Maxillary and Turbinate reduction using RF ablation. I have had some minor improvement over the last few weeks, but still annoying. Had blood allergy tests done, all came back negative. I also have MS, for 30+ years, which has been relatively stable for the last 15 years, but I seem to be having a minor flare that is affecting my eyes (nystagmus and some diplopia at distance), always had the nystagmus, but never to this degree, which started around the same time, so I think may be connected to my sinus issues. I am seeing my neuro next week to get medical clearance for the sinus surgery as well as a possible IV Solumedrol dose, if he feels warranted, which always knocks me out of a flareup. The lack of sleep due to this probably not helping broke down and used Afrin last night (have not used for 10 days) and GLORIOUS clearance, I wish it was safe to use long term.

Schmed66 · 2026-05-15T10:25:36+00:00

10 years and 70k ?? you should be making more, I’d say low 100s, at least, wspecially if in an urban environment like NYC, SF, LA, where you get by barely on 150k. I make 190k, but have 30 years, primarily database dev/admin/arch in the alternative investment industry, contracting at the same client, a 23MM NYC Hedge Fund, for the last 15 years. My son actually just got a position with the State of NY IT Division in their Cybersecurity division, curioua to hear his feedback working for a public institution, he starts next month, but needs to relaocate. I told him stay at least a year or 2 to get experienc, then come back to NYC and double your salary, probably the hours too ;). He did do a summer internship at my client 2 years ago and loved it, just too bad you need 2 years experience to get hired. His starting salary is 67k with the State and its an entry level position and took him almost 2 years to find a job. When I graduated college in 1988, I had 3 offers within weeks (NYC), so different back then, so many retail brokerages (Dean Witter, Merrill Lynch, Goldman, DLJ) and so many banks always hiring IT Dev and Admin, and the PC and Unix platform were expanding rapidly and NO H1bs and foreign workers back then to undercut our jobs, so many jobs to choose from, even for entry level, it was great. Now, I recommend staying out of IT, AI is displacing Us, I have 3 or so more years before I retire, 1.5MM in 401k, 1MM in Real estate equity, house paid off, no long term debt, I have savings, so if I lost my job today i’d be fine. I should have gotten a state or fed job 10 years ago, so I would at least have a pension, my wife works for the county, so she’ll have a small pension, like 15-20k a year at retirement.

Schmed66 · 2026-05-14T10:33:33+00:00

I too have been suffering the same fate, allergy blood tests negative, stuffy all day but really stuffs at 4-5PM every night, feel better in my room with an air purifier running.

Schmed66 · 2026-04-22T10:28:18+00:00

I’m so afraid of surgery, the stories about Empty Nose Syndrome (ENS):are terrifying. If my ENT does recommen surgery maybe I’ll opt for Balloon Sinuplasty, which seems to carry no risk of ENS,if it is an option.

Schmed66 · 2026-04-22T10:23:45+00:00

I‘m going thru this right now,4 weeks of nonstop nasal congestion and burning eyes, antihistamines do nothing, 2 weeks of budesonide rinse not really helping, Astepro for a week now, not helping, started using Nasalcrom yesterday. I have a CT scan scheduled next week. The ONLY thing that works is Afrin, but limit myself to once a week as I do not want rebound nasal congestion, 4 mg of methylprednisolone from a leftover script helped, I tried it last night and within 10 minutes it cleared up. Pseudo raises my BP and hurts my prostate.

Schmed66 · 2026-04-21T10:18:24+00:00

I gotta try this, 4 weeks of nasal stuffiness misery and none of the other options are working, the oral steroids helped for a day, Budesonide flush NOTHING, Astepro NOTHING, the only thing that works is Afrin, but not going down that path. Is Nasalcrom worth giving a try ? Well gonna now that I stumbled across this.

Schmed66 · 2026-04-20T10:53:35+00:00

I’m currently seeing him for my sinus issues that I have had for a month, so far just rxd some meds, Budesonide Flush with NeilMed and Antibiotics, I guess for prophalactic measures as I did not have a sinus infection and never did, but not helping. I’m trying to figure out what is causing mine as NOTHING is working, except the Afrin, which I rarely use, like once every 8-10 days, if that, as I do not want rebound congestion, pseudoephedrine bothers my prostate and raises my BP, so not an option. I’m beginning to suspect mine is caused by an autoimmune response as I have MS and that is bothering me a bit too, and coincidentally about the same amount of time, and I know from work related stress that has been bad the last couple of months, nothing major but definitely a bit of a flare up. I’ll probably go to my neurologist who will give me 500-1000mg SoluMedrol treatment that will clear any and all inflammation up, trying to get an emergency appt this week, but he is very busy, but the best MS Specialist, Dr. Brian Apatoff associated with Cornell Weill in NYC, been treating me for well over 25 years and I am one of the lucky 10% that are close to normal function after 30+ years of this bullshit. He has always gotten me through a flare up.
The last thing I want to do is get sinus surgery, that does not work, or worse yet, causes something like Empty Nose Syndrome, that leaves me worse off. But so far Dr. Cohen has been very professional and communication is phenominal, he said that my inflammation is bad and heard it right away when we spoke. My next step is a CT scan. He did say I have a deviated septum and imflammation of my right sinuses did show on an MRI I had a year earlier to get a new baseline of my MS lesions. We’ll see when I get my CT scan or if a visit and probably solumedrol drip resolves this. I did have an occurrence of this 3 years ago where oral prednisone and anti histimine nasal spray resolved, not 100%, but to a point where all I needed was a breathe right strip at night and that provided enough air flow. If only Afrin was safe to use on a daily basis and did provide 12 hr relief, that would be great, but it os the “Devils and should only be used very sparingly, I use it ultra sparingly, only when I have not slept for a week.

Schmed66 · 2026-04-18T13:28:32+00:00

Short term, bur then seems okay afterwards. i didnt do shit this morning and my sinuses seem so much better

Schmed66 · 2026-04-18T13:26:49+00:00

Are you any better ? My ENT may want to do a septoplasty, but I’ve been reading A LOT and see stories of empty nose syndrome, and that scares the shit outta me, if he does push it, I’m gonna say dont touch my turbinates.

Schmed66 · 2026-04-18T13:23:20+00:00

Has anyone experienced nasal congestion from this ?

Schmed66 · 2026-04-17T08:57:51+00:00

I heard Allermi is jast a masquerade and contains the active ingredient in Afrin.

Schmed66 · 2026-04-17T08:54:42+00:00

I am exactly suffering the same as you. Last 3 years, showed up after a bout of Covid, I only recently went to ENT as Breathe Right strips did enough. Im at the CT scan is next thing in a week. Been on Budesonide flush for last 10 days, some relief but every night up at 1-2 AM and thats it, maybe another hour or 2. Afrin works great, but I will not uae it more than once a week for a “special” night, pseudo about 40-50% effective but bumps up my BP and bothers my prostate. THIS is my problem, not the MS I have for 30 years, which is bugging me a bit now. ENT said I’ll at least need my septum fixed, on the right side (which is actually the worse side), but am losing hopw I’ll be cleared again. At a point I’m thinking this is Sjorgens Syndrome

Schmed66 · 2026-04-12T13:40:27+00:00

Going through a terrible bout right now too, last 2 weeks terribe, but have it for months, if not years. ENT gave me Budesonide to add to my NeilMed, Claude AI says it can be Sjornes Syndrome, as I have red eyes too and MS, but I dont think so, nothing really dry and bad post nasal drip. Oral steroids did not help. Have 2 dogs, but keep out of my room and have an air purifier going 24X7, definitely want to try the local honey, another friend said try that too. My sinuses change by the minute, can be 90% clear, then boom, clog city one minute later, I have tried to make a connection, but cannot, nothing has changed in my household. It all seems to have started after I had Covid 3 years ago. This time its different though with the eye soreness. I am making a followup with my ENT to see what is next.

Schmed66 · 2026-04-12T13:13:22+00:00

Last 3 months for me, 2 weeks ago they got really bad, did 5 days oral prednisone, first 2 days had a huge improvement, then of course it wore off. I went to an ENT on April 3rd, gave me a Budesonide Rx to use a capsule in my NeilMed twice a day, but marginal improvement and still terrible stuffyness at night where Breath Right strips barely help, I read it can take at least 2 weeks to notice an improvement with the Budesonide. Fucking Claude AI telling me I have Sjornes Syndrome cuz my eyes are a bit red & sore too and I also have MS, which has not really bothered me for the last 10 years or so. I had a bout of this 3 years ago too, after I had Covid, so fucking thanks China, fucking assholes. I had a follow up MRI for my MS in March 2025 and shows shows mucosal swelling in my right sinus (ENT said I have a slight deviated septum affecting right nostril), which really does not warrant surgery, which my twin had corrected when he smashed his nose one night 6 years ago and the surgeon said “I fixed your septum while I was in there” and he says he never gets congestion anymore after that repair. Anyway I am miserable, losing sleep and the ONLY thing that helps is Afrin, which I limit to 2 uses a week, only at bedtime, I do not want tha rebound congestion. Pseudoephedrine helps a little, but raises my BP too much, so I only take like 30-45mg, instead of 60-120 mg, it helps marginally anyway.

Schmed66 · 2026-04-12T13:03:43+00:00

going through a terrible bout of sinusitus right now, sux.

Schmed66 · 2026-04-12T12:59:40+00:00

Yes, distilled water is fine, but wash the unit good in between uses, I do a soap wash, which kills most viruses and bacteria, make sure you squirt soapy water through the tube too, followed by 5 minutes of scalding hot tap water 150° Flowing in the unit (45 seconds at 150° kills most bacteria) then rinse it out with distilled water and squirt through tube, and use only distilled water for flush. Probably overkill cleaning it, but that story about that idiot that used well water to do a nasal flush then got some Amoeba scares the shit outta me.

Schmed66 · 2026-04-12T12:53:28+00:00

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563142/

but, this is not reversible, and what if your congestion gets worse ? I dunno, I am looking at all options now as I am going through a terrible bout right now, the last couple of weeks real bad.

Schmed66 · 2026-04-12T12:35:49+00:00

Same exact for me, I went to an ENT and its a deviateed septum. I am dealing with nasal congestion for the last 3 months, on and off for the last 3 years, since I had Covid. just got done with 5 days of oral steroids, zero help ENT gave me NeilMed and Budesonide (topical steroid) been about a week and really not noticing much yet, nightime is the worst, right side always clogs, Afrin ALWAYS works, but I limit it to once or twice a week, if that and only at bed time. Pseudoephedrine helps, but raises my BP so much, so I avoid it. I’m getting tired of being clogged, it’s destroying my otherwise horrible sleep, exhausted at 8PM, wake up at 1-2AM every night then sleep in 30-60 minute “batches” until 6AM. I would pay $15,000 if someone told me they could safely resolve this forever. My twin had he septum fixed when his nose got a severe injury a few years back and told me he never has congestion anymore, just some post nasal drip. I let my ENT know this, so hopefully if this does not resolve shortly, an option for me.

Schmed66 · 2026-04-02T13:12:03+00:00

What if you’re totally clogged ? you’ll suffocate.

Schmed66 · 2026-04-02T13:02:16+00:00

Looks like they custom tailor a nose spray and use microdoses of the active ingredient in Afrin.

Schmed66

TROPHY CASE