Re: Cooler, Drier Air and Polyps

[Guest guest]

Experienced the very same as the weather turned colder (I'm in

Georgia). Grossan irrigator helped, on a Kenalog shot right now so

once I used the irrigator sense of smell returned. Rain today, now

that you mention it, no dryness noted here either. Guessing the

steroids leave us susceptible to the dryness, maybe humidifier in

the bedroom at night??? Great- I breathe better but grow mold on my

walls. AHHHHHHHHH

>

> Just wanted to share a recent observation and was wodering if

anyone

> else may have experienced anything similar.

>

> I live in FL, so needless to say the air is hot and humid most of

> the year. My smell acuity has held up fairly well since my last

> prednisone burst at the end of this past July (70-80% acuity).

Thae

> weekend after Thanksgiving the weather turned much cooler and

drier

> (relatively speaking as compared to those of you in the north).

> Within days of this cooler drier air I noticed a slight sensation

of

> dryness and mild burning when inhaling through my nose. At the

same

> time my smell/taste diminished to 10-20% of normal. Now once again

> the last 2 days have been back up in the upper 70's with high

> humidity and my smell acuity seems to be back to around 75% or so.

> Also, the dry, burning sensation is gone.

>

> I irrigate with a saline solution 2X/day using the Water-Pik

> adapter. I avoid any commercial saline sprays due to the

> perservatives in them.

>

> Was curious if anyone else has experienced similar findings;

> especially those out in the extreme low humidity states out west?

>

> Regards,

>

> Mike

[Guest guest]

> I have not been very successful with grossan irrigator perticularly

xylitol solution.

> I have done this treatment last cold and worsened.

> I think it should be looked up because it is a sugar alcohool.

Xylitol is manufactured from fruits, berries, mushrooms, lettuce,

hardwoods, and corn cobs. There is a possibility that some residual

salicylates could be in it and thus could cause more problems. Just a

thought. ))

[Guest guest]

----snip---

> Was curious if anyone else has experienced similar findings;

> especially those out in the extreme low humidity states out west?

>

> Regards,

>

> Mike

Mike --

I live in San Diego County, which includes several different

microclimates (desert, coastal, etc.) I live about 3 miles from the

ocean where, most of the year, we get fog at night and sun during

the day. I'd guess that humidity ranges from 90% at night (avg) to

50% during day. My allergist thought that my asthma would do better

living relatively close to the coast than in the drier desert

climate (although mold allergy makes me think otherwise)...

Anyway, our falls our normally our driest time of year as we get

eastern winds that blow in from the desert (Santa Ana conditions)

and less fog at night as a result. I have definitely had my worst

symptoms this fall with respect to sinus conditions. Interestingly

though, my asthma has never been better.

My sense of smell is truly non-existent and only returns after about

5 days on a prednisone burst (or, in this case, Kenalog shot +

prednisone). With luck, I'll be able to smell, on average, for

about a month, then gone again.

[Guest guest]

Some interesting thoughts posted on this subject. Thanks!!

I'm convinced the humid, warmer air is helpful for me at least.

Today was 81 degrees and quite humid and my smell and taste was the

best it's been in a week and a half. No sinus discomfort either.

Before I was afflicted with Samters I used to do a lot of snow

skiing in Colorado, Utah and Lake Tahoe. That cold, dry air would do

me in at this point I guess.

Interesting.

Mike

>

> Just wanted to share a recent observation and was wodering if

anyone

> else may have experienced anything similar.

>

> I live in FL, so needless to say the air is hot and humid most of

> the year. My smell acuity has held up fairly well since my last

> prednisone burst at the end of this past July (70-80% acuity).

Thae

> weekend after Thanksgiving the weather turned much cooler and

drier

> (relatively speaking as compared to those of you in the north).

> Within days of this cooler drier air I noticed a slight sensation

of

> dryness and mild burning when inhaling through my nose. At the

same

> time my smell/taste diminished to 10-20% of normal. Now once again

> the last 2 days have been back up in the upper 70's with high

> humidity and my smell acuity seems to be back to around 75% or so.

> Also, the dry, burning sensation is gone.

>

> I irrigate with a saline solution 2X/day using the Water-Pik

> adapter. I avoid any commercial saline sprays due to the

> perservatives in them.

>

> Was curious if anyone else has experienced similar findings;

> especially those out in the extreme low humidity states out west?

>

> Regards,

>

> Mike