Deviated Septal Hole + Physical Addiction Quitting Tip Plz (Page 1)

Hello gno.
It’s good that you are thinking about quitting cocaine. In my opinion, and I am no doctor, your septal ulcer, and that is what it is, is directly linked to sticking that caustic stuff in your nose day after day. Again, just my opinion, it will get better all on it’s own if you stop doing that. Back in my youth, I snorted a bunch of speed. I also developed an ulcer in my nose. When I got clean, the pain and the damage went away without any additional effort on my part.

That is the good news.

Now we get to the more sticky part of the equation. And I quote, “where to start on quitting cocaine?” an excellent question.

I am going to make a couple assumptions about you and your problem.

Assumption #1.
If just telling yourself that you were done for good and all with cocaine was all you needed to do to quit, you would not be posting your question. You would have just quit a while ago. You have realized that your addiction is impacting your life in a negative fashion, but you are still using. Not a good sign. This business of addiction is insidious, it will not let go of you easily, and you will not let go of it easily as well. The idea of going day after day, week after week, month after month without the ease and comfort of your old friend scares the hell out of you. You don’t know how you can do it. Not to worry, in that you are just like every one of us. That is where we all started. Scared of our addiction and scared of stopping. Welcome to the world of addiction recovery.

Assumption #2
you think that you have the power of choice in this matter. The choices may be scary, but you can at the end of the day, take it or leave it alone based on your will power. That may prove to be a completely fallacious and very dangerous position to take. You may find that just quitting is much more difficult than you imagined. Again if just quitting was the answer, you would have dine so by now. But you haven’t. You are still using and looking in places like this for a way out. You tell us that otherwise your life is just fine, you have a nice life. I always suggest that the person who says that add the word yet to that statement. Addition doesn’t care how bad it gets for you, it doesn’t care how much pain you are in, or will be in and doesn’t care how many tears the people who love you shed. Over any appeasable length of time, it always gets worse, never better. If nothing changes in your life, someday you will look back on how things are going today and call them the good old days. You have a tiger by the tail gno, and I think you know it. But there is a solution.

Here is the good news.
There is a program called narcotics anonymous that is custom tailored for people who show up on forums like this asking the kind of questions you are asking. This site is populated with people who understand exactly what is going on with you. Avail yourself of what they have to offer. The only requirements to commence a new life free of cocaine is willingness, honesty and open mindedness.

Your friend on the road to the good stuff,
richard

Hi,

i've been a heavy cocaine snorter for about 10 months (quit for 3 months, then just caved in today) and my septum is perforated and deviated due to it. The hole goes completely side to side, approximately half an inch high.

I saw a ear-throat-nose specialist (ortho-rhino-laryngologue in french)about this, and he said only syphillis or cocaine use can make a hole in your septum and that the bone will not grow back. In order to fill the hole, an operation (septoplasty) must be done where cartilage from your ears is placed to repair it. Another alternative is ''buttons'', but apparently it is not recommend, depending on the case, I guess.

As for the deviation, the specialist said that around 50% of people have a deviated septum naturally, but of course cocaine use can cause it if you don't have it naturally (which was my case) or worsten it. This also required surgery to be fixed.

I know i'm not the one to give advice on this, but i'd suggest you either stop snorting before your nose gets worse (or if you must, rub the stuff on your gums instead) or see a specialist and ask what you can do to minimize the damage.

I hope this helps,



anakind

I've got a septal perforation. I've been using (abusing) cocaine for the last 6 months or so ... Separation / divorce would be my stupid excuse. The funny (if you have a sense of humor) part is that my soon to be ex doesn't have a clue about my problem. She believes it's alcohol.

I only discovered the actual hole about a week ago. To say it was an eye opener is speaking mildly. Sticking a tissue through the hole gave me a very dissatisfying aknowledgement of a problem that I somehow knew would eventually happen. I think the 1/2 ounce of coke in 4-5 days prior to "blow thru" probably capped the event.

My question is ... The last week was obviously painful both physically and emotionally ... I actually felt a lot better yesterday when the "crusting" or scab that was trying to heal blew thru. What problems (or relief) do I look forward to ... Or am I really f*&ked up .... Regardless of my addiction?

More info ... I'd say the hole is about an 1/8" or a little bit bigger in diameter. It seems to be at the bottom part of my nasal passage and other than some natural discharge ... No blood ... Is not causing me any pain at the moment. Is it possible that it may heal?

- nose hole guy

Hello.. I too have not a hole in my nose but I can see white cartilage in the middel(septum) and near the bottom(nostril opening) when I push my nose up and to the side...
Is this normal or is it the beggining of a hole from coke use...
I was using coke for about 3 years on the weekends...
When I discoverd this I stopped and a very thin layer of skin appeared to form over it. A slip up last month took that away and it seems as if there is more white showing now...
Has anyone noticed this white cartilage being exposed and not a hole?
Thanks

That would be the begining of a hole.

I have not used nor will i. No judgement being passed but I would say, if you can see the physical damage now, imagine what your heart is looking like.


Do whatever you can to stop as fast as you can. Change friends, they will always lead you right back to the horse and it is impossible to resist!

Good luck,
brian

Tamadrummer you are so correct about the freinds. No one cares that I want to quit...It's just a party to them...I have cut back entirely except as you say for a few rare occasions when those freinds are around.I stay away from them as much as possible...
You say you have not used?
How do you gain your facts?
Do you know/ beleive that the damage is reversable? Nose and heart?
I dont understand the "heart reference" what is the damage to my heart?
I know during use it can be dangerous but are there long term after effects and are they reversable?
If you have any websites I can refer to that would be great...
Thanks

I will post a few links to places that will help you to understand how much damage this drug will do to your entire being, not just the flesh of your nose.

Http://www.Focusas.Com/cocaine.Html

http://www.Drug-rehabs.Com/cocaine-effects .Htm

http://www.Betterhealth.Vic.Gov.Au/bhcv2/b hcarticles.Nsf/pages/cocaine?Opendocument

here are just 3 links. Go to google and type in "cocaine effects on the heart"
it will lead you to many links about the damage caused by this stimulant.

As far as knowing what I know, I have lived 33 years and in those 33 years, I have seen many frineds take the bad road and they have all ended up either dead, nuts, wishing they were dead, or in jail. There are many ways to achieve a high, one of which is having a few drinks with friends. That is awesome, you can also smoke marijuana ( I do not), yes there may be some long term effects to the use of weed but those will not be anywhere close to the cocaine damage that is already occuring with casual use.

Good luck and stay away from people with cocaine,
brian

Cool, thanks...I have read some of those before too....
I gotta find new freinds...None of them are anywhere near quitting..

Since I dont yet have a hole in my nose but just cartilage showing I was wondering if anyone out there had my experience too and if it had healed itself or not....
My fear now is that even if I never do coke again will this heal or maybe get worse?
Thanks

Your best bet would be to begin applying some neosporin or another healing antibiotic ointment to the damaged area. Use some q-tips and the ointment. If it can heal, it will heal with this type of treatment. If it is allowed to just go on, it may get worse and you may need surgical intervention.

You do not seem like the person that would want your family or doctor to know that you were playing with drugs, and I cannot blame you if that is the case. Just remember, many of the people we love and respect have also done things that they are not proud of and they got through it.

You are on the right track, get away from the bad guys and start a good clean regimine of neosporin and keep up the good work!

:)
brian

I too have a hole in my nose from cocaine that's almost through. I am really trying to quite before it goes threw but the pain is unbearable. The only thing that will take it away is another line. Does anyone else have this awful pain? It affects the whole right side of my face including my gums. I don't know why cause know one ever talks about the pain. I wonder if it's exposing a nerve?

Changing friends is a very good idea.

Did you hear the one about this guy who dies and he goes to hell?

Satan meets him at the brimstone gates and starts showing him around.

As they walk through hell, the guy notices a pit, covered with great iron bars. “in that pit is where we keep all the murderers,” satan tells him. They go a little further, and he sees another pit covered with heavy iron bars. That is where we keep all the rapists, satan tells him.

They walk a bit further and the guy sees a shallow pit full of people, but with no iron bars covering it at all. He asks satan, “who is in that pit?” satan tells him that pit is where we keep all the alcoholics and drug addicts.

The guy asks satan, how come you don’t have any bars over that pit, aren’t you afraid they will try to escape? Satan says “i’m not worried about any of them getting out, when one tries to get out, one of his buddies always drags him back in.”

richard

I do not join these sites as per usual but I have a hole in my septum due to cocaine abuse so I thought I would post the advice I have learned over many hours of googling and chats with friends......

A. If you have a hole you have a problem - me included and I still take.
B. Go to a doctor that is anonymous - ie not your usual gp and get some advice - if you have to lie on the form that you have to fill to register do so - you want no record of your visit or problem.
C. How to manage a hole.....
1. Try to take a break - go on holiday etc the body does have an amazing way of repairing itself - exercise - if you take alot not taking avtually causes ou to lose weight (known s coke bloat)
2. Use saline solution spray to wash out your nose - if you are an every day user - it is good to wash your nose after each line.
3. The best thing to use to moisturize your nose is KY Jelly - yes it sounds weird - but being water based it is actually far better - all creams are usually bad news as they are petroleum or oil based which do not moisturize as effectively.
4. Use a straw or other some other such like item when you take (proffessionals have silver straws!) - why - bank notes are handled by so many people that it is easy to gain infection from them - especially if you are a heavy user and have a septum hole or the tendency to bleed.
5. re point 4 infection is always possible but a tip - If you do use a bank note - take the filter off a cigarette - remove the cotton wool inside (squeeze it and pull it out with your teeth) and use filter (now round paper circle) to keep bank note tightly rolled - ie you put filter around the rolled note - the wider you roll the note the more damage you will do. this method makes sure the note is very tightly rolled.
6. It may cost more but take the best coke you can afford - the test is to take a little of the drug and rub it into the skin of your hand if the coke goes in and disappears then it is good - if it does not and remains as white lumps on your skin - don't take it - it is not pure (well no coke is - pure would be liquid) or it is mixed with another drug or substance.
7. If you have a septum hole but you experience pain or itching the day after or after a period of abstnence, don't freak out, this actually a good sign - why? because at least you have not killed every cell in your nose and you can still feel!
8. Yes - in response to another post it does feel good when you blow your nose and that scab comes out - 'the one your body makes to fill the cartilage hole) you don't snore, sound nasal etc etc however this is the time your nose will be the most sensitive, and if you can, lay off the blow for as long as you can and treat the wound with an antiseptic spray.
9. EAT - sounds weird - but the body needs food (fuel) to heal itself and though coke may make you not want to eat try to make yourself.
10. A vanity note - applying vaseline around your nostrils will keep you from having any visable crusty white discharge.

I am not a doctor, I am not a post rehaber, I do see a counsellor but on a very casual basis, yet, somehow I managed to control my problem - yes i take - but not as I used to - for example if i take and I can not seep I take a sleeping tablet or have a glass of red wine or something carb based to eat - before I would have stayed up all night drinking and doing more - I don't do it in the morning to wake myself from a valium induced slumber - I take it when I want to ...... probably more than I should..... but I am no longer an every day addict.

And why? I am paranoid about my weight - so coke was MY thing - but actually coke makes you fat - either 'coke bloat', the alcohol you consume or from the ravenous urge you experience the next day to eat everything in sight.

My skin may look great when I am on it - but two days off it and I look like *** - it became not worth it - plus if you have a partner - you have to deal with the embarrasment of the snoring, your constant tossing and turning in bed and general insomnia, your sexual appetite one day - but then not on it - your total lack of it another.

Last point - it all seems ok on coke - you have the confidence to tell your partner 'he i an ***', stomp out the room, retreat to your flat or the communal sofa, yet all this confidence and suppose 'truth' sharing tends to end up in tears - if you do it, coke that is, how many times have you woken up the next morning and realised, when sober how out of proportion you made everything...... how you regret it..... and how the *** you feel now for doing so only aggravates and upsets the biological and chemical come down you are also experiencing - hell on earth.

Yes, post me all your letters about how terrible an influence I am and how I am in denial of my own problem - but - at my worst - I would search the internet into the small hours of the morning trying to find something, someone or just anything to give me the practical advice I was looking for and I never found it. It was always either scary - the doctor sites - puratanical - the ex -rehabers - or positive and nonchalant - the 'ravers'

I just hope this information can be of help to at least one person

x Good luck and ..... its gonna be 'just fine!'

Sorry to grave-dig a bit here, but I just want to say thanks for the previous posts... I too have a hole in my nose and was relieved to find some information about it.

I do not use cocaine but am a daily ketamine user, and have been for over a year. For a while now, when I take some it goes straight to the back of my throat (when using either nostrils) and am wondering if this will ever heal. I had a month and a half off and when I started again, I would feel the k, but after about.. hmm... 5 lines, it just started to go straight to the back of my throat once again. This was really crap considering I generally take more than 5 a day.

Will this eventually heal, like my hole?

I admire those of you who have posted repsponses ,yet it appears that none of you have yet to experience the post using hell that comes along with screwing your nose up. I only used coke and heroin for 2 yrs not even straight , Snorting only but quite a bit because I sold them as well. I developed a scab that prevented me from using most mornings and blew it out or picked my nose to get enough room to get my snort on , over time it was painful but as one of the others said it was still hope . Then I got locked up and the first time it wasnt so bad , but the second time I caught hell. The drainage and pure unstability of the sinuses operating properly has over time taken a toll on my relationships with people (mostly with strangers and people I get nervous around) It has caused me to avoid certain situations and major additional damage to an already frail self image and all because I chose to continue the insanity of using knowing it would either kill me or keep me misrable..... WHY has it caused all of this , Because the fluids that sping from the sinuses and throat area STINK worse than any junkie ever dreamed , The smell can become so horrible that most people try to be nice yet when it hits them from the nostrils or mouth that it causes serious reactions although most people never tell you , deud you smell awful. I still live with this condition and it affects my mood attitude and performance at work because self esteem is lost via Body odor that the person has cant even smell themselves as well as it just poppping up when it chooses .....But on the bright side it never happens when im at home with my family .....I urge anyone who doesnt want to lose out on life and might want help or just someone to chat with sometimes about the perils of addiction hit me up , I DONT WISH THIS BAD BREATH AND NOSE PROBLEMS ON MY WORST ENEMY.....ONE LOVE

hi there, ive been using various drugs for a year now and ive noticed every time i take a couple of lines now, just every second weekend or so, i can see small changes to the shape of my nose, like its receding or something. just started not long ago, my septum is totally fine, just a bit deviated but nothing major. most of my mates snort charlie way more than me and their noses seem fine. could this be cause ive ruined all the blood vessels coz of snortin speed n mdma a while back?. i also stupidly took 2c-i up the nose when i was drunk at a party, hurt pretty bad for a couple of hours. any advice on why this is happening and/or how i could prevent it would be great ,

cheers

p.s. please dont post back if all u are going to say is stop. heard it before, dont do it much anymore. any info on this erosion would be appreciated

The hole is there to stay and so are the nose bleeds. My son has one too from cocaine. Once the damage is done, it is done. Quite, while you still have a have a nose to breath out of.

I would suggest not to turn to Narcotics Anonymous in order to quite cocaine or other drugs. This organization is based on POWERLESSNESS. In my opinion it is very important to exercise ones will in recovery. I quite coke, k, aderral, and other drugs without the help of NA. I chose to continue using weed and occasionally acid and haven't relapsed on snortable drugs.
Also, there are many people in NA who are addicted to NA. It is a cult-like support group where people become narco-maniacs and obsess. If you are still obsessing over drugs years after you quite them, they still control your life. Finally, NA claims that they don't discriminate against non-religious people, yet you can't even be an agnostic and be in NA---The first step is admitting there is, and turning yourself over to a higher power.