Input on nasal steroids?

Hello! I have been using a Swift FX. I have gotten so I use nose spray, like Afrin, every night. I do not want to do this indefinitely, but at the moment I seem to be "hooked." I know it is not good, and I know about rebound congestion. I don't think a neti pot will break through the congestion. I spoke with my doc who wrote me a prescription for nasal steroids, which I will pick up tomorrow. I also am not wild about any steroids, but am hoping they will help me get off the "Afrin," and begin a new routine, in which a neti pot will help, and I also plan to purchase some of the Clear by Pur-Sleep, since it seems to have such good reviews.

Does anyone have input/experience/recommendations for me??

Thank you!
Jill

you are doing the right thing....nasal steroids and neti pot will help once you get through the "withdrawal" from afrin.
I use generic flonase and it has been great.
I also use my neti pot and that just helps keep things flushed out.
my doctor has recommended mucinex-d at times for congestion but that's not for everyone and the "d" can prevent you from sleeping.
so I think you are on the right track with what your doctor is recommending.

Quote :." I know it is not good, and I know about rebound congestion."
my doctor recommend to use neilmed nasal rinse and gel spray .

Been down the Afrin road myself. It is tough.

Use the RX for steroid spray as directed. It is less harmful than the Afrin. Use lots of moisturizing spray like Simple Saline. Using Afrin creates an environment where the nasal mucosa depends on the chemicals to decrease the swelling. No Afrin and the nasal mucosa swells and screams for the chemical release. Hence the rebound congestion.
Simple Saline (or similar solution) helps keep the nasal mucosa well hydrated (neti pot use does also). The added moisture and saline is needed to help the nasal mucosa start to function again on its own without the Afrin chemicals. The nasal steroids help reduce the swelling but they don't act fast like the Afrin does. It takes many days for the steroid spray to help.

You might try doing one side of the nose at a time. Some try to wean themselves by toughing it out during the day and only use the least amount of Afrin at night with the aid of the steroid spray.
Use an oral decongestant if you can. I know they can disrupt sleep but being completely stopped up is for sure going to keep you from sleeping. It can take 5 to 7 days for the nasal mucosa to quit relying on the Afrin. It is hard and it is miserable. If you have been on Afrin for years, extremely hard but it can be done.

When you spray the nasal steroid, point the tip toward your eyeball on that side, and away from your septum.

eg, if you're spraying your left nostril, use your left hand to pull your cheek at your cheek bone to the side and up while using your right hand on top of the spray bottle (spray bottle closest to your face) to spray toward your eyeball and away from the septum.

The most important part of this is AWAY from the septum.

Nasal steroids have improved the quality of my life a ton!!

Thank you so much to all who replied to this post, you have given me tips and input I wouldn't have thought of. Today I will pick up the script and give it a try.