SOS is back!!

[Guest guest]

I know a lot of you have not been able to smell anything for a long time. I

apologize that this may be a long winded message but there have been a few

recent things that have changed from my daily routine and cannot pinpoint the

exact one(s) which helped me have my SOS back for an unbelievable 4 days in a

row without prednisone ;o)

I am also breathing much better.

First of all, I have stuck to my low salicylate diet as I have mentioned before

on this board. This has allowed me to be off prednisone for over 5 years and

off singulair for over 2 years. I only use cortisone type nasal sprays and if

needed, an inhaler, when I cave in to something very high in salicylates (ie.

wine) which causes severe congestion and wheezing as most of you know.

Now the interesting part:

1) I began using Rhinocort Aqua (budesonide) exactly one month ago which believe

it or not, says it is for Seasonal/Perennial Rhinitis and Nasal Polyposis on the

box. Written in the patient information sheet,

" Rhinocort Aqua can also be used to treat nasal polyps. It can prevent new

polyps from appearing as well as get rid of ones you already have. "

A month ago, the doctor told me to use 2 Sprays in each nostril twice daily for

the first 2 weeks, then use 2 sprays in each nostril before bedtime once per

day. The swelling improved and I could breathe easier. However, no sense of

smell after the first 3 weeks.

2) Continued to use HydraSense decongestion saline solution once or twice per

day for the last 3 weeks. Still no sense of smell after the first 3 weeks.

3) For the last week, I did not eat my daily Golden Delicious apples which are

lowest in salicylates of any apple types I know of. Besides I really like them

but my local grocery store was out of them.

4) Did not eat any sandwich meats from last Monday until Thursday. All of a

sudden, I have my sense of smell back since Thursday evening. The sandwich

meats I usually eat are the healthier Maple Leaf Natural Selections brand

chicken or turkey ones. They have no added preservatives and very little

ingredients.

5) Began taking 250mg of Niacin daily a week ago. You must take it with food

and a full glass of water. You may still get a " flush " which is nothing more

than increased blood flow throughout your body which last a short while. You

get warm and a little bit itchy all over, including redness of the skin. Please

read up on it before taking it. Therapeutically, taken in larger doses, it can

lower bad cholesterol, raise good cholesterol, and lower tryglycerides. Again

read up on it and talk to a doctor regarding drug interactions before taking it.

Also, it can harm your liver when taken in larger doses, especially with slow

release tablets/capsules. By the way, I take the quick release tablets and am

just trying to get my good cholesterol up a bit. The doctor tells me that a

daily glass of red wine will do it but obviously not a good choice for one with

Samters.

So what actually helped to get my SOS back??

The Rhinocort Aqua nasal spray is the first thing which comes to mind since it

did make a difference since I began using it.

Hydrasense helps but I've used it daily for several months and no SOS.

Apple a day. Not sure about this one but I don't recall getting congested after

eating a golden delicious apple and have been eating them for years. FYI,

Granny apples are high in Salicylates.

Sandwich meats... Well that is a first time I went without sandwich meats (only

during the work week) for so many days in a row. I doubt this had anything to

do with it because of the brand I eat which seems to not contain any high

salicylate ingredients except for possibly spices.

Right now, I can smell and taste everything really well and wish I could pin it

down to only 1 thing for all of you. I believe it is mainly because of the

Rhinocort Aqua prescription, but also sticking to the low salicylate diet and

possibly removing the Sandwich meats. Did the addition of the daily 250mg of

Niacin give that little bit extra? You never know as it can reduce

inflammation.

Almost forgot, I always take a shower first thing in the morning and find I

breathe easier right after it. For the last 3 days, my SOS seems to get better

after my shower.

Hope this helps.