Deet, Sarc? Couldn't breathe!

sculptr
0 Recommendations

What a night I had. I was dreaming that I kept making a horrible noise and then I awoke to find that I was snoring in the strangest way. Much to my alarm my nasal passages were swollen shut almost completely. I applied a warm wet cloth for a few minutes and then sprayed my nose with a steroid spray. It didn't improve at all so I propped myself up on pillows and "slept" upright all night. It was the only way I could breathe at all.

This morning I can breathe through my nose but it is still swollen somewhat. I still have that headache that has been plagueing me for a week and a half and now I think it is a sinus/migraine instead of just a migraine.

So my question is - is this Sarc, or could is possibly be a reaction to the Deet bug repellent I have used a few times in the past two weeks? I have not used Deet in many years as I hate toxic chemicals with a passion but the mosquitoes in FL have very big "teeth" LOL. I always shower within two hours of using Deet.

I have a very slight, clear nasal drainage. Nothing that even slightly looks like infection. The other day when I went swimming and went underwater I tasted blood in my mouth but there was none when I checked. I have also been hearing "crackling" in the area of my nose up between the eyes - the "bridge" I guess.

Comments anyone? Paradox? Should I call my doctor? If so, which one? LOL! I don't have an ENT right now as I can't find one who takes Medicaid.

Argh.

Michele C

7 replies

micheleb
  • By micheleb
  • Posted July 22, 2008 at 11:02 am

Sorry, I can't really comment on your problem as I have no experience with that sort of thing. I wanted to mention though, do you have anyone selling Avon around you? If not, go on line, they have a product called skin so soft and one of them is good at keeping the biting, flying critters away! I don't believe there are any harsh chemicals in there at least it wouldn't be as bad as the deet and it works in Michigan on the deer flies as well!

sculptr
  • By sculptr
  • Posted July 22, 2008 at 11:29 am

LOL Michele, FL mosquitoes LAUGH at Avon products. I think they actually LIKE the stuff! <grin>

Michele C

nomoresmiling

i don't know if this will work in florida, but my family and i (since i can't seem to breathe in any fumes lately) including my little neices and nephews have had great results with these patches. we have really bad horse flies and mosquitos when we are in the hamptons and i live near the beach on long island and have good results at home also. i can get them at a local sports place but here is there website. maybe they will help for you. have a good one.
http://www.nobuzzzone.com/nobuzzzone_new/patch.asp

Michele5
  • By Michele5
  • Posted July 23, 2008 at 12:28 am

I have a lot of nasal congestion and wear a Breath Right strip to bed. Try it, you might like it. It really makes a difference!

Michele

Paradox
  • By Paradox
  • Posted July 23, 2008 at 1:09 am

Michele,

Sounds suspicious for either a bad seasonal allergy or a congested sinus. If I had to pick a doc from any specialty, I'd likely start with primary care for such a problem. You can also try a cool mist humidifier at night, nasal saline spray, a good decongestant during the day such as sudafed and maybe some claritin or zyrtec as an all day mild treatment.

There is always the possibility that there is some other type of swelling or polyp there, but someone would need to look to know.

Oh, and they did a big study for a lot of mosquito repllents including skin so soft.... mosquitos from most parts of the country including Alaska and Fla eat it for breakfast. DEET actually works on them though. So does mosquito netting and full covering clothes (albeit light weight, wicking material in Fla in summer).

Good luck

sculptr
  • By sculptr
  • Posted July 23, 2008 at 11:26 am

Mystery solved, I THINK. I was fine last night. But every evening I "walk" my dog (usually i'm on a scooter - she's BIG and FAST) and the mosquitos have been so awful I was using the Deet even though I never did that before. So last night I did NOT have Deet on but I lifted my arm and scratched my nose with my forearm - lightbulb went on! I'm sure that's what I must have done the evening before because my nose always is itchy. So I probably shoved some of that lovely chemical up there. Ugh. That's the last of my experiment with Deet. Nomoresmiling (btw, wish you'd change your name to smiling! sending you a hug so you can smile for a minute), thanks for the link to the mosquito stuff. I'm willing to try ANYTHING safe at this point. I'll let you know what FL mosquitos think of it!

Thanks everyone.

Michele C

micheleb
  • By micheleb
  • Posted July 23, 2008 at 2:23 pm

Hum, I guess living in Mi isn't so bad after all!! LOL!!! Its funny though, I used to get absolutely MUNCHED by the mosquito's here and since I have been sick, they rarely ever bit me, they will land on me but they don't bite. I guess my system is too toxic from all the drugs they feed me!

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