Conditions
Nasal Septal Perforation
When former Eastenders actress, Daniella Westbrook, was photographed at the British Soap Awards in 2000 with her septum eroded from excessive coke-snorting, she not only became the poster girl for the ravages of cocaine, but also brought nasal septal perforation into the limelight. The septum, composed of cartilage and thin bone, can develop a hole in the cartilage, not only through cocaine use, but also as a complication of previous nasal surgery, excessive nose picking, trauma, cancer, or diseases such as tuberculosis or syphilis. As damage reduces blood supply in the septum, the cartilage begins to die, and a hole develops. Many septal perforations don’t need to be closed, and small perforations may need only frequent rinsing with prescription saltwater solutions and applying lubricating gels. Septal ‘buttons’ can also be inserted to fit the hole, which can be an alternative to surgery. However, there are various surgical techniques available for larger perforations, which can be performed under general anesthesia.
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Ive a large hole in my nose, and ive no taste or smell. Been to ENT, they are now after a year sending me for a head scan, to see if they can do surgery. I get a constant clicking noise in my head,and preasure in my ears/head.
ive just found a hole in my septum and completly freaked out - i cant actually believe there is a hole there - - i had used nasal sprays for about 9 years now and i think the steroid sprays and the steroids tablets have caused this to happen - im going to see ent specialist next week and im scared what he will suggest - do majority of holes have to be sorted or can you lived with them?
I had the same thing happen to me. Years of allergy issues and steroid nasal sprays, along with Astelin, casued a septum perforation that I found 6 months ago. The ENT I went to said it won't heal, but usually does not require treatment. However, mine is getting bigger and I'm worried it will cause my nose to collapse.
My boyfriend has a hole in his septum and suffers from chronic nose bleeds that last for hours sometimes. Is there any solution?
I saw my GP today about a large hole in my septum. He immdeidatley suggested that it must be through Cocaine use and that was the Only reason for it. I tried to suggest it may be other causes and admitted using Cocaine on a few occasions, and that I knew people who used excessivley and they did not have this kind of issue. He refused to accept it could be for any other reason and said that surgery was an option if it bothered me and that ws that. Rather unhelpful and judgmental I felt!
since i was like 5 i was always feeling like something was up my nose, like it was never fully cleared. i had sinus surgery when i was 6 or 7, i think they put a stense in my sinuses. i don't really know. over the years i've been diagnosed with everything from allergies, asthma, acid refulx, to chronic larangitis. by the time i was 12 they found a hole in my septum the size of a pinky nail. i've been using q-tips in my nose to clear it out and i feel like the hole has been getting deeper and bigger and i have to reach further in to clear it out. i've been told to stop ever since i started. it's so freaking embarrassing. my family humiliates me when they find the bloody q-tips, but even then i can't stop. it's such an uncomfortable feeling. it doesn't help that when i turned 18/19 i was addicted to coke. i'm sure that only made it worse. but i'm 20 now and almost 10 months clean, but i'm back to picking. i'm scared the combination of my drug use and picking is going to do serious damage like lead to cancer or make my septum collapse. i've tried different sprays, creams, rinses, everything. should i go back to an ent? sorry for ranting. when i read it can cause cancer, i freaked out! i always thought i was the only one in the world who had this problem. it's horrible!
Do you get scaps by any chance ??
it doesnt cause cancer, its a side effect of cancer. read the statement properly before you panic :)
have had same hole for over ten years only bad part is some what of small whistle. no reason to be depressed isnt hurting anything!
well i have just noticed that my septum on the left side has kind of disappeared, there is no whole its just gone really thin and only on one side ? , i have never touched any drugs , or had a cold in ages. please help !
i just had a septal button done 3 days ago, im in so much pain can anyone tell me if this is normal, my mouth is so sore it feels like i have had nerve root canal done in every tooth, and as for the pain in my nose, i cant even switch my nose without really bad pain, its still leaking a bloody discharge too, is it possible they could have broken my nose while doing the proccedure
Wow really? I dont think your suppose to be in so much pain but I don't know. I am about to get one myself. How are you now?
Hi I'm only 18 and don't do drugs what so ever but I noticed a hole in the cartilage in my nose but on the inside and not out. How can I seek help?
Hey i was wondering if you've had any luck with regards to your nose. Im in exactly the same boat and don't know what to do? Any advice or suggestions?
hi, no I haven't had any luck so far I'm afraid.
Just go see your own doctor who can send you to see a specialist. Do this as quickly as possibly, so that the hole won't get any bigger. I got nasal septal perforation as a result of a motorcycle accident at the age of 16. I only seeked help two years later and that was too late, as the whole had gotten a lot bigger and it could have been easily fixed earlier. Now it's a very large perforation and I'm going through my second surgery in less than two weeks, and the odds are it will not be my last one. Just go see a doctor ASAP. Not like A&E type of ASAP, but like as soon as you just can see your regular doctor.
Hi I have recently noticed a small hole going straight through the cartalidge inside my nose iv had a bad ketamine addiction so I know its frm that so I have now cut all contacts out of my life who deal with the stuff but I am so scared that its going to get bigger or my nose just completely collapses!!? Wat do I do??
Same problem. I noticed nothing when I was doing a lot, but a while after stopping it seemed more noticeable and now it's quite bad. I try to leave it alone hoping it will heal but my nose runs loads so sometimes blow out what could a scab trying to heal. I have no idea how I could get this sorted out?!
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