Dear Dr. Johnson: I think I have become addicted to nasal sprays. When I stop using one, I simply cannot breathe through my nose. I know I am taking more and more of the nasal spray, so what should I do?
First, let me point out that you certainly are not ”addicted” in the classic sense, which involves bodywide physical addiction. However, you may be dependent upon the nasal spray to maintain breathing. The ultimate answer is to stop using the nasal spray, and I realize that is easier said than done.
You may wish to consult an ear, nose and throat specialist about how best to withdraw from the use of your nasal spray. Sometimes steroid medications can help get through the period of withdrawal. Once withdrawal is
accomplished, the lining of the nose (nasal mucosa) will restore itself, but that cannot happen until you stop using the nasal spray.
Dear Dr. Johnson: Is it always necessary to have surgery for Peyronie`s disease?
Most of the time it is not necessary to have surgery for Peyronie`s disease, and I would advise getting a second and even a third opinion before submitting to surgery for this condition.
Peyronie`s disease (named after the physician who first described it in the mid-1700s) is a disease of the penis that results in a bending of the penis during erection. Such bending can be painful and can make intercourse difficult and painful. The usual cause of this condition is thought to be scar tissue that forms underneath the skin of the penis.
Throughout the years, many different treatments have been tried for this condition, none of them consistently successful. The good news is that most of the time Peyronie`s disease improves spontaneously without treatment, though it may take years for that to happen.
Sometimes surgery will be required, but it should be considered a treatment of last resort.
