Nasal and Ear issues

[branzig]

So over the past 6 months I have found that I am having issues with my beloved pipe tobacco. It seems that every time I partake in a bowl, I come down with sinus inflammation and minor ear congestion. Multiple bowls lead to my ears closing up for a few days... It is very odd.
I can smoke any and as many cigars as I want with no ill effect, which leads me to believe it has to be some additive that is in pipe tobacco specifically...perhaps an allergy? Was just curious if anyone else has had these issues before and if anyone has overcome them.
I'd hate to give up pipe smoking...

 

[loneredtree]

What are you smoking? Do you inhale? Tell us your smoking details.
:mrgreen:

 

[Chasing Embers]

Could be bacteria build up in the stem. Had similar issues, now after every smoke, I run an Everclear dipped pipe cleaner down the stem, followed by a dry one. Cleared up my sinuses.

 

[huntertrw]

branzig:
My guess is that your reaction is not related to tobacco per se, as you stated that have no problem with cigars. Regardless, do you currently have, or have you previously experienced, any allergies? Also, are you currently taking any medications, prescription or otherwise, which you were not taking when smoking your cigars?
Beyond these rather obvious questions, the goal is to identify the possible culprit(s) by a process of elimination. Questions to ponder include:

1. How many pipes do you have? Does the reaction which you described occur with each?

2. Did you purchase your pipes new, or are they estate-types? Are they briars or other types? Do they all have the same types of stems (e.g., Vulcanite, Lucite, plastic, etc.)?

3. How many different pipe-tobaccos do you currently have? Does the reaction occur with each?

4. What varieties (English, Virginia, Virginia-Perique, Oriental, Burley-based, etc.) of pipe-tobacco do you currently smoke?. Does the reaction occur with each?

5. With what do you light your pipe, and do you use this same ignition source to light your cigars?

6. Where do you smoke your pipe? Where do you smoke your cigars?

7. How often do you clean your pipes? What do you use to clean them?
Nothing in this post is offered or is to be construed as medical advice. If your consideration of these questions does not help to identify the cause, then please consult your physician.

 

[branzig]

branzig:
My guess is that your reaction is not related to tobacco per se, as you stated that have no problem with cigars. Regardless, do you currently have, or have you previously experienced, any allergies? Also, are you currently taking any medications, prescription or otherwise, which you were not taking when smoking your cigars?
Beyond these rather obvious questions, the goal is to identify the possible culprit(s) by a process of elimination. Questions to ponder include:

1. How many pipes do you have? Does the reaction which you described occur with each?

2. Did you purchase your pipes new, or are they estate-types? Are they briars or other types? Do they all have the same types of stems (e.g., Vulcanite, Lucite, plastic, etc.)?

3. How many different pipe-tobaccos do you currently have? Does the reaction occur with each?

4. What varieties (English, Virginia, Virginia-Perique, Oriental, Burley-based, etc.) of pipe-tobacco do you currently smoke?. Does the reaction occur with each?

5. With what do you light your pipe, and do you use this same ignition source to light your cigars?

6. Where do you smoke your pipe? Where do you smoke your cigars?

7. How often do you clean your pipes? What do you use to clean them?

Sorry guess I should of given some more initial info.
I have mild sinusitis that has always been easily controlled. I take 24 hour Claritin daily. I should also add that I have been smoking pipes for over 2 years and regularly buy restore and trade pipes. Never inhale, not a retrohaler. My body has just recently started this trend of sinus issues and the main thing that drives me made is the ear clogging.
1&2: I have lots of pipes, restore some, buy some new. Estate/new/virgin cob doesn't matter. Still get some issues no matter the pipe.

3&4: Lots of tobaccos. Doesn't matter if it is G&D Star of the East or SG FVF. I smoke everything from English/Balkan to VAs to Burleys. Not big on aros. Haven't smoked an aro in probably 9 months.

5: mainly matches but do own and use zippos. Doubt it is the zippo. I use a zippo on my cigars. no ill effects.

6:I try my best to smoke outside. Closest thing to indoors is my garage in the winter.

7: I do the 'ol pipe cleaner down the stem and around the bowl after each smoke. Deep clean with 91% iso maybe once every 3-4 months.
My doctor just says "Don't smoke at all" when I bring up pipe smoking or cigars. He doesn't want to hear anything about it.
Hopefully that added info helps out a bit.

 

[huntertrw]

branzig:
What if you were to cut a piece of cigar large enough to fill the bowl of a favorite pipe (thoroughly cleaned in advance) and smoke it thus? If you have no reaction, then I believe that this would point to the pipe-tobacco as the culprit. If the reaction continues, then I would suggest consulting an Allergist.
Regarding cleaning, may I suggest swabbing the lumens of your pipe's stem and shank using a pipe-cleaner dipped in Everclear 190-proof grain alcohol after each smoke to see if this makes a difference? Your pipes have a build-up of tar, whereas your cigars do not.

 

[mso489]

The direct way to go at this would be to take a break from all smoking until you feel this sinus and ear problem

has substantially cleared up. I know that's a tall order, and you might not choose to do that, but if you did, you

could then tentatively smoke some of the simpler blends -- Va/Per, plain burley, and so forth, to get range on

whether you can smoke anything without activating these problems. You might have these problems without

smoking, and that would be useful to know. Good luck, and I hope you get feeling better.

 

[warren]

The first thing I'd do, if I was in your shoes, is to find a new doctor. Not one that is sympathetic to smoking, but one who is empathetic to your problem and interested in finding an answer.
It could be that the pipe is over taxing the Claritin. Perhaps a new pharmaceutical will alleviate the problem. I agree with those suggesting a specialist as it's apparent that your current practitioner is content with the easy answer, which you are not willing to follow. An allergist is probably the best solution. If that opinion agrees with your current doctor . . . quit smoking! Or, suffer with the consequences of smoking the pipe. Hopefully the allergist will identify the specific cause for your discomfort and there will be a satisfactory solution available.

 

[branzig]

I take breaks from pipes now. Within 3 days the inflammation dies down and within 5 the ears open back up. One thing I have been reading about is PG and it's effects that it has been having on Ecig and Vape users and it seems very alike to what I am going through...maybe I am allergic to the PG, which is not in a cigar.
The other thing I can think of is the fact that maybe I am puffing too hard, opening up my Eustachian tubes and forcing smoke into them?

 

[dochudson]

I would not be screwing around since it involves your ears.. once hosed very hard to fix. get to an ENT and see what's going on.

 

[dochudson]

I would not be screwing around since it involves your ears.. once hosed very hard to fix. get to an ENT and see what's going on.