Questions posted in the The Addiction Forum have been answered by Steven Adelman, M.D. and by Richard C. Bozian M.D. F.A.C.P. of Harvard Vanguard Medical Group.

Question Title: perforated septum

Forum: The Addiction Forum
Topic: Drugs

I snorted cocaine for about a year. I quit about 3 months ago, and will never touch the evil stuff again. I am currently in therapy and am doing very well physically, emotionally and psychologically. However, I have since noticed a with a penlight a hole in my nose between the nostrils. It's about 1/10" in diameter. I'm very distraught over this. My doctor is also my stepdad, and I'm scarred about him finding out. If I see an ear nose &throat doctor will he have to release my records to my stepdad, who holds all my other medical records? Is there any chance of this hole healing on its own? Is there anything I can do at home to expediate the healing process, or must I see a medical doctor?


Dear suzy,

It sounds to me like you ought to have that perforation in your nasal septum looked at. You're not doing so with great ease and eagerness because you have painted yourself into a corner in 2 ways: (1) You are using a family member as your physician, and this doesn't allow you to have the kind of open doctor-patient relationship which encourages the best health care, and ; (2) you have elected to keep your drug problem a secret from your family. This kind of secretiveness is one of the hallmarks of addiction, and I always get uncomfortable when people are as secretive in Recovery as they were in Addiction.

You sound like someone who might benefit from the help of an objective 3rd party in sorting out some of the dilemmas which face you in the early phases of Recovery. Please consider some counseling or psychotherapy (preferably with a therapist who knows a fair amount about addiction) in addition to "just saying no." If you don't work on the things that might have propelled you into cocaine abuse in the first place, you may find that it isn't as easy to stay away from addictive substances when the chips are down.

For a great deal more about Addiction and Recovery, check out my Ask DrSteve web site, which is conveniently hyperlinked below. Good luck !

Steve Adelman, M.D. (a.k.a. DrSteve)

This information is provided for general medical education purposes only. Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options pertaining to your specific medical condition.

Keywords: cocaine; early recovery; perforated nasal septum


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