Use nasal mask with one nostril clogged?

NeedinZs · Post by **NeedinZs** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:15 am

O.K. Weirdest question yet...

I got up after 4 hours of doing fine on Auto.
Got a little nose run while I was up and then attempted to go back to bed with CPAP, after an hour.

When I awoke about an hour after that, I had one nostril totally blocked. This felt very uncomfortable. Is it o.k. to use nasal mask, with one nostril closed off, if I can sleep through it?

I can see this happening in the future.

Thanks for any help.

6PtStar · Post by **6PtStar** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:45 am

If you do a search our Head Lab Rat on this board (Rested Gal) had that question put to her. She plugged one nostril and went to sleep with an Oxygen monitor. If I remember the post her Oxygen dropped a bit but stayed up in the 90's. Think she used nasal Pillows but should not make any difference

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:26 am

One clogged is normal for a lot of us. When we sleep on our sides the one thats down clogs, sometimes one side has better flow so that the side I try to keep open. As long as the extra effort of trying to breath blocked doesn't keep you awake it's ok. I also take OTC decongestants to help. Jim

Bogof · Post by **Bogof** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:34 am

As you are on an Auto, it will probably detect it better reduce the pressure a bit consider half of the opening is blocked.

A saline nasal spray in the morning and before bedtime is a must for me, can't imagine living without a 'sniff'.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:00 am

In bed, I've noticed that almost always one nostril or the other is stopped up. It varies during the night as to which one is stuffy. I've had no problem getting perfectly good "cpap" treatment. As long as one nostril or the other "works", cpap treatment works, too.

As for that silly experiment I did (plugging one nostril all night)...that wasn't smart for me to do, given that the nostrils are supposed to alternate being stuffy/open every so many hours. But, I did get "enough" air all night, lucky me.

I just now Google-searched for the phrase: "one nostril or the other always stuffy"

http://ask.metafilter.com/18321/Blocked ... n-one-side
One of the posters in that thread wrote:
I've been in for similar allergy/ENT problems and I was told that the nose naturally switches unblocked/blocked nostrils like that.

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/4/1680_51935.htm
excerpt from article, "Nasal Obstruction" By Deborah Rosin, MD:

Normal Nasal Blockage: The Nasal Cycle

You may notice one side of your nose feeling blocked, and sometime later feel that the other side is clogged. Many people notice this at night when lying in bed, since they have to alternate sides they sleep on to be able to breathe comfortably. This is what is termed the "nasal cycle," which is the normal cycle of congestion (swelling) and decongestion (shrinkage) in the nose. The nasal cycle causes swelling and then shrinkage of the linings of each side of the nose. The blood vessels inside the lining of the nose become engorged in a cyclic fashion, which leads to this swelling and shrinkage.

This cycle varies from person to person but normally takes one to four hours.

http://urbansemiotic.com/2005/12/17/ben ... -pot/feed/
Dr. David Boles posted:

By: David W. Boles
Yes, it's normal, Michael. During the day, when you are unaware and not doing heavy running or other imperative breathing, your nostrils naturally open and close so only one is doing the major duty of the day.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:04 am

Bogof wrote:As you are on an Auto, it will probably detect it better reduce the pressure a bit consider half of the opening is blocked.

That's not how a AUTO works, it wouldn't reduce the pressure, if flow is blocked it might raise the pressure. Unless it detects a pulse like snoring, it's more likely to do nothing. Jim

Treesap · Post by **Treesap** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:06 am

If I have a clogged nostril, I use Dristan spray to clear it up. It really does work for 12 hours. Mine have been clogged due to allergies. The suggested use for Dristan is not more than 3 days though. Using a Neti Pot regularly if you have allergies is a way to help keep it at bay. It's worked for me.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:33 am

NeedinZs wrote:Is it o.k. to use nasal mask, with one nostril closed off, if I can sleep through it?

I think so. As long as air can get through one nostril or the other, you're getting your treatment, as far as I know. That's the way it's been for me, for almost 4 years of good autopap treatment.

drummergirl410 · Post by **drummergirl410** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:34 am

This is probably a "well, duh" question, but what exactually is a neti pot?

I've only been on CPAP once, but I did notice that my left nostril felt a little stuffy at times. Usually though if I just waited it out, it went away. Or while laying on my side, if I turned from my side onto my back, that helped too. Nice to know that it's OK to go ahead and use the therapy. I'm seriously thinking that I will need some of that saline as well. I also take a daily 10mg dose of Clarinex too, and haveNasacort AQ if things get really tough.

CarrieS · Post by **CarrieS** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:37 am

When I had nasal polyps very badly one side was completely blocked (this was before CPAP) and it was never a danger to be a "one nostriled" person your body would wake up (much like an apnea wakes you) before it would let you be deprived at a dangerous level, iit would be disruptive at the worst and wake you, so that said I would go for it - whenever I have an issue I use Afrin though but you can only use it for 3consecutive days so its more for colds and the like, I use Nasonex for nonallergice rhinitis the rest of the time and I never wake up clogged unless Im ill.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:37 pm

If you are having chronic congestion in one nostril you need to see an ENT for an exam, you probably have a deviated septum or other obstruction causing the problem.

If you have a nasal obstruction, CPAP therapy will be much more difficult than it has to, best therapy is obtained via the nose.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 1:02 pm

If you're able to tolerate one, use a full-face mask. Problem solved forever. Nice big huge third hole always available for use.

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 1:23 pm

snoredog said:

If you are having chronic congestion in one nostril you need to see an ENT for an exam, you probably have a deviated septum or other obstruction causing the problem.

speaking as someone who had a lifetime of chronic congestion (but only became aware that it was always one side after beginning cpap ) i totally agree with snoredog...the surgery for deviated septum was the best thing i could have done for myself...i was on an otc allergy med of one kind or another since i was 11; before my surgery i was sent to an allergist who told me what i already knew, that those meds don't work for the most part and are actually quite bad for your health...then again, snoredog and i seem to share a suspicion of pharmaceuticals...since cpap and septoplasty i have completely stopped using any of that stuff, and the regular saline flush i do is all i need these days

rested gal quoted:

Yes, it's normal, Michael. During the day, when you are unaware and not doing heavy running or other imperative breathing, your nostrils naturally open and close so only one is doing the major duty of the day.

LOL, i wish i had known this sooner...after my stents came out i was so thrilled to be able to breathe on both sides and i kept checking...the first time my right side was blocked i panicked! but then i read that it was normal...

Treesap · Post by **Treesap** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 3:04 pm

Neti Pot: you can google it. Basically it is an eastern medicinal thing for cleaning out sinuses. You use a small amount of salt with warm water and put the nozzle of the pot in your nostril while tilting your head. The water comes out the other nostril and flushes the sinuses. I do it with both nostrils. It is homeopathic. Dr. Oz said on the Oprah show that our sinuses need to be cleaned too. I've had a lot less sinus issues since using one.

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 3:27 pm

i don't know much about the neti-pot, but i do know a lot of members really swear by it

another option is the NeilMed Saline Rinse kit, which you can also google...it's relatively inexpensive (i know, there are also a few posters who make their own mix, but i have to say, i'm good with the premixed packets...lazy? ); it does a great job of flushing out the sinuses and it's very gentle, too

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Use nasal mask with one nostril clogged?

Use nasal mask with one nostril clogged?

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