Alternate Nostril blocking

jskinner · Post by **jskinner** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 10:38 am

As some of you know I have been struggling with nasal issues since about mid November that has been greatly affecting my xPAP treatment (currently been forced to use a oral only mask which is not pleasent)

During the day I still have a lot of problems feeling like I am getting enough oxygen though my nose. What I have noticed is that I almost always have one nostril that is blocked. Its quite often the right nostril that is blocked but not always. Its seems to alternate to some degree.

I understand its normal for nostril breathing to alternate during the night (I read this somewhere but can't find reference to it now. If you have any links to this please post them) but I've never heard of it during the day? Has anyone else experienced this alternate nostril blocking?

OwlCreekObserver · Post by **OwlCreekObserver** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 11:16 am

All I can say is that I go through the exact same thing but I don't have an explanation for it. I have a slightly deviated septum, according to my ENT guy, but it isn't severe and I doubt that it has much to do with this. I'm only chiming in here to let you know that you're not alone.

OCO

WillSucceed · Post by **WillSucceed** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 11:27 am

One or the other being blocked during the day happens to me all the time. It's a pain, but, as I'm fond of saying: "it is what it is."

I asked one of the ENT doctors here at work about this and he told me that it is normal.

jskinner · Post by **jskinner** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 11:36 am

WillSucceed wrote:I asked one of the ENT doctors here at work about this and he told me that it is normal.

Normally I don't think it would be a big deal but since my nasal passageways are swollen and constricted it greatly reduces the air flow. Maybe its happens all the time and its only more noticeable since I'm struggling to get the air though and am thus conscious of any changes.

However I'm certain that lots of times in past I have been am able to breath though both nostrils during the day...

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 11:43 am

That's a normal occurrence for me too. If you find a way to relieve it, I would be interested.

Who here uses Flonase? My doctor has started me on it several times in the past, but I never stick with it. Does it really reduce swollen nasal tissue? And is it a lifetime medication?

jskinner · Post by **jskinner** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 11:47 am

Linda3032 wrote:Who here uses Flonase? My doctor has started me on it several times in the past, but I never stick with it. Does it really reduce swollen nasal tissue? And is it a lifetime medication?

I've been on Flonase for about 3 years now. It helped a lot pre-CPAP but the past few months it no longer seems to be working. My ENT tells me that most people on CPAP need a corticosteroid spray? (maybe its time for a poll )

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 12:48 pm

Your story sounds like mine. In the last few years I have only had a easy fresh breath a few times, it's funny when and if it happens it's such a relief, but it doesn't last.

The only time in the last two years I was able to breath good was in the hospital and I had O2, that's probablly what kept me clear. This house I moved to now has mold, that added to pollen keeps me stuffed all year.

My nightly fight starts at 11 P.M. with one Advil Cold & Sinus Tab, at 11:30 I add one Sudafed Nasal Max Tab, at Midnight I add two Members Mark Allergy Tabs (Sam's Club) very cheap! If I sleep on my side, I get to breath through whichever side is up, left side up is best for me. The XPAP traps some of the problems, so I can get through the night. The bad part is I am not suppose to take any of these products.

During the day I don't take anything to keep open, some of my med's make breathing harder, but I don't have the option of not using them. A Hot cup of Tea open them for a little while, I use Green Tea for the health benefits. It's strange that most of us on XPAP, are fighting the same wars. Jim

Kazoo · Post by **Kazoo** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 1:47 pm

I can relate to the nose plugging. Have also been told that it is normal for one side to plug at a time. I have had very sticky type mucus. My nose Doctor told me that drinking coffee actually dries you up and you need to drink a glass of water just to counter the cup of coffee. I didn't really do that, but lately I am trying to drink a lot of liquid besides coffee and am seeing amazing results. Also, they suggested I use a BreatheRight strip at night to open up the airways. Someone on here once told about when you put your mask on, you should breathe in through your nose for a while and breathe out your mouth. That seems to work for me. Just some ideas to think about.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:44 pm

You might ask your doctor for a sample or script for Astelin spray. I will NOT do steroids and the Astelin worked better for me than any other non-steroid nasal spray.

You might also consider asking your family doctor or ENT to take a swab culture of both nasal passages. There may be something going on you and they are not aware of. I was surprised to learn you can get fungal infections in your sinuses, for instance, not just bacterial infections.

bsil · Post by **bsil** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 4:16 pm

I have a long history of allergies and sinus issues. In 1997 I had sinus surgery b/c I kept getting back to back sinus infections and could not get off the antibiotics. The surgery helped, but I still get 2-3 sinus infections per year.

I take Entex PSE which is a prescription strength sudafed and guaifensin combination. I also recently tried Nasonex hoping that I could get off the Entex. I'm concerned that the Sudafed on a daily basis is hard on the heart and BP. THe guaifenesin I can take over the counter as Mucinex.

Also, using a daily sinus rinse has helped tremendously. I use NeilMed sinus rinse. It is easy to use with premeasured packets of sodium mixed with baking soda. There are many other sinus rinse/neti pot types out there.

Since I prefer using the Swift nasal pillows, a clear nose is a must!
Every once in a while I'll have to use the Afrin to open up the passages, but of course, one can only use that sparingly.

Kazoo- the Mucinex plus lots of water might help the sticky mucus situation

Barb

twb119 · Post by **twb119** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 7:03 pm

I have had a deviated septum for over 10 years, and still do after 3 surgeries. It started off deviated to the left, surgery to the right, surgery to the right, surgery to the left, right where I started and the ENT’s said to live with it.

With me the side with out the bulge works good 1 to 2 hours then plugs up for 2-3 hours over and over. The ENT docs said that the deviated septum caused increase airflow in the good side causes irritation and makes the turbinate to swell and stop airflow. Had turbinate reduction the 2nd and 3rd time.

When I started cpap the sleep doc wonted me to have surgery again but after I explained my history and he talked to my ENT he gave me Nasonex for the swelling and Astelin for congestion.

Before the nasal sprays my AHI with Bipap was 5 to 20 on most nights, with the sprays my AHI has avg. 2.3 for the last two months and pressure has dropped an avg of 6 on the low and 3 on the high.

I Have a Remstar Auto Bipap set at 17-24 with PS set at 4. Before the sprays it would max out 23 Epap 25 Ipap with setting at 18-25, most nights now 90% Epap is 18 avg. and 90% Ipap is 22 to 23 avg.

It has taken 5 months to get to where I am at now, much much better, so don’t get discouraged and keep talking with your Doc, and if you have more than one Doc, for them to talk to each other.

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 8:18 pm

Hi JS....I have had allergic rhinitis, (blocked nasal passages due to allergies etc) pretty much all my life. As you can imagine, when I started CPap some 13+ years ago, this was a big problem. The only way I was able to overcome this problem was to use a cortisone nasal spray....but that alone did not work 100%. I spoke to an allergy doctor about this, after trying allergy shots which did not work either. At the time, I was using Afrin a lot along with the cortisone spray. (Nasacourt). He suggested getting off the Afrin..his solution was to take about a tsp or a bit less and ADD it to the bottle of Nasacourt,...then over the next few months, gradually reduce the Afrin to 0. Needless to say, that did not work for me. Over the last 6+ years, I have been using this formula to great effect. I ONLY use it at night before I go to bed. 2 sprays in each nostril, which then pretty much lasts all the next day. I have NO side effects from the addition of the Afrin. The amount of Afrin I use, 3/4 to a tsp per bottle of Nasacourt is so minute, it takes me at least 7-9 months go through a normal bottle of Afrin.

This is the only way I have been able to use Cpap. It was either that, or no Cpap. Recently, switched to a generic Flonase due to cost, as I pay for my own insurance. After a 4-5 days, the Flonase is working like the Nasacourt. The only problem is that you cannot open the generic Flonase, it's sealed!? Why they do that I don't know.. I had to break open the top in order to add the Afrin, and then I had to transfer the contents to an empty nasacourt bottle...lol. I may have to back to the Nasacourt.

That would be my suggestion to help with your nasal blockage. I posted this formula awhile back here, and some folks thought it was a bad idea. Certainly, using full strength Afrin is NOT a good idea long term. The amount of Afrin I use is very minimal. If you think about it, that 1 tsp of Afrin is spread out over the course of 1 month, plus it's diluted with the Flonase. I have been doing this as I mentioned, for over 7 years, and I still have my turbinets. I get checked regularly by an ENT due to my work, so I know there are no long term problems.

Hope it works out for you, John

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alancalan · Post by **alancalan** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 8:28 pm

Get the Neil-Med Sinus irrigation kit at the drugstore and do it! There are many other kits and devices but this one is about $12 for a great bottle and 100 packets to mix with filtered or distilled water.

Believe me, it is so simple and so wonderful to feel clear. When I first heard about it I said no way but now it's so routine. Thanks to Global Warming we are having trees and plants blooming again causing tons of allergy and breathing problems, this will help.

My ENT never would have menitioned it, or my internist either for that matter, had it not brought it up and I have no idea why because when I did mention it they could not have be more enthusiastic.

Also, when you have breathing problems, like you can't take a full deep breath, that could be Blood Pressure, So get that checked out too if you are having that problem.

But really, do the sinus irrigation. It's the coolest thing I've done since I got a staple put in my ear to stop smoking and that's worked for over ten years. Oh yeah the best thing I've done was getting dxed for Apnea.

laurie2025 · Post by **laurie2025** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:26 pm

I also use sinus irrigation, (it's a little machine) and it works great for me. I use flonase for allergies also. I have no problem with blocked sinus anytime since I have started the sinus irrigation. It's a great thing.

Vader · Post by **Vader** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:39 pm

jskinner wrote:As some of you know I have been struggling with nasal issues since about mid November that has been greatly affecting my xPAP treatment (currently been forced to use a oral only mask which is not pleasent)

During the day I still have a lot of problems feeling like I am getting enough oxygen though my nose. What I have noticed is that I almost always have one nostril that is blocked. Its quite often the right nostril that is blocked but not always. Its seems to alternate to some degree.

I understand its normal for nostril breathing to alternate during the night (I read this somewhere but can't find reference to it now. If you have any links to this please post them) but I've never heard of it during the day? Has anyone else experienced this alternate nostril blocking?

I have heard that it's pretty normal for the stuffiness to alternate during night or day. I know this has been the case with me. I have been doing much better though, by using Simply Saline a couple times a day and at night I use it about an hour before I spray my nose with Zicam (homeopathic) Allergy relief. Also, for some unexplained reason, when using the aforementioned sprays, I have never had nasal stuffiness during the night when using my Soyala nasal mask.Whenever I wore the Activa I would still get occassional stuffiness and rainout.
I also have a slightly deviated septum, which my Doctor says is definitely not worth considering for surgery.

Alternate Nostril blocking

Alternate Nostril blocking

Plugged nose

Blocked nasal passages.

I agree with Barb

Re: Alternate Nostril blocking

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: also have mirage activa 2nasal masks but using the p10