Cold: Nasal Stuffiness for 9 Days Now!!!

[Treesap]

I've had a cold since last Thursday. I've had nasal congestion for the whole time. I use Dristan 12 hour nasal spray, but I can't anymore because it's not suggested to use it more than 3 days. I went to the doctor a few days ago, and I got a steroid shot to help reduce inflammation, but it didn't work. The nasal passages are still stuffed. I don't have any signs of a sinus infection. The mucus is clear, there's no pain, and no fever. I've used my neti pot to clear out mucus. I've used hot steam. I've tried all the OTC nasal decongestants: Advil Congestion, Advil Cold and Sinus, antihistamines, Mucinex, along with ibuprofen, aspirin. And now I'm sitting here with no results.

I need to be able to breath. I don't use a FF mask.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I haven't had nasal congestion last this long.

Any ideas will be appreciated.

[Julie]

Have you turned down (or up) your humidifier - it can make a big difference!

[Treesap]

Yes, I turned it up to allow for more moisture because of so much breathing through my mouth during the day caused such dryness and coughing fits.

I'm wondering if my CPAP is causing the sinuses to stay swollen because of the air. I'm so tired of this.

[DoriC]

Any way you can get hold of a FF mask? That might help in situations like this.

[sydneybird]

Coincidentally, I just posted a tome on the subject titled "Nasal Congestion and Remedies - Add Yours".

Summary, I'm getting better after 3 months of congestion/runny nose within a week of using saline nebulizer for ten minutes 3x per day, Aleve (naproxen) or aspirin, and Sudafed.

Best of health to you.

[Muse-Inc]

Old-fashioned medical practice for congestion without runniness was to drink a lot more water. My now retired doc used this with me to break recurring cycles of allergies-->cold-->sinus infection-->bronchitis.

[Janknitz]

Advil Congestion, Advil Cold and Sinus

Stay away from the decongestants in these OTC meds! They give short term relief and longer term "rebound" congestion.

I had a recent cold, and even though I'm no longer congested, my nasal passages are still swollen and tender. I'm using saline spray to rehydrate the tissues and just waiting it out at this point. I've been using a nasal mask OK, but my nasal pillows are still uncomfortable.

[linagee]

I've had a cold since last Thursday. I've had nasal congestion for the whole time. I use Dristan 12 hour nasal spray, but I can't anymore because it's not suggested to use it more than 3 days. I went to the doctor a few days ago, and I got a steroid shot to help reduce inflammation, but it didn't work. The nasal passages are still stuffed. I don't have any signs of a sinus infection. The mucus is clear, there's no pain, and no fever. I've used my neti pot to clear out mucus. I've used hot steam. I've tried all the OTC nasal decongestants: Advil Congestion, Advil Cold and Sinus, antihistamines, Mucinex, along with ibuprofen, aspirin. And now I'm sitting here with no results.

I need to be able to breath. I don't use a FF mask.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I haven't had nasal congestion last this long.

Any ideas will be appreciated.

Be glad. My partner has nasal stuffiness for every day of his life! (I need to push him into getting it checked out, it's really not normal.)

[Lizistired]

I was doing really well until the cold weather hit around Christmas. The humidity in my house is 20% right now and that's with water containers next to the vents. I think my new "energy efficient" furnace dries the air out more than the old one. I really don't want to mess with a humidifier for my house.
I tried raising the humidity on my Resmed but I think it has made it worse. I only kept the pillows on about 2 hours last night.
I don't think my throat closes like they say, I think my obstructions are in my sinuses. I don't breathe through my mouth when I sleep unless I'm really sick and it wakes me up.
I'm trying Sydneybird's Sudafed and Aleve tonight with a Nasal rinse, and dropping the humidity back down to 4.
I considered raising the pressure on my machine but last night I had 2 obstructions back to back (116 & 58) and the machine didn't respond until after they I woke me up, I took off my mask and put it back on again. Not sure what that was about.
I guess I don't have any suggestions but I hope we both get to feeling better.

[Treesap]

I went out and bought the NeilMed Sinus Rinse with the special bottle. It took a long of gunk out of my sinuses, and it cleared them up. At least one side was open enough to breathe with my CPAP. I was really surprised. I haven been using a Neti Pot for a few years now, but I think this positive pressure bottle does a better job cleaning the sinuses out. It was a great relief for me.

[Muse-Inc]

Simple Saline is also pressurized, does a great job of cleaning our the crud. No preservatives so less irritation. When my congestion gets to the absolutely impossible satge, I break out the Grossan irrigator for a few days...that always breaks up a cycle of stubborn congestion for me.

[sydneybird]

Simple Saline is also pressurized, does a great job of cleaning our the crud. No preservatives so less irritation. When my congestion gets to the absolutely impossible stage, I break out the Grossan irrigator for a few days...that always breaks up a cycle of stubborn congestion for me.

I tried a few cans of Simple Saline but found it too cold at room temperature and therefore very irritating getting the cold blast. Tried warming it up in a bowl of hot water which helped a bit but not warm enough. I went back to mixing SinuCleanse powder mixed in warm tap water in a squeeze bottle, the SaltAire Sinus Relief Dispenser Bottle, bought it for the refillable bottle as I didn't like the liquid inside and the warming issue again with premix. You can keep the bottle and your head upright (no tilting necessary) while irrigating your sinuses much like the Simple Saline pressurized can.

I heard about those Grossan Hydro Pulse irrigators and wondered how good they were. There used to be an attachment for the WaterPik dental device to irrigate the sinuses, but can't find the attachments anymore to give it a try, and they don't seem to fit the new Waterpik models, plus I don't have a WaterPik. I see that Water Pik has come out with the SinuSense Water Pulsator battery version for about $40. Too many reviews of water getting into the battery compartment and sending battery corrosion into your sinuses (check Amazon). There is a SinuSense Elite plug-in version for $80 that has better reviews. Both the Hydro Pulse and the SinuSense seem to have some reliability issues though, but since Dr. Grossan was the popularizer of nasal irrigation device since the 1970's I probably would trust the Hydro Pulse before Water Pik. Might be worth the investment since pulsating irrigation is supposed to dramatically help clear the sinuses and help the cilia do their job.

Dr. Grossan also advises (in the video of the link below) to put a piece of tape on your nose that pulls the tip of your nose upward to help to relieve snoring. He seems like the old country doctor that I went to 45 years ago that had low-tech ideas for providing relief for just about everything (duck tape on warts; Epsom salts for ingrown toenails). http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?secti ... id=6231390

[DoriC]

I tried a few cans of Simple Saline but found it too cold at room temperature and therefore very irritating getting the cold blast. Tried warming it up in a bowl of hot water which helped a bit but not warm enough. I went back to mixing SinuCleanse powder mixed in warm tap water in a squeeze bottle, the SaltAire Sinus Relief Dispenser Bottle, bought it for the refillable bottle as I didn't like the liquid inside and the warming issue again with premix. You can keep the bottle and your head upright (no tilting necessary) while irrigating your sinuses much like the Simple Saline pressurized can.

I use NeilMed Sinus Rinse packets in the squeeze bottle but Dr was emphatic and the directions also say use warmed "distilled" water as tap water is very irritating. Distilled water is very soothing and no burning sensation.

[BlackSpinner]

10 seconds in the microwave warms my fridge cold solution when I need it. I use one of those squeeze balls they sell to irrigate baby ears and noses.

[needingu]

I've had a cold since last Thursday. I've had nasal congestion for the whole time. I use Dristan 12 hour nasal spray, but I can't anymore because it's not suggested to use it more than 3 days. I went to the doctor a few days ago, and I got a steroid shot to help reduce inflammation, but it didn't work. The nasal passages are still stuffed. I don't have any signs of a sinus infection. The mucus is clear, there's no pain, and no fever. I've used my neti pot to clear out mucus. I've used hot steam. I've tried all the OTC nasal decongestants: Advil Congestion, Advil Cold and Sinus, antihistamines, Mucinex, along with ibuprofen, aspirin. And now I'm sitting here with no results.

I need to be able to breath. I don't use a FF mask.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I haven't had nasal congestion last this long.

Any ideas will be appreciated.

All I can give you is my success ratae. I have a comfortgel mask also with humidifier. I have used it for 6 years..If i feel I am going to have nasal issues I use the saline solution and really clean my sinuses a couple times a day. Toss that head back and sniff the solution and then blow it out This has worked for me. However, you have tried the more sophisticated helps. Mine may be too minor.
Needingu