So bunged up for 4 months can't breathe, GP says it's the weather!

[Comfysock]

DS has been bunged up for around 4 months. Is constantly taking hystemins, using sinex nose spray, a netti pot,l nose wash, I have deep cleaned his room even in case of dust nothing helps. Recently went to the GP who said it was the weather

Today he was so bunged up he could hardly breath,it's really affecting him.

I rang the ear, nose and throat clinc at the local hospital....spoke to a nurse who said to get him referred as the sinex spray is for short term and could be damaging his nasal passage.

Anyone else got any advice?

The netti pot nasal wash, the first time he used it, one of the nostrils the solution didnt flush out the other side whereaa the other nostril it streamed through perfectly... which made me wonder if there was a blockage but since that first time it is streaming through now.

You could be making it worse with all the nose sprays and wash outs. Your nose is supposed to have a layer of mucous, that's what makes it work properly, by constantly removing it you could be throwing off the balance.

Nasal sprays also should only be used for a few days, otherwise it can cause ongoing problems

www.healthline.com/health/nasal-spray-addiction

Hmmm I was prescribed Dymista (I think that's the spelling) I think it's relatively new and expensive but it really helped just get rid off all the inflammation and bunged up feeling - I only used for a few weeks

OP when my daughter was bunged up and a little wheezy we were advised to cut out milk cream and cheese which we duly did and all adapted. She had an inhaler which after the novelty had worn off she never used, didn’t need it, good luck.

How old is he?

I'm not an expert, but my understanding is that any of those over the counter nasal sprays are for very short term use only (couple of days) otherwise they can end up making it worse. I have a prescription spray, designed for long term use. Best to get to the bottom of what's causing it.

Stop the nasal pray. It makes it worse if using for a long period of time. It stimulates to produce more snot

I would stop the nose spray and the washes, try an anti histamine and see if it’s allergy related.

The spray is the only thing that gives some relief.

He's 18 someone asked his age.

Doesnt eat dairy as he's lactose intoleremant.

Just want to get to the bottom of it

Washes he only does once a week.
Yes will try just antihystemins.

GP said it was the weather.

Im going to make an appt next week if not clearing.

The only thing I can think of that changed when this all started was he works outdoors in a forest but only 2-3 days a week

It's definitely the Sinex nasal spray. If you use it too much/for too long it causes a rebound effect which makes you more congested.

I was congested and dependent on the spray for months until I figured it out. Stopping cold turkey was hard, but it did fix the problem.

Try taking echinacea tablets, they helped a friend of mine who was feeling very stuffy having has covid at Christmas

Stop the sinex spray. It causes rebound congestion. It’ll be a worse couple of days but then I expect things would improve.

Another vote for it being the Sinex spray. I got ‘addicted’ to it when I was pregnant. I literally couldn’t breathe through my nose for the whole pregnancy and was using the Sinex thinking it was helping as it really was the only thing that worked for a while. I read up about it after I’d given birth and realised that it had probably made it worse.

I tried it again when I had a cold and soon got the rebound effect. Since then I’ve avoided it and just use a saline spray now and then and then Vicks vaporub.

Tried the saline spray too,did nothing

Could something else be the cause?
feather bedding?
do you use any air fresheners or reed diffusers?

The GP can prescribe a steroid spray like mometasone or avamys with a daily antihistamine tablet. I'm on Dymista at the moment which contains the antihistamine.

I've overdone the sudafed sprays in the past which has lead me to have continuous rhinitis. I've been on steroid sprays for 8yrs now, the congestion is intermittent now. I can go a week or two without needing them.

I have the same problem. Might be worth trying beconaise nasal spray, can get it from the pharmacy and if that doesn't work could try a stronger on one prescription.

Quit the nose spray! It's the only thing that gives relief because it's now the thing causing the problem! He needs to go cold turkey on it and suffer for a couple of days.

Lack of sleep! When I had my baby and was doing all the night feeds I was bunged up for literally months. As soon as I started sharing night shifts with DH it stopped - really weird but he could try getting some extra sleep he may need a rest

He could be allergic to something in the area he is working in plus overuse of the spray. When is he due some leave at all? If it cleared if he had 2 weeks off that would be the answer.

I'm having great results with Plantago drops in water currently, after at least two decades of worsening sinuses and a stuffed up head. I'm breathing much more freely when I sleep, so I'm sleeping for longer too.

Can you get him to a sauna or steam room? Might shift something.

It’s the since spray. I had to go cold turkey. I found advice that said do it one nostril at a time. I used xlear nasal spray in the meantime which is xylitol and that helped. I feel so much better now. It was also making my heart race and my head feel funny by the end.

Sinex spray!