Can you breathe through both nostrils at the same time?

[IBlameTheDog]

Sorry for the random question.

I've been ill since December with congestion and dizziness. ENT consultant has said he doesn't know what's causing it. MRI fine, bloods mostly fine except for low ish ferritin and slightly raised rheumatoid marker.

But... my head is bunged up all the time. Like ALL the time. And I can only ever breathe through one side of my nose. Is this normal? I get it when I'm lying on my side, that makes sense but why when I'm standing up? I'm currently sitting on sofa and I can feel the pressure behind my nose. I can take my own pulse! I'm sure this can't be normal?

Yes - I corrected myself - I had got confused with a yoga thing that I read about ages ago.

Ooh

Both, unless I'm ill and even then it's just at night, whatever side I'm lying on.

I've just checked - definitely both at the moment. It might be just one if I had a cold though.

You have a dominant one at any one time. I had to have an anaesthetic tube through my nose for throat surgery and the anethetist asked me to press on each nostril to see which was my dominant side before he put the tube in.

Yes I breathe through both nostrils at the same time. Doesn't everyone?

I breathe through both always and have never had an issue. If I have a cold both always get blocked. Apparently though a deviated septum is like normal and maybe 70% of people have it (learnt from my partner having one) and do he only breathes out of one and if it’s truly 70% then maybe this is the norm!

Me too. I feel like l am being suffocated if l keep my mouth shut for too long

I’ve recently had sinus surgery for cysts and polyps that cause these sorts of issues- third sinus surgery now in past 18 years, but presumably a physical blockage like that would have been visible on the mri you had? I also had dizziness start out of nowhere about 10 years ago to the point I had to leave my job at the time, as the glass stairs and full length windows in the office made it worse- tried acupuncture, cranial sacral therapy alongside ENT appointments, mri scan and vestibular rehabilitation exercises; nothing worked. I was so depressed about it but thankfully and bizarrely after 2 years it gradually went away of its own accord, but on edge for ages after it would recur but so far so good. I hope you feel better soon.

I am blocked a lot, have had periods where both were blocked. I remember a particular winter where I did not take one nasal breath for months as both were blocked solid. I got a series of sore throats and was constantly getting viruses, sleeping was a nightmare. I eventually went to ENT after a year or so of suffering and they gave me some sort of steroid to clear it up quickly. That was 20 years ago. I now take antihistamines every day and a nasal spray when needed, a few times a week. Despite this I'm still half blocked a lot of the time but it's manageable. If I feel a virus coming on it's loads of fluids rest and anti inflammatories to keep the air flow open and avoid a sinus or throat infection. I still get one occasionally but nothing like before.

Thanks for all the replies, I'll read them more thoroughly in the middle of the night when I can't sleep, it's when I do my most research!!

I actually think mine could be menopause related - what isn't?

My mouth is dry too, and sometimes my eyes. I've just bought some sea buckthorn as it's supposed to help. The woozy head is driving me insane!

All I know for sure is that it's not hayfever or anything that I've inhaled.

I never 'feel' like I'm only breathing out of one, but if i squash them shut in turn, one is always very congested, if not blocked up. Glad to know it's not just me!