To ask how I can unstuck my nose?

[SpnBaby1967]

Severe hayfever.

Already on maximum levels of steroids and antihistamines and barely functioning.

My nose is so stuffed up, but that swollen stuffiness as opposed to mucus stuffiness. Stuffed so badly I'm struggling to swallow and even talk 🤦🏻‍♀️

I've tried steam, humidifier, vicks inhale stick thingy, the "hold your nose" trick, the pressure points trick.

I cant use decongestant sprays (despite the fact they do work) because I'm intolerant to them and the tablets like sudafed make zero difference.

If I walk around the pressure in my nose eases a bit, not enough the breathe through my nose but enough to not feel like my face is going to explode. But clearly I cant walk around 24 hours a day.

I know the incoming rain will be me some relief but since thursday when my hayfever really kicked in I've not slept more than 2-3 hours a night.

Am I missing anything else? Any other secret tricks I'm not aware of?

Are there any halotherapy/salt therapy services nearby? Certainly worth a try.

Vaseline around the nostrils. I get hay fever every year and it has worked for me (I use it alongside antihistamines etc). My eyes are still irritated though.

I was in the pharmacy today and they recommended a nasal spray which is saline based and flushes out the nostrils.. I got some but haven't tried it yet.

I hope you find some relief..

[quote ScreamingMeMe]This is what I use.

lloydspharmacy.com/products/neilmed-adult-sinus-rinse-starter-kit-10-sachets[/quote]
This is the only thing giving me relief at the moment. Magic in a plastic bottle.

Thankfully mine isn't as bad as some but I will try some of these when it is. Thank you!

Acupuncture was the only thing that worked for my friend. She suffers dreadfully each year but that has made it bearable, even when she couldn't take the usual collection of medication due to pregnancy.
I hope something works for you, it is utterly, utterly miserable.

Came here to say acupuncture as well @Waspsarearseholes. It is amazing I have honestly had instant relief for my sinusitis with acupuncture. And I’m usually a big fan of Western medicine!

There are also some positions/breathing things you can do here that I have found useful. www.firstpost.com/health/yoga-poses-to-clear-up-those-sinuses-7336201.html

Good luck. It is really such a horrible pain.

What nasal spray are you using? I’ve had fluticasone and mometasone and both have worked comparably well, increased to twice a day when it’s worse (like now, you’re not wrong about how bad this year is). My GP did a review with me many years ago now to try out different steroid nasal sprays and I’m currently happy on mometasone. Still itchy but able to breathe.

I find I need the nasal spray for the stuffy symptoms and the fexofenadine for the itchyness and sneezing.

I’m so sorry you’re feeling awful.

Have you tried any of the sinus exercises on YouTube?

Sterimar. And speak to GP about antihistamines because you can take fexofenadine and cetirizine together
I take 4 cetirizine a day (not for hay fever) and sometimes fexofenadine too. At one point I was on the equivalent of 30 x 1 a day tablets

Sounds random but have you tried an elimination diet? I’m allergic to feathers, but if I don’t eat wheat they don’t bother me. There might be a cumulative effect of multiple things irritating you at once.

I bought my son a saline spray that I hadn't seen before.

I'm currently sat here with an ice cube pressed to either side of my nose. I've also taken some ibuprofen...not sure if it's working that well but feels slightly better.

I also googled this a while back and a couple of things came up....walking around holding your breath and pinching nose, until you're almost ready to take a breath, then sit down and breathe (this definitely does help although doesn't clear it altogether)

Using two fingers, alternate tapping the bridge of your nose sharply (where it meets your forehead) and tapping the roof of your mouth with your tongue twice (at the front behind top teeth)
Apparently this tilts something and clears nose. This also works short term.

I feel for you because I'm sick of it, I have chronic sinusitis plus hayfever and and it's always a battle to breathe.

Promethazine? (Phenergan) - it's been life changing for me with general allergies as well as hayfever and was so miserable until doctor and I found this and experimented with dosage - although even I have struggled a bit last few days so pollen must be through the roof. Check with pharmacist as it's over counter but is a sedative so don't take it with various other things!

Also avamys spray as pp suggested and eating local honey (or drinking it in tea/lemon if you prefer) and making and drinking nettle tea helps, I have a couple of friends who swear by those things so I always add them to my arsenal of weapons against nasal misery.

Already been suggested, but the nasal rinse.
Sterimar is a pressurised can so a small amount of liquid or Neil Med so a continuous stream of a larger volume. I prefer Neilmed. I find it stays in my nose a fair bit so I have to tilt head side to side over sink to encourage it to come out. Also I do it only at night and then it can just drain naturally.

It really does help me and it's what my ENT consultant recommend. I can't use any spray up my nose, especially steroid as it brings on a nose bleed (and they can get quite horrific).

www.boots.com/neilmed-sinus-rinse-kit-10077009

www.boots.com/neilmed-sinus-rinse-kit-10077009
This works for me too.
I use flixonase after the sinus rinse

Montelukast can help with rhinitis too although it is primarily prescribed for asthma.
Check out the side effects though with your GP- it does not suit everyone.

Calpol plugin thing?

Extra strong halls lozenges? They are effective.
Also a nasal spray called sterimar (sp?). I use the breathe easy daily spray, but they have different types including one specifically for hay fever. It's a saline spray that is used to clean your nose out. Because it is in a pressurised bottle and shoots the solution up your nostrils, it might be more effective than a homemade nasal wash.

Have you tried the hayfever injection?

Just slow your breathing right down, take shallow breaths not deep, hold breath for count of 5 then breathe out slowly and repeat. After a few minutes if this it will reduce the oxygenation of your blood slightly, and your nasal cavities will open in response. Resist the urge to fill your lungs, keep your breathing slow and shallow.

Beconase is the nasal spray my doctor prescribed and it helped. Maybe you need to up the dose?

Eat a red chilli pepper 🌶

Try nettle tea, those new tissues also look good

I take montelukast plus fexofenidine for allergies and omeprazole so they don't wreck my stomach. I also use dymista nasal spray. The montelukast was the game changer. You can still take antihistamines on top of those if needed.

Naproxen (similar to ibuprofen) can help with face pain but again its gp prescribed.

Nasal washing? Sounds vile but it can work

This has been a life changer for me - I use the Sterimar brand - it’s just sterile saline water in a pump spray you spray up each nostril. You have to get used to the sensation of “water up your nose” that you can get from surfing and sea swimming but if you do it in the shower it can really flush out your nasal cavity. I can’t use sudafed(high blood pressure) but sterimar use in the morning + an antihistamine at night really clear my head.