What's the best thing for a really, really blocked nose?

[Kalypso]

I've got a horrid cold and a slight temperature, caught from DS who also has it (as well as a chest and ear infection, poor thing).

For the past three days, I've been using Otravine. Otherwise, I can't breathe any air through my nose at all. It's so blocked that swallowing feels odd, like there's too much pressure in my nose. I actually had to administer the Otravine with my head tipped back, because I can't even sniff it in!

I recall reading something a few years ago about how Otravine can make things worse in the long-term (anyone know anything about this?).

However, at 1:30am last night when I just couldn't go to sleep because it was so uncomfortable, I gave in and took more.

I have also lost my sense of smell, and can only taste sweet things. Most other things are absolutely tasteless :(

Any tips on how to relieve the symptoms somewhat, without resorting to Otravine?

I use sudafed (the one without caffiene)

Lie flat on bed tip head back and apply acupressure; press gently for 10 secs at base of nostrils then massage for 10 secs do the same at middle of nose and the bridge of yr nose repeat 3 times until you feel it 'loosen'

Hot steam. Stand under the shower for aaaages.
Then get thee to ebay for a neti pot.

Don't know about Otravine, but have you done steam inhaling to clear you up?
Steamy steamy room - run hot water in bath and sink and shove head under thick towel over sink and try to breathe. Put menthol oil in water -this stings eyes, but does temporarily clear you so you can blow your nose lots and cough up.
get well soon.

....cont. also do the same either side at inside of eyes and top of yr nose. i would watch yr dairy intake (I always get blocked up when i've had dairy) I don't usually eat it so i can monitor my symptoms.

I use sudafed nasal spray and prefer it to the otrivine one. Extended use can cause rebound congestion but I would still use it while my nose is really blocked and come back off it when I am feeling better.

An anti inflammatory such as Ibruprofen along with a paracetamol based cold/flu remedy such as Sudafed should help. Blocked nose feeling is due to inflammation not snot build up. You can take an anti inflamatory along with paracetamol.

You don't even need a neti pot to snort warm salt water. Just mix about a teaspoon of salt with about 8 oz of warm water. Tilt the glass so the water's under one nostril, hold other nostril closed . . . and go for it. Not pleasant, but very effective.

Great for sinus problems.

I got this tip from a nurse who used to work in ENT:go to a large chemist and ask for MENTHOL CRYSTALS.Place c half in a bowl of boiled water. Do not inhale yet:let the vapours circulate around the room for an hour or two then gently inhale . It is v strong so not recommended for children.Ideally put the mc in any room where you are going frequently as the more it gets in the air the better. Safe to have in the room with children but they must not inhale it as it would give them a fright. If they make your eyes water just leave half an hour or so thentry again, I always have these inthe house every winter

Is it chronic? I've started using a nasal rinse, it's called NeilMed Nasal Rinse. It's apparently what ENT advise. It's about £15.

i find the olbus oil stick thing very good

pure eucalyptus oil in boiling water and sniff it, also put it on your tissue and sniff it. douse your whole body in it right up to your neck before you go to bed. its wonderful for aches and pains as well.

when we have colds we put some in one of those oil burner things and fill the whole room with the smell.

we found we could buy a litre bottle from a wholesaler much cheaper than the tiny bottles at the health food shop.

Menthol crystals, saline dasal drops or Sterimar nasal spray.

sudafed can increase blood pressure and cause palpatations in some people so it's best avoided unless a medical profesional recommends it for you.

something really spicy, like dijon mustard. slowly take a spoonfull. gets the juices running again.
second the saline nasal spray for in between.

You're going to think I'm mad, but this does work, I promise - to unblock your nose, make a fist with your right hand and tuck it into your left armpit, press down hard with your left arm and your right nostril will unblock. Repeat on other side to clear left nostril.

Try it, it works!

or horseradish :)
Homeopathic nat mur is great for decongesting too

I know exactly what you mean, I have suffered from vasomotor rhinitus for 5 yrs now and since my second pregnancy it just got worse and at night I cant breath at all.

My ENT has prescribed a steriod spray called Nasofan (Fluticasaone propionate) which I take at night. I am finding relief. I have taken a sudofed decogestant (own brands cheaper in asda 50p or wilko £1.00) gives some help - you can hear a popping but only once again short term.

Any steam treatment, sniffing oils etc is only good for the time your doing it once you stop and walk around the capillaries swell again thats why a steroid spray works better. Nasal rinses can be homemade no need to purchase.

Diary makes no difference at all, never been proved. The only reason diary is blamed is because it causes mucus to go creamy in colour. Chinese whispers.

People dont understand how bad it can be! I wake up at night feeling like I am choking. Effects my sleep terrible.

Neti Pot and the cup of salt water, if you don't have one, works great!!! Make sure to do it over the toilet rather than the sink because it is much neater that way.

Wow, only just noticed all these reponses, Thank you - will definitely refer back to this when my nose is bad again. GBR, I am SO going to try that one out next time!

Thankfully it cleared up eventually but it was just horrible. Sudofed did help. Olbas oil didn't unfortunately, and nor did the Karvol in my son's room (although I found it useful in pregnancy). My sense of smell eventually returned but food tasted odd for a while.

Sniffing salt water sounds great - MittenKitten has the 'recipe' I was after. I remember trying out some of DS' saline nose drops when he was newborn and was impressed at how well they worked.

Bacon, I am so sorry you have to deal with this all the time. I really hope it improves for you. My MIL has the same problem and really struggles with it- I will tell her about Nasofan. She's terrible for avoiding the doctor and just puts it down to allergies, but her nose has been blocked for about 2 years now.

Olbas oil is the best thing Ive found to work! Put some droplets on whatever youre wearing and on your pillow and it will be unblocked in no time!!

GBR, how weird, it does work!

Good heavens so it does

The blocked nose, stuffy nose and nasal congestion are health challenges and so annoying problem, after taking some nasal spray or topical products there may temporary relief but not so effective. Therefore breathing exercise can make your nose free from such problems and everyday for 2-3 minutes is best time duration for this exercise.