One nostril is ALWAYS blocked

[ediebear]

I've had this for a couple of years now, where one of my nostrils is constantly blocked. I have been to the doctors and tried two different steroid sprays over the past year but it does not work. I've tried the saline sprays too.

It's not mucous / snot, it's just swelling or some kind of inflammation. And it can be either nostril that is blocked, it changes every couple of hours (often depending on what side I'm laying on at bed time).

Does anybody else have this? Any ideas? I'd love to be able to breathe fully out of my nose again.

That's the nasal cycle

https://www.rhinologyonline.org/Rhinologyonlineeissues/manuscript16.pdf

Is it polyps? I had some and had them removed about 20 years ago and that solved the problem.

@Willow12345 I have never heard of this before, how interesting. I will take a good read, thank you. Is there anyway to 'fix' it?

@Normandy144

No polyps. I had surgery 6 years ago for a deviated septum but that still did not solve the problem either :(

Have you had an MRI? It might not be considered appropriate for your symptoms, but due to one-sided tinnitus I had one and discovered I'd had chronic sinusitis for at least ten years. I ended up with glue ear and grommets as an adult. I too have a deviated septum (had an op but it was only marginally helpful).
Try a sinus rinse like NeilMed - it might help.

@vipersnest1 no I have not had an MRI. I will ask my gp about this or maybe a referral back to a specialist.

Thank you!

I thought this was normal. Only one ever works at one time so to speak. They change over every so often.

Yes I have this.

I saw an ENT and he said what you've said - it's not blocked, just inflamed, and I have a slightly deviated septum so one side is narrower. He said not to use the steroid spray all the time (this is what my GP prescribed), but occasionally is OK. He gave me a course of antibiotic cream - I had to put it up both nostrils for 8 weeks. I also started using a high volume pressurised nasal rinse machine called Sinugator (you can make your own rinse with 1tsp salt and 1 tsp bicarb in 500ml water).

That improved it radically as long as I did the rinse, Unfortunately my Sinugator broke and I haven't been able to get another one, so now I'm blocked again!

@IntheSnowySnowyMountains this is very helpful. Thank you so much - I'll try and find this machine!

@IntheSnowySnowyMountains

Is this it? https://www.pharmacyprime.com/products/neilmed-sinugator?variant=41624641077348&currency=GBP&utmterm=shopifyyGB7176637218916641624641077348&utmsource=google&utmmmedium=cpc&utmcampaign=20485515023&utmmcontent=156406623487&utmterm=shopifyyGB7176637218916641624641077348&gadsource=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA1fqrBhA1EiwAMU5mm3s6Rw04jZ7qgKY03cyHZ3IQx52vSeNyCCsd4dDlxtlmvEQGfjGO3RoC6GsQAvDBwE

How’s your stomach? My friend has a seemingly permanently blocked nose which is related to acid reflux.

@MiddleParking no stomach issues. We tried omeprazole for a while as well just incase it was post nasal drip.

I'm similar. Started after first bout of COVID and seems to get worse after each subsequent cold/COVID. I can almost feel my sinus drain if I lean forward in the morning. If I rub my eye there is a sort of squelchy noise.

I wonder if hormones are making it worse (perimenopause). I remember my mum saying she always felt her nose was blocked around that age.

The nostril opposite from the armpit that's getting compressed will always be the unblocked one. It's so you can breathe lying down.

I regret posting on this thread because I am now so conscious of my own breathing that I keep forgetting how to do it.

Yes that's it!

Unfortunately I'm in France - it's proving a bit more difficult!

It did die relatively fast - I think there's a 4-month guarantee, so it was after that. That's a good price though - i think I paid €40. Other machines are available, including corded electric ones - but I liked the convenience of batteries. And I think you get more pressure with one of those than with a netti pot, and for me the pressure is important!

It is always the same side that's blocked for me - it's the side with less space according to the doctor, and it's the side I always sleep on - food for thought!

I second the possibility of reflux issues. GPs are mainly ignorant to respiratory reflux and a month of low dose omeprazole is not enough to deal with it as ppis aren’t very effective.
You don’t necessarily get digestive issues with it either hence the term ‘silent’ reflux.