I'm stuffed - a nasal tale

[Pwsimerimew]

It's a constant problem with me. I've tried over the counter tablets, Sudafed, Sinutab, plain old paracetamol and ibufurem, anti-hitamins; Vicks inhalers and creams; Olbas oil drops, tissue paper, bubble bath & inhaler stick; steam and hot drinks, menthol crystals; a sinus wash (ugh!), and inhalers from the doc. Nothing works. I get up in the night and walk about, thinking that if I walk up and down the stairs will change the pressure in my nose and unblock it .

But, at last, after suffering for years, and years ( off and on), after long sleepless nights on the sofa, I have found a miracle cure! It's sudafed decongestant nasal spray. It works within 10 minutes and is a great relief.

Only thing is, I'm only meant to use it for a week. What the heck an I meant to do for the other 51 week?

I have been cheating though.... it says you can use it uo to three tomes a day, and because I can cope during the day, I do use it in at least one nostril, before going to bed. Have done for the last 2 - 3 weeks.

Any other miracle cures you could share with me would be fab

bump!

get a refferal to an ENT as you might have a problem inside your nose.

I had septoplasty a couple of weeks ago and it has made a huge difference.

Ahem sudafed sprays are very good but I am addicted to them and have to keep using them which i hate and i know it is buggering up my nasal passages but i cant bear to be stuffed up. So be warned - dont get used to it

Whats a septoplasty? Sounds painful. Gp usually not very helpful in the past as I don't automatically get headaches with the stuffines.....
Duffy - you been using them a long time???

years i almost feel like a heroin addict, its really embarassing as i HAVE to have them with me at all times and panic if i run out

ohoh...well there's actually a kind of mould which can grow in your sinuses. A kind of infection. forgot the name. you should go to a nice nose. ear and throat doctor.

thank you, will do.

I'm glad it's not just me. I had exactly this - have always suffered from bunged up nose and ending up having to breathe through my mouth and then got Sudafed / Vicks sprays and they really help. But like you Duffymoon, I am pretty much addicted to them - always carry one with me, panic if I run out like you. Have been doing this for over 3 years now.

I heard a pharmacist once say to someone else that they actually made it worse if you kept using them past 7 days as your nose reacted againts them, or something like that - but they are the only thing to work for me. I have so many medical problems already (unrelated) that I can't bear the thought of opening up yet another line of medical enquiry when I can just deal with it myself. I already need to get my back pain sorted, but that's a subject for another thread (which I may start tomorrow).

When you know when something works and will give you instant relief, its hard not to reach out for it isn't it?!
Have you tried the sinus rinse? It around £15, and its just warm water and a sachet of something which you squirt up your nostril. Doesn't bring instant releif, but if used twice a day, it does make a difference. It's pretty disgusting really, but worth the effort. (Having said that, I haven't used mine in a month)

What using about a hayfever spray like beconaise?

They are designed to be used more longer term.

Problem I've found is that I just don't have the TIME to go to the GP the 3 or 4times you need to before they will refer you to ENT. I go say twice with the requisite 7-10 days between and the obligatory failing antibiotics, but I never have time to make that third 'I'm going to keep coming back til you take me seriously' visit. SO when it gets unbearable, I go back 6 months later and start from square one.

I've had sinus problems since I was 19 (and blame the onset on chemicals at work!). I am bedridden with sinus pain 2 or 3 times a year, I have little or no sense of smell or taste. I too could have written the list of relief the OP did! Though I can't do the rinse thing.

The main issue apart from the pain for me is constant post nasal drip. I am sure it give me bad breath though no one comments, but it makes me clear my throat ALL the time to the extent my boss mentioned it! Also, any cold and I am bunged up and sound all bunged up for weeks and it's quite embarrassing... right now I've been bunged up for 3 and a half weeks post cold and chest infection and I sound like a parody of a of phlegmy old man! Nice.

SO I am with you all!

What about a netty pot? Not sure of the spelling but a friend who does yoga told me about them.

my name is clayre and i am a sudafed nasel spray addict, i also panic when mine runs out, i have been told that they cant do anything for my sinuses the op i need is dangerous and doesnt have a high success rate.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one. I heart sudafed nasel sprays. Keep meaning to go to the docs, may now make that call....I'll keep you posted!

I think the netty pot is similar to the sinus rinse but shaped like a coffee pot......?
People have suggested I try garlic capsules and ginger capsules too.....but, nothing works like sudafed.

obviously, you swallow them, not stick them up your nostrils

I use sinus washes when i have a cold but nothing beats the instant effect of sudafed. But you get rebound - which means the more you use the more you need to use. I think it buggers up your nasal passages too as it dries them out. I hate it but then i hate not being able to breathe

I too suffer! I am at the moment finishing 16 days of steroids. Have also recently taken ABs too. I did get referred to an ENT, had a septoplasty and a balloon sinuplasty. Once all the swelling had subsided it was heaven, but unfortunately for me it was shorted lived and I have started to get the infections again.

So at the moment I am not sure if the operation did't work or I was just unlucky and picked up an infection post operation.

The operation wasn't to painful, uncomfortable yes!

I do use the Neil med nasal wash twice a day. It was no where near as bad as I thought it was going to be!!!!!

Fecking sinuses

Is yours to do with an allergy????? My ENT consultant doesn't think mine is - which really confuses me, why would mine keep on returning!

If you think it is - do you know what is causing it?

Hi there. I had a septoplasty three weeks ago and can honestly say i am so pleased I had it done. I had a NHS operation and if you look at www.ENTMATTERS.co.uk. you will find information that hopefully will help you decide if you should insist that you are referred to a consultant by your GP.

I was overweight (lost 7 stone on lighter life over 7 months last year . I had been using a CPAP machine to help me breath at night, i had sleep apnea since 2000, once I lost the weight I still had sleep apnea, which basically meant i stopped breathing 12 times an hour, so was awfully tired during the day as I never went into peaceful REM sleep. Over the last 10 years, I saw 3 top NHS consultants, all male and all very arrogant . All I was told then was "lose weight". So last year i lost the weight! But sadly no change to my breathing. I was referred for a 4th time and was fortunate to meet the consultant that I did and within 5 minutes she said she knew what was wrong, that I needed a septoplasty to thin and straighten the cartlidge. I also had an abnormally long uvula (its the bit that is visible at the rear of your throat) and she put me on the list for surgery. Yes it was uncomfortable... however, I actually only took the pain killer the folowing 2 days post surgery, I douch my nose twice a day with home made saline (1 level teaspoon of sea salt and 1 level teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda, to 1 pint of boiled water, let cool and when just warm or cool, use a 20mil syringe filled with the water and gently squirt up your nose pointing towards the eyes). it all runs back out and unblocks your nose, you feel so good after. Really dont be scared of a septoplasty. I was told to expect pain, but really was not a bad as I had been told to expect! Good Luck

if you do swolllow the mixtureby the way t tast nasty salty but wont do you any harm.

I'm glad it's worked for you. I'm still using Sudafed last thing at light to help me sleep and trying not to think about the long term effects.

night (oops)

This was me 2 weeks ago...I have been like it on and off for monthys. Went to the doctors and although I don't get headaches or pain as such she was still pretty sure its sinusitis so antibiotics and steriod nasal spray....
I haven't had to use a decongestant for a week now!!!!
Go back to the gp.