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PaperclipPerfector  7d ago (text post)   765 thread views

Wellness Wednesday for December 4, 2024

The Wednesday Wellness threads are meant to encourage users to ask for and provide advice and motivation to improve their lives. It isn't intended as a 'containment thread' and any content which could go here could instead be posted in its own thread. You could post:

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Is there anything else I can try or steps that I'm missing in remedying a chronically blocked nose?

I don't have a runny nose, a cough, any other sign of infection or the itchy red eyes and puffiness I'd associate with an allergy. I've tried waiting it out, I've tried nasal rinses and steam inhalation, I've tried aromatic decongestants like eucalyptus oil and eating onions and pickled chillies (more effective than I'd expect, and tasty too), and I've tried anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen and paracetamol. So far the most effective remedies have been pickled chillies and paracetamol but it's not healthy to take paracetamol daily. If I stack them all together I can sometimes get it to ease off for a few weeks before it slowly creeps back to where it was.

I think my next move is to try antihistamines to rule out an allergy and then if that doesn't work book a doctor's appointment. I might ask a pharmacist but I'm not sure what over-the-counter remedies they can suggest that I haven't already thought of.

Seconding the nasal irrigation with salty water, maybe also very dilute topical disinfectants like povidone iodine. There are lots of weird little crannies in the sinuses, and a biofilm like a stuffed-up nose is a great place to host a self-perpetuating infection.

Out of curiosity, why would your last choice (rather than first) be a doctor's appointment?

Because a blocked nose is way down on the bottom rung of health problems next to stubbed toes and trapped wind.

I think it's reasonable to exhaust the low cost low effort options so that the doctor can calibrate to an appropriate level of examination and treatment. They're not going to refer me to an ENT for an endoscopy if the problem is that I work in a saw mill, sleep in a haystack, and the only thing I've tried is a 5G crystal amulet I bought from a friendly gypsy.

A runny nose, sure, not a big deal, but any chronic condition bears investigation.

Jal Neti or nose irrigation changed my life and is one thing I recommend. I have a partially deviated septum, stomahc issues that cause acid reflux to hit my throat so I get a sore throat very routinely. Jal Neti helps me avoid all that and chronic sinus issues. I do it daily at least once, upon waking up when I am healthy and it is the one thing from ayurveda I vouch for.

Do get chcked by a doctor though if it persists. A friend of mine had issues with his own blocked nose for months and due to some calcification and viruses, he now has to surgically get some of it fixed. Do let us know if the suggestions here work out. I would be happy to help you with irrigation stuff.

Human nostrils take turns being easy and hard to breathe through every 25 minutes to four hours.

The nasal cycle should not be confused with pathological nasal congestion: individuals with normal nasal breathing usually do not realize their breathing is asymmetric unless there is underlying nasal obstruction. In pathological conditions, however, the nasal cycle may influence the symptoms. - the cited Wikipedia article

Seems to me you have allergies. I would book an appointment with an allergist and have them test you. You can get allergy shots which can make a big difference. (And it will help you get over a fear of needles if you have one.)

Have you tried actual decongestants, i.e. pseudoephedrine? When I have sinus congestion it's the only thing that makes a difference.

I understand you're trying the things that have come to mind, but your post is kind of funny to me. "I seem to have allergies. I've tried bloodletting, trepanning, nightshade, and drinking my own urine. I've considered drinking alcohol, but I understand it's dangerous to do it every day. Is there anything else I should try?"

Perhaps, hence anti-histamines and a chat with a pharmacist being my next step, but I don't have any other allergy symptoms at all.

I can see the funny side but all those things do work, just not enough. Yeah onions and chillies are funny (Dr Shrek will see you now) but you can't deny they have an immediate effect on anyone's nose and throat.

I've tried pseudoephedrine and it had little effect beyond making my hands and feet cold and leaving me feeling like I'd had one too many espressos. That might have been worth it if it also felt like a crisp Arctic wind blowing through my face but sadly not, it's more like about 25% of the positive effect of paracetamol.

You could just have nasal polyps, i.e., growths in your nose. A doctor can burn them.

That's the direction my train of thought is heading but I'll need the doctor to diagnose. I just want to exhaust my efforts before I go there only to have them say "come back when you've tried this list of over the counter remedies".

My recommendation would still be to go to a doctor.

Does ibuprofen have any adverse effects on you, like difficulty breathing?

No, I've never heard of that.

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