Permanently blocked nose

[Oliwerko]

Hi lads,

This issue has been bothering me for some time and I decided to put it up here for I saw many similar problems solved around here.

The thing is I have kind of blocked nose for more than half a year now. It all begun when I was ill. Nothing exceptional, some mucus, cough and stuff. After two weeks of treatment, I was cured. Well, not completely. Since then, I have the blocked nose I mentioned. I don't have any mucus at all not in the nose nor throat, but it's like permanently swollen mucous (I hope that's correct vocabulary, I don't usually discuss health problems in ENG). Sometimes I can breathe almost freely, sometimes my nose is half blocked, sometimes more. It keeps on changing, but it's not free most of the time. The first thing you say is: Go see a doctor. Well, I definitely will, but my current one is an asshole and switching for a new one won't be so fast. So I ask here.

Do you guys have any idea what may be the cause of this?
Did anyone have the same problem?
Do I have to fear?

Thx in advance guys

[DanielH]

I've had the same problem for a few years (:o), 99.9% of the time one or more of my nostrils are completely blocked off, unable to breath through at all. Asking my doctor yeilded nothing.  All I can suggest, which works for me, is go see your pharmacist, and ask for something for Nasal Congestion. I've got a spray which goes up my nose, clearing it most of the time. But have cold, disgusting tasting fluids sprayed up your nose every few hours might not be your cup of tea, so to speak.

[Evil]

My roommate's girlfriend just had surgery on her nose for a similar problem. She had trouble breathing because her nasal passages were too small. She couldn't even blow her nose to clean her nose out when she was ill. I'd go with the nasal decongestant for the time being, but it could be something that needs some more firepower.

[Tuomas]

I'd say it could very well be because you live in a place that's too dry or too wet, as in, the humidity.

[Oliwerko]

I doubt it could be caused by environmental conditions, because it pretty much started after the old ilness. It actually did not end since then.

[auriond]

I had sinus problems for most of my childhood; mostly blocked nose, with really thick gross mucus.  Don't know when it started but it lasted for years and years. I won't gross you out with details, but I went from doctor to doctor with no results. Tried flu medication, nasal sprays... no luck. Then one genius of a doctor prescribed Clarityne (Loratadine), which is an allergy drug as I understand it. It worked like magic, and I've not had the problem since.

To this day I still don't know what I might be allergic to, and why I haven't had it so badly since I took Clarityne. I still keep some aroud the house just in case. Your illness might have triggered some sort of sensitivity or allergy, so as a last resort you might want to consider Loratadine.

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

Half-blockage sounds like you may have a deviated septum.  It's typically a congenital defect, though sometimes it can occur from other factors.  There's a piece of cartilage that rests above your upper nasal passages and is usually centered so air can flow freely, though sometimes it will bend to the right or left, partially (or completely) blocking air passage through one nostril.  It can make you feel like you have a stuffy nose and it's not dangerous or anything, just annoying.  It could also be allergies or a long term sinus infection, but it's best to find out from a professional.

[Oliwerko]

I doubt it could be the deviated septum, because as I said, I have this problem for only half a year or so, it all started with one illness. I bet it's some kind of chronical infection. My friend's father had some serious one and he had to have his sinuses washed with water surgically. Being ill right now, I'll probably wait and cure my current sore throat and cough and if the problem persits, I'll try the salt water through nostrils technique and teas and stuff and see some reasonable doc....

My curiosity on this is unbelievable. I dreamt about it tonight!

[Snake]

Heh, I have the same problem, except it's been like this for as long I can remember.
I'd guess it's a deviated septum. Sometimes I can breath perfectly out of one side and half as good out of the other - other times I can hardly breath at all.

Sometimes I turn beat red and blotch all over the place and I'm near suffocating... well... that's only when I drink too much


--Snake

[Kinoko]

Go and see a specialist - an ear, nose and throat doctor. Seriously, not just a GP.

My ex had a very similar problem much longer than this, and doctor after doctor had nothing helpful to say about it. Medication would just provide temprary relief, at best.

He finally insisted on getting a referral to a specialist and it turns out, he had a lot of polyps (unsure of the spelling) in his sinuses. He had to go to the hospital overnight to have them removed, but after that, the difference was amazing.

It might not be that but even so - specialist.

[Ryan Timothy B]

I've worked in a sawmill for the past 4 years.  Perhaps it's dust, or allergies, but I don't remember the last time I've had 100% breathing ability with both nostrils.  It's usually one nostril or the other that is almost completely blocked, never both (unless I haven't cleaned my nostrils after a really really bad dusty day at work).  If I close one nostril I can still breath out of the other, but can feel the heavy blockage hiding somewhere in there.  It's weird how it changes from nostril to nostril.  I personally believe it's allergies.

[Puddleglum]

I don't have a solution, just posting to say that I also have the problem, exactly the same as Ryan Timothy's (except I don't work with sawdust).. It doesn't really bother me, but for as long as I can remember one nostril has been plugged up. I think I am allergic to cats, and I've always had them, so maybe that's it? I've never even thought to ask the doc. about it! It's funny all these little things people have in secret without even knowing it.. if you know what I mean.

[Oliwerko]

Wow, I've never expected so many people have this problem. Yup, these are the "little" things that no one usually tries to solve (so did I until now).

Thanks for advices, I'll definitely see some specialist in the field and not rely just on my own speculations...