# Banishing Big, Big Boogers **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 31, 2008, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banishing-big-big-boogers/479366 "2008-12-31T16:29:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banishing-big-big-boogers/479366/1 "2008-12-31T16:29:39Z")
I’m on oxygen (via a cannula and O2 Concentrator, mostly), 24/7 just about, which tends to dry out my nasal passages. This results in the formation of gigantic snots, or boogers (or whatever you choose to call them), in both nostrils. that are difficult to remove. Gentle exhalations through the nose don’t come any near to doing the job. And when I expel air forcefully enough, I bleed. Oh, nothing life-threatening, but it’s annoying. So. What’s the latest, most effective technique for non-hemmorrhagic snot removal? BTW, I saw an episode on House, in which Good old Dr. H, went up a baby’s nostril with a hemostat to remove itty-bitty toys the child had inserted . I have a hemostat, and would be willing to give it a go – with a little advice – if this seems to be the bet route. :D:D:D ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banishing-big-big-boogers/479366/2 "2008-12-31T16:32:34Z")
You probably need a humidifier attached to your O2 line. Can the company that provides the concentrator, tank and tubing send you a humidifier, also? Alternately, you may want to include a ‘nasal hygiene’ program into your day- something like actually washing your nostrils twice a day or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banishing-big-big-boogers/479366/3 "2008-12-31T16:47:17Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > You probably need a humidifier attached to your O2 line. Can the company that provides the concentrator, tank and tubing send you a humidifier, also? > > Alternately, you may want to include a ‘nasal hygiene’ program into your day- something like actually washing your nostrils twice a day or something like that. Sorry. I neglected to mention I do have a bubbler attached to my O2 Concentrator. But using Oxygen as much as I do, humdifying isn’t very effective, it seems. Now that you mention washing… When I had a sinus problem, I used to douche my nostrils and sinuses with a mild saline solution. Might work for this latest problem. Thanks for the suggestion. Still open to other ideas, though. ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banishing-big-big-boogers/479366/4 "2008-12-31T17:03:15Z")
Given the [general enthusiasm](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=496152) around here for neti pots, you might want to try one of those twice a day. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banishing-big-big-boogers/479366/5 "2008-12-31T17:21:54Z")
Totally gross answer that no one but the OP should read. Seriously. Tweezers work great. Get yourself a small mirror and go to town. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banishing-big-big-boogers/479366/6 "2008-12-31T17:33:22Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Totally gross answer that no one but the OP should read. Seriously. > > Tweezers work great. Get yourself a small mirror and go to town. Noted. 😛 The ssline rinse regimen that I used is called NeilMed and just noticed they offer Neti Pots in addition to aqueeze bottles which I used. > **[Walgreens: Pharmacy, Health & Wellness, Photo & More for You](https://www.walgreens.com/)** > > Your go-to for Pharmacy, Health & Wellness and Photo products. Refill prescriptions online, order items for delivery or store pickup, and create Photo Gifts. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banishing-big-big-boogers/479366/7 "2008-12-31T17:38:56Z")
Saline rinse and they also make a saline nasal gel. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banishing-big-big-boogers/479366/8 "2008-12-31T19:07:09Z")
[QUOTE=BarnOwl] The ssline rinse regimen that I used is called NeilMed and just noticed they offer Neti Pots in addition to aqueeze bottles which I used. [/QUOTE] You’ve already got what you need - sounds like you just need to do it once or twice a day, every day. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banishing-big-big-boogers/479366/9 "2008-12-31T19:09:50Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > You’ve already got what you need - sounds like you just need to do it once or twice a day, every day. Yup. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banishing-big-big-boogers/479366/10 "2009-01-01T02:16:40Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > (snip)This results in the formation of gigantic snots, or boogers (or whatever you choose to call them), in both nostrils. (snip) I can’t help with your primary question, but I’ve got this one. It’s just like the difference between fewer and less. If you can count them, it’s fewer, if you have to weigh them, it’s less. So if you can count them it’s fewer boogers, but if you have to weigh it it’s less snot. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banishing-big-big-boogers/479366/11 "2009-01-01T03:17:01Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > I can’t help with your primary question, but I’ve got this one. It’s just like the difference between fewer and less. If you can count them, it’s fewer, if you have to weigh them, it’s less. So if you can count them it’s fewer boogers, but if you have to weigh it it’s less snot. My boogers are so enormous,ONE would crack an Abe Lincoln nostril at Mt. Rushmore. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banishing-big-big-boogers/479366/12 "2009-01-01T04:13:20Z")
A hot shower seems to turn my giant boogers into giant snotballs, maybe that might work for you. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banishing-big-big-boogers/479366/13 "2009-01-01T13:03:07Z")
Schoolyard solution–pick your nose. I’m serious. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banishing-big-big-boogers/479366/14 "2009-01-01T13:27:23Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Schoolyard solution–pick your nose. > > I’m serious. Ordinarily, Bosda, I am an accomplished nose picker. But these are too deep, too embedded. Tried yesterday and my finger ended up twanging my uvula - and I still couldn’t dislodge the boogers. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banishing-big-big-boogers/479366/15 "2009-01-01T13:45:08Z")
If you aren’t having luck with whatever you’re trying now, a small (3ml) medication syringe of the hottest water your abused nasal passages can stand might be helpful. Stick it in, plunge in the water, let the syringe stay in for a few moments, then take it out and let the water run out. Repeat until things are loosened and you can use a combo of gentle blowing, light picking (seriously, it’s just you alone in your bathroom, go to town) and more water until things are clean. It’s sort of like the neti pot solution, but not quite as intense, and more localized to just the nostrils. Then, once you’ve got everything gone, I think moisturizing the mucous membranes regularly is going to be important to help keep the problem in check. There are products that you should be able to get via your doctor or the home health agency that handles your oxygen/supplies. Rhinaris and Roezit are two brand names I’m familiar with. Talk to your doctor! Nasal dryness (and resulting mucous issues) is a common problem for patients on continuous O2 and there are no doubt solutions that are easily accessed. ---
**Author:** ![criminey.jicket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@criminey.jicket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/criminey.jicket)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banishing-big-big-boogers/479366/16 "2009-01-01T15:03:11Z")
I used a dry Q-Tip to get them out of my mom’s nose when she was on Os due to cancer. Jeebus they were big–half the size of my entire thumb!