So, I get these nasty colds and they are always accompanied by a really stuffy nose. I end up with one clear nostril and one completely closed nostril - no air getting through at all. I get claustrophobic when this happens. Some people have described it as feeling like you’re drowning and I agree.
My question is: I don’t have allergies and I’m pretty sure I don’t have acute sinusitis - will they laugh me out of the clinic for asking for a steroid spray for a cold? I know it seems like overkill, but it’s just so damn uncomfortable. Oxymetazoline helps on occasion, but it all depends how serious the inflammation is.
Have you tried Psudoephredrine (Sudafed)? It is a decongestant which works by acting as a vasoconstrictor and shrinking blood vessels. It should help with your nose.
It’s worth a try. It’s just warm water and good ol’ sodium chloride. They sell them at like any drugstore.
I had a truly hellacious sinus infection two weeks ago. I couldn’t sleep because I’d wake up “choking”. Drugs didn’t help much - sudafed was ok for drying up the mucus but the membranes were still inflamed and closed. Afrin helped me get to sleep (by opening nasal passages) but when I woke up the problem would always be worse with the rebound. Usually as in mucus draining down the back of my throat, triggering some wicked dry heaves.
The simple Neti Pot helped a ton. Cleared my sinuses without the drug action.
…of course, doctors are always a good idea, IANAD, see one no doubt.
Even if you get some good prescription meds, still try the neti pot. It really works very well.
A one-time use of something like Afrin spray (or its generic) to open the blocked side, then start using the neti pot. Use the Afrin too much, and you’ll get rebound congestion. That won’t happen with neti pot.
Otherwise, a doctor can prescribe nasal steroid sprays, and that helps some folks who have excess inflammation. I prescribe them for my folks with severe allergies, and also for those who got themselves hooked on the Afrin sprays and similar, to get them tapered off.
For most typical allergy/congestion sufferers, Neti pots are the safest, most effective chronic intervention.
I saw an ENT specialist about this exact problem. Some of the points I remember from the visit:
Nasal rinse (Neti pot / NeilMed) are good - twice a day recommended.
Stay away from Afrin for the reasons already mentioned. He advised not taking it, period.
Use Claritin/Sudofed or any of the over-the-shelf drugs.
Nasal steroid is good, “keep taking it” (my GP had already prescribed that).
I don’t think I’m allergic either, but he ordered a skin allergy test to be sure…haven’t had it yet.
I know what you’re going through, and it can be miserable. Waking up in the night gasping for air is not fun. (I’ve already been tested for sleep apnea…not that.)