Guest guest Posted March 6, 2005 Report Share Posted March 6, 2005 Hi Jane, Two things that helped me in the nose breathing dept: [1] Cool mist humidifier going constantly. In our small house that often meant waking up to a foggy mist in the morning! [2] Q-tips and 2% hydrogen peroxide solution (you can get this at the drugstore). Carefully and gently clean out anything in your nose, but don't go too deep. I went through over 600 q-tips in about 6 weeks of recovery. I was told that I could only blow my nose very gently, like a slight puff, and of course that didn't do anything. I was also afraid to blow my nose later on because it was numb and it felt strange. I would clean my nose every time I cleaned my mouth, which was frequently in the first few weeks of recovery. > > The main thing that got me through the first week and a half is my > nose spray which I have been very careful to only use at night and > then early in the morning if needed due to it being habit forming. > Due to a deviated sceptum, I usually am a mouth breather at night but > between being wired shut and an upper and lower splint I feel I can't > get enough air. Last night I woke up in the middle of the night > stuffy and again this morninng. After using the spray 4 times since > last night I am stuffy again. That frightens me since I usually only > use it 1-2 times a day. My real fear is that it is losing its effect > and how am I going to breath comfortably for the next 3 weeks! > Steamy showers only go so far, but I guess I am going to have to go > try it for now... > > Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 6, 2005 Report Share Posted March 6, 2005 Thanks that's a big help I'll try it! Jane > > > > The main thing that got me through the first week and a half is my > > nose spray which I have been very careful to only use at night and > > then early in the morning if needed due to it being habit forming. > > Due to a deviated sceptum, I usually am a mouth breather at night > but > > between being wired shut and an upper and lower splint I feel I > can't > > get enough air. Last night I woke up in the middle of the night > > stuffy and again this morninng. After using the spray 4 times > since > > last night I am stuffy again. That frightens me since I usually > only > > use it 1-2 times a day. My real fear is that it is losing its > effect > > and how am I going to breath comfortably for the next 3 weeks! > > Steamy showers only go so far, but I guess I am going to have to go > > try it for now... > > > > Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 6, 2005 Report Share Posted March 6, 2005 Hi Jane, I second 's suggestions. I had humidifier going, and I also used q-tips to clean my nose - you'll be surprised what you can dig out of it . I also took a lot of hot baths - relaxing, if nothing else.... Good luck, it should be getting better soon. > > > > > > The main thing that got me through the first week and a half is > my > > > nose spray which I have been very careful to only use at night > and > > > then early in the morning if needed due to it being habit > forming. > > > Due to a deviated sceptum, I usually am a mouth breather at night > > but > > > between being wired shut and an upper and lower splint I feel I > > can't > > > get enough air. Last night I woke up in the middle of the night > > > stuffy and again this morninng. After using the spray 4 times > > since > > > last night I am stuffy again. That frightens me since I usually > > only > > > use it 1-2 times a day. My real fear is that it is losing its > > effect > > > and how am I going to breath comfortably for the next 3 weeks! > > > Steamy showers only go so far, but I guess I am going to have to > go > > > try it for now... > > > > > > Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 6, 2005 Report Share Posted March 6, 2005 Hi Jane, My doc told me that you shouldnt use a nose spray for more than 10 days at a stretch because it is addictive and eventually you wont be able to breath through your nose without the use of the spray. I would talk to a medical professional before continuing to use the spray. You might want to try using some eucalyptus oil in hot water and breathing the vapours before bed instead of the spray I also used Vic's Vapour Rub and liberally spread it over my top lip before bed and this too helped open up the airways. I am 11 days post op now and had to contend with a cold as well as the clogged nose from the op. Everyday I spent loads of time cleaning my nose out with Q tips and this also helped. Hope this helps Phil > > The main thing that got me through the first week and a half is my > nose spray which I have been very careful to only use at night and > then early in the morning if needed due to it being habit forming. > Due to a deviated sceptum, I usually am a mouth breather at night but > between being wired shut and an upper and lower splint I feel I can't > get enough air. Last night I woke up in the middle of the night > stuffy and again this morninng. After using the spray 4 times since > last night I am stuffy again. That frightens me since I usually only > use it 1-2 times a day. My real fear is that it is losing its effect > and how am I going to breath comfortably for the next 3 weeks! > Steamy showers only go so far, but I guess I am going to have to go > try it for now... > > Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 There have bee a few recent studies that you shouldn't use nose sprays for more then three days, then three days off then three days on again. It actually reverses and makes the problem worse. I have become addicted to those nasal strips---and anything with menthol! Deffintly try the nasal strips--they are like stickers you put on the outside of your nose that help keep the nostrils open. I can't recall the brand name right now but they are advertised all the time for snoring, y ou can find them in the grocery store. they are safe to use for long periods of time. and you can use it during the day or whenever. Those portable humedifiers made by vicks are also really cool. you just put hot water in and then drop a menthol tablet in the water and that can help keep things open for a few hours. I was just in Paraguay on vacation and my familia(host family) used menthol on things like mosquito bites because it helps with itching, my host brother told me to put a little under my nose one day when I was haveing a lot of problems with congestion---that really helped! I haven't seen the product in the states but its basically a vasaline with menthol---I think vicks vapo rub would be the same sort of thing, so you can try that. > > The main thing that got me through the first week and a half is my > nose spray which I have been very careful to only use at night and > then early in the morning if needed due to it being habit forming. > Due to a deviated sceptum, I usually am a mouth breather at night but > between being wired shut and an upper and lower splint I feel I can't > get enough air. Last night I woke up in the middle of the night > stuffy and again this morninng. After using the spray 4 times since > last night I am stuffy again. That frightens me since I usually only > use it 1-2 times a day. My real fear is that it is losing its effect > and how am I going to breath comfortably for the next 3 weeks! > Steamy showers only go so far, but I guess I am going to have to go > try it for now... > > Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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