ATOT Doctors and mothers unstop my nose *Updated with a do it yourself neti pot experience *

[episodic]

I've tried everything. I am on a cpap for sleep apnea, and for 2 days my nose is simply stopped up - like sinus swollen shut. I've tried the following to no avail (except temporary)

Benadryl
Chlortrimeton
Pseuodophedrine (the real stuff)
Nyquil
Loratadine
Vicks vapor rub smeared under my nose.
Steam (works as long as I'm under the steam)
Afrin squirt pump.
Eating Halls Mentholyptus drops

To make matters worse, this gets worse at night when I need my nasal cpap mask - which basically means I have not slept for 2 nights (if you have sleep apnea, you understand)

I really hate to go to the doc tommorow over this - is there anything he could do? I'd go at this point, but I don't want to spend the cash if there is something else I have not thought of?

 

[Mo0o]

Sounds like you're out of options. If you have some kind of sinus infection that's causing the problem then some antibiotics should clear it right up. Other than that i dont know of anything you can do short of losing weight

 

[episodic]

What will the doctor do, what med can he give for this, or what should I ask for. . .

 

[JohnCU]

eat some hot foods like thai or hot wings or something

 

[episodic]

Originally posted by: JohnCU
eat some hot foods like thai or hot wings or something

That is a negative ghost rider, I finished a steaming bowl of my seafood gumbo which had about as many hot peppers in it as seafood (I'm kinda partial to hotness) - I thought that might help, too. I also had my spicy habernaro tomato soup yesterday - with no luck either . .. .

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: episodic
What will the doctor do, what med can he give for this, or what should I ask for. . .

Well I'm definitely out of my element in prescribing treatment but if I had to guess...

If its bacterial:
probably some kind of pencillin would be the first option, maybe amoxicillin. If you're allergic, maybe a TMP/SMX treatment.

If its viral:
Sit down and wait it out.

This is all under the asusmption your problem is a sinus infection to begin with. Do you have a lot of pain in the sinus areas? And does that increase when you face downwards?

 

[polarmystery]

saline solution? It's nowhere near as strong as what you have already taken but it will clear out your nasal passages (clean them rather) and eventually you should be able to get past that problem. Saline solution is non addicting too, unlike most of what you listed.

 

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: episodic

Originally posted by: JohnCU
eat some hot foods like thai or hot wings or something

That is a negative ghost rider, I finished a steaming bowl of my seafood gumbo which had about as many hot peppers in it as seafood (I'm kinda partial to hotness) - I thought that might help, too. I also had my spicy habernaro tomato soup yesterday - with no luck either . .. .

:shocked: wow.

call dr house.

 

[episodic]

Originally posted by: Mo0o

Originally posted by: episodic
What will the doctor do, what med can he give for this, or what should I ask for. . .

Well I'm definitely out of my element in prescribing treatment but if I had to guess...

If its bacterial:
probably some kind of pencillin would be the first option, maybe amoxicillin. If you're allergic, maybe a TMP/SMX treatment.

If its viral:
Sit down and wait it out.

This is all under the asusmption your problem is a sinus infection to begin with. Do you have a lot of pain in the sinus areas? And does that increase when you face downwards?

Thats the thing - I don't feel bad at all. Just my nose is swelled shut inside. No sore throat. No headache. Feel fine (other than lack of sleep and sudden inability to breathe through my nasal passage)

No pain. Just a solidly shut nasal passage.

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: episodic

Originally posted by: JohnCU
eat some hot foods like thai or hot wings or something

That is a negative ghost rider, I finished a steaming bowl of my seafood gumbo which had about as many hot peppers in it as seafood (I'm kinda partial to hotness) - I thought that might help, too. I also had my spicy habernaro tomato soup yesterday - with no luck either . .. .

How about some wasabi or horseradish? I find that regular spicy doesn't do anything for my nasal passage but a large dollop of wasabi or horseradish will flush that shit wide open

 

[episodic]

Originally posted by: polarmystery
saline solution? It's nowhere near as strong as what you have already taken but it will clear out your nasal passages (clean them rather) and eventually you should be able to get past that problem. Saline solution is non addicting too, unlike most of what you listed.

Do they sell that in pumps? Or do I make it up myself?

 

[episodic]

Originally posted by: Mo0o

Originally posted by: episodic

Originally posted by: JohnCU
eat some hot foods like thai or hot wings or something

That is a negative ghost rider, I finished a steaming bowl of my seafood gumbo which had about as many hot peppers in it as seafood (I'm kinda partial to hotness) - I thought that might help, too. I also had my spicy habernaro tomato soup yesterday - with no luck either . .. .

How about some wasabi or horseradish? I find that regular spicy doesn't do anything for my nasal passage but a large dollop of wasabi or horseradish will flush that shit wide open

Hmm, got some horseradish in the fridge. . . brb. . .

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: episodic

Originally posted by: polarmystery
saline solution? It's nowhere near as strong as what you have already taken but it will clear out your nasal passages (clean them rather) and eventually you should be able to get past that problem. Saline solution is non addicting too, unlike most of what you listed.

Do they sell that in pumps? Or do I make it up myself?

they sell little kits with a little squirt bottle. It's basically a nose douche. Can't say how effective it is since its more or less considered "alternative" medicine

 

[episodic]

Ok I put a heaping bit in my mouth - I'm letting it sit there now (yuck . . .Im not partial to it. . . ). . .

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: episodic
Ok I put a heaping bit in my mouth - I'm letting it sit there now (yuck . . .Im not partial to it. . . ). . .

Hmm... if it's not hitting you right away it's probably not gonna work. And i was more suggesting you make a sandwich or something rather than just eating a spoonful lol

 

[episodic]

Nothing. . .

bleh. . .

I'll go to walmart and look for some saline in a minute - I'm willing to try anything. . .

I'll hang out another few for further suggestions. . .

 

[episodic]

Originally posted by: Mo0o

Originally posted by: episodic
Ok I put a heaping bit in my mouth - I'm letting it sit there now (yuck . . .Im not partial to it. . . ). . .

Hmm... if it's not hitting you right away it's probably not gonna work. And i was more suggesting you make a sandwich or something rather than just eating a spoonful lol

That is how desparate I am

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: episodic
Nothing. . .

bleh. . .

I'll go to walmart and look for some saline in a minute - I'm willing to try anything. . .

I'll hang out another few for further suggestions. . .

Wait, so press on the area right below your eyes... does that hurt? Tilt your head downwards, is there sensation of increased pressure or pain?

 

[episodic]

Hurt - no - feel the pressure yea, sorta.

Head tilted down, I can feel a pressure change. . . no pain . . at all.

 

[CallMeJoe]

Originally posted by: episodic

Originally posted by: polarmystery
saline solution? It's nowhere near as strong as what you have already taken but it will clear out your nasal passages (clean them rather) and eventually you should be able to get past that problem. Saline solution is non addicting too, unlike most of what you listed.

Do they sell that in pumps? Or do I make it up myself?

Most pharmacies stock saline nasal spray.

Another possibility is a Neti pot, useful for nasal irrigation (a fancy way to say flush out the snot).

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: episodic
Hurt - no - feel the pressure yea, sorta.

Head tilted down, I can feel a pressure change. . . no pain . . at all.

How about mucus production, do u have a runny nose or do you have a lot of postnasal drip?

 

[LTC8K6]

I suggest you blast.

A couple firecrackers.

 

[episodic]

Originally posted by: Mo0o

Originally posted by: episodic
Hurt - no - feel the pressure yea, sorta.

Head tilted down, I can feel a pressure change. . . no pain . . at all.

How about mucus production, do u have a runny nose or do you have a lot of postnasal drip?

Not really at all . . .

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: episodic

Originally posted by: Mo0o

Originally posted by: episodic
Hurt - no - feel the pressure yea, sorta.

Head tilted down, I can feel a pressure change. . . no pain . . at all.

How about mucus production, do u have a runny nose or do you have a lot of postnasal drip?

Not really at all . . .

This is really sounding less and less like a sinus infection... but without any kind of physical exam it's hard to rule it out. If your doc sees any redness or swelling back there he/she will likely just give you some antibiotic to be sure, especially given your sleep apnea

 

[episodic]

Gone for the saline. . .may look at the neti pot thing. . .