Sinusitis FAQ

One nostril always blocked

Question:

All – This is my first post to this group.  Thanks in advance for replying. I have allergies which are pretty much controlled.  However, I always have one nasal passage blocked.  I would venture to say that most of the time its the left nostril.  Ocassionally the right one is blocked and when it is, there seems to be large something (maybe turbinates) blocking the passage. Why this is curious is that even when my right nostril is blocked, i can visibly see whats blocking it and (excuse this) can stick my finger into my nose to the point where it touches whatever that something is. Coincidentally, I can never do this with my left nostril which makes me wonder if my nose is slightly deviated or if my left nostril is just so swollen or something. Another interesting point is that when I exercise heavily, both nasal passages will clear up. Anyway, I’ve been dealing with this for a while and its becoming quite frustrating.  I’ll be seeing an ENT in May but I was wondering if anyone here had experienced something similar and had any suggestions. thanks. ije

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -On Thu, 31 Mar 2005 11:20:04 -0500, "Ice" <i…@nospam.com> wrote: >I have allergies which are pretty much controlled.  However, I always have >one nasal passage blocked.  I would venture to say that most of the time its >the left nostril.  Ocassionally the right one is blocked and when it is, >there seems to be large something (maybe turbinates) blocking the passage. >Why this is curious is that even when my right nostril is blocked, i can >visibly see whats blocking it and (excuse this) can stick my finger into my >nose to the point where it touches whatever that something is. >Coincidentally, I can never do this with my left nostril which makes me >wonder if my nose is slightly deviated or if my left nostril is just so >swollen or something. >Another interesting point is that when I exercise heavily, both nasal >passages will clear up. >Anyway, I’ve been dealing with this for a while and its becoming quite >frustrating.  I’ll be seeing an ENT in May but I was wondering if anyone >here had experienced something similar and had any suggestions.

That’s jsut normal when you inflamed turbinates. Swelling in the turbinates alternates from side to side every 6 hours or so in everyone.   And everyone has some degree of asymmetry/deviation. But only those with inflamed turbinates will notice it much (becuase if they are inflamed they are too large and block the air flow).

Response:

I wonder if you might have nasal polyps???  Have you seen an ENT? Also, another thing you might try is this little contraption called Sinucleanse….my allergist reccommended it to me and I love it!  You can get one a Walgreens….it is used to irrigate your sinuses using a salt water solution….it is so quick, easy and inexpensive.  Hope it help! Good luck!

Response:

Hello—  :)  My left nasal side is always closed like that. But when I leave my apartment, or go outside, it immediately clears up!  ALSO– When I`m at home and I open the window (the big sliding glass door)  and let fresh air in from outside, I notice that I also stay clear. So its obviously mold or something in my apartment that makes me clogged. However, before I go to bed, I have to spray `Afrin` nose spray (which by the way really Works!)  or else I wake up feeling like I can`t breath.  I hate that feeling!  lol

Response:

On Thu, 7 Apr 2005 08:29:18 -0500, b…@webtv.net (Vince Everett) wrote: >Hello—  :)  My left nasal side is always closed like that. But when I >leave my apartment, or go outside, it immediately clears up!  ALSO– >When I`m at home and I open the window (the big sliding glass door)  and >let fresh air in from outside, I notice that I also stay clear.

Me too rgarding the fresh air.     I finally have nmade major progress by just *always* having having a window wide open,  It can be done even in winter wit the right combination of heaters… > So its >obviously mold or something in my apartment that makes me clogged. >However, before I go to bed, I have to spray `Afrin` nose spray (which >by the way really Works!)  or else I wake up feeling like I can`t >breath.  I hate that feeling!  lol

Watch out with the Afrin as you will become "addicted" to it and get rebound congestion if you try to stop.   You’re not sopposed to use it for more than 3 days.

Response:

well in my situation its not always the left, sometimes its the right.  but when the left is blocked, it is completely blocked.  when the right is blocked its partially blocked. ije "Don Brady" <dbr…@pobox.com> wrote in message

news:ip4b51hafddq36ejqskgljfcq9qmvrahar@4ax.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> On Thu, 7 Apr 2005 08:29:18 -0500, b…@webtv.net (Vince Everett) wrote: > >Hello—  :)  My left nasal side is always closed like that. But when I > >leave my apartment, or go outside, it immediately clears up!  ALSO– > >When I`m at home and I open the window (the big sliding glass door)  and > >let fresh air in from outside, I notice that I also stay clear. > Me too rgarding the fresh air. > I finally have nmade major progress by just *always* having having a window > wide open,  It can be done even in winter wit the right combination of > heaters… > > So its > >obviously mold or something in my apartment that makes me clogged. > >However, before I go to bed, I have to spray `Afrin` nose spray (which > >by the way really Works!)  or else I wake up feeling like I can`t > >breath.  I hate that feeling!  lol > Watch out with the Afrin as you will become "addicted" to it and get rebound > congestion if you try to stop.   You’re not sopposed to use it for more than 3 > days.

Response:

On Wed, 20 Apr 2005 15:48:47 -0500, "Ice" <i…@nospam.com> wrote: >well in my situation its not always the left, sometimes its the right.

That’s normal.  The turbinates swell up on alternate sides every 6 hours or so. >  but >when the left is blocked, it is completely blocked.  when the right is >blocked its partially blocked.

That means you have some swelling of both turbinates, and that the one on the right is more swollen. You can try steroid sprays or irrigation or eventually surgery if all else fails. You may have sinusitis higher up that is draining over the turbinates and irritating them.   If that is the case, resolving the sinusitis will help.

Response:

On Wed, 20 Apr 2005 22:02:42 -0400, Don Brady <dbr…@pobox.com> wrote: >That means you have some swelling of both turbinates, and that the one on the >right is more swollen.

Correction the one on the *left* is more swollen.

Response:

Filed under: Sinusitis surgery

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