this post was submitted on 04 May 2024
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I have nasal congestion due to allergies every morning so here’s some advice that might help you.
You can try a Neti pot morning and night. The NeilMed ones at Costco pharmacies are good.
Use distilled water or boil your own for 1-3 minutes depending on the elevation in the area.
Once the packets run out you can measure 1/8 tsp baking soda, 1/8 to 1/4 tsp non-iodized salt (e.g. sea salt).
For prescriptions, Omnaris might work for you too. Gets things moving and doesn’t have the congestive rebound effect that over-the-counter nasal decongestants do.
All the other advice about controlling allergens is on point too. You can try an anti-histamine (e.g. Aerius) for a week to see if your congestion goes away but allergy meds dry you out a bit by design and gum you up so maybe this won’t have the effect you’re seeking.
You can get a sleep study for apnea but I’d say only if you’ve had actual fatigue related symptoms, not just what you’ve described here.
You could get a breath test for your lungs. Maybe there’s mold at your place. That tightness should be enough reason to get checked out, tbh.
Best of luck!
Really appreciate Kate all the advice! I’ll try/look into these. The tightness is more like my lungs are really tired and I have to wake them up so they feel heavy.
Sounds like asthma or walking pneumonia even, but I’m no doctor. I recommend getting checked out.
damn walking pneumonia. i don't think it's that bad, but i'll tell my doctor next time i see them. i do have an inhaler but don't really have asthma.
I just use body temperature tap water with some salt (mine comes with a measuring cup, you don't want to mess that up too much) and it's working wonders when my nose is stuck (allergy, congestion from crap in the wind, "runny nose").
Cheers
Yes exactly, a game changer for me as well.
I used to use tap water too. I have to highlight why distilled or boiled water is important though. Tap water isn’t sterile and there have been cases of microbes creating infections when used with Neti pots.
Naegleria fowleri is a brain-eating amoeba that has been linked to tap water usage in Neti pots, among other scenarios.
These cases are rare, to be fair, but still worth avoiding with distilled or boiled water. There could be other less fatal microbes junking things up, after all.
I gotta clarify, boiled but then cooled water for use in your Neti pots!
I live in France where we don't have brain eating amoebae in the tap water.
You doesn't inject the water, you just clean out shit that is overwhelming the system, safety wise it's like gargling water if you don't over do it.
I mean if you do live where there are brain eating things in the drinking water, yeah do buy sterile water and proceed accordingly for sure.
Fascinating. I had assumed it was everywhere but I looked it up and it does seem pretty rare globally. It has caused illness in countries nearby you though so be careful traveling :)
https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/73/1/e19/5830738
Unless your tap water is unusually, ridiculously pure, please at least use filtered water. Snorting bacteria directly into your sinuses can end very badly.