I won't take up too much of your time; I just really need to get this off my chest... over the last two years, my life has spiraled from being pretty idyllic into an absolute nightmare. I'm 37, single, don't have a family of my own, and I've been living on my own in my own apartment for 15 years. Up until recently, I was living a fairly quiet, bachelor-style life, and since I have a steady job, money was never really an issue. I have a brother with significant intellectual disabilities who lives with our parents and can't care for himself. Everything started hitting me all at once about two years ago. First, my mother—who was perfectly healthy—suddenly fell gravely ill and passed away so quickly that we haven't even had a chance to process the shock. Now, my father has fallen ill with a terrible prognosis and is currently hospitalized with stomach cancer. My whole world has flipped upside down in an instant. The responsibility for my brother has fallen entirely on me and a caregiver we hire to help with cooking and cleaning. To be honest, I don't have much of a relationship with him, and he feels like a massive burden. I don't have anyone to lean on because I don't have a spouse or kids, and my extended family isn't close enough to help. I'm trying my best to shut out my emotions completely because if I don't, I feel like I'll lose my mind. Looking back, I realize that things I used to take for granted weren't as simple as I thought, and I finally understand what my parents must have gone through. I'm constantly haunted by this sense of guilt—guilt over everything they missed out on, like not seeing potential grandkids or seeing me start a family of my own. Sometimes it feels like I've been cursed, though I have no idea why. I’ve always tried to be a good person and never intentionally hurt anyone. I find myself asking "why?" Why did everything hit me so hard and so fast? It's all on my shoulders now, and I have no idea how I'm going to manage this, especially if my father doesn't recover. I'll eventually have to look into placing my brother in a specialized care facility. The hardest part of all is that I have no one to actually vent to or pour my heart out to; everyone around me just offers pity, and frankly, that's the last thing I want. So, there it is... just a small glimpse into the mess I'm in. If anyone has any actual wisdom to share, I'm listening.
Anthony White3 said:I used to use Operil, but it’s been quite a while since I last touched it. I’m assuming my nasal mucosa has finally had its fill, so I was wondering how long it actually takes to recover? It’s been about a month and a half since my surgery, and I’ve noticed my sense of smell and taste are pretty dull lately. Is that just a side effect of the mucotomy, or could it be this freezing, dry air we're having?
Thanks for all the replies! By the way, what exactly is a mucotomy, and which clinic did you go to for the procedure? I’m originally from Indianapolis... right now I’m using Olynth ha spray, which has hyaluronic acid and a moisturizing effect—it's actually a solid product, but obviously not meant for long-term use. That idea about using a little applicator seems pretty smart🙂...I'll give it a shot... though I'd much rather just fix this permanently with surgery. Could you tell me how long the procedure took, if there was a prep period where I had to stop using drops and things like that, how long the recovery lasts, and what the cost is looking like? Honestly, I can't make heads or tails of my nose right now—it feels incredibly clear at the moment, even though it usually stays stuffed up this time of year... and sometimes I'll sit up from the table and feel it clog up in seconds, but right now this clear feeling has lasted for like 10 hours straight.🤷
wanderingmason86 said:I had a private consultation with him quite a while back, and honestly, I wasn't impressed. I was dealing with an issue specifically involving my eyes—I even tried to walk him through what was happening—but he wouldn't really listen. Instead, he just kept rambling on about some general respiratory issues that had nothing to do with me. To make a long story short, the whole experience felt like he was just pushing for a procedure that wouldn't have helped my condition at all, and would likely have made things worse, all just so he could collect a hefty fee. I’m not saying you wouldn't be helpful, especially if we're talking about a "classic" fracture or a simple deviated septum. However, if there's something more complex involved—like a collapsed valve, for instance—I don't think you'd quite catch that, which means you wouldn't really be able to help with those specific issues. What you're experiencing is just a typical nasal cycle. One nostril likely gets congested because of a deviated septum, and then the other one compensates by swelling up to take its place. You already know this yourself, but using those nasal decongestant sprays long-term isn't going to solve the underlying issue. 😉
Thanks! Yeah, I’ve definitely noticed that weird sensation where one nostril clears up for just a split second only for the other one to clog right back up. It usually hits me first thing in the morning when I wake up, and then I'm stuck playing a game of whack-a-mole—trying to squeeze one side open just so I can get some air while I use nasal drops on the blocked side. In your opinion, what would be the real fix for this? And who should I actually go see about it? Is it true that even healthy people deal with one side clogging up occasionally, and you just don't notice it unless you have a deviated septum? Also, I'm honestly a little worried—can you develop something like cancer from using these nasal sprays too much? A doctor once mentioned that overusing them could eventually cause the nasal lining to shrink or something similar. But honestly, nothing else works when I'm blocked; none of those steam inhalations or saline sprays do a damn thing. I can't breathe through my mouth all day long, either. My only real relief is manually holding the "open" nostril wide so I can breathe, but obviously, I can't go around living my life like that. I even tried those nasal strips you get at CVS, but they just don't provide enough lift to make a difference.
Does anyone here have firsthand experience with Dr. Klapan in Chicago? I’ve heard he does great work. My nose looks relatively normal on the outside, but there is a noticeable deformity; about two years ago, I took a nasty fall off my bike and it worsened an existing deviated septum. Now, I find myself having to use Olynth spray in my right nostril every 10 to 12 hours just to breathe properly—especially before bed, otherwise, getting any sleep is impossible. I am fully aware that overusing nasal spray isn't ideal, but I simply wouldn't be able to function without it. I've also noticed that the right side gets completely blocked whenever I go for a long walk or engage in intense physical activity. Does anyone know why that happens, or if there's a permanent solution? Please don't lecture me about avoiding the spray; I have no choice because I physically cannot breathe otherwise. That is exactly why I want to look into fixing this through surgery or something similar. So far, when I use the spray, everything feels fine and I haven't noticed any major side effects yet. Thanks!
wanderingmason86 said:The nasal mucosa reacts dynamically based on what you need. In a healthy state without obstruction symptoms, the lining isn't actually 100% clear in both nostrils—it might be, say, 80% in one and 50% in the other. Since that’s enough for normal breathing, most people don't even notice any struggle. When the body senses a higher demand (like during exercise, anxiety, etc.), the response includes extra decongestion of the nasal lining. All of this is perfectly normal; you probably just wouldn't notice the congestion if you didn't have a healed fracture narrowing the nasal passage in one or both nostrils. You can't "cure" the nasal cycle. And the issue with the sprays is that after all this time, it's become its own separate problem. Your lining swells up even more once the medication wears off—do a quick Google search for "rhinitis medicamentosa." Try cutting out the sprays and switching to a saline solution (you can buy it at a pharmacy in infusion bags)—you won't be able to breathe at all for a few days, but sooner or later, you just have to do it. After a week or so, you'll feel better, and then you absolutely must see an ENT specialist.
P.S. Check out these other discussions on the forum: first, second.
Thank you again... I'm honestly scared about how much I've been using those sprays too. I have no idea what the long-term effects are... people say it's bad for your heart and things like that, I don't even know... plus, I had some allergies acting up for a couple of days, so I was basically leaking constantly... even the sprays weren't helping much. For instance, right now while I'm typing this, my right nostril is breathing normally... it's like nothing ever happened... and I haven't used any spray since yesterday afternoon. The human body is such a strange thing. And then tonight, it'll probably clog up again. I'll go ahead and get those patches you mentioned... the pharmacist recommended that sea water spray too, but nothing works. The problem is that both my nostrils are practically blocked... so if I don't use the spray in my right side, I have to hold my left side shut just to breathe... and it feels silly wearing patches during the day.
wanderingmason86 said:I deal with something pretty similar—my left nostril feels totally fine when it’s clear (which doesn't happen often!), but my right side is constantly blocked, and honestly, I can't even breathe properly without manually pulling the side of my nose to open it up. What you're describing sounds like the nasal cycle—that natural alternating congestion and decongestion in your nostrils. Most people don't even notice it because their nasal passages are mostly symmetrical, so the other side just picks up the slack while the stuffed one recovers. You're feeling it because one side (the left for you, the right for me) is narrow enough to actually cause symptoms. The "good" side, which handles most of the breathing, often reacts over time by developing enlarged turbinates to compensate, which leads to that constant feeling of obstruction you mentioned. That trick of pulling your nostril to the side to help you inhale is known as Cottle maneuver. If there isn't another major cause for the blockage, it usually points toward valve collapse on that side. This can be fixed with cartilage grafts, but you'll need to get an official opinion from an ENT specialist to know for sure. Just a heads-up: many of our local specialists tend to shy away from this specific procedure, so you might have to do a little digging to find a doctor who is actually willing and skilled enough to perform it. Instead of relying on nasal sprays, I’d suggest trying those "DisiLakse" strips. They work exactly like what you're doing manually—they widen and stabilize the narrowest part of the nasal cavity (the valve area). They've been a lifesaver for me.
Thanks for getting back to me so fast!🙂...though I'm starting to worry that using these drops constantly has damaged my mucosa. I've been using OLYNTH with hyaluronic acid twice a day for almost two years now. I wouldn't say I have major issues, other than my right nostril being perpetually stuffed. I can't tell if that's because of the drops or what you described... plus, about a year and a half ago, I took a nasty spill on my bike and landed right on my face. My lower nose was broken and my lip was split, but I didn't go to a doctor for it; it just healed on its own. Still, I don't get why it clears up when I'm being active, like when I'm out for a walk. Does some kind of pressure drop in my nose happen during exercise that clears things out? Also, whenever I talk a lot, it starts clogging up—I can literally feel the swelling happening in seconds, cutting off my airflow. It's the same thing every morning when I wake up... why does that happen?
I’ve been struggling with breathing through my right nostril for a few years now. It feels constantly congested, whereas the left side flows perfectly fine unless I manually pull the nostril open. It tends to tighten up whenever I inhale. If I use nasal drops in the right side, I can breathe normally for a few hours, but then it returns. I suspect it might be a deviated septum or something similar. However, there's a strange pattern: every morning, and whenever I spend time in enclosed spaces, the congestion becomes unbearable. Lately, when I blow my nose, I even see small amounts of blood—likely from swollen capillaries. Interestingly, as soon as I step outside for a walk in the fresh air, everything seems to clear up completely, as if nothing was ever wrong! But the moment I sit down, stay still, or head back indoors, the blockage returns. Honestly, I can rarely sleep without using nasal drops; it’s a rare treat to go to bed without them. Has anyone else dealt with this? What could be causing this mystery where walking clears me up, but sitting or being inside makes it worse?
Hello everyone. I won't take up much of your time... My mother recently underwent a grueling surgery to remove a massive tumor that had spread through a large portion of her abdominal cavity. Because of the extent of the malignancy, surgeons had to perform a total colectomy and remove a significant section of her small intestine as well. She spent quite some time recovering in the hospital before starting an intense course of chemotherapy to target any remaining cancer cells. While she is finally back home after such a difficult recovery, she is currently unable to sustain herself without supplemental IV nutrition. Since she no longer has a large intestine, she struggles significantly with fluid absorption; almost nothing she drinks stays in her system. It is incredibly hard on her, especially managing the dehydration. Does anyone know if there are any medical supports or specialized treatments available for this specific issue? I realize nothing can truly replace the function of a large intestine, but I am desperate to find anything—be it a specific therapy or perhaps an alternative approach—that might help ease her struggle.