Dry nose makes me feel I can't catch my breath.

@mrsworm12-Hi. To calm your anxiety, know that this is a very common response to not being able to feel your breathing from dry nasal passages brought on by the dry air in the winter months. Your sensory nerves are trying to “feel” for the air being humidified. You are definitely breathing so do be reassured by that to calm yourself.
Just think of it as if you had a dry throat an needed some water. I recommend using a humidifier while you sleep and or while you are in the house if using forced heat/AV. Be sure to stay hydrated. It’s very easy to get dehydrated in the winter months from all the dry heating and dry air outside. Try steam to moisten the nasal mucosa. Dry heating and air, leach water molecules from our skin and mucosa. A good way to gauge, is if your skin is dry, then chances are your nasal passages could use some hydration as well. Rest assured you are fine, it’s just an awkward feeling.

TY!! I get it!

@nrd1 .... just curious if you would know about my nasal condition (the least worry of all my life changing medical issues I have) but for many years, since thyroid operation, no mucus from left side of nose; could not blow mucus from right nasal passage again for many years, had to sort of sniff it up and spit out into paper hanky, or swallow (sorry but thats the only way to clear); anyway now for months all that now comes from right nasal package is formed like thread, or fishing line. about ten or more times a day - about 2 to 4 inches in length and thin, clear. Not enough to seek medical attention but I searched on Internet and only close thing is called eye-fishing where people pull out "strings" of mucus from an eye! It is so bizzare I even have taken photos holding it from my finger as it is so strange... no colour or odour but over and over again.. from what orifice of my nasal passages would this come from.... it's almost funny but not quite...ever heard of this? Even if I sneeze heavily, same thing, can't help but notice it!!! Ugh!!!! You have a lot of knowledge of EnT so thought would ask..... now can stop laughing at me! J.

@mrsworm12 Not feeling as if you can catch your breath is understandably causing you anxiety.

@lacy2 Asked about your nasal condition and I have the same question. Is dry nose the only known condition. I ask because throughout the ENT group there any many different members with various nasal conditions. I ask because I would like to direct you towards members that may be able to help.

May I ask you have had a chance to look through current and previous posts in the ENT group?

@lacy2-Hi. I have some knowledge as to how the body works/functions is all. So the information I provide is only to possibly help put pieces together as the body functions as a system and not is separate pieces. In saying that I would recommend asking your surgeon how the thyroid gland functions and it’s connection to the nasal mucosa.
See what he/she says. They should know this as they are ENT/Head Neck doctors. For example; hypothyroidism has the same affects on the nose as allergies. Hypothyroidism can cause a hypertrophy of mucosal glands, causing less mucous production.
This is just an example of how it’s all interrelated and how often times the issue is not coming from the source itself.
To reiterate-I can not speak to your exact condition, or provide solutions, but do ask your ENT how it all relative to one another.

@erikas Thanks for replying.. I jointed this amazing site a few weeks ago ... have a lot of medical and mental issues to deal with but was so happy to ask questions or express myself or try and help other posters with what helped me etc. that I got a bit mixed up with posts/answers/etc. so I unfollowed some and am trying to go to a few less "rooms" and also some have a lot of posts from past which i great, but I must admit I have not gone back and read them all.. so no I haven't seen all posts but good idea to do so I agree.... thanks for your help, J.

@nrd1 Thank you. As I am unable to travel to the larger cities in Ontario, have to wait quite a while to see one of the 2 ENT's where I live. I am waiting to see the one who did the thyroid operation 2008 - a 9 month wait because of ear pain, fullness, echo when speak etc. and also have history of some tinnitus and if time thought I could run this issue by him if time... appt. is finally next month. The other ENT is newer, younger and I wanted to see him but as my problems overall re ears etc.not urgent, and he also does plastic surgery, it was going to be a TWO YEAR wait.
This is why I am grateful to have found mayo connect but as I just mentioned to Erika I have so many other issues I got a bit overwhelmed following too many "rooms" for information and didnt take my time to learn how to use the site properly! I also hope I can contribute somehow with whats happened to me.
When I had right side of thyroid removed it had a lump on (goiter) which my own family doctor didn't notice and when I saw a gastro doctor pre colonoscopy he noticed it!! When I told my doctor he examined my neck and said I dont feel anything... but sent me for xray and it was quite large! Well thats in the past but makes sense what you say about body issues being interrelated.. the body is like a jigsaw puzzle isnt it? Thanks again, J.

That is helpful

Have you tried to nebulize with a strong saline solution? This will help clear up and open airways greatly. Please try it.

@erikas ...thanks am gradually reading previous posts in some groups.... taking a bit of time but worth it 🙂 J.