Hi @gtl and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Can you give us a little more information about what you are experiencing so we can connect you with other members that are going through a similar situation?
Breathing air affects my smell in one side of nose and makes me feel like maybe I’ve had a few drinks sort of like I’m woozy. When placing a cotton ball up that nose helps with smell and feeling. Have feeling of severe head fullness. No congestion. I feel like there’s something up in head that’s infected or ? Have been to 7 ENT, rheumatologist, primary care. Several scans MRI of sinus and Brain. Several sinus surgeries earlier.
@gtl- this can be a common side effect after these surgeries. Any time you alter the nasal and sinus airflow, you are making it wider, therefore making it dryer. This can sometimes take years to fully feel this affect. Dryness and irritation to nerves overtime can have the effects that you are explaining.
@gtl-what was the reason for your original surgeries? What were your original symptoms? And was a lengthy proper history taken as well as maximum medical therapy before surgery?
@gtl, I had similar problems breathing through my nose and used a Mayo Clinic propertiery nasal spray with three medications in the ingredients and it really helped. I used it for about 4 months along with twice daily nasal rinse followed by 2 sprays of the medication. My breathing is better now that I'm not on the spray but not quite as good. Another member recommend a nasal gel to rub into the nostrils and I ordered some and was surprised at how well it works. Ayr is the name of the product - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0010NSC1U.
@gtl- anything that you can find to soothe nasal passage. Avoid sprays that cause irritation, like steroid sprays.
If it’s irritation from dry air air, this is different than congestion/allergy or breathing issues. Be careful to use recommendations from those whom have not had alterations to their nasal physiology, as what you are experiencing might be completely different.
If you have gone the many paths of seeing different specialists and nothing is “seen”.
Chances are this is nerve/sensory related.
Which ultimately everything in the nose is.
But if an ENT does not see anything that is “blocked”, then there is not much more they can tell you if it’s a sensory issue.
The fact that when you put a cotton ball in your nose and you find relief, is not congestion or difficulty breathing. That is sensory/nerve.
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Hi @gtl and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Can you give us a little more information about what you are experiencing so we can connect you with other members that are going through a similar situation?
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1 ReactionBreathing air affects my smell in one side of nose and makes me feel like maybe I’ve had a few drinks sort of like I’m woozy. When placing a cotton ball up that nose helps with smell and feeling. Have feeling of severe head fullness. No congestion. I feel like there’s something up in head that’s infected or ? Have been to 7 ENT, rheumatologist, primary care. Several scans MRI of sinus and Brain. Several sinus surgeries earlier.
@gtl - how long ago were your sinus surgeries and why did you have several?
Septum, turbant reduction, balloon surgery
Started 5 years ago. Balloon surgery 3 yrs ago.
@gtl- this can be a common side effect after these surgeries. Any time you alter the nasal and sinus airflow, you are making it wider, therefore making it dryer. This can sometimes take years to fully feel this affect. Dryness and irritation to nerves overtime can have the effects that you are explaining.
Is there anything that can help. I used moisturizer sprays ointments, warm steam, nose washes. This is hard to live with everyday all day.
@gtl-what was the reason for your original surgeries? What were your original symptoms? And was a lengthy proper history taken as well as maximum medical therapy before surgery?
Sinus congestion headaches from of face pain, trouble breathing, yes history taken.
@gtl, I had similar problems breathing through my nose and used a Mayo Clinic propertiery nasal spray with three medications in the ingredients and it really helped. I used it for about 4 months along with twice daily nasal rinse followed by 2 sprays of the medication. My breathing is better now that I'm not on the spray but not quite as good. Another member recommend a nasal gel to rub into the nostrils and I ordered some and was surprised at how well it works. Ayr is the name of the product - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0010NSC1U.
Another one that was mentioned by a member was Ponaris Nasal Emollient which was created for use by astronauts -
https://www.amazon.com/Ponaris-Nasal-Emollient-1-oz/dp/B000NB5BFA.
@gtl- anything that you can find to soothe nasal passage. Avoid sprays that cause irritation, like steroid sprays.
If it’s irritation from dry air air, this is different than congestion/allergy or breathing issues. Be careful to use recommendations from those whom have not had alterations to their nasal physiology, as what you are experiencing might be completely different.
If you have gone the many paths of seeing different specialists and nothing is “seen”.
Chances are this is nerve/sensory related.
Which ultimately everything in the nose is.
But if an ENT does not see anything that is “blocked”, then there is not much more they can tell you if it’s a sensory issue.
The fact that when you put a cotton ball in your nose and you find relief, is not congestion or difficulty breathing. That is sensory/nerve.
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