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Opening nasal passage via Cottle's Maneuver
I believe what I'm doing is called the Cottle's Maneuver. I have restricted air flow in my right nostril; the air flow in my right nasal passage increases significantly when I press a finger gently into the nasolabial region near the bridge of my nose, slide up onto the inferior orbital and then pull gently away from the nose. This movement is accompanied with a light popping sensation within the nasal passageway but does not involve pain or discomfort.
I am, unfortunately, not in the economic class that has many medical options and I am looking for advice, exercises or other possible solutions that could lead to opening up that nasal passageway without having to hold it open with my hand.
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Hi, have you tried Breathe Right nasal strips? From their site at https://www.breatheright.com/faqs/#how_does_breathe_right_work_for_deviated_septum_sufferers :
"Millions of Americans have a deviated septum—a bend in the cartilage or bone that separates the nostrils inside the nose. Symptoms include an airflow blockage through one or both nostrils, difficulty sleeping, chronic nasal stuffiness, and loud breathing or snoring. While Breathe Right nasal strips should not be considered an alternative to surgical correction, they can help to improve nasal air flow, allowing you to take in air more easily. Even better? They may offer relief you can feel right away."
I used these strips before I got a functional, corrective rhinoplasty, which included turbinate reduction, removal of nasal polyps, and grafts from my ear to reshape nasal valve tissue to prevent collapse. The procedure was life-changing. Know that generally if there is a functional or medical need for your rhinoplasty, which it sounds like there is, most health insurance policies will pay for it. In my case it took over a year of multiple appeals to my insurance company, and ultimately I went to another regional hospital in another state for a second opinion before I was approved. Speaking up in health care settings is a crucial part of prioritizing your health. Please don't give up on your medical options.
An article with more tips:
https://www.realsimple.com/health/preventative-health/self-advocacy-at-doctor-appointments
I hope this information is helpful.
did you have your nose blocking when lying down , alternate sides at a time? i did a septoplasty and turbinate reduction but only one side seems fixed....im wondering if that nasal valve is the problem
I do the same thing that you're doing. I have to open up my nasal passageway with my hand. At times this works great but not a lasting solution. I've even used tape or band-aids to try and keep my airway open. I get some anxiety when I feel like I can't get enough air.
I am currently doing some breathing exercises to try to open up my nose. Only limited success with this approach.
I recently ordered a nasal dilator. Don't know if this will work or not.