Anybody having nasal congestion issues lying down at night?

In the late fall and winter, especially this past winter 2024-2025, I am plagued with chronic sinusitis. After going to two different ENT specialists, I was allergy tested only to discover I was highly allergic to dust mites as well as the typical pollen at age 76. The first allergist prescribed doxycycline, and prednisone for inflammation and a fantastic nasal spray, Azelastine which I feel is the poster child of all nasal sprays! After 3 separate 10 day treatments of doxycycline, with little improvement, and a resigned attitude by that ENT staff, I switched to another ENT. There I found relief. He prescribed Montelukast 10 mg nightly to prevent narrowing of airways (usually treats asthma) and Claritin nightly, prednisone and continued use of Azelastine. I also had to wash all my bedding weekly in hottest water, use a special allergen detergent, cover pillows with dust mite protectors, vacuum mattress of dust mite debris that is not visible to naked eye but surely is there, remove curtains, vacuum and dust weekly if not more often. I also added an air purifier with a Hepa filter. All those steps have cured my symptoms!

Everyone is different, but…when I get congested when lying down, I take an Allegra and sometimes, a cough drop, too. Then the draining stops. If one nostril is clogged, I turn over and sleep on the other side. It seems to go in stages, depending on the weather (precipitation) and/or the pollen count. I have many doctors for various reasons, but I see an allergist for this problem. Many people say they have never had allergy problems so it couldn’t be it, but then my adult onset allergies were discovered in the ER when my fingernails were turning blue…try an allergist and you could be close to ending this cycle.

Over the years, I have used a 'nettie pot'. It is a small pot with a spout. Use distilled water, or boil some water and put a pinch of salt into it. You lean over your sink, with your head turned at an angle and looking slightly up.
You put the spout up to one nostril and slowly pour water in, it will drain out through your lower nostril, dislodging mucus, pollen, microscopic particles etc.

Your first thought is that this is too weird, but it is painless, very simple to do. Google for directions.. Many drugstores sell them. It is the cheapest solution, and you are not accosting you body with artificial ingredients.

Another idea is to get a 'negative ion generator'. They are air purifiers. They emit 'negative ions' which pollen and other microscopic airborne particles latch onto. The extra weight makes them fall to the floor, so the air you are breathing in cleaner air.