- This topic has 54 replies, 31 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 1 month ago by
Mike McCutcheon.
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March 16, 2021 at 6:38 pm #27743
Hi everyone, my Dad is on a high flow of oxygen (9 to 10 liters) and is experiencing severe nasal crust that makes it hard to breathe. Any advice on what can help with this? We’ve asked his doctors and nurses, but the traditional treatments aren’t working well. He uses water reservior on his oxygenator, nasal sprays nasal gels, Vicks steamer and cold steam humidifier. The only relief comes from warm water rinses that takes him up to 1 hour at night, but expends a lot of energy and drops his oxygen levels very low. Thanks in advance for any ideas, all ideas welcome. Regards, Iris
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March 18, 2021 at 3:07 pm #27764
I have similar problems. I use Arm and Hammer Simple Saline mist several times a day. Nasal rinses in the morning or as needed. Mist and saline gel at night. The gel stays in my nostrils as I sleep. I also have used saline mist gel but not convinced how much it helps. At night I have a high-end AirOSwiss humidifier to keep the bedroom air moist. Despite all this I have persistent nasal blockages that can be difficult to clear. I have tried decongestants like Flonase and Sudafed but they made the congestion worse. I am seeing an EMT doctor in a week and hope he will have solutions.
The pain may be from the saline or the high oxygen or both. I did not have the nasal congestion at lower flow so I did not need to use saline.
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December 23, 2021 at 2:15 pm #30646
Hi, I have found the saline spray from Arm and Hammer is most helpful with the dryness from the oxygen for my nasal passages. Easy to use, comes in a pack of three. Not expensive and really has helped me. Might be worth a try. God Bless you and your Dad as you trek on this path, it is rocky for sure, but good stuff happens too! Regards, Darlene
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March 18, 2021 at 3:16 pm #27765
Hi Robert,
Thank you, I’ll share these tips with my Dad. I found a product that I thought would work but the manufacturer would not confirm with me that it wasn’t flammable and would be safe to use with oxygen. Product is an unprotoleum, but my Dad is hesitant to use it because we don’t know if it’s safe.
I truly appreciate you and this group.
Regards,
Iris
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March 18, 2021 at 5:04 pm #27771
My husband was having the same problem. His O2 is only at 5l with humidification but he had crusting that was painful. The pharmacist recommended Secaris. It’s a lubricating nasal gel suitable for use with oxygen according to him. No petroleum listed as an ingredient. My husband says it helped.
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March 18, 2021 at 9:28 pm #27780
Hi Iris, I have never used a cannula myself but have found Aquaphor to be a great protectant against dry crusty nose when I visit my arid hometown coming from the humid tropics where I now live. I’m not sure what doctors’ thoughts would be on using a thick ointment like that paired with a cannula but it might be worth asking. In my opinion, it works much better than Vasoline or Mentholatum because it is thicker.. doesn’t just liquefy and run out. Also, I’m not sure what type of nasal rinses he is doing, but a Neti pot is a great solution for post-nasal drip, allergies, sinus infections, etc. It might be helpful and it only takes 5 minutes or so. Heat up distilled water in the microwave, put it in the pot with some medical-grade salt and tada!
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February 1, 2022 at 10:16 am #30918
My husband said the scaris gel helps him but not enough. I will tell him to try some of your helpful finds. Thanks
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February 8, 2022 at 6:21 pm #31011
Please note that vasoline should not be used in the nose because it is a petroleum gel product. Seek gel that are petroleum free. Be well.
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March 18, 2021 at 10:32 pm #27790
Thank you Eleanor Heppleston, I’m going to try to order <span style=”color: #303030; font-family: ‘open sans’; font-size: 13px;”>Secaris, it looks like it’s only available in Canada, but I’m going to try to order it online. </span>
Regards,
Iris
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March 18, 2021 at 10:34 pm #27791
Thanks Christie, I can reply to your post now. Again, I appreciate all of your insights.
Regards,
Iris
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June 30, 2021 at 6:14 pm #29073
I use an over-the-counter Saline Nasal Gel
called Ayr. This relieves discomfort from
dry nasal passages caused by oxygen use. -
July 1, 2021 at 11:13 am #29082
I would have replied sooner but just now saw your post. When I was first diagnosed with PF my nostrils were over half full of dry scabs which only added to the stress of finding it hard to breathe. My doctor sent me to a wound clinic where the nurse said (off the record) that I could pick off the scabs, then smear Vaseline in my nostrils. Within two weeks the scabs were gone, and for the last eight years I’ve been smearing a little Vaseline in each nostril before bed.
HOWEVER, I realize Vaseline CANNOT be used when a person is on oxygen. As Iris mentioned, Secaris is a water-based lubricant/moisturizer. It’s quite expensive if you’re going to use a lot, so a much cheaper alternative (and essentially the same product, also water-based) is KY Jelly. Yes, the “intimate” lubricant. Just make sure you don’t buy a tube of the “tingling” or any other variety. Make sure you buy the plain one with absolutely no perfumes or other “enhancements”. I found KY Naturals Extra Moisture 100% Natural (did they mention that it’s natural??) priced at $16.99 CDN for 100mL (about 3.5 ounces). Compare that to 30g (about 1 ounce) of Secaris for $8.99 CDN.
I really feel for people with the crusty nostrils and hope that those on oxygen and not can benefit from my experience. It’s sort of gross to start picking away, but I’m so happy that I don’t have that to deal with any more.
Good luck!
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July 7, 2021 at 7:24 pm #29132
Thank you I have found that a product called Neospoin.. it works greatly a few days in nose couple times s day works thank you
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July 8, 2021 at 1:34 am #29151
@samgilmore I believe Neosporin is also petroleum-based.. best to check with your doctor about using it with oxygen. Patricia makes some good suggestions about water-based lubricants that could be a good substitute for you.
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July 1, 2021 at 7:56 pm #29087
Hi Iris,
Sometimes when my nose is sore I will use a small face mask instead of a cannula. Usually solves itself in a day.
Steve
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July 7, 2021 at 1:39 am #29122
Agree with Steve, at those levels you’ll probably find a small face mask is better for you.
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July 8, 2021 at 2:34 pm #29163
If anyone dislikes their cannula as much as me, then I want to share my discovery for a replacement. A Canadian company makes an open air mask called Oxymask. It works with a delivery 1-15 liters. You can go to YouTube and search oxymask to see a short video. Or search Southmedic.com. My DME company gave this to me when I told them how must I disliked the cannula. I don’t know how long this product has been out, my guess is a while, but it is a game changer for me
I posted this on another thread a few weeks back. Hope this helps.
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July 8, 2021 at 2:49 pm #29166
Respiratory Therapist prescribed a machine called myAirvo 2 for my mom. Made by Fisher & Paykel. It connects to O2 concentrator and heats and adds moisture to air coming from O2 Concentrator. AMAZING!!!
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February 1, 2022 at 4:29 pm #30929
Shannon….do you have the AIRVO 2 machine? My husband has been hospitalized & just came home. The AIRVO kept him off a ventilator, but we were told he could not be on the AIRVO at home!
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July 8, 2021 at 3:45 pm #29169
I love Aquaphor, but the main ingredient in it is petrolatum, which is “a byproduct of petroleum refining” Good for lots of things but maybe not here?
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July 8, 2021 at 6:59 pm #29170
I tried all I found olive oil. I apply with qtip in my nasal cavity
I help me lot.without side effects.I Take 8 liter of oxygen. My nose was Bleeding. I found this solution. I anyone think my solution is better please let me know. -
July 9, 2021 at 8:27 pm #29187
I haven’t tried but when I use I will let you know and other
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July 9, 2021 at 9:55 pm #29189
That sound good l have found Silver Shield gell works great it softens stuff in nose makes it easy to remove
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July 10, 2021 at 8:47 am #29190
This question is a little different, but since you all are high oxygen users I am hoping you will have some answers for me. I can use less oxygen when I am sitting quietly, but I need 10L when I am up and about. I have my home concentrator in a central part of the house, not right next to me because of the noise and heat it puts out. I don’t turn it down when I sit down to relax because I then often forget to turn it back up when I am up and about. My question is, do you think this is a problem? Am I making myself more dependent on higher rates of oxygen by doing this? Any suggestions?
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December 7, 2021 at 4:00 pm #30561
Karen, I talked briefly to my pulmonary therapist, and she said it all depends on your own condition, and since there are a number of issues that we each have our own treatment. In my condition she said “you don’t have to worry about being overly oxygenated” but that doesn’t mean your condition would have the same answer. You will have to talk to your doctor about your condition. I have had another idea that I bounced off my doctor and that is we O2 users that need to adjust the O2 flow need a Blue Tooth app. so we can remotely adjust the concentrator to different levels of O2 output. If my O2 Concentrator is on 6L and I want to move around I need to change it to 10L my O2 level drops and then I have to wait until I get back into the 90’s and after I’m ready to sit for a while I have to go and turn back the concentrator to 6L and by the time I get back to my chair my O2 level has tanked again and I have to wait to recover. Do any of the rest of you have this problem?
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December 8, 2021 at 10:17 am #30580
Earl, thanks for the reply. I will look into the idea of a bluetooth app for that. Who would have thought of it? Well, not me, evidently!
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November 24, 2021 at 9:17 am #30514
My dad has same issue and has tried absolutely everything he can get hold of, recently using coconut oil which seems to ease the crustiness, still hoping to find something to stop the never ending plug that forms disrupting his sleep to the point of sometimes zero sleep.
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February 1, 2022 at 5:59 pm #30935
I find Klear nasal spray to be very helpful in keeping the nasal passages clear and blowing out those plugs.
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November 24, 2021 at 1:44 pm #30515
I have same issue with coconut oil use saline spray that will easy stuffy nose
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November 25, 2021 at 2:30 pm #30516
Does your dad use a cannula or wear a mask like device over the nose? If a cannula, I’d suggest trying a mask. I can imagine that having that much oxygen jetted directly into the nose could cause excessive and unnecessary nasal tissue irritation.
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November 25, 2021 at 2:32 pm #30517
Does oxygen company provide
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November 25, 2021 at 5:00 pm #30519
Hi Iris,
Does your father use/need a CPAP? If so hooking O2 through it may help, if it can handle his high O2 needs. Also, suggest going to a face mask for O2. I switch to that once in a while and that solves the problem temporarily anyway.
Stay well…
Steve
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November 27, 2021 at 8:05 am #30520
My ear nose and throat doctor said to use the nasal spray with aloe, I have and it has eliminated my nose bleeds due to oxygen use.
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November 27, 2021 at 8:05 am #30521
My ear nose and throat doctor said to use the nasal spray with aloe, I have and it has eliminated my nose bleeds due to oxygen use.
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November 27, 2021 at 9:37 pm #30522
Thank we’re did get Aloe gel. Thanks
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November 30, 2021 at 2:27 pm #30530
I use AYR (saline with aloe) for the nasal issues: it softens the crusty build up so that after a while you can blow your nose to eject the crusty build up and open up the nasal passages for easier breathing … also quells nasal bleeding. I hope this helps others …. BERT
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November 30, 2021 at 2:28 pm #30531
I use AYR (saline with aloe) for the nasal issues: it softens the crusty build up so that after a while you can blow your nose to eject the crusty build up and open up the nasal passages for easier breathing … also quells nasal bleeding. I hope this helps others …. BERT
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November 30, 2021 at 2:44 pm #30533
Sure I do the same
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November 30, 2021 at 2:52 pm #30536
Just use Aloe and saline spray. That help me and lot of other on this forum.
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December 9, 2021 at 2:39 pm #30588
I was told by the Lincare tech that high liter oxygen use takes a bigger canula size. I don’t now why that is not something that is told to patients at the time of prescription.
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December 9, 2021 at 6:53 pm #30595
Hi,
I have had a double lung transplant, but was on oxygen for 5 1/2 years. When on 7 liters I developed bloody painful scabs in my right nostril. Went to a ear nose and throat doctor and he took my cannula and clipped the ends at an angle and that directed the oxygen flow up my nasal passages instead of against the scabs in my nose. It healed up in a couple of days and ended the problem. Hope it works for you.
Jack
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December 16, 2021 at 9:19 am #30619
Hi everyone, I feel a need to respond to this topic. I have followed this forum for many years before joining and posting today … kudos to Charlene Marshal who is so key to success of the forum and to all who contribute.
I started using a Navage device to flush out my sinuses when at a very early stage in this journey. I used the device occasionally at first … only when needed. When I got into higher oxygen use, the Navage device became more essential, for all the reasons mentioned in this discussion. I bought mine in the US and know they are available in Canada.
I currently flush my sinuses twice each session (once each direction) and have two sessions a day … my needs at this time are higher perhaps than most. Navage uses a simple saline solution that comes in pods. The pods can add up in cost, but for me it is more than worth the expense. I have heard of people using a temporary work around but have not pursued this. I also make use of Vaseline like products after each session to help keep things loose. This is a significant issue for oxygen users. I wish you all the best in dealing with the difficulties of this disease.-
December 19, 2021 at 11:53 am #30629
Hi @johnbs
Thank you so much for your kind words re: the forum! They are deeply appreciated 🙂
Thanks for sharing information about the Navage system as well; I can imagine it will be helpful information for those of us who struggle with sinus congestion caused by IPF/oxygen use.
Take care and happy holidays,
Char.
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December 23, 2021 at 10:25 am #30645
Luke,
I also have an OxyMask and Love It and recommend it.
I am on a constant flow of 6L /24 hrs. My canula was making my nose crusty and sometimes it bled. I keep my nose hairs trimmed short to keep the crust at a minimum, which helps. I read a recommendation in the forum to use some olive oil and it worked fairly well but I still had the crust build up overnight. I started to look for alternatives to the canula and came across the OxyMask and bought the largest one, me being about 6 ft tall, and not knowing the size that fit my face, I used it for about a week and noticed no crusty build up and my nose was healing. I also had to adjust it’s positioning on my face often. I noticed the package showed different sizes so I ordered the regular fit through Amazon (about $20 US) and it works great so far. I still use my canula when I am eating. I hope this helps.
Robert Griffin
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February 1, 2022 at 2:24 pm #30921
Robert, my DME company gave me a bottle which is filled with distilled water that straps on top of the concentrator and the O2 goes into that and then the tube to the mask comes out of the side of the bottle. I am glad you found the Oxymask beneficial to you.
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December 23, 2021 at 6:32 pm #30652
I find using the netti pot is very helpful
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January 31, 2022 at 4:10 pm #30916
Every morning when I awake my nose is dry an stuffed up, what works for me is to take a tissue and put it with one finger on one side of my nostril and one finger on the other and massage it around for a few seconds , it loosens all the dryness and then I blow my nose , I can breathe OK after than. I hope that makes sense to everyone. Works for me.
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February 1, 2022 at 10:33 am #30919
Sounds simple enough. Thanks for the idea. I will be trying it as I also have a problem with this.
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January 31, 2022 at 4:12 pm #30917
How can I tell which canula is high volume?
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February 1, 2022 at 10:34 am #30920
It has been my experience that the high-flow is linked to darker green tubing. Anyone else fine this to be the case?
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February 1, 2022 at 2:38 pm #30923
I also tape one 11 Hour small hand warmer to the mask and the heated air helps a whole lot I have been using rebreather masks from vitality medical and changing every week. I will check out the above machine
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February 2, 2022 at 1:46 am #30940
I hope my oxygen usage doesn’t go as high as many of yours. I’m only at 2 at night and 3 when I’m up and about. My nasal passage seems dry all the time. Then it hurts. Then I start feeling the cannula in my nose and then I feel like I could crawl out of my skin. I have a couple questions for you all. Why aren’t we supposed to use Vaseline in our nose? How do I figure out how much space between the cannula nose prongs is correct? Mine keeps falling out. I tighten it but the tightening slide has been loose on my last 2 leaving me to constantly push it tight. After all the good hints I’m going to look for a mask to buy! I use Ayr saline nasal gel. I’m going to try a couple new ones from the notes I took from here. Thanks.
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February 3, 2022 at 3:20 pm #30955
Like many of you, I’m using between 6 and 10L of O2 and I have been using Vaseline in my nose for 6 months or so and it is the only product I have found to help me. I apply it in each nostril a couple of times a week and it helps keep the crusty build up soft so it can be removed easier, and it keeps my nose from getting sore. I’m not sure why it is frowned on other than it is a petroleum product. The flash point of Vaseline is 400F so if you keep that kind of potential heat away from your face I doubt you would have a problem. I hope you all find a solution. This is a great place to connect and be able to assist each other with this challenge we face. Keep the faith and press on. Keep a positive attitude for this will pass when we believers pass on to glory.
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February 4, 2022 at 8:59 pm #30976
Karen,
My hiflow O2 tubing is green also. If you have a bit of both types of tubing you can see that the green tubing is sightly larger in diameter if you put the high and low flow tubes next to each other. Also my O2 delivery company confirmed that their green tubing is high flow.
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February 8, 2022 at 10:19 pm #31017
I have had great results from AYR gel a OTC available at most drug stores
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