- This topic has 54 replies, 31 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 1 month ago by
.
-
Posts
-
-
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
-
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.
-
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
-
-
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
-
-
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!
-
-
-
-
-
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!
-
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
-
@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.
-
-
-
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
-
-
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.
-
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!!!
-
-
-
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.-
@shafi What a brilliant, simple, and accessible solution! I wonder if other common oils, like coconut would provide similar relief.
-
-
-
-
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?
-
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?
-
-
-
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.
-
-
-
-
-
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
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
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
-
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.-
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.
-
-
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
-
-
-
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.
-
-
-
-
-
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.
-
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.
-
-
-
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
