Clogging of right nostril leading to moderate pain above the eye

[Aurelien]

Basically title. I've always had allergies to many things, but since I been living in Thailand, i never experienced a blocked nostril like i do now. 

I've been through several treatments, been to several doctors, did endoscopies, all of them ended up prescribing me antibiotics that i could find over the counter anyway, as well as sh*t nose sprays found in pharmacies. The treatments were not completely useless, but they certainly not been sufficient, since i still experience the same symptoms as i did a few months back. 

What seems to relieve the pain and the blockage is eucalyptus oil inhalations in hot water. I do practice sinus washing as well with sterile water, although not hot. 

What bothers me the most is that i don't seem to find the cause of it. Some days i won't have anything and the next day boom, right nostril blocked and moderate headaches. Sometimes i'm thinking air quality, sometimes i'm thinking humidity, or bacterial infection, hell i'm even thinking food !  

 

So I know that coming on the internet for medical advice is not clever, but at this point i don't even know where to go or who to consult, not to mention i saw a bunch of doctors already (ORL who were supposedly very good but ended up misdiagnosed me...) I guess what i'm looking for would be advice and experience from people who had the same thing or something similar, and what treatments worked for them. If you have a GOOD address, it is more than welcome. If you know of an efficient nose spray that is not crap, it is more than welcome as well. 

 

Btw, i live in Chiang Mai. 

Thank you ! 

[Mike Lister]

You have a sinus issue, there is a sinus chamber above the eye, go to Sriphat and see a good ENT doctor.

[RanongCat]

AS suggested  above. Also an Opthalmic test of ocular pressure.I lost vision due to not recognizing an acute pain in my right  eye was also associated  with  rapid  loss of peripheral  vision. Glaucoma  can onset rapidly . Self  check the range of peripheral vision  in one eye against the other.

You might  be suffering  from a sinus issues  but  opthalmic issues  can impact them also.

 

[Aurelien]

6 minutes ago, RanongCat said:

AS suggested  above. Also an Opthalmic test of ocular pressure.I lost vision due to not recognizing an acute pain in my right  eye was also associated  with  rapid  loss of peripheral  vision. Glaucoma  can onset rapidly . Self  check the range of peripheral vision  in one eye against the other.

You might  be suffering  from a sinus issues  but  opthalmic issues  can impact them also.

 

I did it already. I went to the eye doctor at RAM hospital and she said i don't have glaucoma. But i do take your advice into consideration 

[RanongCat]

2 minutes ago, Aurelien said:

I did it already. I went to the eye doctor at RAM hospital and she said i don't have glaucoma. But i do take your advice into consideration 

Good news  for that then. 

[Don Chance]

Mold. Leave Thailand, it is full of it.

[observer90210]

Try a saline based solution to wash nose-eyes and general ENT wash solutions (ent in english = orl in your language).

 

Could help. Avoid over heavy food and booze for a week as it works for me. If a smoker...well then it may be part of the issue. If in Bangkok, pollution does not help.

 

If you pass through Europe or have anybody come to visit, try some homeopathic dilutions as they did work with me, no matter all the ranting you may hear against it.

 

For nose issue I would try Alium Cepa or Kalium bichronicum in 9CH dosage granules (not the single dose), If the years hurt or tickle when you press then it's minor, If it hurts when you pull, then maybe a doctor would be better advice

 

You sometimes need to try different dilutions or types to hit on the right homeopathic for you. At worst it won't work and it's harmless with no side effects. All the best and sorry if I offended any anti-homeopathic antipathics !!!

Edited November 2, 2023 by observer90210

[Yellowtail]

If you get blocked when in AC all day, but not when you're out and about, you might get a humidifier. 

[Aurelien]

3 minutes ago, observer90210 said:

Try a saline based solution to wash nose-eyes and general ENT wash solutions (ent in english = orl in your language).

 

Could help. Avoid over heavy food and booze for a week as it works for me. If a smoker...well then it may be part of the issue. If in Bangkok, pollution does not help.

 

If you pass through Europe or have anybody come to visit, try some homeopathic dilutions as they did work with me, no matter all the ranting you may hear against it.

 

For nose issue I would try Alium Cepa or Kalium bichronicum in 9CH dosage granules (not the single dose), If the years hurt or tickle when you press then it's minor, If it hurts when you pull, then maybe a doctor would be better advice

 

You sometimes need to try different dilutions or types to hit on the right homeopathic for you. At worst it won't work and it's harmless with no side effects. All the best and sorry if I offended any anti-homeopathic antipathics !!!

Solid advice. Yes i come from Belgium. I have my mom coming at the end of the month, it might be a chance to ask her for homeopathic then. 

 

[Aurelien]

6 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

If you get blocked when in AC all day, but not when you're out and about, you might get a humidifier. 

Now that the weather gets colder over here, the AC is only on during the evening and night. I was thinking it was part of the issue so i got it cleaned recently. Also, what is the difference between a humidifier and an air purifier, and why one rather than the other? 

[Aurelien]

11 minutes ago, Don Chance said:

Mold. Leave Thailand, it is full of it.

Would you care to expand on that? 

[Baht Simpson]

I swear by Nasol. It won't cure an ongoing problem but of all the decongestants I've tried it works the fastest.

[observer90210]

21 minutes ago, Aurelien said:

Solid advice. Yes i come from Belgium. I have my mom coming at the end of the month, it might be a chance to ask her for homeopathic then. 

 

Ok then you know all about it as you lads in Europe are more advanced in homeopathy. Do your research with your symptoms but eye with nose calls for Allium Cepa definately as it seems more nose related with the granules dose of 7ch. The hardest bit is to hit on the right dillution that changes from one to another. If you can, avoid the strong allopathic nose sprays as they can relieve  but can cause other issues and can be rather strong just for a common chill.

Edited November 2, 2023 by observer90210

[Yellowtail]

12 minutes ago, Aurelien said:

Now that the weather gets colder over here, the AC is only on during the evening and night. I was thinking it was part of the issue so i got it cleaned recently. Also, what is the difference between a humidifier and an air purifier, and why one rather than the other? 

As the air gets cooler, there is generally less moisture in the air.

 

A purifier removes contaminants from the air, a humidifier (not surprisingly) adds humidity to the air. Our purifiers have integrated humidifiers. I don't care about them, but my wife loves them. 

 

Air conditioners remove humidity during the cooling process, and a humidifier puts it back. 

[observer90210]

28 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

If you get blocked when in AC all day, but not when you're out and about, you might get a humidifier. 

Good recommendation and to push it a bit further,  I always wear a light jumper and a light scarf in the BTS Skytrain, taxis or some malls 🤣. A bit a hassle to carry it  around all day but it is a lifesaver.

Edited November 2, 2023 by observer90210

[Yellowtail]

17 minutes ago, Aurelien said:

Would you care to expand on that? 

Running your air conditioners on "fan" mode occasionally on afternoons when you're out will dry them out and generally eliminate the "mold" issues. 

[Furioso]

1. An Air Purifier will remove dust particles from the air. I have a Xiaomi Air Purifier I bought on Lazada for about 40 Euros. The filter lasts anywhere from 6-12 months. 

2. Before buying a humidifier or dehumidifier I'd buy a hygrometer to measure what the humidity % is in your residence.

3. For people suffering with allergies/sinus problems the humidity should be anywhere from 30%-50%. Anything over 50% can certainly make your life miserable. Why? Because all the dust/dirt/mold particles thrive on high humidity. By forcing the humidity down, the mold cannot multiply as much, and the dust and dirt won't stick to everything as much and thus much easier to remove from all surfaces. 

4. If your using the A/C a lot it needs to be cleaned at least twice a year as the blades can be coated with  dust/mold/mildew. I was shocked the first time I used a flashlight to look at my A/C blades!

5. I pay Daikin 900 baht to do my A/C cleaning here in Pattaya they do excellent work. 

Pro Tip: If you get your A/C cleaned AND keep your humidity below 50% all the time your sinus issues my be greatly improved AND your A/C may stay cleaner much longer.

 

 

 

Edited November 2, 2023 by Furioso
because I just had to make changes

[Aurelien]

5 minutes ago, Furioso said:

1. An Air Purifier will remove dust particles from the air. I have a Xiaomi Air Purifier I bought on Lazada for about 40 Euros. The filter lasts anywhere from 6-12 months. 

2. Before buying a humidifier or dehumidifier I'd buy a hygrometer to measure what the humidity % is in your residence.

3. For people suffering with allergies/sinus problems the humidity should be anywhere from 30%-50%. Anything over 50% can certainly make your life miserable. Why? Because all the dust/dirt/mold particles thrive on high humidity. By forcing the humidity down, the mold cannot multiply as much, and the dust and dirt won't stick to everywhere/everyplace as much. 

4. If your using the A/C a lot it needs to be cleaned at least twice a year as the blades can be coated with  dust/mold/mildew. I was shocked the first time I used a flashlight to look at my A/C blades!

5. I pay Daikin 900 baht to do my A/C cleaning here in Pattaya they do excellent work. 

Pro Tip: If you get your A/C cleaned AND keep your humidity below 50% all the time the A/C may stay cleaner much longer.

 

 

 

Thank you, useful post. So that's what i was thinking: why would i want a humidifier to humidify the air which then makes mold thrive? Like you mention, i'd better need a dehumidifier. Or are they the same thing/object? I might be confused lol. I do experience mold in my condo, although the place has been completely renovated one year ago. Btw, i was also chocked when i took a look at my AC. 

[Furioso]

Just now, Aurelien said:

 Like you mention, i'd better need a dehumidifier. Or are they the same thing/object? 

They are 2 separate things. The only way I can get my humidity below 50% is with a dehumidifier, otherwise it's always between 60%-80% which kills me. Lots of dehumidifiers on Lazada, they suck the water out of the air and fill it into a little reservoir which you have to dump out every day or two. I have two small ones, one for the bathroom and one for my living area. 

[WhatMeWorry]

Have you considered surgery, I had nasal obstruction surgery many years ago that finally allowed me to breath through one side of my nose.

[Aurelien]

8 minutes ago, Furioso said:

They are 2 separate things. The only way I can get my humidity below 50% is with a dehumidifier, otherwise it's always between 60%-80% which kills me. Lots of dehumidifiers on Lazada, they suck the water out of the air and fill it into a little reservoir which you have to dump out every day or two. I have two small ones, one for the bathroom and one for my living area. 

Do you have names or advice for the best quality - price related ones i can find? I know Lazada is loaded with cheap crap...

[Airalee]

What was the diagnosis?  Do you have a sinus infection?  I would assume so as you mention pain above the eyes (you don’t say exactly where so I can’t determine if ethmoid or frontal.
 

What did the scopes show?  Were they those old metal ones or the modern fiber optic endoscopes?

 

Did you have a ct scan or mri done?

 

Antibiotics and “sprays”…..what kind of sprays?  Am I correct in assuming fluticasone etc rather than oxymetazoline?

 

I’ve been through the ENT merry-go-round more than once and rather than looking for the root cause and addressing that, I placed too much faith in ENTs.   2 surgeries later, I now have empty nose syndrome.

 

Go see a functional practitioner before any kind of surgery.  They might seem “hokey” for those who only know allopathic medicine (which definitely has its time and place), but they will work with you to figure out the why.  Then, you can work on that.

 

As far as different sprays etc.   nothing has been mentioned above that I haven’t already tried.  There are many other options both spray and rinse.  I prefer rinsing with a Neil-med type bottle as sprays don’t get into the sinuses well enough.  They (sprays) are ok for management if you have chronic issues or if you feel something coming on, but at the later stage (full blown infection) it’ll feel like it’s helping but any improvement will fizzle out. 
 

One thing to address,  if it is an infection and has been going on for some time, is biofilms.

Edited November 2, 2023 by Airalee

[Yellowtail]

12 minutes ago, Aurelien said:

Do you have names or advice for the best quality - price related ones i can find? I know Lazada is loaded with cheap crap...

Does your air conditioner have a "dry" mode? The dry mode works as a dehumidifier. 

[Mark Nothing]

I have been snorting urine into my nose daily for years and no longer suffer from this problem as you described.  Complete and total relief instantly.

 

I combine it with a prayer such as, "Please sprinkle this living water into my nose which strengthens my immune system and returns my breathing to normal."

 

The prayer to God more fully activates the power of your living water to take the malady away from you.

 

[Furioso]

32 minutes ago, Aurelien said:

Do you have names or advice for the best quality - price related ones i can find? I know Lazada is loaded with cheap crap...

haha yes, lot's of cheap crap but dehumidifers are simple machines. Can I post a lazada link or is it not allowed? 

[Aurelien]

13 minutes ago, Airalee said:

What was the diagnosis?  Do you have a sinus infection?  I would assume so as you mention pain above the eyes (you don’t say exactly where so I can’t determine if ethmoid or frontal.
 

What did the scopes show?  Were they those old metal ones or the modern fiber optic endoscopes?

 

Did you have a ct scan or mri done?

 

Antibiotics and “sprays”…..what kind of sprays?  Am I correct in assuming fluticasone etc rather than oxymetazoline?

 

I’ve been through the ENT merry-go-round more than once and rather than looking for the root cause and addressing that, I placed too much faith in ENTs.   2 surgeries later, I now have empty nose syndrome.

 

Go see a functional practitioner before any kind of surgery.  They might seem “hokey” for those who only know allopathic medicine (which definitely has its time and place), but they will work with you to figure out the why.  Then, you can work on that.

 

As far as different sprays etc.   nothing has been mentioned above that I haven’t already tried.  There are many other options both spray and rinse.  I prefer rinsing with a Neil-med type bottle as sprays don’t get into the sinuses well enough.  They (sprays) are ok for management if you have chronic issues or if you feel something coming on, but at the later stage (full blown infection) it’ll feel like it’s helping but any improvement will fizzle out. 
 

One thing to address,  if it is an infection and has been going on for some time, is biofilms.

Thank you for the detailed post. You seem quite knowledgeable. I will try to give you the details.

 

I went to the Ram hospital a first time to see the eye doctor. After running tests, the doctor said that i had no glaucoma, and then advised me to see the throat doctor because she noticed i had a slight swelling and redness on the right cheek. The visit at the throat doctor was very quick, no endoscopy, he told me that i could get a CT scan if i wanted to. Unfortunately, my insurance at that time didn't cover the cost of it and since it was pretty expensive, I passed it on... I then looked for another ENT doctor, and got recommended a small clinic. 

 

When i went to that doctor, at that point, i had mainly ear problems, not sinus problems yet, or very mild. He prescribed me Roxithromycin 150mg and a nose spray, Rhinocort (Budesonide). After that initial treatment, it was better, but the issues came back rather quickly. I then went for a second visit at that same doctor, more or less 1 month after the first one, and that time he suggested that my issue might be nose-related. I indeed noticed that might right nostril was clogged pretty much all the time but didn't worry much about it, as i experience regular allergies since i'm a kid, so i thought it would just go away as usual with antihistamine (which i take everyday ) But anyway, that time he did endoscopy. Which one, i'm not really sure so i don't want to take a guess, but i think it was a metal tube one. He said i had no tumor or anything related but saw an inflammation. He looked in both my nostrils and told me i had a slightly deviated septum in my left nostril, but my issue is only the right nostril. He also said i might have an inflated membrane (for a lack of better word since i'm not a specialist) deeper in my right nostril which may cause the issue. He prescribed me the same treatment as before, but this time i took the 300mg antibiotic. I then went for a 3rd follow-up visit at that same doctor, but he couldn't really tell me more than what he already told me. Upon my request he did an endoscopy again and saw that yes, i had some inflammation in the nose and ear. He said 'oh yes that disease can come and go' and mentioned doing surgery which I honestly don't think it would solve the problem and i don't wanna go down that route.... 

My ear problems went away, but my nostril problems intensified accompanied by a frontal mild pain, which varies from day to day. 

I then begin to look for alternate solutions, like inhalations and sprays. Upon reading this forum, people were advising against those 'Thai' sprays found in pharmacies and mentioned Flixonase or Beconase (which i use to take back in Belgium when i was younger). But apparently, you cannot find them in Thailand. Now, i don't use any sprays as i don't want to depend on them and create further complications. 

I also saw some people mentioning Ephedra, which is a Chinese medicine, apparently. 

You mention biofilms, but i'm not sure what are they? 

[Aurelien]

17 minutes ago, Furioso said:

haha yes, lot's of cheap crap but dehumidifers are simple machines. Can I post a lazada link or is it not allowed? 

I have no idea if it's allowed or not... i guess let's try? 

[Furioso]

Just now, Aurelien said:

I have no idea if it's allowed or not... i guess let's try? 

just to be on the safe side I'll PM you links for a dehumidifier, hygrometer, air purifier. 

Also, someone posted you can use the dry mode on your A/C. Yes, you can do this to lower your humidity but it uses a lot of energy and not recommended to ever use more than 1 or 2 hours at a time. 

[cmsally]

You might want to do some research into vitamin D deficiency.

 

 

[kingstonkid]

15 hours ago, Aurelien said:

Now that the weather gets colder over here, the AC is only on during the evening and night. I was thinking it was part of the issue so i got it cleaned recently. Also, what is the difference between a humidifier and an air purifier, and why one rather than the other? 

A purifier cleans the air.  A humidifier adds moisture to the air.  A lot of places get very dry.  You could also add the eucalyptus oil to the humidifier water