just adding a plus one to both breathe right (not, btw the generic drug store version(s)) and to mouth tape. Both Look /feels weird, but absolutely work, in my experience.
I've been to a number of ENTs. Deviated septum, an enlarged turbinate, narrow passageways, a large air vacuole that makes the passageways even narrower, etc. etc.
I was given two possible solutions. 1. Burn the insides of the nose to create scar tissue that would effectively act as a structure "holding open" the passageway. 2. Insert a small plastic part that would act in the same way: force and keep open the passageways. Meanwhile, they would also shave down the turbinate, fix the septum, and pop the vacuole. I have not followed up: that's a lot of work in such a small space, and I was leery.
I wear and have worn the XL Tan Breathe Right strips for years. There's no sleeping without it, but I also worry that their effectiveness has worn off. Maybe it's time to revisit surgery.
I kept waiting for the analysis of sleep apnea! Did anyone schedule a sleep study along the way? And while the Breathe Right strips are the solution for you, I'm just putting out there that a CPAP machine might work for others.
Hi Pam! In the the post I mentioned doing a sleep study with Weill Cornell. I thought that might be the case as well, they did not find evidence of sleep apnea.
My only issue with the breathe right strips is that they can lead to a sunburned nose. This is not an issue in the winter.
You can also try mouth tape to force yourself to breathe through your nose while sleeping, and the Remplenish straw to improve swallowing to clear the sinuses.
just adding a plus one to both breathe right (not, btw the generic drug store version(s)) and to mouth tape. Both Look /feels weird, but absolutely work, in my experience.
I've been to a number of ENTs. Deviated septum, an enlarged turbinate, narrow passageways, a large air vacuole that makes the passageways even narrower, etc. etc.
I was given two possible solutions. 1. Burn the insides of the nose to create scar tissue that would effectively act as a structure "holding open" the passageway. 2. Insert a small plastic part that would act in the same way: force and keep open the passageways. Meanwhile, they would also shave down the turbinate, fix the septum, and pop the vacuole. I have not followed up: that's a lot of work in such a small space, and I was leery.
I wear and have worn the XL Tan Breathe Right strips for years. There's no sleeping without it, but I also worry that their effectiveness has worn off. Maybe it's time to revisit surgery.
I kept waiting for the analysis of sleep apnea! Did anyone schedule a sleep study along the way? And while the Breathe Right strips are the solution for you, I'm just putting out there that a CPAP machine might work for others.
Hi Pam! In the the post I mentioned doing a sleep study with Weill Cornell. I thought that might be the case as well, they did not find evidence of sleep apnea.
Fellow sleep-issue haver here for whom an ENT changed my life with a diagnosis. I had three surgeries to correct and have to have another in November.
I have been writing about my experience, also:
https://courtneymaum.substack.com/p/last-night-an-ent-saved-my-life
and
https://courtneymaum.substack.com/p/sitting-with-it
My only issue with the breathe right strips is that they can lead to a sunburned nose. This is not an issue in the winter.
You can also try mouth tape to force yourself to breathe through your nose while sleeping, and the Remplenish straw to improve swallowing to clear the sinuses.