Advice on Rhinitis remedies

I was diagnosed with allergic rhinitis several years ago. Mildly allergic to dust. My symptoms are brain fog, puffy face, puffy eyes, I always look and feel like I haven't slept, my nasal cavities feel red raw inside and dry, polyps take turns in swelling up each day so I typically only get air through one nostril. When I exercise I have to mouth breath and my nose drips like a tap.

I have a strict cleaning routine, wash all the bedding once a week in a hot water with eucalyptus cycle, tea tree sprayed on the mattress and vacuumed weekly, carpets vacuumed daily. Have lived without carpets too and same issues.

Have tried most antihistamines on the market, most nasal sprays including steroid, course of vitamin d, also nasal rinse with salt. Nothing has ever relieved the groggy fatigue and rotten feeling, so after a lot of trial and error I no longer buy any medications. I also tried the old fashioned hot water and eucalyptus in a bowl with a towel over my head out of desperation and a more natural approach, but it hasn't made any difference.
There is no relief besides sleep, but what sort of a life is that when 9 hours sleep doesn't even help. I am very fatigued going to sleep and waking up and all throughout the day. I might get two or three good days a month where I feel completely normal and I always think so this is what everybody feels like every day, how good.

I hate this feeling and wondered if any ozbargainers have overcome the same and improved their productivity and quality of life ? Thanks for reading if you made it this far.

Comments

  • +2

    See your Doctor for a referral to an ENT.

    • +4

      Agree don't bother with natural or alternative medicine bullshit. Talk to the professionals.

      Some people find air purifier to be useful, but possibly won't do much since your condition seems to be on the severe end.

      • Should have said I went the natural route because I saw an ENT, camera up the nose. Typically, he caught me on a great day and couldn't see any issue. Had scans too and everything appeared fine. Was with an allergist for a while, one of the top ones in the state, he put me on every medication and monitored every 30 days. In the end he said I should get referred to exercise physiologists who can teach me how to breathe again (wtf) on a treadmill, and that immunotherapy is no guarantee to work so didn't encourage me for it.

  • +1

    I'm severly allergic to dust mites and run my air purifier on full blast everynight when sleeping. I feel like that it has made a huge difference as my allergies don't flair up so often anymore. I've read on Ozbargain that it has helped other people with allergies too. Also, buying a new mattress may help.

    • interesting. I used an air purifier for a while and really was no different for me. The best relief I've ever had was in Honolulu for 2 weeks straight. Salty air probably. Mattress - with the hotter weather I've bought a home steam cleaner to do my mattress, and hoping this gives it a new lease of life.

  • +1

    Nasonex Generic aka Mometasone, it's the gold standard really.

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/561921

    Other than that you can get turbinate tissue reduction performed by an ENT, day surgery, takes maybe an hour or so (mostly waiting around for aftercare before they allow you to leave). You can get a referral for this in the public system, usually done at a large public hospital with an ENT outpatients clinic.

    I have the same issues, as does my son. Both doing/having the same treatment, ongoing. (both of the above)

    • Thanks for that. Half the price of Nasonex.

    • Thanks for that link. A mate I used to work with came into work one day and swore by that Azonaire spray. I got myself one at the time, but will try it again. Have used nasonex too.

      The turbinate surgery might be the way to go in the end. Keep us posted if you can. Several people have discouraged me from it, because they reckon all it changed for them was their bank balance.

  • Move to another city. I couldn't function without meds that I had to take first thing before eating otherwise they wouldn't work. Almost 30 years of face washing and BS did nothing.

    Finally moved from Qld to Melbourne and haven't needed meds since.

    • Depends on where you lived in QLD specifically I would say.

      • Up and down the coast between Rocky and Brisbane. All the same problems no matter where.

        • Sounds like you have something quite severe, in terms of allergy. Hope it's better now. Do you think it's possible your immune system has changed over time to be less sensitive?

          • @Oofy Doofy: It's honestly non-existent now in Melbourne. It does come back if I spend time in Qld but elsewhere I am human.

            • @Mechz: I love the Nasonex ad, where people are suiting up to go to Mars, because they're allergic to earth. Ha

    • yeah you could be onto something there Have lived all over the place but best I ever felt was in Hawaii ! ! !

  • +2

    See an ENT, they managed to clear up my turbinates with surgery

    salt water rinse through your nostrils each night (my turbinates shrunk in size after repeated use) don't bother with the sachets, just use normal salt, dissolved in warm water.
    https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/buy/53787/flo-sinus-care…

    sleep in a warmer heated room, seem to breathe easier when it's warmer

    • saw an ENT and they said not sure what to do besides surgery, so yeah that might be the ultimate thing, just worried about what I've read and heard from others about after effects.

      I get rock salt and make my own solution as you suggest, I stopped for a while though as it wasnt making a diff.

      interesting about the warmer room, I have experimented with window open/closed, fan on/off, humidifier on/off, steamer on - terrible idea but was trying to replicate the hot steamy shower situation. And then depending on the humidity and weather outside. Haven't found and obvious or perfect situation that works for me.

      • In my case i had both a deviated septum and enlarged turbinates so both were fixed at the same time, it might be the same for you.

        Yeah the logic for the warmer room was in the past i'd had my best nights sleep in Singapore while sleeping in an open air room, something about air circulation and the heat/humidity made it really easy to breathe. Maybe a move to Queensland or the NT might be in order.

        Maybe also get your GP to prescribe a sleep study, you may have sleep apnoea in which case a CPAP mask and machine would be in order.

        Good luck with it.

        • I've mentioned it to others here, the best feeling in the world was my 2 week holiday in Honolulu. I felt good every day, and that hasn't ever happened. So I totally get what you're saying about Singapore!

          I have looked into the sleep study and the CPAP, but going through with it is what I should probably do, I know I am a mouth breather. Never used to be like that. Thanks for the tips, really helpful to hear from others in this situation.

  • +1

    Dymista gets me through hayfever season.

  • +2

    +1 for a nose job. Went to get a CT scan while I had a severe episode and the deviated septum was clearly visible. It was a day procedure and gave me good, long term relief (though not 100%). Nasal rinse helps too. Antihistamines have sort of stopped working for me or they take 12 hours to take effect which makes them useless.

    If you're able to, go for a brisk walk or a run regularly. It takes a few weeks to kick in but I've noticed lower severity in hay fever symptoms if I'm working out regularly. The work out will also help with the brain fog.

    Might also be useful to get tested for allergens. It might be something in your diet or from a nearby park or tree rather than something in your house. One such place (I'm not affiliated): https://www.allergydoctors.com.au/

    Try an elimination diet. Keep a journal with your sleep quality and food for the day. Something you're eating might make things worse even if they're not the primary cause. I've eliminated cow's milk (and derived products) from my diet as much as I can, it seems to be helping.

    Last one is to consider moving. I have a friend who has issues in cooler weather but not in hot and humid ones.

    • Deviated septum repair/alteration isn't worth it unless severe obstruction is present, and/or vanity reasons etc.

      The most common thing now is what I mentioned earlier… They basically injure/burn away the tissue that reacts to allergens, swells and creates mucous. Low risk, no down time & effective, and you'll only end up needing it half a dozen times, of which by then you probably won't have to get it done again.

      There are surgeons around who will cut you just because you will pay them. I know a specialist within QLD health who's reported several others in his field for invasive and unnecessary surgeries.

      • +2

        Well I was having hay fever symptoms all year, maybe 2-3 days a week. Was quite disruptive. Not sure if my operation was by one of those unscrupulous surgeons but it has definitely helped me in the long run. As always, get multiple opinions before proceeding.

      • that's what I'm worried about. I've been discouraged from getting surgery from others, friends of family, and friends of friends, who it didn't go well for.
        Did the elimination diet, morning exercise 5 x week, tested positive for dust allergy. moved to 4 different places. Still searching for the elusive solution….

  • Hi I too have bad allergic rhinitis and due to financial concerns have to live where i do. I get smoke from the local sugar mill and fumes and dust from telegraph pole termite coating. If I were you I'd see the dr to check if cpap machine would help I have sleep apnea but it is aggravated by the allergies now using a cpap helps hugely with sleep

    Just a thought

    also a few drops of Olbas oil on pillows works to clear nose

    • +1

      thanks for that, never heard of Olbas oil. Will try and get it, although my nasal cavities feel inflamed and red raw behind my face, not congested to the point where I need to clear it.
      I'm the same with strong smells, bushfire backburning is hell on earth, perfumes, strong deodorants, any chemical aerosols and ciggie smoke are triggers, and i'm surrounded by people who think I'm a weirdo. Life is easy when you can breathe.

      • +2

        I'm the same with strong smells, bushfire backburning is hell on earth, perfumes, strong deodorants, any chemical aerosols and ciggie smoke are triggers,

        Sounds like me. I've stopped using deo and perfumes, hate it when my wife uses her deo and the smell hangs around for hours, open up the doors when cooking anything fragrant.

        • +2

          boil some vinegar in an old saucepan for a few minutes, eliminates cooking smells. That lingering perfume sounds god awful though. It sticks to everything, I can't understand it. Face masks at the moment for me personally are a blessing, I don't have to worry about women in supermarkets that are wearing that strong chemist warehouse cheap perfume.

  • +1

    I use a humidifier every night which helps. I recently did a trial for a hay fever Medication that I found unblocked my nose for better breathing especially at night and helped with other symptoms. It had the same ingredients as Caruso’s painalgestic which I am now using and finding helpful. It is half price at Chemist warehouse at the moment.

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