Experiencing Dry or Stuffy Nose on Supplemental Oxygen for COPD
Has anyone else experienced these issues? What remedies or strategies have you found helpful in alleviating the dryness or congestion?
Humidifier
Saline nasal spray or Nettie pot?
Hi
are you on oxygen at night? If so, there should be a plastic cup (humidifier) that you can attach to your oxygen machine to provide you with extra moisture.
With or without oxygen, you can get a daily moisturizing spray.
With oxygen: You can use a moisturizing spray. Do not use a petroleum product with oxygen. This spray, is good.
There is a sinus rinse that my allergist believed in. She wanted me to do it 6 or 7 times a day. Talking to my doctor and my pulmonologist, they agreed (independently) that I should do 2x a day, more if my sinus were stuffy. Allergies are tough. Then I use more as needed. That really helps to clean out the gunk and bacteria. It moisturizes too. Be sure to use distilled water only.
Janet, COPD.team
There are different brands of saline but for the most part they're all the same. Ayr is a very common one -- it comes in both a spray and a gel. The gel would probably help with moisturizing as it's longer lasting and thicker than a spray. Good idea to see what your pharmacist recommends, though. 😀 As for petroleum, it's extremely flammable when exposed to oxygen, and so you should never use it while you have your oxygen on. Hope this helps! -Melissa, team member I have the little cip on my concentrator. At first it was good but it doesn’t seem to be anymore. This time when it ran out of water I didn’t replace it and I think my sinuses feel better. It seems the hydration causes me to not blow my dry nose. I’m going to try it with no water again for a while and see. It’s been about 5 days so far.
Yes! I just keep blowing lol
