I have this thing that's like a valve in one nostril,
it lets me breathe in, but not out.   It gets worse during colds,
and unlike a normal stuffy nose, it is not relieved _at all_ by
anti-congestion nose sprays.  It seems to be getting worse
with time but I could be imagining that.

        On the inhale, the last few days with my cold, it "flaps" or
rattles like a loud snore (or a quiet chainsaw), allowing me some
air.  On the exhale it closes up to become essentially air-tight.

        It reminds me of those ball-valves in a snorkel.  It gives me
this claustraphobic feeling that I just can't shake sometimes, like
if I can't be free of it, and just _breathe_ right for once, I'll wig.

Sometimes I wake up and my tounge is mummified from mouth breathing,
and sometimes I wig (i.e. it triggers feelings of anxiety) and can't
sleep because I'm not breathing right, especialy when I get a cold.

Anyone ever had this?   Is it something that requires a hideous and
expensive operation or merely something that can go away by itself?
Is there a name for it, or is this post merely the ravings of a
hypercondriac?

%^)

Jim Del Vecchio

If it's bad enough, both conditions can be treated with
relatively minor surgery involving local anesthesia and
a brief hospital stay.

--
Steve Dyer

        I have this thing that's like a valve in one nostril,
    it lets me breathe in, but not out.   It gets worse during colds,
    and unlike a normal stuffy nose, it is not relieved _at all_ by
    anti-congestion nose sprays.  It seems to be getting worse
    with time but I could be imagining that.

        On the inhale, the last few days with my cold, it "flaps" or
    rattles like a loud snore (or a quiet chainsaw), allowing me some
    air.  On the exhale it closes up to become essentially air-tight.

        It reminds me of those ball-valves in a snorkel.  It gives me
    this claustraphobic feeling that I just can't shake sometimes, like
    if I can't be free of it, and just _breathe_ right for once, I'll wig.

    Sometimes I wake up and my tounge is mummified from mouth breathing,
    and sometimes I wig (i.e. it triggers feelings of anxiety) and can't
    sleep because I'm not breathing right, especialy when I get a cold.

    Anyone ever had this?   Is it something that requires a hideous and
    expensive operation or merely something that can go away by itself?
    Is there a name for it, or is this post merely the ravings of a
    hypercondriac?

    %^)

    Jim Del Vecchio

You've probably got nasal polyps..  I've got 'em. (several)  They are common
amongst people with allergies. The explanation I've heard which makes some
sense is that with all of the swelling and shrinking of tissue over the years,
it doesn't all shrink back into the same shape, and little "pooched-out"
hunks of flesh form called polyps. They are not typically the prelude to
any other disease, but they are irritating as the{*filter*}ens, especially when
the lining swells up to the point where the polyps reach out and touch the
lining on the opposite side of the nostril (they move as you breathe and
tickle the lining, creating a great positive feedback situation that's hard
to back out of....).

They can be removed. I haven't had it done. They can shrink and get better,
usually if you use {*filter*} to keep the lining from swelling up. The best for me
has been the nasal spray corticoids, but I try not to use stuff unless I have
to.....

Good luck.....

Gary (snort, snore, rattle) Nichols