I use O2 24/7 and my nose gets really dry and sore. I have tried several creams and found nothing helps. I get a slight relief from using Boots saline nasal spray but the relief isn't long lasting. My nose seems permanently blocked with dried blood and mucous.
If you have any suggestions I'd be truly grateful :-(.
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I know how irritating this can be...my nurse recommended using Ky water based gel not tried it yet myself but i will give it a try.
yes, ky gel, nothing oil or parafin based.
Hi amagran
how are things now that you are free to up Richard's 02? Hope it is helping. Best wishes to you and yours, P
hi, Parvati, not doing too bad at all here, Richard has almost finished his course of anti biotics and is a lot brighter, thanks for asking, hope you are well too.
Hi Maureen
You would think by now they would have come up with a cream to deal specifically with this problem wouldn't you! The main problem is that thing about not using anything oil based as most creams are going to contain some.
The one's i have come across so far - though not tried myself - are Naseptin (not sure if that is prescription only), Baroleum (think it contains oils) or. alternately, i have come across folk using Colustrum cream - though that is more of a natural moisturiser and I don't know if it would have healing properties. If i come across anything else i will let you know. Incidentally if you (or anyone else) find something that works really well, let us all know for future reference. I will link to items i've mentioned below (looks like Naseptin is over the counter) Good luck, P
netdoctor.co.uk/ear-nose-an...
justotc.co.uk/productdetail...
I've tried Naseptin which is a cream and I bought Bareleum from Amazon because its not avaiable on prescription, I've tried KY as well but none of them have worked :(. The Bareleum is much the same as our Vick gel. It gives some relief when breathing but doesn't help with the sore nose 
this might sound really really stupid but when i had a bad cold once and my nose was raw, someone suggested a thin layer of honey and it really took the rawness away.
I often wonder if I get so many chest infections because of my nose being so dry. Its meant to be moist so the little hairs and moisture can filter out the dirt particles. I'll certainly give the honey a try, I wonder if chocolate would have the same effect ;-).
To be honest Maureen if it's very sore I think I would say to hell with it and use whatever cream might soothe it - Sudocrem or good old Zinc and Castor oil always worked miracles on everything in our house! I'd leave the cannula off for a few hours and wipe away any residue that might be left up there before putting it back on later. That's just me of course - I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else. The other thing is if those oxyarm's are any use for times when you are not exerting yourself too much, to give your nose a few hours rest.
I used to really worry about the 'no oils' thing, and then someone who's been on LTOT for years came out with it that she's always just stuck some vaseline up there and it's never been a problem!! lol. Don't think I would go that far, but.. P
Thank goodness I'm not alone in suffering this problem. I've had a 'stuffy' nose and soreness inside my nasal passages for years and have tried all sorts of preparations on it. I visited the doctor recently about this, and - after inspection - he said that the lining of my nose was inflamed and infected ! He prescribed an antibiotic cream which did help for a while, but I still find I'm bunged up along with constatnt irritation. I sneeze a lot too !
It's also difficult to ignore the tiny scabs that develop inside my nose - I fear I've become a nose picker 
Yuk !
YAY! I'm not the only scabby nose Mine's not been too sore yet - but I do keep getting a scab in my left nostril. My main problem has been sore ears. I had meant to send off for a couple of those 'soft hose' cannula's so will order a couple now. Will give a verdict on them in a few weeks time. P.
I use the soft hose cannula from America and they are so comfortable I would recommend them to anyone. I also buy the valves which i put on the tubing which means i dont have to get back to the concentrator to alter the flow. I just turn it up when i'm getting up from the chair to go to the bathroom or kitchen or when I'm walking anywhere in the house. I find they are invaluable. Anyone wanting to look at the soft hose and valves here is a link
Like the tip of using honey its a natural product so can`t do any harm.
I wouldn't like to do the honey thing, especially not if going out, lots of insects might like to visit such sweet temptations ... lol
if anyone googles they will find several people have tried this too so it must be a well known tip.(dab the honey, obviously, don't go out with it dripping down your face, or most likely, all the wasps in the neighbourhood will suddenly find you very attractive!) When I did it, i did it at night so as not to go out like it.and i just used the tiniest amount, applied with a tissue, and wipe off any excess.and not right inside the nose just at the edges.
I have no idea what would happen if you accidently breathed honey up your nose!
Talking of natural cures, while googling that just now, i found some discussions about putting raw sugar on cuts, its supposed to help the healing process, but i haven't personally tried that.
honey is apparently a natural antiseptic as well as a soothing barrier- I used to use it all the time on sores/ scratches and completely forgot about it - good reminder
Thick Greek yoghurt goes nice with honey too mmmm - could be good for noses too
well they do put yoghurt on sunburn, which is a rawness of the skin so maybe it would be good.Look a bit silly up the nose with the honey though i should think!
Just read that you have not found Naseptin of use, there is something stronger that I got from the ENT guy but its like a 2 weeks course of anti bio ointment, its suppose to clear the problem once and for all (the bleed, crusting infection etc)
You may find the Aloe Vera Gel soothing for the dry sore nose tho.
I am agreat believer in natural remedies, especially vinegar, that certainly works wonders on cold sores and mouth ulcers, so why not try it on your nose, its a natural antiseptic and anti bacterial. Good for wasp stings too, worth trying as it cant do any harm either.
Ouch I wouldn't recommend vinegar on nasal membranes
TCP liquid too - just a dab - after the first ouch, it's great for cold sores as well as other sores.
It's good to know that I am not alone in suffering the "Scabby Nose Sydrome" after 10 days on oxygen back in Februaru 12 fowolling a saddle PE.
It took over three months for my nose to heal, during which time I was constantly plagued with scabs and bloody mucous discharge. Which I had found this blog earlier!
I didn't realise that this dry nostril thing was so widespread. My left nostril has started to have dry periods and if I keep on nose breathing, it will lead to a headache, which I know from past experience can be very debilitating to me. Also, along with this dryness I feel as though I have catarrh above the roof of my mouth. I put all this down to a bad tooth I have. I can't make it to the dentist yet, as my breathing is not good enough to get there, but am working on it. I too was beginning to become a nose-picker (perhaps an official society should be started - Nosepickers Affilliated?), but have found that just inserting my little finger up as far as it will go seems to give relief, somehow restoring moisture. I do hope though, that in my case it is the dental problem, as that gives me hope that the end of the problem is in sight.
I hope my little tip will work for at least soem of you.
i pick pick pick pick pick all day long and i'm so happy to admit it somewhere. i also like to have baths now instead of showers. firstly the o2 helps with getting in and out. secondly i take my nose hose off and give my nose a rest and the long leisurely baths can help clear it. i also prefer to wash my hair here now using a basin and rinsing from a running tap at the end. i buy a very small bottle of vitamin e oil from holland and barrat and use as a moisturiser after baths every so often and a little drop of this on the nostrils can help.
When talking to my oxygen nurse about the dry nose problem it was suggested that a humidifier unit could be fitted in line. This is a useful addition to my supply though some users can not use it as they find it has a role in mucus production.
The use of vinegar reminded of the nursery rhyme:
Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water
Jack fell down and broke his crown
Jill came tumbling after
Up Jack got and home did trot
As fast as he could caper
He went to bed to mend his head
With vinegar and brown paper
Follow amagrans thinking on the healing property's of vinegar with it's many uses.
Hi Maureenv
As to the jelly Go with that, the one that does all if i cant mention the brand, but is a KY Jelly/petrolume based, My Dad swore by it when he had to use it
No David KY gel is water based and I've tried it already ....no good for me .
Hiya, I had my nose cauturized because the vessels kept breaking when I blew my nose, much better now.
Ask your oxygen carrier for a humidifier. These are placed right when your oxygen comes out of your concentrator and the oxgen passes over the water in the humidifier adding a bit of moisture. You can't use one of these with your portable O2 but you can with your home unit. Oxygen can be very drying leading to a bloody nose or sores in your nose. Saline nose sprays can help or maybe try pure glycerine on a q-tip dabbed in your nostrils.
Have got Ky jelly does help but not enough still have scabs thought I would try e45 cream have joined nose pickets club might try honey though let you know if it works
At least I'm not the only one with a sore nose. Tried Ky jel it hasn't worked for me. But when I was on high flow oxygen it passed through a saline humidifier and my nose and sinus were clear. Think I might try and see if it can be done on a home set up. TimS154
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