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Dealing with dry air, sinus problems, and bloody nose?


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Home Forums General Forums General Lightweight Backpacking Discussion Dealing with dry air, sinus problems, and bloody nose?

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Viewing 17 posts - 1 through 17 (of 17 total)
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  • #1302334
    Jani Kikuts
    Spectator

    @enginerd

    Locale: Southern California

    Not the most glamorous subject but something that I struggle with every time I go to the mountains. I live 2 miles from the ocean in San Diego, when I get out in the Sierra I really struggle with dry nostrils, often get nose bleeds, and as a result have difficulty breathing through my nose. Not a big deal during the day but at night it's just one more thing that keeps me awake, mouth breathing sucks! I'm planning to be near Rae Lakes in Gardiner and Sixty Lakes Basin for a week at the end of August, thinking about maybe maybe some petroleum jelly in my nostrils, daily saline rinse? Anyone else encounter this problem and could offer some suggestions? Thanks in advance.

    #1981582
    Erik Basil
    BPL Member

    @ebasil

    Locale: Atzlan

    Jani, my location is described exactly as yours and although I don't get bloody noses at altitude/dry, our son does. He uses Bag Balm, which you can buy at CVS in a "cubular" green tin (or at tack n feed if you head east to Poway, Santee or Ramona). We all use it on chapped lips.

    He uses a q-tip to line his nose with bag balm when we get to town/trailhead, such as Mammoth, and then again the next morning before we head out. This has been enough for him in moderate weather, but you could bring a glob and a q-tip along on trail, obviously.

    If you don't know, Bag Balm is technically for udders, ie cow bags, and is a petroleum jelly/lanolin formula with another ingredient using polysyllabic format (that I'll preserve for someone smart to copy/post)but is used for chapped hands, lips, skin, nether regions, etc… by a lot of people. Good stuff and that green tin will last you a long time.

    #1981583
    Bill Fornshell
    BPL Member

    @bfornshell

    Locale: Southern Texas

    Hi Jani,

    I live with the same problem. My Ear, Noise and Throat Doctor recommend a product like "Ayr" Saline Nasal Gel.

    I buy mine at my local Walmart.

    #1981605
    James Cahill
    BPL Member

    @dmatb

    Locale: Norf Carl

    I'll get nosebleeds 3 or 4 times a week, sometimes every day in the winter. It is extraordinarily inconvenient. It's been fine since I moved to San Diego, but admittedly I haven't made it up to the mountains yet so I don't know if it will come back. I think for me it is more of a snowball effect, and given enough time to heal the problem usually subsides.

    I had good results from saline rinses and wadding my nose up with petroleum jelly, but a nose full of goo isn't easy to breath through either.

    #1981627
    Casey Bowden
    BPL Member

    @clbowden

    Locale: Berkeley Hills

    Try oxymetazoline HCL 5% to clear nighttime stuffy noses.

    #1981639
    Jani Kikuts
    Spectator

    @enginerd

    Locale: Southern California

    Thanks a bunch for the ideas, I got some time to figure out what to bring in August, will have to try things out till then.

    #1981652
    peter vacco
    Member

    @fluffinreach-com

    Locale: no. california

    when i go up north my tongue drys out, gets way chapped, and then splits down the center. it's a painful and unattractive mess. i can keep it at bay by sleeping with a silk scarf over my head which retains some of the moisture.

    #1981655
    Bill Fornshell
    BPL Member

    @bfornshell

    Locale: Southern Texas

    I am trying to post a link but can't make it work.

    #1981675
    Tony Wong
    BPL Member

    @valshar

    Locale: San Francisco Bay Area

    +1 On bag balm in the nose.

    Something else you can do that helps while sleeping/at night, a simply light weight face mask from Home Depot for dust.

    Breathing into one helps moisturize your nose by capturing some of the moisture that you exhale.

    If your can zip your your hoodie to cover your mouth & nose while sleeping, this will help too, but a face mask would be better if you are an active sleeper.

    Tie a bandana around your face to cover your nose and mouth could work too.

    Note: the lightweight, blue medical face mask should be avoided as the elastic bands that they have that hook over your ears are only glued to the fabric of the face mask and easily break off while moving around during sleep.

    Hope this helps.

    -Tony

    #1981677
    Ben C
    BPL Member

    @alexdrewreed

    Locale: Kentucky

    My dad was a veterinarian. When we had ailments, we got horse/cow medicine. Its good to see others got to use this stuff as well.

    #1981724
    Erik Basil
    BPL Member

    @ebasil

    Locale: Atzlan

    Hey, is that a salt-lick? Mooooove over!

    #1981735
    John S.
    BPL Member

    @jshann

    Don't put just anything into your nose. Get advice from the pharmacist or your physician, and read the directions on whether it is for mucosal surfaces.

    #1981741
    USA Duane Hall
    BPL Member

    @hikerduane

    Locale: Extreme northern Sierra Nevada

    I live at around 4,000', so I have to deal with it most every weekend, out bping or camping. Only an occasional nose bleed. Not good in the morning when trying to force down some dry cereal bar or such with a dry mouth. Then when it is cool or cold during winter camping/bping, my eyes water the first hour or more. No rest.
    Duane

    #1981744
    Daniel Pittman
    Spectator

    @pitsy

    Locale: Central Texas

    Ace Hardware in Hillcrest stocks Bag Balm. Don't know if it would work for your nose, but it's great on chapped skin. Ace is on University across from Ralph's and Trader Joe's. Park around back; you should find the Bag Balm in the pet section in the basement. Tell Bruce that pitsy says hello!

    #1981808
    Gregory Allen
    BPL Member

    @gallen1119

    Locale: Golden, CO

    +1 for saline gels, consistency of KY jelly, but saline
    Saline nasal rinses also good 1-2 x / day

    I am an ENT doc in Colorado…I KNOW dry nose problems very well.

    –finally a topic I think I actually know something about!

    #1982174
    Nick Larsen
    Member

    @stingray4540

    Locale: South Bay

    I used to get REALLY bad nose bleeds do to a deviated septum, to the point, I once lost conciousness and had to be rushed to ER. Luckily I was at the doctors office when that happened. Got cauterized, so not an issue anymore.

    Anyways, saline spray once to twice a day will make a HUGE difference! Also, I always carry chapstick, and it works well as a preventative measure as well as after bleed care. And hey, it's dual purpose!

    A tip to help stop your bleeds faster, is to fold up a papertowel into a tiny thick square and place between your upper gums and lip, right under your nose. I think there is a blood vesel there or something that you are cutting off, and it really helps make the bleeding stop faster. It should be thick enough that it almost feels like your lip is being ripped from your gums, but not to the point it's uncomfortable. Alternative is to use your finger to put pressure on your upper lip, just below your nose.

    Good luck, nose bleeds suck!!!

    #1983632
    Jani Kikuts
    Spectator

    @enginerd

    Locale: Southern California

    Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I'm on a business trip to Reno this week and decided it would be a good time to try some of your suggestions. The last three times I have been here I have had dry nose and sinus problems. Sitting at the Peppermill hotel now with a nose full of Ayr and a glass of cab…so far so good! I think I'm off to a good start with the saline aloe gel :-)

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