Nasal Dilators?

Someone suggested I try nasal dilators for my nasal breathing problems. So I got them in the mail yesterday and tried them last night. They seemed to help a great deal at first. But then I woke up after a couple of hours and just couldn't seem to get back to sleep for any decent length of time. Eventually, after trying this most of the night, I woke up and could not draw any air at all up the right (usually the worst) nostril. I felt exhausted too. So I sprayed one spritz of Afrin up the right side, pulled the dilator(s) out, and went back to sleep for more than 3 hours.

What have other people experienced with nasal dilators? I didn't feel like they were hurting me at all. It did feel weird, but that isn't usually a problem. I was using my nasal mask with them.

I'm really interested in what kinds of experiences others have had with these things.

The kind I tried were the ones that look like little cone-shaped baskets.

Cheers,

Ken

If the nasal dilator you tried was this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Snorepin-Smarter- ... B000BABW5Q

What I did was use an Exacto knife to cut off the last tapered part of the cone, mostly because I couldn't insert them all the way into my nose. Also, I use some NexCare 3M tape to secure them to my nose because they tend to move around or even come out of my nostrils.

See where I drew the lines on this photo, should be evident what the modification was:

Hi Ken,
No experience with dilators but you did mention that one side was more open then the other. Deviated septum is the usual cause. I had that and had surgery to correct it and my breathing, both awake and asleep, improved. I know surgery is no fun but it is a permanent cure.
J

Most apnea is in the back of the nose or throat.

Things like that might help some people with some sort of nose problem, but not classic apnea.

Even Breathe-Right strips work farther back, not enough to treat apnea, but sometimes enough to open the upper nose a bit
and make breathing easier.

I think they would help along with cpap - as many folks have such stuffy noses they can't use cpap masks.

Sometimes, the pressure of the cushion on the nose causes the nose to stuff up.
Some masks do that to me. I can't wear them!

I recently had cancer surgery on my left nostril which caused it to almost collapse. It evidently is affecting my airflow as my nose is swelling and I have alot of headaches. My ENT says no surgery will help. He suggested nasal baskets. I just am not sure which one to try. I appreciate your comments.

Hi mumumom2,
I updated the links about the Snorepin nasal dilators in my reply several spaces above your text... just scroll up and you'll see it. I like the Snorepins for the year I've used them and they seem to keep my nostrils open, but before ordering be sure to look at my Photobucket pic to see how I cut/modified them to make them fit better. You may not have to modify them. Also I did a few other basic modifications, so PM me if you want the details. SNO.
PS. You'll have to sign up as a member to PM somebody.

How often do you use the Afrin, if you use it enough your nose can become addicted to it and you'll feel stuffed up. Happened to me and had to go to the Doctor to get off of it.