Nasal Cysts/Polyps?

[AerielleP]

For several decades now, at least since middle school, my nose has had the appearance of having a nasal hump. This was a change from the way it had been when I was very young.

Until recently, I'd just thought that was how my nose was. Then, I started applying castor oil topically twice a day, beginning a few months ago. I've been using castor oil topically for another place on my skin, to diminish a scar as I've read it can help eliminate growths. So I decided to see if some sort of growth in my nose was causing bulk.

Well, almost immediately something that felt like a cyst softened (it had been up until that point hard like bone) burst in my nose, and then the place where it had been was gone, giving me an improved profile in that small area where the bump disappeared. I've felt several bursts in my nose since then, sometimes releasing some sort of gritty substance. Each time, I can see where the bump that had been there is now missing. I still can feel bumps under the skin of my nose, and they feel squishy sometimes, like they're filled with fluid. Other times, they seem firmer, like they're filled with a firmer, almost cheeselike substance (keratin, maybe)? All of this seems like cystlike behavior. Or maybe a nasal polyp? Inside my nostrils, I do feel some sort of fleshy growth, and it does seem to go up right underneath the bones and push them up. As whatever this is has shrunk, my nose has become nicely thinner, though. Along with this, I've been blowing my nose a TON with runny nose discharge. I'm breathing much better now, too. Earlier in the year, it had gotten to the point where I was mouth breathing at night, I'm sure. I'd wake up with dry mouth. There's also been quite a bit of discharge of something small, white, and stringy.

My primary doctor did have X-rays done, though he couldn't see any cysts in them. He did say my nasal bones are prominent. I'm wondering if cysts and/or nasal polyps can push the nasal bones up/out, causing my nose to look like there's a  nasal hump? Because I can push the bump aside and push the bones down with a little bit of pressure, and it gives a much nicer profile, and it looks closer to what my profile had been when I was younger. Like maybe it's closer to my natural nose shape.

I do have an ENT appointment coming up to look into all this and get a definitive diagnosis, but I was just curious if anyone else had had similar symptoms or had an idea if it could be cysts and/or polyps, or something else.

Thanks in advance for any insights! :)

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

A deviated nasal septum can cause a blockage of the nose. This can also cause an asymmetry of the face. This depends on the extent of deviation. So, if it causing symptoms, it may need surgical correction.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[AerielleP]

I had my ENT appointment, and it turns out that the bumps inside my nose that concerned me were actually cartilege. Over the past couple days since the appointment, oddly enough, the cartilege is no longer bumpy, but smooth again. So it feels better. Going for a CT scan to get a further look at my deviated septum and may possibly consider septoplasty to correct it.

[AerielleP]

Thank you so much for your reply! I am doing well, and hope you are as well.  Once the results from my upcoming ENT visit are in, I'll post again here in the next week or so to let people know what was found.

Happy New Year's, all :).

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Polyps or nasal growths are usually restricted to the nasal cavity. If they are large enough to protrude outside causing distortion of the nasal profile, they are likely to cause nasal blockage. A Complete ENT examination can provide further insight to rule out polyps or cysts or tumors.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.