My nose has been blocked for 10 years

[MadCat]

Ok, I don't really understand what is wrong with me. My nostril/s are blocked. It is a 24/7 thing and I can only breath through one at a time. It reminds me of a cold that when I lay on one side the other one blocks up (Or that's how it feels like).

I wake up in the morning with both blocked and I have a slight sore throat.

THis has happened since I was 9 years old and I am 19 now. My Family Doctor just throws me off and says "It's normal" but it does not feel normal to me. The sides of my nose (Outside) is red all the time like I have a cold and I can see some blood vessels that looks like they are dead (They look very dark purple). Randomly it will block the left nostril or the right. It's either one of those. I feel sore around my sides of my nose too like a cold sore.

It is not completely blocked I can still barely breath through the blocked nostril if I hold my other one down and sniff. If I don't hold the working one down I will not breath through the other one. I have some mental conditions so I would like as much info as possible because I am scared to see my GP...I hope I gave enough info here.

Thanks

[MadCat]

Thx Mama, that helped me slightly. I've had more worrying things then my nose and breathing but I have to admit the main reason I am scared of going to the doctors is because of getting an infection (Cold or flu).

Nearest Office is like follows -

Wait in a small room with about 30 people in there and mostly the place is not very ventilated at all. I have stressful times right now so my immune system is very weak. Last time I went down there was about 7 people caughing and sneezing. I saw the Doc for my mental problems and I come out with a 1 week cold. Because of my weak immune system it grabbed me instantly and gave me some very horrible and severe symptoms. It was a bad strain too.

2 years ago I had an unidentified upper respitory (whoops. can't spell) infection that lasted approx--3 weeks. Out of 24 hours a day I was sleeping for about 17 hours and I had severe problems. I was so fatigued I could barely speek at times. I had bloodwork done and there was no signs of any infection in my blood. Also said my white blood cells are perfect. I thought that they shouldbe weakened but I guess not. By the time I went for help (It was getting serious) it started to get better by then.

It is sad that have some mental disorders right now and I have/am scared to get the medical treatment I need. I have pain in my stomach just under the ribcage for about a year now and it's getting worser. I have said "I'm gonna be dead if I don't get help" but my worst fear is getting medical help :/ Heh oh well I sat down with my Mom inbetween writing this and I think it's time to get medical help. It's a big step for me :) In the last 19 years I have been to the doctors about 10 times and generally I have wanted to go in the last 2 years about 30 times. This sucks :(

[mamajama]

http://www.drmirkin.com/morehealth/G220.htm

This article discusses the "mechanical" reasons this happens, I found it very interesting as it describes exactly how that draining process feels.

.... "Your nose is supposed to clean, heat and moisturize the air that you breathe. The inside of your nose is covered with a sticky mucous that traps dirt, pollen, mold and other pollutants and prevents them from reaching your lungs. Inside of each nostril are large ridges called turbinates that have large blood vessels in them. When the inner lining of one side of your nose fills up with pollutants, the blood vessels inside the turbinates enlarge and swell the turbinates so they stop air from entering that side of your nose and force you to breathe through the other side of your nose. Then small hairs called cilia in the lining of your nose sweep the mucous and filth toward your mouth where you swallow them and they pass from your body.

All day and night, it is normal for you to breathe through one side of your nose and then the other. It is abnormal for the turbinates on both sides to swell at the same time and cause a stuffy nose. If your nose is stuffy in the spring and fall, you probably have an allergy and need allergy tests. If you have thick yellow or green mucous, you probably have an infection and need a culture and antibiotics. If you are exposed to irritants such as hair spray or smoke, that is probably the cause, and if your stuffiness is worse in the winter, the cause is probably breathing dry, cold air. "

[National Jewish]

Sounds like you have chronic inflammation of your nose, with significant blockage.  There are several possibilities that could cause this blockage.  It could be an anatomical deformity, such as a previously broken nose.  It could be inflamed membranes with excessive mucous.  It could be an anatomical blockage, such as by nasal polyps.  What you are experiencing is not normal.

You should see an ENT doctor for a thorough examination of your nose.  You shouldn't have to put up with this on top of whatever "mental conditions" you might have.