Most of the oxygen coming into your nose is absorbed through the membrane into the blood supply. Check your O2 levels every now & then to make sure you don't need to crank it up slightly, but really, it will be fine.

Hugs,
TJ

That is a problem. I have had sinus problems for years; so I eat something hot; like Chinese Mustard or tabasco sauce. Also; a hot steamy tea or coffee can help; or use some form of steam to clear your plugged nose. I hope others offer better ideas than mine.
Best wishes.

Many are the times that I've allowed the curved part of the cannula to just rest on my lower lip and deliver the oxygen to my troglodite mouth-breathing self.

A lot of people swear by neti pots, although I can't say that I've ever tried it. I'm a believer in better living through pharmaceuticals, so I take my pseudoephedrine/Sudafed. Blue is right about the spicy stuff. You can also boil a pain of water and inhale the steam- basically the same as her coffee/tea suggestion but on a grander scale.

As TJ said, if you have an oximeter I would monitor your saturations. It may be that you're picking up more through your nose than you realize.

Here ya go Capt.

http://www.wikihow.com/Clear-a-Stuffy-Nose

Capt, I love my nettie pot, but do not use it if so congested you can not blow your nose. You can get a decongestant that will "open" your stuffed sinuses and keep a Kleenex handy! Use a saline spray to soften the dried up congestion in your nose, also the steaming water is good with vicks added. Just close your eyes, put a towel over your head, and put your face close enough the steam can be inhaled. Use a humidifier at night. I have heard of some who put the cannula in their mouths, I actually tried that just for heck of it, and could feel the 02 going in, but was a bit turned off at the thought of putting it back in my nose, so changed cannulas, and would never put one from my nose in my mouth. But if you gotta breath......when your nose is running good enough you can blow it, use the nettie pot and the packets that come with it, to clean out excess mucus. It takes some getting use to, but I love mine. Use distilled water.
Hugs
Brenda

PS, hope you gt some relief and avoid a sinus infection. It is miserable , I know, ......

The same thing happened to me. I had to breathe through my mouth which made my throat so dry, it hurt to swallow.

My stuffy nose was due to low humidity in my house during the winter. I remedied the situation by using a humidifier bottle on the oxygen reservoir and using a room humidifier.

I also use Ayr saline nasal gel.

Note: High humidity can adversely affect your breathing.

Keeping the humidity at a comfortable 45% works well for me. No more stuffy nose. Daily cleaning of the portable room humidifier and reservoir humidifier bottle is a small price to pay for breathing easier.

If you don't know the humidity in your house you can get an inexpensive hygrometer for $8.00 or so at walmart.

i take the canula off at the swivel & put that in my mouth (how do you balance it simplydani? i tried that & it just falls in my lap LOL)

i also like something spicy (i add red pepper to my chicken & rice soup) that will open up my sinus' for awhile.

i'm ALWAYS stuff up when i lay down at night & i love the breath right strips that you tape to your nose---those amazingly work for me.

i too keep a humidifier running in the winter
i suck on mentholyptus lozenges
i do like my netti pot when all else fails (especially for allergies)

good luck! it must be the season, because i've been stuffed up lately too so i hope you don't mind if i share your answers with you ;)

oh & and i try to never cry---that is torture to sob & not get 02