Micro-dosing oxymetazoline for turbinate hypertrophy
Hi. I've previously posted on reddit regarding my incredibly bad sleep for the last ~5 months due to turbinate hypertrophy. I've essentially tried everything (including Buteyko breathing, I score 25-30 now and it has given me 0 improvement regarding my sleep and hypertrophy), diet, saline cleanses, allergy drugs (different kinds), corticosteroid sprays (like Dymista), sleeping upright, nasal dilators (like breathe right strips), etc. Nothing works. I've tried for literally months now. I workout regularly (even though it has been very difficult with this low energy). I also don't have a narrow jaw and I have asked my doctors regarding this and they all said it would be pointless in my case. I don't have a deviated septum either.
I am trying to be very specific here, as when I make these posts, people tend to steer away from the particular thing I'm asking for (help with spray advice and/or turbinate reduction) and I usually get suggestions that I know won't help me that are unrelated to my question.
I already had a visit with an ENT known to be very aware of ENS (I believe he even treats it to some extent) and he recommended CELON reduction with an endoscope, but a very conservative one (since he is aware of my fear of ENS). I've heard other people get it with him and they feel great now. Reference video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4_5g0b7Nec
Before I get the surgery, one thing I saw is that people seem to be micro-dosing oxymetazoline (mixing saline with a very low amount of it) and it seems that it can be used long-term. This is similar to Allermi, but even a lower dose. I tried it yesterday (mixed half a bottle of saline with a tiny amount of my oxymetazoline spray) and while it didn't unblock my nose fully, it definitely helped me sleep a tiny bit better.
Has anyone tried this for an extended period of time? Have you gotten rebound congestion? For example, I have a person in my friend group that has been using oxymetazoline sprays (full dosage) for ~10 years and he seems to be doing just fine (no crazy side effects). So I am really questioning whether all of the side effects that are listed are always applicable, especially at lower doses. There is quite a lot of research regarding this, for example here's one for Allermi which is at 0.0125ml which is significantly lower than Afrin (0.5 mg). https://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(25)01934-7/pdf
Curious to hear about peoples' experience with this.