u/LothlorienLight

I’ve been dealing with what I assume are “sinus problems” for 15+ years, and I’m honestly getting tired of just living with it.
My main problem is that my nose is almost always blocked, and I’ve gotten so used to breathing through my mouth that I don’t even realize how much it’s affecting me. It’s pretty consistent throughout the year rather than being seasonal.
A few things I’ve noticed:
I don’t really have facial pain or sinus pressure.
My nose, eyes, and throat generally don’t itch, so I’m not sure if allergies are the main issue.
I don’t notice my symptoms getting worse after eating.
I don’t get frequent sore throats.
I’ve been having small amounts of blood when I blow my nose recently.
I wake up tired and usually have a dry mouth because I breathe through my mouth while sleeping. I do snore a little.
This has seriously affected my singing. I’m a singer, and when my nose is blocked I don’t even want to practice. If I have to perform, it’s difficult to breathe properly.
Nasal spray
I’ve been using Mucinex Sinus-Max Nasal Spray Decongestant (oxymetazoline) whenever I have to perform because it temporarily opens my nose and allows me to breathe better.
The last time I used it was about two weeks ago. Since then, I’ve noticed that my nose has been bleeding whenever I blow my nose. It’s not a major nosebleed, but I see blood when I blow my nose.
Because of that, I don’t plan on using the spray again. I’m also wondering if using it could have caused rebound congestion or contributed to the irritation/bleeding.
Other things I’ve wondered about
When I was younger, I spent a lot of time under a fan for probably five years, and I always wondered if that somehow contributed to my sinus problems getting worse. I know that might not actually be the cause, but I’m mentioning it because I’ve tried to figure out what started or worsened this for years.
I’ve also tried different things over the years, including NeilMed saline sinus rinses, but nothing has provided a lasting solution.
I currently also work around sawdust/woodworking dust and don’t consistently wear a mask, so I wonder if that’s making things worse. However, my sinus problems existed long before this job.
My eyes/vision
Another thing I’ve wondered about is my eyesight. I didn’t need glasses when I was younger, but as my sinus problems seemed to get worse, my eyesight also became worse and I eventually needed glasses.
I don’t know if the two are actually related, so I’m not claiming that my sinus problems caused my vision changes—it’s just something I’ve noticed and wondered about.
What I’m trying to figure out
I’ve dealt with this for so long that I’m not even sure what the actual diagnosis is.
For people who have had chronic nasal congestion for many years, especially without much itching, sneezing, or facial pain:
Did you eventually find out what was causing it?
Did an ENT find a deviated septum, enlarged turbinates, nasal polyps, or chronic inflammation?
Did allergy testing help?
Did you have a CT scan or nasal endoscopy?
What treatment actually made a long-term difference?
Has anyone had surgery and found that it significantly improved their ability to breathe?
Could working around sawdust be making it worse?
Has anyone experienced rebound congestion after using oxymetazoline?
I’m especially interested in hearing from people who had constant congestion rather than seasonal allergies.
I’m tired of just accepting this as normal and would really like to figure out what’s actually going on. Any experiences or advice would be appreciated.