Thoughts on sniffing

I'm a sniffer due to allergies 😕 I also sneeze a lot, really annoying for my son but even antihistamine doesn't totally stop it. Blowing your nose means you should really wash your hand immediately, not always possible.

My dentist sniffed (behind her mask) through my last appointment. She clearly had a very nasty cold. I spent my time wishing she had taken the day off sick.

2 words....Hate it!!

Can be annoying I agree but other half does his "gruffing" as I call it and constantly clearly his throat and drives me mad.

I work with a couple of people who sniff up whatever is in their nasal passages, then I can hear them swallow whatever they have sniffed. Turns my stomach and I wish they would just blow their noses.

Neither are from the uk, and I wonder if it is cultural and nose blowing in public is not considered polite?

I don’t feel I can say anything, but I’ve taken a large box of tissues into the office in the hope they get the hint,

Any chance if an NHS sinus washout? DH's friend just had one. Not a pleasant procedure but it's worked well.

farmgran

Miss Adventure, have you tried using a Nettipot to clear yor sinuses? Or an old fashioned bowl of hot steamy water with eucalyptus or vicks in it and a towel over your head? Or cutting out dairy products?

I do not know about MisAdventure, but I have tried all these possible solutions. I am almost offended by you suggesting these straightforward simple solutions and the inference that we are too ignorant not to already have tried such well known and simple solutions

The main cause in my case, is that my nasal passages and other whistles and tubes are very narrow. Since childhood I have a medical history of ear and sinus infections and this is the reason I have been given. I now, effectively have chronic sinusitus with chronic inflammation.

if there was a simple solution to my problems I would have adopted it decades ago.

Miss Adventure, have you tried using a Nettipot to clear yor sinuses? Or an old fashioned bowl of hot steamy water with eucalyptus or vicks in it and a towel over your head? Or cutting out dairy products?

I suppose it depends on what comes out.
A neat little dab is quite sweet...

Lots of people find blowing their nose in public is embarrassing.

I think constant sniffing is enough to drive anyone mad, so I sympathise, but what's to do about it?

There is nothing up there to blow.

Whatever the reason, I can’t bear hearing it.

I realise I lack compassion.

In your experience 'most adults sniff due to sinus problems'. In my experience most do not. Both instances I met with last week involved young females under 20.

fancythat

M0nica

fancythat

I would have said @would a tissue prove helpful@, in a nice voice and holding one out.

have you not read the posts explaining that for some of us it is a sinus problem and all the tissues in the world will not resolve it?

That is unlikely to be the case for 90% of people sniffing.

So yes, I would still do the above.

On the contrary, I think for most adults the reason they sniff is because of sinus or similar problems.

Sniffing when all that is needed is to blow your nose is the prerogative of children

My mu, used to shout at me and make me jump - "STOP SNIFFING!"
It's worse when I read, apparently.

M0nica

fancythat

I would have said @would a tissue prove helpful@, in a nice voice and holding one out.

have you not read the posts explaining that for some of us it is a sinus problem and all the tissues in the world will not resolve it?

That is unlikely to be the case for 90% of people sniffing.

So yes, I would still do the above.

The two people I was talking about were plainly sniffing up watery snot. I'm sorry that some of you have sinus trouble but as previously stated most people don't.

I don’t like people sniffing but I wouldn’t mention it to them. My son also sniffs a lot and again it’s due to sinus problems. He has a defect in his nose and had a painful operation to correct it but that doesn’t stop the sniffing.

The thing is, just as some sniffers can't help it, others can, and may be glad of the offer of a tissue. And some offerers can't help being driven to distraction by the sound of sniffing. For me it's like water torture. It's not so much the sniff itself as waiting for the next one. I feel the same when my husband snores - I know he can't help it, but I have to take action or I'd kill him

fancythat

I would have said @would a tissue prove helpful@, in a nice voice and holding one out.

have you not read the posts explaining that for some of us it is a sinus problem and all the tissues in the world will not resolve it?

I would have said @would a tissue prove helpful@, in a nice voice and holding one out.

I suppose I could say something like, ' If your sniffing is due to sinus trouble or nerves I'm very sorry but, if not, blow your nose!'

I've not been to the gp about mine, because I'm used to it, having had it for years, but also because I don't want things poked around up there.
I'd rather sniff.

MissAdventure

I'm a sniffer.
My nose doesn't run, but my sinuses feel constantly bunged up and awful.

I suppose it may be partly habit, now, but is certainly not a conscious thing.

That is exactly my situation *MissAdventure. It is a sinus problem, not a nose problem and all the tissues and blowing in the world will not resolve the issue.

I have seen my doctor, and they can offer no solution. I had a head MRI, for a different reason amd the report included a comment saying I had inflamed congested sinuses.

If any of those, who show so little sympathy for those of us sniffers, not from choice, not from, lack of tissues, but due to sinus problems has a solution to our problem please let us know.

In the meanwhile just show a little compassion.

I'm a sniffer.
My nose doesn't run, but my sinuses feel constantly bunged up and awful.

I suppose it may be partly habit, now, but is certainly not a conscious thing.