This is a story about how I tried out nasal filters to get allergy relief.
! this is not a sponsored post. And while I'm starting it I'm not even sure if this review will be positive or negative, since it's my first day trying out. It might turn out to be positive or negative review or I even might stop using the nasal filters because they bothered my life. Who knows.
day 1
The package I received included 2 frames for the filters and 6 pairs of disposable filters and a small case to keep them in. I read somewhere that you should be able to use one filter for up to 6 days, so this package should last for a month.
When I first tried the filters to my nose I realized I've ordered a size too big. It's not that I could not use them, but my nose looks a bit... swollen while I'm wearing them. Otherwise they're barely noticeable. I would definitely have no problem wearing them in public places.
Breathing is harder with the filters than without and I also make a quiet whistling sound while breathing with them. Getting used to the feeling that something is stuck in my nose will take some time.
I'm not sure if I will be able to sleep with them. But I will try it tonight.
About the allergy - I'm still on my allergy med, so it's not bad anyway. I will stop taking my allergy medicine tomorrow and I hope I've gotten used to wearing the filter by then.
day 2
Stopped taking allergy meds (because doctor wanted me to take a pause)
I got used to the filter in my nose by evening, sleeping was no problem. I did not have as much mucus in my throat in the morning as usual, so the filters must be working.
Filters seem to have stretched or transformed their shape a bit - they slip out every now and then.
During the day I felt it was really hard to breathe. I decided to rinse the filter with some water. As breathing did get easier, the filters must have been clogged.
I spent around two hours without filters and during that time I sneezed several times and had postnasal drip - none of them I had while wearing filters.
In the evening I went to visit my mom. Moms house is an allergy hell- she's not into cleaning that much and she has a dog. Usually I get nasal congestion and headache during the first hour I'm there.And I had no problem breathing at my mom's house! And I don't think she even noticed I had something stuck in my nose.
This must be the best proof that the nasal filters are as good as they say.
day 3
I spent last night at mom's house and I didn't have any mucus at all in my throat in the morning.
as it's my second day without any allergy meds I start to get slight postnasal drip. So it's not a miracle cure.
There are two things that are not as good as they should:
- filters seem to get clogged after around 8-10 hours of wearing and I feel need to take a new filter or wash the old one. And washing doesn't seem to work as good as it could or should.
- the frame seems to stretch/transform somehow while wearing and starts to keep slipping out after 12 hours of consecutive wearing.
day 4
I woke with usual amount of mucus in my throat (usual amount for when I'm on meds). Since it's the 3rd day without meds, and I'm using filters, I consider it normal.
During the day I got really strong eye irritation. Nasal filters don't help against eye allergies, who would have thought that!
But my nose is better than average and there is only slight postnasal drip. For my usual 'state' this is good.
day 5
It seems this is as good or bad this is going to be. I wake up with some mucus in throat, but it's a rather little amount. My eyes are really uncomfortable, but nose and throat are rather good.
The filter frame is starting to show signs of wear.
Days 6+
Allergy symptoms in my eyes got worse, mucus in my throat got a little worse, but it was much better than without filters. A few people asked that was going on with my nose, since I touched nose and filters every now and then when I felt like the filter was slipping out.
At around day 10 one of the the filter frames broke during night.
Final thoughts
- I would think it's a good solution for people with seasonal allergies to use outdoors. Also for indoor allergies while doing spring cleaning. But I wouldn't use it 24/7 unless in an emergency situation.
- If you have slight breathing allergy the discomfort from the nasal filters and price probably won't pay off. For those with more serious allergy symptoms - nasal filters do offer allergy relief for nose. Your eyes will be as allergic as usual, probably your lymph nodes will be as swollen as usual. But nose will be good.
- Using medicine is much more cheap. One pack of filters was around 18 euros, and both of the frames broke in one month. The filters were washable, so I could have used them for longer.
- Breathing through filter is hard and it's probably not doable while exercising.
- It's better to use slightly bigger size filters. Later on, I ordered one size smaller, and those were slipping out constantly.
- I kept losing the filters during night. The frame stayed in the nose but the removable filter part came out during night quite often. Usually I found it from my bed, but it was annoying to start the day with searching my bed.
- I would give it 8 points out of 10. Since it'a a good medicine free solution for allergies. It doesn't take away all symptoms (like eye irritation) but for nose it does work. And it's almost invisible.
