28.11.2025 14:45
Candela Reybauld, who lives in Argentina, had no idea why she had been experiencing nasal congestion for years. Reybauld, who could barely breathe through her right nostril, discovered during a visit to the doctor in recent weeks that there was a piece of adhesive tape lodged in her nose for a full 35 years.
A mother of two living in Argentina, Candela Reybauld, had been struggling for years to understand why she experienced nasal congestion. The woman, who could hardly breathe through her right nostril, thought it was a congenital issue. However, after visiting the doctor in recent weeks, she experienced the shock of her life: the reason she couldn't breathe was a piece of adhesive tape that had been stuck in her nose for a full 35 years.
Candela doesn't remember how this piece of tape got into her nose. However, when she spoke with her mother, the possibility arose that it might have been left over from a nasal tube that was placed during a respiratory distress episode shortly after her birth.
With 105,000 Instagram followers, Candela had become so accustomed to her breathing issues that she never even considered it a health problem:
"Since I was born, it has been very difficult to breathe through my nose. Almost no air passed through the right side. I always had to breathe through my mouth while exercising or sleeping. I didn't think much of it since it had been like this since I was little."
A year ago, after suffering from severe sinusitis, Candela couldn't get a tomography done, so the source of the problem remained unknown. However, when the pain returned a month ago, she went to the doctor and this time had a tomography.
The report indicated that there was a calcified foreign object in her nose. When the doctor looked with an endoscope, he clearly saw the blockage.
After about an hour of effort, the doctor managed to remove the object from Candela's nose. Everyone froze when they saw what came out: a folded and rolled piece of adhesive tape.
Candela described the moment the tape was removed with astonishment:
"I couldn't believe it. I finally learned why I couldn't breathe throughout my life. As soon as it was removed, my breathing changed. There is still a bit of swelling, but I am breathing better every day."
Her story became a hot topic on social media
Candela's post quickly spread on social media, and messages of support came from all over the world.
"I was surprised to see that so many people have similar issues to mine. Sometimes, a person considers a symptom they have lived with for years as 'normal.' If my story encourages someone to see a doctor, I would be very happy." she said.