<p>OK- so I’ve had an irksome summer cold since last week. Its now settled into my sinuses (without being too graphic or gross, I don’t think its a sinus infection based on… well color and viscosity, if thats good enough). I am considering trying a neti pot or some other sinus flush thing, but the thought of it strikes me as kinda gross. Anyone use them? Likes? Dislikes? Recommendations? How long does the cleansed sinus stay cleansed? How often do you have to use it? Is it gross?</p>
<p>Right now I am just treating the symptoms with cold medicine (and thanks to those of you on the “good deal of the day” thread for telling me about the 75% off sale at CVS. I stocked up on cold meds!</p>
<p>Me. I love it. Yes, it takes a little getting used to but is so worth it. I only use it when I can feel stuffiness coming on, not all the time. One great thing a PA told me is to use it at night, lie with my head off the side of the bed and then use my prescription nasal spray. letting gravity send the meds into the upper nasal cavity, rather than sniffing the meds up, which causes some to go into the back of the throat. Really works for allergies, not sure about colds.</p>
<p>I used the NeilMed sinus irrigation. It comes with a 240ml nasal irrigation bottle and 50 pre-mixed packs. There is a demo on their web-site; which shows how to use the irrigator. You can find the starter kit at most pharmacies.</p>
<p>I use it when I have a cold, and find it very helpful and soothing. Do not use the saline solution full strength when you first start using a neti pot. The solution will sting your nostrils if you use it full strength.</p>
<p>A neti pot was also a better solution to congestion than what my doctor had suggested: Sticking my nose into a cup of warm, salty water, and then snorting. I thought I’d drown!</p>
<p>I bought one when I was going through allergy/sinus hell this winter, at the recommendation of posters on this site. </p>
<p>I never got up the courage to use it, though. I’ve always hated the feeling of water going up my nose (like when you jump into a pool or lake), so I couldn’t bring myself to do it.</p>
<p>I’ve used a traditional (porcelain) neti pot for several years. (I also have a plastic one for travel.) I have allergies and used to get at least one bad sinus infection every winter; I no longer do. I’ve also been able to quit using my nasal steroids. I use it every morning and again at night if I’m out a lot and the pollen count is high, or I feel a cold coming on. For me, skipping it wold feel like not brushing my teeth. It does take some getting used to; at first it feels a little like when a wave catches you by surprise at the beach (saltwater up your nose). There are how to videos on YouTube.</p>
<p>I use a cheap plastic one that my wife bought, and it works just fine. I use it anywhere from once a week to twice a day, depending on how I feel. I’ve been using it all year, but I use it more now that I’ve been prescribed a CPAP machine for sleep apnea; it makes it easier to breathe through my nose when the machine is on.</p>
<p>I use lukewarm tap water with a little salt and baking soda mixed in to make it isotonic, otherwise it burns going in. If I think I’ve got a cold or sinus infection, I also mix in a capful or so of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. (Careful with this; if you overdo it, it will burn like nuts.)</p>
<p>I started using hydrogen peroxide because my wife started complaining that my sneezes smelled awful, and the idea of something funky growing in my head sickened me. A quick Web search turned up hundreds of people complaining about the same thing and no clear explanations, so I figured I would just put some H2O2 in my neti pot to kill whatever might be growing in there.</p>
<p>That last paragraph turns my stomach, too. Sorry.</p>
<p>Strangely, the water typically goes in one nostril and flow back out the other with no problem, but going into the other nostril, it usually just fills up and stays there. My wife thinks this could be a sign of a nasal polyp. If anyone knows anything about this, I’d appreciate your insight.</p>
<p>My daughter uses the NeilMed sinus rinse system which is essentially the same as neti pot, but is a plastic squeezable bottle which she fills with water and one packet of the NeilMed solution. She was born with cleft lip and palate and has stuggled with sinus issues her entire life. She is on prescription allergy meds and prescription nasal spray which she uses twice per day, and still had sinus infections several times each year. I read about the neti pot/ Neil Med system here on CC in the musical theater section (she is an MT major in college) and decided it might be worth a try. It has literally changed her life! She uses it twice a day, followed by the prescription nasal spray (morning and night) and if she feels any type of congestion, like she might be coming down with a cold, or her allergies are seeming out of control, she uses it even more often. She also uses it when she flies, as soon as she gets off the plane she heads to a ladies room to use it to wash out any germs from the plane ride. And believe it or not, she has not had a sinus infection for over a year! That is a MAJOR difference which we never had from ANY of the many other things she tried. Personally I can’t imagine squirting water up my nose, but she says once she got used to it, she can’t imagine NOT using it!</p>
<p>Several of my sister swear by the Netipot. One of them has 3 children, and they all use it. I’ve looked into it, but it scares and repulses me. I will have to bring myself to try it one of these days. I do notice that whenever I travel, by train or plane, I feel under the weather the next day. Maybe this would help?</p>
<p>Use real sea salt instead of regular table salt. I worked with a management team from a salt company once and, oh my goodness, the things they do to make table salt is disgusting. They use dreadful chemicals to precipitate out all the elemental minerals (that we actually need) that come along with salt. Look at the ingredients for regular table salt. It is not just salt. If you use sea salt, just sea salt, you will not have to add baking soda or anything else to adjust it.</p>
<p>It takes some practice, but it is really not like waterboarding yourself!</p>
<p>We have varying levels of issues in this house, but three of four of us have had sinus infections regularly. Since we started using the neti pot years ago, maybe one between the three of us.</p>
<p>manitori, you should have that looked at. Sounds like something sttuctural, perhaps a deviated septum. Dh a few years ago had sinus surgery; it made a worlds of difference in his like, and mine. Ds will have surgery to correct a deviated septum next summer (too close to his leaving for freshman year of college now; doc said he’s a candidate but no rush). An ENT can diagnose a deviated septum in the office with no X-rays or MRI.</p>
<p>I was also reluctant to use a neti pot but now I am a believer. I thought it would be painful- it is not. I thought it would be at least yukky- but it really isn’t. Just make sure the water is warm.</p>
<p>Can’t even tell you how good it feels after using it. I don’t think it’s gross. Just a tad messy sometimes. You will be amazed at what you are able to blow out of your nose afterward. So keep a good stock of tissues nearby!</p>
<p>OK-- my DH gave me a sort of giant eyedropper thing and some warm salty water. Figured I’d try that. Not sure if I did it right… but at least I gave it a whirl. Wasn’t as grim as I thought it’d be, and for right now I can breathe without feeling congested, and my sinuses feel a little better (though I still have a HA). I’ll see how long it lasts (the clear sinuses that is). Thanks!! </p>
<p>Can someone describe (not too graphically please) exactly how the neti pot works? Do you pour the liquid into one nostril and it comes out the other? How do you hold your head when doing this?</p>
<p>I love the neti pot. Always use the little packet, make sure the water is body temperature, lean over the sink, keep your mouth open, and mentally sing, “I’m a little teapot.” Use lots of tissues for the blowing afterwards.</p>
<p>The first day I would use it every 2-3 hours. It makes a big difference.</p>
<p>jym, lean forward over the sink and then tip your whole head to one side. Pretend you’re a cute dog commercial. You place the spout in the top nostril and pour it in. It comes out the other side. See the above recommendations for the song…</p>
<p>If you search for “Himalayan Institute Neti Pot Demo” on YouTube you can see how it works. I have their pots, ordered from Amazon. I prefer the neti to some of the other irrigators which use pressure. With the neti you just pour the water through; it’s very gentle.</p>
<p>Thanks, MaryTN for the info and 1moremom for the link. I watched the video. Gotta admit its a little weird. I tried to be creative with a small measuring cup. Fail.</p>
Use lots of tissues for the blowing afterwards.</p>