Anybody else use a nettie pot, or saline for sinuses?

I used to use one a lot for my allergies, but lately I use a prescription nasal spray. Clears up all my symptoms with none of the side effects and loopy feeling from antihistamines.

One word of caution about the netie pot from my wife the RN (she used to work in an ear/nose/throat specialty hospital). Make sure to use sterile water - either boiled or distilled - in the pot. If you dont you can actually give yourself a bad sinus infection from using it. There where a couple of high profile cases in Louisiana ~ 5 years ago of people who died when some rare bacteria in contaminated tap water got into their brain from using a neti. (more an issue of water quality than the pot, but still reason to be cautios)

 

I use Alkalol..... Works well.

 

I also prefer using Alcohol!!

 

Good point. I always use distilled water. Also, it feels better if you warm it slightly on the stove. Cold water will work, but it isn't very pleasant!

 

If you're not sure, how about trying the pot in the microwave at 10 second runs to see if the plastic does anything, you know, melty...

 

I take guaifenesin in the Spring and Fall when historically my sinuses had become breeding grounds for bacteria and led to bacterial infections and subsequent pneumonia.

I'll also add pseudoephedrine to the mix as needed but that hasn't been very often.

 

Another thing to prevent problems is don't use it if you are already blocked and can't breathe through both of ur blow holes. If you are clogged up you could trap water in ur noggin and create a stock pot for nasties to stew away in and u don't need that.

 

Find a cup that holds twice as much as your netti. Then fill it with water and microwave for 45 seconds. Then you have enough warm water to fill netti twice, once for each nostril. Use a packet of sinus wash for each side. You will be amazed at how much less you get sick. Germs and viruses get flushed out of your head before they can turn into infection.

 

Well, thanks a lot! I read this thread last night and woke up this morning with the stuffles! Little early for this crap already...
Might hafta use the netti tonight, sometimes it helps me, sometimes it doesn't. I was wondering about those new power washers ^ ^ ^