I use the NeilMed bottle. I really LOVE it. When I'm stuffed, I sometimes do it more than once. One side may get blocked or relief, depends. I use warm tap water. I use it every day. Several times a day when stuffed. I really LOVE it.
Post by goaskalice on Jan 25, 2013 20:00:48 GMT -5
I love the squeeze bottle! It's my secret weapon. I've found that I get some immediate relief but a few hours later it's magically clear. I 100% use filtered water.
Post by orangeblossom on Jan 25, 2013 20:06:51 GMT -5
What others have said. If you're really blocked it may not work well right away. I prefer the bottle to the pot. I do use distilled water. I also warm it in the microwave a bit to take the chill off the water.
I microwaved Brita water but it wasn't really warm persay. Probably should have warmed it a little more.
I'm going to try it again on the bad side in a bit. I think it helped some, but it's just running and running and the constant wiping is really staring to hurt.
I may or may not have just balled up tissue and stuck it in my nose. No dripping!
You do not want to warm it up too much. Trust. 20 seconds at the most, and even that can be a little warm. Spare yourself and learn from my mistakes.
I live the Neti pot! I add 3-4 drops of apple cider vinegar and it seems to help prevent sinus issues if I feel one coming on. I really should boil the water, but usually just use warm tap water when I'm in the shower (the steam helps too!)
Post by urbancowgirl on Jan 25, 2013 20:26:07 GMT -5
Definitely use warm distilled or boiled water. If I'm really congested, I'll do an entire bottle for each nostril. Did you blow your nose immediately after you used it?
The NeilMed bottle is far superior to the NetiPot; sometimes you need the force, and I feel like it really gets the gunk out better.
It won't be instant relief, and depending on swelling in your nasal passages it may work better on one side or the other. You can kind of help this out sometimes by laying down on your side and letting things flop/ooze to the other side and then rinsing again. After I had sinus surgery my ENT said I could do a sinus rinse as often as I wanted since it isn't harmful.
Depending on how congested I am, sometimes it works immediately. If I'm really sick, I use it a couple times a day. I usually microwave some britta water. I hope that's ok.
Post by LoveTrains on Jan 25, 2013 20:48:34 GMT -5
I love the netipot. I got one last year after someone suggested it when my seasonal allergies were going crazy and my sinuses were all inflamed.
It has made a huge difference to me. You really, really, really need to use distilled water. Or you need to boil water and then wait for it to cool. It is not good to use just tap water.
I will eat all kinds of crazy stuff, but I am not messing with brain eating amoebas or any of that other nasty stuff you can get from using tap water in a neti pot.
I have to use the neti pot several times a day and then it takes a few days to really work. But the relief is amazing.
Post by phunluvin82 on Jan 26, 2013 1:22:25 GMT -5
Where do you live? That Naegleria fowleri amoeba is, I *think* only really found in certain parts of the south.
Still, it's basically always deadly...I think only one person is ever known to have contracted it and survived...so not sure I'd mess with that, no matter how slim the odds!
I use distilled water. Also, I triple the amount the packets of stuff when I am congeted. The extra salt will shrik back the passages, letting everything flow out. If I'm congested, I don't get immediate relief. But a few hours later it will drain out. Keep doing it. I do it as soon as I get in the shower. By the time I get out I am ready to blow everything out of my nose. Even if you don't think it's getting into your clogged side, it is. After a few tries, it will come out. I use the Salt-aire sinus rinse. It's like a flushing toilet. lol. I prefer the power of the bottle. PS. I also add either hydrogen peroxide or apple cider vinegar to kill whatever is in my sinuses.
The bottle is soo much better than the pot. When you run out of the tiny packets - go to Whole Foods, they sell little bags of the salt for like $2. I also have these Neti-Pot drops (Neti-Wash Plus by Himalayan Institute) to help moisturize your nasal passages (I'm prone to bloody noses).
I use microwaved filtered water. I used warm tap water until I heard a segment on NPR about brain eating ameobas. That was enough to make me revery back to filtered water.
I use distilled water. Also, I triple the amount the packets of stuff when I am congeted. The extra salt will shrik back the passages, letting everything flow out. If I'm congested, I don't get immediate relief. But a few hours later it will drain out. Keep doing it. I do it as soon as I get in the shower. By the time I get out I am ready to blow everything out of my nose. Even if you don't think it's getting into your clogged side, it is. After a few tries, it will come out. I use the Salt-aire sinus rinse. It's like a flushing toilet. lol. I prefer the power of the bottle. PS. I also add either hydrogen peroxide or apple cider vinegar to kill whatever is in my sinuses.
I see you and another poster use ACV when doing your sinus rinse. Doesn't it sting or is it so diluted from the water, it doesn't really bother you?
Post by orangeblossom on Jan 26, 2013 8:13:30 GMT -5
I just follow the instructions that came with the bottle. I add a little bit of dishwashing detergent in the bottle, add water and put in the microwave for up to two minutes. I put mine in a plastic container, just because it can overflow and I can put all of the parts disassembled in there at once. I take it out with potholders, as it's really hot and rinse it out until the water runs clear.
Pharmacist here - i use the bottle. I have used tap water, but now I don't think it is worth even the exceedingly small risk. Afrin for more than 3 days is no good. Rhinitis medicamentosa - my favorite term from school.
I use the bottle, then once it has cleared out some gunk I use afrin. The afrin works so much better when it can actually get in there.
I tend to get ear infections. I get fewer of them since I started doing sinus rinse. I try to be very careful about not blowing my nose too hard which can force snot into my ears. Sinus rinse is also more successful for me when I start it as the cold is just coming on.