Another question about irrigation techniques

Question:

Ok, do what your dr. said, and buy ONE bottle of Ocean Normal Saline Spray. Better yet, buy the generic which will be on the shelf in the store near the Ocean spray. Pour it out. Make your own normal saline and put it int he bottle. Change daily. 1 cup water with 1/3 tsp salt and pinch of baking soda. Wash bottle well when you change the solution. Use a million times a day ( you can’t overdo it.) You can also add glycerine to the solution to help increase its moisturising ability. And aloe vera has healing and antibacterial properties. Keep the gel in the frig. Roz

Response:

In article <871v2f$bpt…@newssvr03-int.news.prodigy.com>, MBIL…@prodigy.net says… > I don’t get the real bad headaches or stuffy nose. I get miserable sore > throats with coughing and yellowish mucous in the morning. My nose and > sinuses are a bit sore and I know that the problems are definitely due to a > sinus infection (my doctor can see the tracks in my throat where the sinuses > are draining). Would an irrigation still be advisable??

IMHO, absolutely yes > 1) It seems like 1/2 teaspoon of salt in about 20 ounces of water, boiled > and then allowed to cool, is the way to do it??

1 tsp/pint. I don’t bother with boiling the water, been doing this for many, many years and believe me, infection from the water is the last thing you have to worry about, assuming you have decent city tap water, (get well water tested) if not, buy distilled by the gallon at grocery store for $0.99 Either way, barely warm water is best for comfort. DO WASH your irrigation equipment thoroughly and let air dry. After 16 years of chronic pan-sinusitis (and no, irrigation did not cure me, but always helped tremendously during acute attacks) and now 2 yrs after FESS, I still irrigate 1x day in evening and I’ve had only one infection (after the few immediately post surgery) and even that one went away with diligent 2-3x day irrigation with saline/alkalol mix. I use a largish squeeze bottle (much like using ear syringe, just bigger opening) that fits my nostril perfectly (no pinching needed). Lean over sink and gently squeeze/pulse, first letting the flow come out of back of mouth (pinching opposite nostril) and next letting it flow out of the other nostril, blowing the water out VERY gently occasionally to help it along, seems to help dislodge more mucous, then switch sides. (don’t blow your nose just after irrigation, as you might blow left over liquid up into eustation tubes and inner ear. ouch) It also helps to bend your head over as much as possible to get the liquid into the upper reaches of sinus cavity and rinse the ostia that empty from the ethmoids and sphenoids. The irrigator tips for Waterpic are probably easier and pulsing does make sense, as I do know that pulsing my bottle and gently blowing as the water flows works better that just letting it run through. Need a little jiggling up there to shake things loose. Best regards, Thom — Please delete the "sp_m" if you’d like to reply directly

Response:

OK — I read your responses to my question. I may try irrigation, but, here’s my problem: I don’t get the real bad headaches or stuffy nose. I get miserable sore throats with coughing and yellowish mucous in the morning. My nose and sinuses are a bit sore and I know that the problems are definitely due to a sinus infection (my doctor can see the tracks in my throat where the sinuses are draining). Would an irrigation still be advisable?? And, more importantly, if I do irrigate: 1) It seems like 1/2 teaspoon of salt in about 20 ounces of water, boiled and then allowed to cool, is the way to do it?? 2) But, how much of it do I use? How do I actually use it?? Can someone PLEASE provide the details? Mel

Response:

Hi Melvin, I’ll tell you my experience. I’ve always used the baby bulb. I take 1 cup of filtered water that I warm ever so slightly in the micro, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and a pinch of baking soda (as a buffer–you need this!). Then I fill up the bulb and with a gentle squishing motion work on one nostril at a time. If I’m doing the right side, I lean over the sink on my left and so on. BUT, my ENT now says for me to just use Ocean a lot during the day. I’d also ask you ENT if you should irrigate considering you condition. Are you on antibiotics? Take care and keep us posted! SuzyQ "Melvin Billik" <MBIL…@prodigy.net> wrote in message

news:871v2f$bpt2$1@newssvr03-int.news.prodigy.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> OK — I read your responses to my question. > I may try irrigation, but, here’s my problem: > I don’t get the real bad headaches or stuffy nose. I get miserable sore > throats with coughing and yellowish mucous in the morning. My nose and > sinuses are a bit sore and I know that the problems are definitely due to a > sinus infection (my doctor can see the tracks in my throat where the sinuses > are draining). Would an irrigation still be advisable?? > And, more importantly, if I do irrigate: > 1) It seems like 1/2 teaspoon of salt in about 20 ounces of water, boiled > and then allowed to cool, is the way to do it?? > 2) But, how much of it do I use? How do I actually use it?? Can someone > PLEASE provide the details? > Mel

Response:

On Sun, 30 Jan 2000 17:05:07 -0000, "PookyBob" <smor…@bellsouth.net> wrote: >I’ll tell you my experience. I’ve always used the baby bulb. I take 1 cup of…

You really should do the Murray. I also started out using a baby bulb, also called an ear syringe. Then I moved on to a neti pot, which is a device just for the sinuses that looks like a small watering pot and worked better than the ear syringe. Then I moved on to a Water Pik plus Grossan Irrigator which worked better than the neti pot. The Water Pik/Grossan Irrigator simply does a better job in clearing out mucus, infectious agents, and allergens. This is due to the fact that the stream of saline is regulated, which makes it much easier to deliver more saline through the sinuses. The saline stream also pulsates, which improves the cleansing action and is also thought to promote the healthy functioning of the cilia, which are part of the sinus’ natural defenses. I was skeptical at first about the Murray. I hadn’t read about it, and my ENT hadn’t recommended it. When I started participating in this newsgroup, I noticed Dr. Grossan promoting his device heavily and a legion of sinus patients extolling its virtues. I wondered naturally whether this was because of Dr. Grossan’s presence or because it works. It works. I’ve now read a lot of clinical material about it. And in my own experience, it simply leaves me feeling more cleared out, which is a very good thing. It’s not necessarily a cure, but it can be an effective tool in managing your sinusitis.

Response:

On Sun, 30 Jan 2000 13:14:19 -0500, "Melvin Billik" <MBIL…@prodigy.net> wrote: >2) But, how much of it do I use? How do I actually use it?? Can someone >PLEASE provide the details?

Read this Web site: http://www.ent-consult.com

Response:

Dear Suzy Ask your doctor about the benzalkonium and other additives in the spray preparation you are using. Murray Grossan, M.D. http://www.ent-consult.com Murray Grossan, M.D. http://www.ent-consult.com

Response:

In article <871v2f$bpt…@newssvr03-int.news.prodigy.com>, "Melvin Billik" <MBIL…@prodigy.net> wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> OK — I read your responses to my question. > I may try irrigation, but, here’s my problem: > I don’t get the real bad headaches or stuffy nose. I get miserable sore > throats with coughing and yellowish mucous in the morning. My nose and > sinuses are a bit sore and I know that the problems are definitely due to a > sinus infection (my doctor can see the tracks in my throat where the sinuses > are draining). Would an irrigation still be advisable?? > And, more importantly, if I do irrigate: > 1) It seems like 1/2 teaspoon of salt in about 20 ounces of water, boiled > and then allowed to cool, is the way to do it?? > 2) But, how much of it do I use? How do I actually use it?? Can someone > PLEASE provide the details?

I sent you a whole bunch of info by private e-mail. 2 cups water with 1 tsp salt & a pinch of baking soda. ANd use it all!!! And say thanks by return email when someone takes the time and effort to try and help you! Show some manners! Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

Response:

Filed under: Acute sinusitis

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