What do you do for a miserable sinus infection?

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Sinus Trouble

Sinus Trouble

I have been a user of the NeilMed Sinus Rinse for the last 3 years. I typically use it daily in the evening. My Sinus problems usually start in early Spring (September) and last through to Christmas. This is the only time of the year I ever get sick, a runny nose after about 3 weeks turns into a post nasal drip and then a sinus infection. Using the rinse in the evening appears to greatly reduce the volume of the following day's post nasal drip. I also use a OTC allergy tablet and a prescription nose spray, Nasonex. Even with all this I have managed a sinus infection 2 out of the last three Spring's. :( One thing I am curious about is allergy trouble in Autumn. :confused: Autumn is certainly not allergy season in Australia. :)
 
It didn't come with a Neti Pot (which looks like a cute little tea post) but a squeeze bottle. It was really easy.
 
Feeling much better now; RX working!

Feeling much better now; RX working!

Also, I went to the pharmacy section of a big store in town and the only thing along the lines of a saline sinus product that they had (besides a little store brand saline spray bottle) was the NeilMed Sinus Rinse in a box. So I bought it. I haven't used it yet; thought I'd wait until I'm off this RX spray and antibiotic and also I will watch the videos first. (Ew-w-w-w-w:eek: !)

When I get to one of the larger drug stores, I'm going to look for the other things mentioned here.

Thanks for the very helpful posts, one and all!
 
Nasal Saline Recipe
The recipe for the salt water and baking soda mixture…
1.Carefully clean a 1-quart glass jar. Rinse well.
2.Fill the clean jar with tap water or bottled water. You do not need to boil the water.
3. Add 2 to 3 heaping teaspoons of pickling or canning salt. Do not use table salt. Table salt has additives you don’t want in your nose rinse. Pickling salt is available at the grocery store.
4.Add 1 rounded teaspoon of baking soda (pure bicarbonate).
5.Stir or shake before each use.
6.Store at room temperature.
7.After a week, pour out any mixture that is left and make a new batch.
NOTE: If the mixture seems too strong, use the same amount of baking soda but less salt; try 1 ½ to 2 teaspoons of salt. For children, start with the smaller amount of salt. Gradually increase to 2 to 3 teaspoons of salt, or whatever your child will accept.
How to rinse the nose…
*Make the salt water and baking soda mixture according to the recipe on the front of this sheet.
*Rinse your nose 2 to 3 times a day. You can never “over do it”.
*You may wish to use a bulb or ear syringe, a large medical syringe (30 cc), or a Water Pik. The Water Pik can be fit with a commercially available nasal adapter. Various other devices such as a “Rhinoflow” exist and can be equally effective. To learn more about them visit www.zeta.org, www.respironics.com, www.rhinoflow.com, or www.sinucleanse.com .
Instructions
1. Pour some of the mixture into a clean bowl. Many people like to warm it to about body temperature in a microwave oven. Be sure it is not hot.
2. Fill the syringe or Water Pik with the mixture from the bowl. Do not put your used syringe into the jar with your mixture because it will contaminate your weekly supply.
3.Stand over the sink or in the shower. Squirt the mixture into each side of your nose. Aim
the stream toward the back of your head, not the top of your head. This lets you spit out some of the salt water. . Most patients find a blue baby bulb syringe available at the local drug stores works well. Using this the patient literally irrigates the nasal passages in the shower. The patient should lean the head forward and vocalize while generously washing out the nose. The salt water just runs out both the nose and mouth. Swallowing some will not hurt you.
NOTE: Most people notice a mild burning feeling the first few times they use the mixture. This feeling usually goes away after a few days use. Warming the solution “nasal hyperthermia” may be of extra benefit.
For young children
*You can put the mixture in a small spray container, like a saline spray or nasal steroid spray bottle.
*Squirt into each side of the nose several times.
*Do not force your child to lie down. Rinsing the nose is easier when sitting or standing.
If you use a nasal steroid spray such as Flonase, Vancenase, Beconase or Nasacort
*Always use the salt-water mixture first, then use your nasal steroid spray. The steroid reaches deeper into the nose and sinuses when it is sprayed onto clean, decongested nasal tissues. Always aim your steroids up and out, actually pointing them towards the top of the same side ear.

http://www.midwestsinus.com/treatment_options/nasal_saline_recipe
 
Susan BAV said:
NeilMed Sinus Rinse in a box. So I bought it. I haven't used it yet; thought I'd wait until I'm off this RX spray and antibiotic and also I will watch the videos first. (Ew-w-w-w-w:eek: !)

The first time is an......experience. :rolleyes: Not a sensation one is used to, nor something you want to do in front of a loved one.;) But it's not painful or uncomfortable. I think you decision to wait until after the Rx stuff is a good idea. You don't want to flush anything out that's supposed to stay in there.

Ross, thanks for the recipe. I read that regular table salt is iodized and that can be irritating to sinus tissues.
 
Lynlw said:
marky said:
Karlynn said:
After reading the posts here about rinsing out the sinuses, I went and bought, for $10 at a local drug store, a NeilMed Sinus Rinse kit.

The NeilMed Sinus Rinse Kit works GREAT!

My ENT gives out sample kits to his patients.

And it is NON-Irritating, a Real PLUS!

Most Pharmacies should carry them.

'AL Capshaw'
 
Ross said:
Nasal Saline Recipe
The recipe for the salt water and baking soda mixture…
1.Carefully clean a 1-quart glass jar. Rinse well.
2.Fill the clean jar with tap water or bottled water. You do not need to boil the water.
3. Add 2 to 3 heaping teaspoons of pickling or canning salt. Do not use table salt. Table salt has additives you don’t want in your nose rinse. Pickling salt is available at the grocery store.
4.Add 1 rounded teaspoon of baking soda (pure bicarbonate).
5.Stir or shake before each use.
6.Store at room temperature.
7.After a week, pour out any mixture that is left and make a new batch.
NOTE: If the mixture seems too strong, use the same amount of baking soda but less salt; try 1 ½ to 2 teaspoons of salt. For children, start with the smaller amount of salt. Gradually increase to 2 to 3 teaspoons of salt, or whatever your child will accept.
How to rinse the nose…
*Make the salt water and baking soda mixture according to the recipe on the front of this sheet.
*Rinse your nose 2 to 3 times a day. You can never “over do it”.
*You may wish to use a bulb or ear syringe, a large medical syringe (30 cc), or a Water Pik. The Water Pik can be fit with a commercially available nasal adapter. Various other devices such as a “Rhinoflow” exist and can be equally effective. To learn more about them visit www.zeta.org, www.respironics.com, www.rhinoflow.com, or www.sinucleanse.com .
Instructions
1. Pour some of the mixture into a clean bowl. Many people like to warm it to about body temperature in a microwave oven. Be sure it is not hot.
2. Fill the syringe or Water Pik with the mixture from the bowl. Do not put your used syringe into the jar with your mixture because it will contaminate your weekly supply.
3.Stand over the sink or in the shower. Squirt the mixture into each side of your nose. Aim
the stream toward the back of your head, not the top of your head. This lets you spit out some of the salt water. . Most patients find a blue baby bulb syringe available at the local drug stores works well. Using this the patient literally irrigates the nasal passages in the shower. The patient should lean the head forward and vocalize while generously washing out the nose. The salt water just runs out both the nose and mouth. Swallowing some will not hurt you.
NOTE: Most people notice a mild burning feeling the first few times they use the mixture. This feeling usually goes away after a few days use. Warming the solution “nasal hyperthermia” may be of extra benefit.
For young children
*You can put the mixture in a small spray container, like a saline spray or nasal steroid spray bottle.
*Squirt into each side of the nose several times.
*Do not force your child to lie down. Rinsing the nose is easier when sitting or standing.
If you use a nasal steroid spray such as Flonase, Vancenase, Beconase or Nasacort
*Always use the salt-water mixture first, then use your nasal steroid spray. The steroid reaches deeper into the nose and sinuses when it is sprayed onto clean, decongested nasal tissues. Always aim your steroids up and out, actually pointing them towards the top of the same side ear.

http://www.midwestsinus.com/treatment_options/nasal_saline_recipe

Buy a NeilMed Sinus Rinse Kit and save yourself all the hastle. It's CHEAP and Works Well.

I use 1 cup of Distilled Water, Warmed in a Microwave for 20 or 30 seconds. (COLD water is 'uncomfortable'.)

'AL Capshaw'
 
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Ross said:
...*Always use the salt-water mixture first, then use your nasal steroid spray. The steroid reaches deeper into the nose and sinuses when it is sprayed onto clean, decongested nasal tissues. Always aim your steroids up and out, actually pointing them towards the top of the same side ear.

http://www.midwestsinus.com/treatment_options/nasal_saline_recipe
Excellent! Thanks Ross!

I was thinking I'd wait to use the NeilMed kit but apparently no.

When I was first given the Flonase many years ago, I went to the public library and read about the risks and warnings in a book about various RX; one warning said that the steroids, improperly directed, could permanently damage/destroy the cartilage between the nostrils.

I know a young man who had such a bad sinus infection several years ago that the cartilage was all destroyed and he had to get his nose rebuilt by a plastic surgeon; but I wonder if the damage could also have been related to improper use of steroid sprays.

Thanks again, Al and everyone, for the very helpful posts.
 
I guess if your antibiotic isn't a nasal ointment and an oral one. (I had a spray antibiotic one time for a nasty infection, as well as an oral.)

I did read somewhere (might have been the ads for the $100 electric nasal irrigator) that they were good to use prior to nasal sprays.

Now I'm off to go use mine. I didn't prior to church today. It was a big music Sunday, I was doing a lot of singing, and didn't want left over stuff dripping out in the middle of a song!:D
 
One more hint from my ENT -

BREATHE through your Mouth while squirting the Nasal Rinse. This prevents the rinse from going down your throat or into your lungs.

It's also a good idea to lean over a sink to avoid having the rinse go all over the place.

'AL Capshaw'
 
ALCapshaw2 said:
It's also a good idea to lean over a sink to avoid having the rinse go all over the place.

Shoot, I was just thinking it would be a good way to multi-task. Nasal rinse and shower at the same time!;)
 
Round two :eek: .

We had more big desert winds last week and I swept up some more of the ash and soot that blew in from the October wildfire debris and I'm sick again. I just got back from the doctor's office with another massive sinus infection that has gone down into a bronchitis. I'm one miserable puppy again. And oh how my face is hurting. What little sleep I've gotten over the past two nights has been in a recliner. Whimper.

I'm back on ten more days of oral antibiotics, two chest inhalers, and a sinus decongestant :( .

Well, I'm going to drag my weary self back into the kitchen and drink some more water now.

But I also wanted to remind anyone who may ever read this thread about sinus infections to be sure and wash your pillows and get new toothbrushes after your illness.

Take care.
 
Good timing! Lyn and I have been battling this since before Christmas and it just doesn't want to let go. Blown my nose so much and coughed so much that I feel like I'm going to disintegrate on the very next one.
 
My endodontist does bone grafts to allow pins to be placed in the upper jaw to permanently attach replacement teeth. This is accomplished by something called a "sinus lift," where the interiors of the sinuses are actually lifted up, and bone grafted under them. He tells me that many people with chronic sinus problems claim relief after the procedure.

I have no idea whether that is an accurate assessment of results or if the procedure is available for other purposes than tooth anchoring.

Best wishes,
 
Bob, that description is painful to even read!

My face hurts so badly right now, I feel like I have pins in there already :eek: .
 
Hi
I was plagued with horrible sinus problems in my twenties until I did three things--absolutely NO milk products during any kind of viral or bacterial issue (usually 2 wks, no cheese, yogurt, na-da!) , it causes the mucous to harden and become more tenatious....and vamp up the clear liquids big time. If taking an expectorant, really hit the clear liquids hard after taking-it will aide in the loosening of the culprit and aide in the drainage. Also, never blow your nose or sneeze with your mouth closed. Only gentle blowing. I apologize so much if these have been mentioned already-didn't get a chance to read or post much anymore.

Good luck!
 
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Susan, I went to him to have that done today. Ironically, he has postponed it because the CAT scan shows I have a chronic sinus infection, of which I was unaware...

Best wishes,
 
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