Alternate Nostril blocking

cold turkey, saline only rhino rinse.

alancalan wrote:Get the Neil-Med Sinus irrigation kit at the drugstore and do it! There are many other kits and devices but this one is about $12 for a great bottle and 100 packets to mix with filtered or distilled water.

I have been using this Neil-Med Sinus kit for about 4 months now. My ENT suggested it early on when I started having nasal problems from CPAP. I normally use it each night before I go to bed. Since things have gotten worse I have been using it multiple times a day hoping it will help. (I do find the refill packs a bit on the expensive side)

twb119 wrote:I have had a deviated septum for over 10 years...The ENT docs said that the deviated septum caused increase airflow in the good side causes irritation and makes the turbinate to swell and stop airflow

My ENT said I had a very slight deviated septum. He said it was "good enough for government work" and would not require straitening.

jskinner wrote:

twb119 wrote:I have had a deviated septum for over 10 years...The ENT docs said that the deviated septum caused increase airflow in the good side causes irritation and makes the turbinate to swell and stop airflow

My ENT said I had a very slight deviated septum. He said it was "good enough for government work" and would not require straitening.

And we all know how well Government works. Jim

If you can't get enough air, stuff 20,000 more units in it, that will fix it. Jim

Sorry, as a Viet Nam Vet, I couldn't resist. We are lucky HO! didn't have the Oil.

jskinner wrote:
I have been using this Neil-Med Sinus kit for about 4 months now. My ENT suggested it early on when I started having nasal problems from CPAP. I normally use it each night before I go to bed. Since things have gotten worse I have been using it multiple times a day hoping it will help. (I do find the refill packs a bit on the expensive side)

_________________

Make your own mix! It's just coarse salt and baking soda. I have a two quart bottle of filtered water and to it I add 4 teaspoons of Kosher salt and 2 teaspoons of baking soda. I keep it in the fridge and when I use it, I put 8 oz in a glass measuring cup, stick that in the microwave for about 60 seconds (remember it's cold water from the refrigerator), pour it into the Neil-Med and bingo, squeeze away.

I have actually been using 4 heaping teaspoons but that is much too strong for me. However, if I get a sinus cold, I might increase back up to that amount. You have to play with that recipe depending on how you feel. Save the packets for traveling and when you wake up in the middle of the night stuffed and you have no mixture left.

jskinner:
I don't recall whether or not you have tried a nasal pillow system... I've found that a nasal pillow system (Breeze, CL2, Opus) helps with airflow when I'm congested.

Further, have you considered putting some hepa quality filtering material in the air intake port of your flow generator? For me, the combination of hepa filtered air, heated humidification, heated hose and nasal pillows has made a HUGE difference.

If I lay down on my bed WITHOUT equipment attached, I get stuffed up in about a minute no matter how well vacuumed my bedroom is (including the mattress) and how fresh the sheets. If I put the APAP on, (I pre-warm the water in the humidifier and pre-warm the heated hose) I do not get congested at all.

jskinner wrote: I understand its normal for nostril breathing to alternate during the night (I read this somewhere but can't find reference to it now.)

I found an article mentioning this night time alternate blocking
http://www.ent-consult.com/turbinatesurgery.html

jskinner wrote:
I found an article mentioning this night time alternate blocking
http://www.ent-consult.com/turbinatesurgery.html

James, this is the same doctor who sells (or, at least, did in the past) a "Grossnan Nasal Irrigation Tip" which can be used with a water pik. I believe he also sells a complete "system" which includes a water pik equivalent. My ENT gave me one of these tips years ago, but, unfortunately, I have not used it consistently.

With respect to the store bought saline solutions, you can also make your own. The formula I use is 8 oz. warm water, 1/2 tsp Kosher salt, and a pinch (whatever that is) of baking soda. It's much, much cheaper than anything you can buy and works just as well.

Jskinner- Thanks for that link. It was an interesting article. It discusses the dangers of using Benzalkonium as a preservative. While the Neilmed is preservative free, the OCEAN spray that I keep at my bedside is not. It contains Benzalkonium chloride as a preservative. I think I will find a replacement!
Thanks again,
Barb