Mask Woes

It feels strange but it is really quick. I think this system does a nicer job getting the saline into your sinuses and you definitely want to have at least an hour's time between using it and cpap. Even with an hours time, I sometimes find as soon as I lie down, I need to get up and get the mask off due to the saline finding its way back to your nostrils. Blow the nose and try again... sometimes cycling up and down several times. Annoying but still worth using the neil med squeeze bottle.

I use the thing at least twice a day. More when I think a cold may be coming on. I believe that this practice has allowed me to survive the winter with no real colds. I had many near colds based on initial symptoms.

The last point I need to make on the use of the squeeze bottle is to not use it if you are stuffy. I tried that once and promply filled both inner ears with saline. That was a horrible feeling and I thought I was going to get an inner ear infection as a result. It drained in about an hour with no harm done but I certainly don't want to do that again.

OK... one more point. Don't waste your money on the premeasured salt packs. Buy yourself fine grained salt without any additives. Pickling or canning salt is such a salt but I have not been able to find it. I have found that there are sea salts out there that don't have any additives and have been successfully using them with good results. You need 1/4 teaspoon plus just a pinch mixed with 8 ounces of warm water.

gasp wrote:

mindy wrote:Another option is the NeilMed Sinus Rinse squeeze bottle. It's faster and easier, IHMO. It's like masks - some like one, others prefer the other and still others don't like either!

Mindy

I wondered if the squeeze bottle works. How does it feel different from gravity flow pressure?

Cool. When the packets run out I'll try that. Do you get stinging when you use salt without anything else? I used to use a bit of glycerin. The packets have some bicarb mixed in and there's no burning at all.

I get no burning whatsoever using tap water and the salt without bicarb. Your tap water may be different and might require a pinch of bicarb. Try it without and see how it goes.

I did find a 1 lb package of fine salt expressly for the purpose of using with the neti pot. Works great.

Where did you find it?

mindy wrote:Another option is the NeilMed Sinus Rinse squeeze bottle. It's faster and easier, IHMO. It's like masks - some like one, others prefer the other and still others don't like either!

Mindy

I SECOND this ^^^^. Been a lifesaver.

You have the option of a gentle rinse, or more pressure if need be, by how much you squeeze the bottle.

Capri wrote:I carefully cleaned my ResMed Ultra Mirage nasal mask's cushion in a full dishpan with a tablespoon of Baby Shampoo added for some suds. After rinsing and air drying, the softest part of the cushion that creates the seal against the face is now all cloudy instead of clear. I used the Citrus II to try to "clean" the cushion, and it's better, but still cloudy. What have I done?

Try washing it with pure castile soap. Make sure to get the type with no aloe or scents added. I've been washing my latest mask with that every morning and it has not turned cloudy.

http://tinyurl.com/6kkhbm

I've been using a soap called "Planet" that I found at the local Kroger.

Works VERY nicely for cleaning the mask. No clouding, all natural, no ingredients that cause damage to the skin, etc.

http://www.planetinc.com/udl.htm

Anonymous wrote:Where did you find it?

WHERE TO BUY
I bought it at a local health food store. See if your local health food store can get it for you. If not, it is available on Amazon - search for "Neti Pot Salt, 8-Ounce bag (Pack of 3)" which sells for $8.50. I think this is a good price for pharmaceutical grade salt. If you order over $25 of quality items at Amazon you get free shipping.

By the way, I thought my bag was 1 lb but I see that it is 8 ounces.

PURE SALT
It's important to use pure salt. The purification process does make what we regard as cheap salt a bit more expensive. Purity is worth it. Here is A Note On Purity as found on the Whole Foods Market site.

A Note On Purity

The interest and hype surrounding sea salt obscures a simple truth: sea salt can contain pollutants. The world's seas may have been relatively clean in the golden age of sail but have become increasingly dirty, assaulted daily by raw sewage, oil spills and numberless other indignities. Because sea salt is harvested on coastlines, where these assaults are concentrated, potential pollution is a concern. Ordinary salt may also contain a number of additives to prevent caking. Colored and flavored salts may contain artificial ingredients.

Read the labels on salt products to try and ascertain exactly what you are buying. Some labels are more forthcoming than others. Most, but not all, sea salts are washed to remove extraneous material.