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Posted: **Wed May 07, 2008 8:44 am**

For Nasonex to work it has to build up in your system. It takes two weeks to feek the full effect. THat is a common mistake people make. It needs to be used consistntly.

Posted: **Wed May 07, 2008 10:29 am**

Several years ago I became addicted to Afrin. Juet gonna use it until I got over a cold. BEfore you know it the rebound effect was so bad that I couldn't breathe without Afrin. The doctor prescribed medication to be taken orally (don't remember what) and then put me on a cortisone spray which is not addictive.
I WOULDN'T SPRAY AFRIN UP MY NOSE ON A BET!!!!

Posted: **Thu May 08, 2008 7:08 pm**

OldLincoln wrote:....
Is there a standard salt/water ratio or do it till it hurts?

The packets of salt you can buy are to be mixed according to directions with a specified amount of water. If done properly, this mix has an electrolyte concentration equal to the normal electrolyte concentration in the mucous membranes. The advantage of this is twofold. One, the rinse will not dry out the membranes. Two, the rinse will not be absorbed by the membranes.

To put it in the negative, if you mix too much salt, the nasal rinse will contribute to drying of the membranes. If you mix too little salt, the nasal rinse will tend to be absorbed by the membranes contributing to swelling. This is due to the fundamental physics principle, that liquid will move from the solution of lesser salt concentration to the solution of greater salt concentration.

OldLincoln wrote:And how does Nasonex figure into the picture? I have it but don't use it daily - is it bad?

It is quite safe but you are wasting time, effort and money if you don't use it every day. It works systemically and requires a consistent application and buildup to be effective.

Posted: **Thu May 08, 2008 7:14 pm**

RonS wrote:I just got a coupon for a 30 day trial of Veramyst. ... But I'll let ya know if I smell flowers.

Third day of use of Veramyst and I don't smell flowers, but I did notice a very slight chemical smell (in Just one nostril?) for the first time during the latest application.

Posted: **Thu May 08, 2008 7:20 pm**

Anonymous wrote:I have found that some brands of fluticasone have a slight floral fragrance, and some brands don't. I don't recall ever using Flonase brand of fluticasone

I found the odor in both Flonase and the generic. It's kinda comforting to know that someone else detected the flowers and a wasn't just tiptoeing through the garden.

Three docs have told me that my septum is barely deviated and that surgery is not required. I use Zyrtec and Alanone daily as well as Neilmed, but still find myself occasionally reaching for the Sudafed. That Afrin has nearly ruined me at times.

BTW, you think that because our climate is quite dry that the heated humidity would be helpful, but not so. The only way of survival for me is passover. It's just best to keep trying anything to get you off the Afrin.

Posted: **Wed Aug 06, 2008 6:09 pm**

RonS wrote:
RonS wrote:I just got a coupon for a 30 day trial of Veramyst. ... But I'll let ya know if I smell flowers.
Third day of use of Veramyst and I don't smell flowers, but I did notice a very slight chemical smell (in Just one nostril?) for the first time during the latest application.

Well, I just switched over to Flonase(Generic) from Veramyst.

Lilacs!!!

Yesterday I had my wife come over and sniff my nose. She smelled something but...

Today I asked her to sniff the applicator and she agrees wholeheartedly. Lilacs!

Of course perhaps she just wanted to stop me from asking her to sniff everything.

Posted: **Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:54 pm**

RonS wrote:
RonS wrote:
RonS wrote:I just got a coupon for a 30 day trial of Veramyst. ... But I'll let ya know if I smell flowers.
Third day of use of Veramyst and I don't smell flowers, but I did notice a very slight chemical smell (in Just one nostril?) for the first time during the latest application.
Well, I just switched over to Flonase(Generic) from Veramyst.

Lilacs!!!

Yesterday I had my wife come over and sniff my nose. She smelled something but...

Today I asked her to sniff the applicator and she agrees wholeheartedly. Lilacs!

Of course perhaps she just wanted to stop me from asking her to sniff everything.

I am finding the lilac smell phenomenon to be very interesting. A few years ago there was a woman who told me that Flonase smelled like lilacs! I had never thought that, but it does seem to be a bit like something sweet and fresh--but JUST a BIT--MAYBE!!

Of course, I smell a smoky odor

if I haven't used the Flonase or if I am building back up to a normal dosage schedule.

rooster wrote: OldLincoln wrote:
....
Is there a standard salt/water ratio or do it till it hurts?

The packets of salt you can buy are to be mixed according to directions with a specified amount of water. If done properly, this mix has an electrolyte concentration equal to the normal electrolyte concentration in the mucous membranes. The advantage of this is twofold. One, the rinse will not dry out the membranes. Two, the rinse will not be absorbed by the membranes.

To put it in the negative, if you mix too much salt, the nasal rinse will contribute to drying of the membranes. If you mix too little salt, the nasal rinse will tend to be absorbed by the membranes contributing to swelling. This is due to the fundamental physics principle, that liquid will move from the solution of lesser salt concentration to the solution of greater salt concentration.

Dr. Oz used quite a quarter of a teaspoon of salt in the neti pot solution on Oprah. Unfortunately, he doesn't mention the amount of warm water he used.

Oprah Audience Member Demonstrates Neti Pot

My allergist has had me doing the nasal wash with a (needle-free) large syringe twice a day for over 12 years, I think. In his opinion, it doesn't matter if you use commercial saline rinse, a homemade saline solution, or a saline made for medical use. I used to use medical saline compounded to make a nasal wash with 3 antibiotics, based on research he had seen that was done at Mayo Clinic.

Also, in his opinion, it doesn't matter if you use a syringe, an irrigation bulb, a neti pot, or even an agitation device that provides motorized delivery of saline solution.

After reading some postings on this forum, I tried the NeilMed rinse...and WHEW! Sting city, even though I mixed it at half-strength.

I now make my own saline fresh twice a day. It is cheap and easy. Along with a discussion of the various ways to do nasal lavage, the recipe I use is given on the following link:

Click Here for Information on Nasal Cleaning

Karen,
Who cannot believe she found a use for these smilies...

Posted: **Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:27 pm**

If your going to mix up your own salt water, check the ingredients in your salt. Yes, it should be all salt but most isn't. I found that out the hard way when it burned like crazy. I checked and found out there was anti-caking ingredients. Now I buy "sea salt" and make sure its not iodized. Then again, the little packets really are easy too.

Posted: **Wed Aug 06, 2008 10:00 pm**

OldLincoln wrote:
Snoredog wrote:If you make your own saline rhino wash from distilled water and salt you have no preservatives to contend with. It will flush those allergens out and if done several times per week can keep you clear.

Is there a standard salt/water ratio or do it till it hurts?
Is this the same thing as the "nasal wash"?
And how does Nasonex figure into the picture? I have it but don't use it daily - is it bad?

I use Morton "un" iodized table salt, found right next to the iodized stuff on your table, you can use regular table salt but for some people they can have a irritation to the iodized kind. Cost is $.59 cents for a 26 oz container of it.

Ratio I use:

10-12 oz drinking glass
1/4 teaspoon of uniodized table salt
"pinch" of Arm & Hammer baking soda*

* baking soda is optional, but if you want it to flush out everything including dried mucous, put in the pinch of baking soda, amount is quantity held between your thumb and index finger, doesn't take much.

I nuke that mixture in the microwave for 30 seconds, give it a stur and use half on one side and the other on the other side, tilting my head back several times to get the solution up deep into the sinuses. Then I blow my nose real good, cleans like a white tornado and I get instant relief from congestion.

The more often you do it the longer it begins to last, you should find it soothing, as that ratio has about the same Ph as eye tears. You warm it to your comfort.

Note: I use distilled water as I have a distiller. I don't recommend tap water especially if it is city tap water, that stuff contains nitrates, fluoride, chlorine and who knows what in it. I'd use bottled water before I'd use tap water.

I got that mixture from a yoga site years ago and the ratio seems to work well, been using it many years. Anything you buy at the store for a rinse that is in a non-aerosol bottle will have preservatives in it to extend shelf life. Some people the preservative itself can cause irritation.

Posted: **Thu Aug 07, 2008 11:54 am**

Morton salt has additives. Here is a list from there own web site with a checklist for what each of their salt has. Look at the additives line:

http://www.mortonsalt.com/salt_guide/index.html

I couldn't find their actual ingredients online but here is a quote from them:

Plain & Iodized Salt
The salt we’re famous for! This granulated salt has a free-flowing agent added to ensure that “When It Rains It Pours®. Use for baking, cooking and at-the-table seasoning.

Its up to you if you want to use this salt. Obviously snoredog is alive and well. I just don't like putting something up my nose that I don't know what it is. Besides, when I did try it, it hurt like crazy.

You can find plain sea salt in the same area of your store as well. At least in California.

Posted: **Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:10 pm**

crossfit wrote:Morton salt has additives.<snip>

Code: Select all

<snip> snoredog is alive and well.  I just don't like putting something up my nose that I don't know what it is.  Besides, when I did try it, it hurt like crazy.

You can find plain sea salt in the same area of your store as well.  At least in California.

Snoredog is alive AND WELL? Oh, my. what a temptation. Slinky, you be nice now, y'hear!
_______________________________________________________________________________

Seriously, though:

I have used iodized table salt (1/4 t. in 8 oz. water with 1/8 t. baking soda) with no problem.

Sea salt is available in MOST grocery stores, but not all. Be sure to read the label because it is easy to label salt as "sea salt" but not impossible to include additives. It is definitely in health food stores, without additives although some has iodine.

Another option is kosher salt. It is USUALLY additive free, except for Morton's...

More here: Click Here for Kosher Salt Info on Wikipedia

Karen,

Who wonders if you would pass the salt?

Posted: **Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:19 pm**

I find kosher salt doesn't disolve as well. It must be the larger grains. It tends to be simple rock salt. I suppose we could get fancy and use the rare pink tibeten salt I saw at the health food store for $15 a jar but its too costly for me!

Just check any brand for additives. It will say "anti-caking" or something. Some brands even have sugar added! I suppose its another reason to just buy the pre-mixed up packets. The salt is made for nasel passages, not eating.

Beth - who passes the salt to Karen along with a clean neti pot.

Posted: **Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:24 pm**

If you need something other than what you find in the spice aisle, look in the Organic section. I found 100% pure sea salt in the Organics area of my Kroger's store.

But then, again, I don't feel like putting it up my nose. The little packets are sure a convenience, and I don't have to mess around with mixing and locating ingredients.

Your Mileage May (and probably WILL) Vary,
Babette

Posted: **Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:26 pm**

AAACCCKKKK!

I just found out more about the anti-caking agent in Morton salt. I copied the wikipedia info to here for you all to see:

:
Sodium ferrocyanide
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Sodium ferrocyanide[1]

IUPAC name Tetrasodium [hexacyanoferrate(II)]
Other names Yellow Prussiate of soda (YPS), Tetrasodium hexacyanoferrate, Gelbnatron, Ferrocyannatrium
Identifiers
CAS number [13601-19-9]
PubChem 26129
EINECS number 237-081-9
Properties
Molecular formula Na4Fe(CN)6
Molar mass 303.91 g/mol
Appearance Yellow crystals
Density 1.458 g/cm3
Melting point 435 °C (decomposes)

Solubility in water 18 g/100 mL
Structure
Crystal structure monoclinic
Related compounds
Other anions Sodium ferricyanide (Red Prussiate of soda)
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state
(at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox disclaimer and references
Sodium ferrocyanide, also known as tetrasodium hexacyanoferrate or sodium hexacyanoferrate (II), is a coordination compound of formula Na4Fe(CN)6 which forms semi-transparent yellow crystals at room temperature, and which decomposes at its boiling point. It is soluble in water and insoluble in alcohol, and the solution can react with acid or photodecompose to release hydrogen cyanide gas.

In its hydrous form, Na4Fe(CN)6•10H2O (sodium ferrocyanide decahydrate), it is generally known as yellow prussiate of soda.

Uses
As yellow prussiate of soda, it is added to road and food grade salt as an anticaking agent. When combined with iron, it converts to a deep blue pigment which is the main component of Prussian blue. In photography it is used for bleaching, toning and fixing. It is used as a stabilizer for the coating on welding rods. In the petroleum industry it is used for removal of mercaptans.

Used for bleaching, toning, and fixing in photography? Breaks down to a form of cyanide? Up my nose? NO WAY!

Posted: **Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:29 pm**

Cool! Now we know how to kill ourselves without having to have a prescription!

Thanks Crossfit!
Babs

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Addicted to Afrin