the netipot did the trick (& other experiments)

As a newbie, I've been struggling for the past few weeks to make peace with my CPAP. Thanks to a variety of suggestions posted on the list, I finally was able to have 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep last nite. (I actually was awakened by a power outage, but that's another story.)

The winning combo for me was:
1- The netipot! Altho it's really wierd to use, it really cleared out the nasal congestion I was dealing with thanks to the onset of a cold. I probably will continue using it for a while even after the cold is gone.

2- Since I prefer to sleep without the room heated, I've had a big problem with rainout. So I placed the hose under the blanket to keep it warmer. Seems to have taken care of most of the rainout problem. I'm still considering investing in the Aussie hose.

3. Turned off the humidifier entirely.

I hope this summary helps someone else new to cpap. If nothing else, it's an example of how the effort to experiment with the different elements can lead to a successful combo.

It's great when people like you share these little "fixes"! It really helps new cpap users who are still struggling!

Thanks!

araminta wrote:As a newbie, I've been struggling for the past few weeks to make peace with my CPAP. Thanks to a variety of suggestions posted on the list, I finally was able to have 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep last nite. (I actually was awakened by a power outage, but that's another story.)

Congratulations. I just finished my first week and am slowly settling into sleep with my CPAP. I have been fortunate to be very compliant the whole time. I'm just struggling with mouth breathing now (chinstrap is on its way).

araminta wrote:The winning combo for me was:
1- The netipot! Altho it's really wierd to use, it really cleared out the nasal congestion I was dealing with thanks to the onset of a cold. I probably will continue using it for a while even after the cold is gone.

DITTO. I have been using the Neti pot for six months, and I love it. I can breathe so much better. Just remember, if it burns a bit you probably need a little MORE salt or a little WARMER water. Use distilled water and non-iodized salt if you can.

araminta wrote:2- Since I prefer to sleep without the room heated, I've had a big problem with rainout. So I placed the hose under the blanket to keep it warmer. Seems to have taken care of most of the rainout problem. I'm still considering investing in the Aussie hose.

Our bedroom is fairly cool; ~68-69°F. My wife just sewed me a fleece hose cover which completely stopped the rainout.

araminta wrote:3. Turned off the humidifier entirely.

Not for me. If I do that, I'll turn into a dry armadillo.

I have considered the Neti-pot, but don't know if I could bring myself to do it. I'm always congested before bed. I have been using a saline spray, but frankly its not very effective. Last night I had a headache so I took sinus medicine (pseudophedrine) which really opened me up and gave me a good night of treatment. But obviously I'm not going to take that stuff every night.

tattooyu,

it's a bit counter-intuitive to add more salt if there's discomfort with stinging. why do you recommend that?
and any particular reason for using distilled water, other than it probably tastes better?

I actually like the "Nasopure" nasal/sinus rinse better than the Neti Pot and the Neilmed one.

The shape of the bottle makes it so easy and you don't have to tip your head. It took about 2 nights for me to "perfect" the use of this bottle.

I'm using it every evening about a hour before bed (most nights). I am congestion free at night and the congestion I suffered from every morning is gone as well

Everyone has their own choice of method but I have found the Nasopure to be the best for me. If I get in late or am very tired, I just use the Saline Spray.

I hope tatooyu won't mind if I field your questions, Araminta. If the quantity of salt in the solution doesn't match the natural salinity inside your nose, the solution will irritate your nasal membranes (mostly a matter of ion exchange). Too much salt is as irritating as too little.

As to distilled water being preferable, distilled should be free of bacteria and other contaminants. I often use tapwater myself, but then I do live dangerously.

Thanks Raj. Makes sense.

Raj is correct. If the salinity doesn't match your body (too much or too little), it irritates. If the temperature doesn't match the body (too high or too low), it irritates.

I'm sure you could used bottled "drinking" water, but tap water here in Los Angeles is like battery acid mixed with chlorine. That is NOT going up my nose. I have used a shower head filter for years and I don't have red eyes, dry skin/scalp any more.

This past weekend I got my first sinus infection in almost 3 years now. Flu is just now taking folks down here where I live.

I had been using the Grossan nasal irrigator for almost 2 years on a regular basis pretty much every Saturday.

However when I started to get mild fever, post-nasal drip, and a scratchy feeling in the back of my throat this past Saturday, I started doing the nasal saline irrigation every day morning and afternoon. In addition, I also started gargling with a very hypersaline solution (2 Tsp salt w/ 8 oz water) twice a day which broke all the nasties lose from the back of my throat so that I could spit them out (Sunday night was the worst ... yuck!).

My sinus infection is now pretty much gone as of this afternoon and I was able to maintain fairly easy CPAP treatment every night.

I should also add that I was downing 2000 mg of vitamin C about 3 times a day since Saturday too. I've been pretty lucky for 3 years and now I get my first sinus infection and get through it quick and easy ... salt solutions are my friends

I agree with Kenny the hosehead ... for nasal irrigations, the salinity does need to match what you are comfortable with and everyone is a bit different.

1/4 to 1/2 tsp per 8 oz water is a good starting point and you can adjust up or down till it doesn't burn. I found mine by finding my upper end of uncomfortable burn and then backed off just a little on the salt ... the more saline you can stand the better it works to clean you out.

Can you tell a bit more about the Grossan nasal irigator? Is it like a waterpik for your nose? I actually thought about pouring some warm salin solution in my waterpik and squirting it up my nose ... hasn't done it yet though.

DreamStalker wrote:This past weekend I got my first sinus infection in almost 3 years now. Flu is just now taking folks down here where I live.

I had been using the Grossan nasal irrigator for almost 2 years on a regular basis pretty much every Saturday.

However when I started to get mild fever, post-nasal drip, and a scratchy feeling in the back of my throat this past Saturday, I started doing the nasal saline irrigation every day morning and afternoon. In addition, I also started gargling with a very hypersaline solution (2 Tsp salt w/ 8 oz water) twice a day which broke all the nasties lose from the back of my throat so that I could spit them out (Sunday night was the worst ... yuck!).

My sinus infection is now pretty much gone as of this afternoon and I was able to maintain fairly easy CPAP treatment every night.

I should also add that I was downing 2000 mg of vitamin C about 3 times a day since Saturday too. I've been pretty lucky for 3 years and now I get my first sinus infection and get through it quick and easy ... salt solutions are my friends

From another newbie. I had Sinus Surgury (snot-vacuum) a year ago. If you ever saw a picture of your sinus's and all the nooks and crannies the infection can hide, you'd be amazed. Anyways I use a baby irragator -the blue bulb suction-ator you can get at the baby dept at Wal-Mart, drug store or some grocery store. Only cost a couple of $. Cup of warm water, some salt. Fill the suction bulb, lean over the sink with head tilted to side and HOLD ONE NOSTRAL CLOSED while squirting the saline water into the other. The squirting gets the solution to the back where the hidey-holes are. Holding one nostal closed insures the solution goes way back. I even sniffle the solution so it goes way back also. Let one side drain and Repeat on the other side. I even hold both nostrals closed and rotate my head backwards and to each side - to get the solution around the corners. Allow nostrals to drain. I still get saline drainage down my throat a bit, but figure the saline solution is ok there also, just don't swollow much! Works to clear up congestion , infection and keep your sinuses clear. I use saline nasal spram in between cleasing and at night to keep my nose moist. Hope this helps someone.

JERSEYGIRL wrote:From another newbie. I had Sinus Surgury (snot-vacuum) a year ago. If you ever saw a picture of your sinus's and all the nooks and crannies the infection can hide, you'd be amazed. Anyways I use a baby irragator -the blue bulb suction-ator you can get at the baby dept at Wal-Mart, drug store or some grocery store. Only cost a couple of $. Cup of warm water, some salt. Fill the suction bulb, lean over the sink with head tilted to side and HOLD ONE NOSTRAL CLOSED while squirting the saline water into the other. The squirting gets the solution to the back where the hidey-holes are. Holding one nostal closed insures the solution goes way back. I even sniffle the solution so it goes way back also. Let one side drain and Repeat on the other side. I even hold both nostrals closed and rotate my head backwards and to each side - to get the solution around the corners. Allow nostrals to drain. I still get saline drainage down my throat a bit, but figure the saline solution is ok there also, just don't swollow much! Works to clear up congestion , infection and keep your sinuses clear. I use saline nasal spram in between cleasing and at night to keep my nose moist. Hope this helps someone.

What you describe is almost like Jala Neti level 2, where you sniff some of the saline into your mouth and spit. I haven't worked up to that yet...

ichitumi wrote:Can you tell a bit more about the Grossan nasal irigator? Is it like a waterpik for your nose? I actually thought about pouring some warm salin solution in my waterpik and squirting it up my nose ... hasn't done it yet though.

DreamStalker wrote:This past weekend I got my first sinus infection in almost 3 years now. Flu is just now taking folks down here where I live.

I had been using the Grossan nasal irrigator for almost 2 years on a regular basis pretty much every Saturday.

However when I started to get mild fever, post-nasal drip, and a scratchy feeling in the back of my throat this past Saturday, I started doing the nasal saline irrigation every day morning and afternoon. In addition, I also started gargling with a very hypersaline solution (2 Tsp salt w/ 8 oz water) twice a day which broke all the nasties lose from the back of my throat so that I could spit them out (Sunday night was the worst ... yuck!).

My sinus infection is now pretty much gone as of this afternoon and I was able to maintain fairly easy CPAP treatment every night.

I should also add that I was downing 2000 mg of vitamin C about 3 times a day since Saturday too. I've been pretty lucky for 3 years and now I get my first sinus infection and get through it quick and easy ... salt solutions are my friends

The Grossan web site sells the nasal tips for about $20 each ... but I don't know if they will fit the standard Water Pic. My guess is they would but I bought the whole Grossan irrigation kit so I don't have a Regular Water Pic machine to try the tips on. The Grossan machine looks very much like a Water Pic but can't say one way or the other.