Neti Pot Bad, Snot Good

Maybe the video will help: http://www.neilmed.com/usa/netipot_video.php

Maybe. You would think anyone "competent" to manage their CPAP therapy could follow simple written neti-pot instructions without drowning themselves... <sigh>

LinkC wrote:Maybe. You would think anyone "competent" to manage their CPAP therapy could follow simple written neti-pot instructions without drowning themselves... <sigh>

I know several people who could screw up a bowling ball.

Part of some people's problems might be enlarged turbinates. Before I had surgery to reduce the size of my turbinates, water would barely trickle out of the exit nostril. After the surgery, it would flow out as fast as I could pour it in the other nostril. Nice!

LinkC wrote:Maybe. You would think anyone "competent" to manage their CPAP therapy could follow simple written neti-pot instructions without drowning themselves... <sigh>

From Wikipedia;

"Another, more advanced variation of this technique, known in yoga as "Vyutkrama Kapalbhati", involves pouring the same saline solution into one nostril while the other is held closed, so that the solution runs out of the mouth. It is more challenging than the basic version (care must be taken to keep the saline solution out of the throat and to suppress possible vomiting reflex), but it allows to achieve more thorough irrigation of the nasal cavity and the sinuses."

It's a valid technique. Perhaps your "instructions" were insufficiently competent.

LinkC wrote:Maybe. You would think anyone "competent" to manage their CPAP therapy could follow simple written neti-pot instructions without drowning themselves... <sigh>

Never found a neti pot 18 years ago - I had a book in one hand and nasal syringe in the other. Instructions said to put it up the nose and if it hurts your doing it wrong- end of instructions. Not much available on the internet then too!

My rule of thumb, "If water is squirting out your ears, your not doing it right".

SG

Cavallo wrote: involves pouring the same saline solution into one nostril while the other is held closed,

Ah! I think I see the problem. If you Google on the name of the technique, you will get a plethora of yoga sites describing it. Now I didn't look ALL of them, just 5 or 6. Every one of those said to "inhale", "sniff" or "snort" the solution, usually from your cupped hand, and expel it from your mouth.

This seems a perfect example of what I was talking about before. A "wiki" site spreading incorrect info. No wonder people feel like they are drowning!

Cavallo wrote:

RedBackFur wrote:I've only used the Neti if my nose was stuffed up. I don't like that "Nose Burn" feeling I get....it reminds me of those days as a kid when I'd jump into a pool and have the water go up my nose.

I really don't want to become some sort of neti-booster here, but RBF - if the solution burns, you're doing it wrong. It should be very comfortable and pain-free. Sounds like you're not getting enough salt in the mix.

@Cavallo I was using the "Pre-Mix" packs that came with the Pot...so I had the correct ratio. It may have been me having my head dipped too deeply into the sink. Next time I need it, I won't bow down so much. I was careful about the temperature...it was about 100ºF or so.

RedBackFur wrote:@Cavallo I was using the "Pre-Mix" packs that came with the Pot...so I had the correct ratio. It may have been me having my head dipped too deeply into the sink. Next time I need it, I won't bow down so much. I was careful about the temperature...it was about 100ºF or so.

Huh. I just mix my own with tap water and canning salt. Granted, I have really good tap water (from a well.) Even with my relative imprecision, however, I've never once had that burning, sniffed-water-while-swimming feeling - just a kind of pleasant warmth. Perhaps your mucosa are just really sensitive.

I love my neti pot. I recently got a 16 oz stainless steel one (look on Amazon or Google) . I used to have to set my machine above 10 at times to blow through the congestion now I manage at 6 or so (I use a nasalaire II) . Used to be that sometimes the air blowing through all night would leave my nasal passages irritated and a runny nose all day. But now a nice rinse sooths them.

Warning- many would say that one should get personal instruction from an expert for what is above and what follows. I've never met one but use your own judgement! I like the instructions here: http://www.jalanetipot.com/method.html for what they call stage one ... but see what works for you

I use about 1.5 tsp UNIDODIZED salt and 0.5 tsp baking soda for 16 oz. As much as I might carefully blow with a tissue (when congested) I can be sure that the irrigation will dislodge 1-3 pinkie size globs of snot (well that is what it seems like) Actually I skip the tissue and avoid the red nose.

It is essential (in my experience ) to take the time to dry out the passages by bending over head down for a while, exhalling steadly, then some sharper blasts being careful not to blow hard enough to pop your ears.
Then repeat standing up.





For the in the nose out the mouth technique ( Which I only do if I really feel the need and which really requires thorough drying afterwards) I first do the in one nostril out the other . Then I start over but once a good flow is going I inhale more or less vigorously, sometimes removing the pot and just gurgling for a while. It takes paractice not to gag but you won't swallow it.

Well enough on that for now. One can find various instructions online, use your judgement. Some places say that you should be bent forward at 90 degrees. It keeps my shirt dry but I usual am content to stand straight up.

There is supposed to be a "level three" where the water is taken in the mouth and passed out the nose. I've not figured that out myself.

I'll close by saying that I was a constant mouth breather for 50 years. Now with a pot or two in the AM and another at night I am a happy nose breather.

good luck!

.

@Cav... Huh. I just mix my own with tap water and canning salt. Granted, I have really good tap water (from a well.) Even with my relative imprecision, however, I've never once had that burning, sniffed-water-while-swimming feeling - just a kind of pleasant warmth. Perhaps your mucosa are just really sensitive.

The Walgreens brand of Neti Pot came with little "Packets" of buffered powder to make one pot. Again, I think it was my head angle, and I do have a sensitive nose...and a shrunken turbinate, since I had mine Zapped about a year or so ago. Next time I find the need for ablution of my schnoodle, I'll be more careful on the angle of my head.

RedBackFur wrote:...and I do have a sensitive nose...and a shrunken turbinate, since I had mine Zapped about a year or so ago.

Turbinoplasty is the best thing (medically) that ever happened to me. Being anatomically incapable of being congested totally rocks.

Cavallo wrote:

RedBackFur wrote:...and I do have a sensitive nose...and a shrunken turbinate, since I had mine Zapped about a year or so ago.

Turbinoplasty is the best thing (medically) that ever happened to me. Being anatomically incapable of being congested totally rocks.

Oh, I can still easily get stuffy....I just no longer have that (what I thought was normal before it done) experience of laying on one side in bed, and having the lower nostril clog up, and rolling to the other side and having them switch places. I had my turbine zapped with RF by an ENT. I also had the Pillar Procedure done, but that only seemed to have worked for about a year.