Sinus rinse - success with HYPERTONIC / high salt solution?

Okay, so here's the subjective results of using double-dose saline rinse 9 or 10 times in the past day and a half (plus one triple-dose yesterday). The congestion and sinus issue I've been fighting the past three days is greatly reduced.

This is an improvement, not a miracle.

Last night was still a rough night and I still had to take a Zyrtec and sleep semi-sitting up in bed at a 30 or 40 degree angle (which is what I did to survive pre-CPAP), but I kept the mask on and slept with relatively few waking events for almost 12 hours!
I don't feel great yet, but I feel better and I did catch up on some sleep.

In comparison, the night before I had the mask on 4 hours with 10 separate sessions and barely any sleep.


I intend to use double-dose saline rinse twice per day for awhile and see if that also helps me avoid sinus infections as well as with the ongoing "closed-off nose sensation" I always have when I lay down (similar to congestion in the nose, but I think it is actually swelling of nasal membrane when I lay down).

Java Time, The idea of adding a little salt to the humidifier is based upon the general feeling of well being when you visit the ocean. At the ocean, salt ions are released into the air via wave and wind action.

If you are in the habit of dumping your xPAP machine over with water in it, the water can damage the electronics. If you add some salt to the water, it may do additional damage. So, if you regularly dump your machine over when it is full of water, don't add salt to the humidifier water.

On the other hand, adding a small amount of salt to the humidifier water won't effect the operation of the humidifier, and the salt ions may help keep congestion in check. Keep in mind that we are not talking about mixing a saline solution, but just adding a little salt to the water. I mix up a 1 liter bottle of water by filling the bottle with distilled water, then I add 0.2 grams of salt to the liter of water. Please understand that this is not enough salt to clear up a congestion problem, but may be enough to keep a problem from forming.

I have been using this mix in my humidifier for a year and a half now, and have had no congestion issues, and am still using the same humidifier tank and it is still in very good shape.

When I get a bad cold, I drag out my Grossan nasal irrigator and use 2-3 times/day. I use his packaged salt mix in warm water. When my congesion is really horrid, I make up 4-cups of solution and use it...this works better for me than a hypertonic solution which just irriates the heck outa my nasal tissue making me more congested.

I washed out an empty Afrin sprayer, the no-drip spray, filled it with Grossan's solution, and sprayed my nose every 30-45 mins when congestion was at its worst and I couldn't sleep.

I also use the Spry Xylitol nasal spray pretty much daily as pathogens can't survive on Xylitol.

You can also try different techniques of getting the solution into different parts of the nose. I plug up one nostril, fill up the whole nose, and then stop and hold the solution in my nose for a while. I also sometimes lean my head back or forward to get the solution into different parts of the nostrils.

If you plug one nostril, be sure to not allow pressure to build up. You have to let the solution flow out the back of your nose and through your mouth if it gets that high.

I've also overdone it and gotten fluid back up into my ears, which is probably a bad idea.

just coming out of Virus/sinus infection/sore throat. mucinex , etc. have been using table salt with warm water in squeeze bottle. having a time with blood clots in nasal passages.

Hose gets cleaned maybe 4 times a year w/ ivory liquid & white vinegar solution then hung over shower rod to dry. nasal interface gets same solution every two or three days. you will find everyone on this site has their own cleaning regimen

archangle wrote:You can also try different techniques of getting the solution into different parts of the nose. I plug up one nostril, fill up the whole nose, and then stop and hold the solution in my nose for a while. I also sometimes lean my head back or forward to get the solution into different parts of the nostrils.

Archangle,
Wow, that is timely advice! I also started using a "different techniques of getting the solution into different parts of the nose" method a couple of days ago, that seems very similar to what your are saying. I tilt my head quite a bit left and put in about 1/3 of the 8oz NeilMed squeeze bottle, then tilt right and do same, then back to my "normal" position. As you mentioned, instead of letting the water out between each position, I'm trying to hold it in for a little while, even inhaling slightly through my nose until a little bit of the saline is entering my throat.

archangle wrote:be sure to not allow pressure to build up

I seem to be able to avoid the pressure buildup by squeezing gently and making sure I'm not getting pressure buildup as I go. On a really congested day, the water has a hard time making it up and out the other nostril and I try not to force it.

deerslayer wrote:just coming out of Virus/sinus infection/sore throat. mucinex , etc. have been using table salt with warm water in squeeze bottle

deerslayer,
several people have mentioned Mucinex. I haven't tried it, but sounds like I should!

The previous point is very good. The instructions I have from my ENT that date from 1993 include tilting the head back after introducing the solution, in such a way that the solution exits through the mouth instead of the nose. In this way you clean a different part of the sinus than if you had just introduced into one nostril and had it exit through the other.

I find Mucinex very helpful if taken in the morning. The extended release tablets are the best, but of course are the brand version and the most expensive. Budget shoppers can find the same drug (guaifenesin) in generic packaging, but it is usually only the immediate release version. The Mucinex makes the secretions more fluid; for this reason after taking it you will blow your nose more frequently and get a lot more discharge. If the cold is in your chest you will cough a lot more and the coughs will be very productive. This is especially helpful if the congestion was at a stage where blowing the nose or coughing was not productive. I avoid the Mucinex at night, however, as the higher flow of secretions can conflict with sleep.

Day two report out:
After using the double-salt packet NeilMed 8oz squeeze bottle 5 or 6 times per day for two days, I was able to sleep last night in my "normal" stomach position, with no extra meds beyond what I "normally" take at bedtime (which includes Flonase and a 1/4 Zyrtec).

When the next congestion hits, I intend to attack it again multiple times per day with this double-salt packet, hypertonic solution to see if this is a repeatable sinus remedy for me.

The only negatives I found:
1) The heavier salt concentration can sting. The one time I tried three packets was not very pleasant, but a non-stop runny nose wasn't pleasant either. If this proves effective for me, the stinging nose is worth it to stop the dripping nose.
2) The skin on the lower portion of the outside of my nose is chapped, dried out and peeling, like I had a sunburn. I'm not sure if this is from blowing my nose all day for two days or from the heavy saline follow-up for two days. I'm putting ointment and lotion on it.

For now I have a clear nose and I'm happy with my little experiment!

As I mentioned in the original post, I used to work for a REALLY smart pharmacist who absolutely swore by gargling with salt water for sore throats. I think this salt idea for the sinuses is very similar and appears to have been used with success as a "folk" remedy for hundreds of years. If you want more info, read the "THE JOURNAL OF FAMILY PRACTICE" research article http://www.jfponline.com/Pages.asp?AID=1355.




P.S.
1) I bought Mucinex for next time per Randy J, deerslayer and other's advice
2) I also heard of a different nasal rinse that I am going to try. I was PM'd a suggestion to try "Alkalol which I only use when I have a sinus problem (rare now). This really helps get rid of mucus (http://www.alkalolcompany.com/index.php ... is-alkalol)."
(it includes a bunch of mucous dissolving ingredients including Menthol; Eucalyptol; Thymol; Camphor; Benzoin; Oils of Wintergreen, Spearmint)

That's Alkalol, not alcohol. Somehow it seems like I should make myself clear on that. I went to the Target pharmacy and asked for "alcohol with a "k" instead of a "c", I forgot the medicine ends in "lol" instead of "hol"... I seemed to provide the pharmacist entertainment, but the Target pharmacy was not able to provide me with any form of alcohol, no matter what the spelling

About the Alkalol, I forgot to mention that I add a small amount to my neti pot. Taking it straight up is pretty hard to do. Build up or you might not want to use it again. Less is more.

Mucinex works pretty good for me.
I can use the generic if I catch it early.
Drinking lots of water is key. The guaifenesin uses water to do its job.

Linus wrote:About the Alkalol, I forgot to mention that I add a small amount to my neti pot. Taking it straight up is pretty hard to do. Build up or you might not want to use it again. Less is more.

Okay, forget Hypertonic... Alkalol is the greatest!
http://www.alkalolcompany.com/index.php ... is-alkalol

Linus, I cannot thank you enough for this sugestion!

I've been adding 1 tablespoon (1/2 ounce) in the morning and 2 tablespoon (1 ounce) in the evening to my 8oz NeilMed sinus wash and it really clears things out and seems to keep me clear so I can sleep better. I use the 8oz squeeze bottle, but the neti-pot, as Linus mentioned, should do the same thing.

I'm going to continue for awhile, then I'll make a separate Alkalol post. I'm so in love, I may need to put it to song! (Yeah, I won't actually do that...)

Short version:
Positive:
-Alkalol clears mucous even better than double dose or "hypertonic" saline solution
-I can use Alkalol every day without drying out and chapping the skin around the end of my nose
-Alkalol helps the sinus wash clear my nose faster, so I'm not walking around dripping out of my nose for half an hour
-My nose feels "better" afterward than with sinus rinse alone. Hard to explain, but it is a "refreshing" sensation and smell.

Negative:
-Alkalol is not common and I had to ask the pharmacist to order my first bottle. You can't buy it on CPAP.com, but I found several other on-line sources. About the cheapest way I found to buy it was with a monthly "subscription" on Amazon.
-It costs money; anywhere from $6 to $8 for a 16 oz bottle. If you are using a 1/2 or a 1 oz with every sinus rinse, that does start to add up. For me it's worth the cost for everyday usage, for others you may only want to use this when your sinuses get congested.

Seriously, you've got to try this stuff! I'm clearly not alone in my new-found infatuation with this product, go read the reviews about Alkalol on Amazon and you'll hear more praise from long-time sinus sufferers.