Shooting salt water up my nose everyday & feeling good! Anybody else doing this?

[Texasdivechick]

I'm on day 3 of using a Neti pot and the pre-packaged NeilMed sinus rinse. So far, I've been able to avoid going to the doctor to get meds for a horrible sinus infection. The last time I had a sinus infection the left side of my face swelled so badly I couldn't open my eye! That time, the doctor put me on 4 different medications- including steroids and antibiotics (actually had 2 rounds). This time when I felt my face beginning to swell with the impending infection, I started using the Neti pot immediately 3 xs a day and using just Tylenol to combat the pain. So far, so good! I'm a rinse converter!
I'm hoping with daily use it will decrease my asthma symptoms as well.

 

[Texasdivechick]

I have never intentionally snorted salt water, but this past summer my girlfriend was lifeguarding in daytona beach, and I went out most mornings with her and swam while she did her morning drill, sometimes the waves were well overhead, then I would usually go teach a scuba class at the local springs (fresh water snorting), and it got to the point where we could actually let water out of our noses on command, her more than me, sinus problem... but I am pretty sure that salt water is nasty, I got a small tiny little cut on my finger when I was diving on a ship wreck in pompano beach and ended up in the hospital hooked up to IVs for 6 days, almost lost a finger to the hand surgeon over it... so, if you snort salt water, be very careful, there are some nasty little bugs in it...

The salt used in the treatments is actually non-iodized and sterilized salt. It is recommended to either use pickling salt (finer grain) or the prepackaged treatments. Trying to snort regular salt water from the ocean is just asking for an infection, IMO. Plus, it burns the nasal cavities in a way that the homeopathic method does not.

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Drat. Was gonna use the sinus rinse this morning and forgot.

 

[carriemak]

I have been using my Neil Med every morning this week. When I forget, I can sure tell it.
Yeah for Neil Med!

 

[mksmith713]

They use neti pots in India with the same results.
I probably should read the entire thread first becasue I'm sure someone else has already made mention of it.
If not, do an internet search for neti pot.

 

[divepsych]

While there are many OTC products on the market for nasal and sinus irrigation, the cheapest is to clean out a mustard squeeze bottle and mix up your own buffered saline solution using the formula I have on my website www.DivePsych.com, which is what I did at first to deal with my really bad post nasal drip and congestion from allergies. An unexpected benefit was that my middle ears cleared immediately, which then gave me the idea of doing nasal irrigation before diving instead of daily 12-hour sudafed as usual. My use of decongestants dropped dramatically.

I then found out about NeilMed Sinus Rinse bottle kits with premeasured packets to mix up with warm tap water and started using them. I eventually did a study for Dr. Mehta with divers, which showed daily irrigations reduced the use of decongestants in divers. Since then, I have represented the company at dive shows like DEMA and others where thousands of sample bottle kits have been given away. Yes, I am now a paid medical consultant.

As a physician and diver, what I especially like about the NeilMed Sinus Rinse bottle is that it has central delivery tube so you don't have to hold your head back or to the side like with Netti pots and syringes and other bottles. There is very little mess and when I am giving a lecture, I do an irrigation while speaking to demonstrate that you do not choke or gag. The packets of salt and baking soda are cheap and convenient to take on dive trips, as is the squeeze bottle. I usually take some sample bottle kits on dive trips and usually give all of them away within the first few days to congested divers. It does not work for everyone, but helps a lot. Here is a link to a demo video: NeilMed Pharmaceuticals, Makers of Sinus Rinse, NasaFlo Netipot, Nasal Irrigation

That being said, the most effective nasal-sinus irrigation is pulsatile from a Water-Pik or other pump device like at an ENT office. That equipment is not convenient to take on dive trips, but I did meet a lady at a show who had been taking one on trips and declared, "Now I'll have room for my shoes." Not everyone is so enthusiastic.

I'll be at DEMA Show next month in Orlando at the NeilMed booth if you plan to attend. Dr. Franz Cronje of DAN-SA will be giving two really good lectures on ears in diving at DEMA that I highly recommend. He is probably the world's expert on the topic.

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Not going to DEMA.. anyway you can send me a sample bottle kit?

 

[Clanggedin]

I just got over a cold recently and was thinking about buying a Neti pot until I saw this thread. I can't wait to go pick up a Neilmed Sinus Rinse this week and try it out.

 

[divepsych]

need a mailing address or you can go to any chain drug store and pick up a kit for about $12 with a bottle and 50 packets.

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Bringing this back to life. Been using the NeilMed a 2-3x/week through this winter and have suffered nothing more severe than a few sneezes. My kid even had the flu and it passed me by. Granted the winter isn't over yet, but the seasonal allergies and temp changes, that usually have me miserable, have not affected me.