Does anyone use a sinus rinse or irrigation here?

I had one some years ago that was like a squeeze bottle that you'd use and it felt like you were drowning for a few seconds then there'd be relief. I seem to have a never-ending series of sinus infections and allergy issues and am thinking it's time to start using one again.

This is the one I had used before:



Are the powered ones any good? I see ads for this one but it's $90:



Can anyone recommend the best one to get right now?

Yes. I use the squeeze bottle every day. i get sinus infections easily and the saline rinse helps me avoid them. I have been doing this for 20 years. I don't know about the powered units.

I use the plastic NeilMed Neti Pot that can be purchased in most pharmacies. For me using a Neti pot helps prevent sinus and sore throat problems especially in the winter.

I have no experience with the powered ones.

Yup the first one. Helps, cheap, easy. You get used to it.

Doesn't need to be complicated or require anything special, IMO. A teaspoon of sea salt in a quart of boiled water. I pour a small bit into a small microwave-safe dish, warm it, and slowly, gently snort it. Takes a few tries to get it right. I've tried a Neti Pot. Didn't care for it.

Check out the Sinupluse

I use the squeeze bottle and packets from Neil-Med.

Have been using them since my sinus surgery to open up my sinuses and fix a deviated septum in 2003.

Really helps keep my sinuses clear.

I used to get sinus infection almost every time I got a head cold. My wife turned me on to these and I have not had a singe one since.
I use the squeeze bottle also.

I have both the NeilMed Neti Pot and the squeeze bottle. 80 or 90 percent of the time, the pot by itself is sufficient. If I still feel congested, then I use the squeeze bottle. I don't like to use the squeeze bottle first as it can push something back into your ears and many times the neti pot starts with a trickle and flow increases (i.e. starting slow is better).

I used to have a NeilMed Sinugator Cordless Pulsating Nasal Wash Kit but when it died I didn't replace it as the squeeze bottle was easier to use, easier to clean, and just as effective.

I've looked at the Navage, but four things turned me away:

It pulls a vacuum and stores all of the mucous instead of pumping the liquid and letting the mucous and liquid run down the drain like Neil med's devices. I don't want to clean the mucous side (both the internal "canal" and the lower tank).

I see the lower chamber and vacuum as an unnecessary additional failure points (e.g. it won't work unless the lower tank is vacuum tight).

It's $90 which is 4x the cost of the NeilMed Sinugator Cordless Pulsating Nasal Wash Kit

Navage states that the power button only works with a new saltPod in the crushing chamber and the lid clicked shut. Long term costs are likely to be higher with its mandatory proprietary salt pod. I always buy the generic refill packets for NetiPots since you only have to shake them up.

---

Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.

Thanks everyone!

I think I'll just get the Neilmed bottle that I used to have before. Keep it simple.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
Thanks everyone!

I think I'll just get the Neilmed bottle that I used to have before. Keep it simple.

For a few bucks, you can buy a Neti pot and do the 2-step approach I use. I vastly prefer using the pot before the squeeze bottle.

Sounds too much like water-boarding.

use the pot daily twice a day when sick or feeling congested have done so for years helps a lot

nope but if i feel a scratchy throat or the start of post nasal drip, before it gets too bad, i take sudafed to dry up & do a nose douche in the shower every day.

Perfect timing...

We all had bad colds...and I still do...

I have one side that will not unclog. Does the pot approach open it up so you can breath?

Does anything visible come out to remove the clogging?

Not be be graphic but I'm leery to try but can't tolerate cold meds and need to breath to sleep.

Yep, started using one a couple years back, and actually posted a thread on it. Still using it, once or twice a week. I just use the clear plastic pot from CVS, and mix up my own buffered solution (distilled water, salt, baking soda).

quote:

Originally posted by Patriot:
Perfect timing...

We all had bad colds...and I still do...

I have one side that will not unclog. Does the pot approach open it up so you can breath?

Does anything visible come out to remove the clogging?

Not be be graphic but I'm leery to try but can't tolerate cold meds and need to breath to sleep.

It's not that there's some kind of foreign plug up there, it's that the cold virus is illiciting an immune response from your sinuses, which triggers excess mucous production and causes the membranes to swell.

Nasal rinses are mostly for flushing out ingested allergens like pollen that are triggering the immune reaction. They won't work directly on a viral infection, but may still help flush out the excess mucous and relieve symptoms a little bit.

quote:

Originally posted by kkina:

quote:

Originally posted by Patriot:
Perfect timing...

We all had bad colds...and I still do...

I have one side that will not unclog. Does the pot approach open it up so you can breath?

Does anything visible come out to remove the clogging?

Not be be graphic but I'm leery to try but can't tolerate cold meds and need to breath to sleep.

It's not that there's some kind of foreign plug up there

IME, sometimes there actually is a mucous plug up there. In that case, flushing it out gets rid of sinus headaches and breathing through both nostrils allows better oxygenation of your blood so you feel better.

I have used the Neilmed squeeze bottle with good results.

Warning.... Do not use tap water