I'm so glad we are all talking about irrigation because I had my first experience with it yesterday and fell in love! I was totally blocked up, and after 2 minutes of irrigation I was able to breathe comfortably through both nostrils. No kidding! I have only sneezed twice in 2 days and barely need to blow my nose. Thank you n7ynk for suggesting this! My chiropractor, of all people, actually helped me with it. He hooked an attachment up to a water pik and I leaned my head forward over the sink, not upside down. Salt water shot up one nostril through a sealed tube and poured out the other while I breathed through my mouth. Complete relief! The salt measure per water was very precise, 1tsp. per 800 ml I think? I'll update you on that. And the water temp should be comfortable to the touch, and the cleaner the water the better. You can purchase one of these fancy devices for $60-100, which I think is well worth it considering the savings down the line on meds, etc. I like the device because of the precise measuring and timing and the strength of the pressure it provides. I guess plain old salt kills bacteria like a charm. He also suggested cutting dairy from the diet and getting a hepa filter for the home. He said these 3 things together are an amazing prescription for allergy releif. I'm getting my irrigator this week and am so thrilled to have finally found something that works. And brings immediate relief! And as much as I love ice cream and cheese I see them as poison now and am going to go dairy free for 6 weeks to see if that helps. I guess dairy creates mucous and that breeds bacteria. And he said if losing dairy doesn't help to try cutting wheat. I'll keep you posted and hope this info helps! Thanks everyone! I truly feel like a new person today!

[<<<removed by moderator2>>>]

Sneezyhead. It is an awesome experience isn't it. People have been irrigating with salt for a thousand years. Too bad it usually is not on the list of things the allergist tells you about. Mine did! And even gave me an irrigator to try with instructions how to use it and mix the stuff. Everything you are doing is per what my allergist recommended. Good for you. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif Happy irrigating....

Addition to my note: n7ynk, I have read through many of your posts and there is no doubt that you are only trying to help other sinus sufferers.

It is obvious that you are only interested in helping others, and you have been posting helpful info for a long time. I felt that I should edit this post, and admit that I was wrong about you.

In fact, I am going to try your irrigation process the next time I have problems and see if it is as effective as the "upside down" method.

Thanks for the tip about sinus irrigation!

Regards.......... http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dizzy.gif

[This message has been edited by beerzoids (edited 10-30-2003).]

http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/yawn.gif Le me know how the irrigating is going. I am now using a 140CC syringe & I really like it as I can do each side just once.
If you go the syringe route, much cheaper, you may want to look out for syringes that have the "O" ring. They slide better & are suppose to last longer. The 140cc does not have it, but the 100 & 60CC does.
Bottom line is after 2-3 months you would want to replace the syringes due to bacteria build up. Happy Irrigating http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

I was simply trying to share my positive experience and what I felt was a good advice. I am really not trying to push anything on anyone and swear that I am not benefiting financially from any of my recommendations. I encourage people to make their own decisions after assessing the opinions of many others, both on this board and in their regular lives. I felt pigeonholed by getting the same advice from three different allergists, and am just excited to have had my horizons expanded to include new options. I haven't been discouraged about irrigating.

Hey...I don't know what's going on with this post, but I read about someone using a syringe. I recently learned at National Jewish that they used to use a syringe, but there is this little bottle type thing that is from what I hear a whole lot better. They gave me one for free, and I've been enjoying irrigating for nothing else to clean out my junk. I don't really have sinus problems, but it sure does help all that junk not go into my ears! Less pressure for my ears :-D. Just thought you'd like to know there are other methods. With this bottle, all I do is use 800 mL of steril water and half a tsp of salt (can be a whole tsp though, if you want) and a pinch of baking soda. It is so neat....There is even a little fill line on it...

Hey everyone:
I think what you're probably talking aobut is a Neti pot. They cost almost nothing and are used a lot by yoga practitionars as part of thier "cleansing" routine. Not to sound like I'm preaching or hawking anything, but neti pots, or the process of irrigating the sinuses have been used, mainly in India, for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Not that I'm saying an irrigation "system" isn't worthwile, but I'd be a little concerned about the high pressure involved. Pots just use gravity to gently flush out the mucous buildup. Again, happy irrigating and I hope all our sinus issues clear up!!

Thanks Beerzoids. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif I still may try the peroxide, have not ruled it out by no means. I use peroxide externally on hang nails and such and it really fizzes up. I can see how it could knock a sinus infection out.
The irrigation is great, I am now going to check into the Bottle irrigation at National Jewish, but I love my syringe as I can control the flow. And it is cheap. I will always be open to other processes that can make my life normal again. I just want to give back what I have gained in quality of life. Happy Irrigating

With this bottle you can control the flow as well...just depends on how hard you squeeze. It's called neilmeds...I think it's something like that...It's the easiest thing I've done. ANd it is not the neti pot. You can buy the bottle and three packets for like four bucks or so. THen after you use the packets you can use what you want (like peroxide), but they just say half a tsp of salt and a pinch of baking soda.