Sinus wash - Itchy nose

[LouLou]

I've never had nasal polyps or any real sinus problems (at least not by CF standards) but I do take a nasal steroid and an allergy pill due to itchy nose. My inside walls of my nostils get this shedding, crusty mucus/skin that is irritating as it dries.

Last night I decided to clean out my nose by taking my 3% saline (sterile used for inhalation) and dripped it into my nostril and tried to get it to come out the other nostril .... which I did but it also went into my ears it felt like it at least.

I had heard about this in one nostril out the other on this site as well as in yoga class. Can anyone suggest how to do this? I'm really not interested using the Waterpik method as there really isn't much congestion high up in my sinuses... just a little rinse would be nice.

 

[EnergyGal]

This is what I do

I use a luer lock syringe (syringe without a needle) and fill it up with normal sterile saline. I tilt my head back while standing up and fill my nostrils up one at a time and then drop my head toward the sink (down low) and it all comes out. If I use this a few times per day I feel this keeps my sinuses clear. My doctors gave me tobra washes which is sterile saline with tobramycin. I guess this is working for me as I never see anything nasty coming out.

I would not want to get saline in my ears so be careful

 

[Scarlett81]

There is a thing called a NETI pot and you can get it at any healthfood store, or even a drug store probably. You fill it with warmed saline, tilt your head sideways over the sink, and fill one nostril-the gunk comes out the other side. Then you turnm and do the other nostril.
It take getting used to, and is yucky, I won't lie! But it works, and it has stopped some of my sinus infections if I do it often enough.

<img src="i/expressions/heart.gif" border="0">

 

[Ratatosk]

I don't have CF, but have had sinus problems. My ENT suggested "snorting" warmed saline a couple times a day. What I've done is tipped my head back and squirted salt water up my nose with a bulb syringe until it come out my mouth. First few times was dreadful and I felt like I was drowning, but the salt really seemed to reduce the inflammation and I felt wonderful. My bro-in-law used a netti pot for years --think he uses hypertonic nasal wash from neil (?)

For DS we use simply saline 3% -- saline that comes in a compressed air/aerosol, cuz most times we're trying to chase him down to squirt saline up his nose. Can't imagine trying to do saline rinses on him. Bleah!