
Before the "Irrigation", originally uploaded by suitablegirl.
So...I was on GChat with Deee, and she was telling me that she, too, was sick. We're sick of being sick.
Deepa: as part of my insanity
i bought a neti pot
i'm sick of having colds and allergies
so i'm going all ayurveda auntie
on the problem!
me: oh, please tell me how that works
12:18 PM Deepa: i wonder if there is something similar for bronchitis? some ayurvedic/non-prescription thing
dude, i think you are as .... squeamish about certain things as me a neti pot is basically used to wash out your nose/nasal cavity
me: i saw it in the nyt and i'm scared of water in my nose but i'm so sick of being sick :(
Deepa: dude, yes - i'm not thrilled with the idea but, if it works
me: and tylenol/anti-histamines etc only have done so much
Deepa: i'll get over it. yeah, i'm also sick of allergies and the idea of washing out allergens ... MAKES SENSE
resolved: i will try neti pot with plain water (you are supposed to make mild saline solution) today
i have probably had it for close to a year
it sits in my med cabinet and i look at it, warily and never touch it
me: oh wow. you had it before the current neti-boom :)
12:23 PM Deepa: i've been wanting, in theory, to neti for ages
there is also a somewhat less scary option:
www.kadavy.net/blog/archive/2005/06/sinusrinse_nasa.php
sinus rinse
::
So as I staggered to Rite-Aid this evening, I kept thinking there was something I needed besides Tylenol Cough-and-Sore-Throat liquid, a.k.a. Mint Nyquil which doesn't taste like ass.
Thankfully, despite the mental fog and exhaustion, I remembered the afore-pasted convo before I left the store. I didn't know what I was looking for, so I bought the only thing that looked like a "kit". Well, that and it was the only product that had the scary but necessary word "irrigation" on it...
::
One day later: as odd as it was, it worked. The "kit" I bought was essentially "Neti for Dummies", so it's not that great a surprise that it was effective, but whatever. It's nice to have an option which doesn't involve benadryl (which leaves me feeling drunk) or claritin (which I'm not sure really works). I guess India really does do everything better, but don't take that from me, not when Oprah is all giddy over her unfortunately-termed "nose bidet".
Hey! I just got one of these called "NeilMed", and works great! It feels weird but kind of good at the same time (in a cleansing sort of way), and I'm normally sqeamish about this stuff as well.
One bit of warning - don't try it with just plain water (without the saline solution), because it stings. I think it has something to do with the pH.
Feel better!
Posted by: Mango P | 2008.01.20 at 03:38 PM
Okay, GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Ahem, now that's out of the way - hope you're feeling better! :)
Posted by: Brian | 2008.01.21 at 05:33 AM
You look all of 5 years old in that photo :)
Posted by: Zen | 2008.01.22 at 06:19 AM
I swear by this. I use a sinus irrigation machine. I know it sounds painful, but it isn't. During the winter I use it 2X a day, and it works. My mom had two sinus surgeries which didn't work and now she uses this machine and it's a gem. Just add baking soda and kosher salt to the water. http://www.breathcure.com/hydropulsemachine.html
Posted by: Vivi | 2008.01.24 at 04:56 AM
feel better :(. how is your sis btw?
Posted by: sixy west coast | 2008.01.27 at 03:12 PM
Beta!
It's fantastic, but plain water? That'll kill ya. It'll burn like hell. Use the saline (lukewarm!), it works wonders. I use it before I go to bed and it vastly reduces the cold-snoring.
Posted by: anandos, nasally fortified | 2008.02.12 at 03:01 AM