Friday, December 4, 2009

First Ever Sinus Irrigation

The doctors did a head CT because I was having some killer headaches. Turns out, my sinuses are chalked full of goobery goos. It's pretty common in us old CFers to have some sinus issues. Before this, I have had some polyps yanked out, but that's been over 15 years ago. So sit back, grab some popcorn and enjoy this fine film.


Have you guys had some experience with this??? How did you feel after these nasal washes?? Feel a difference, and if so, how long did it take?
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deb's avatar - Go to profile

deb · 801 weeks ago

okay, now THIS i have some experience with. we happen to be lucky (sometimes it doesn't feel so lucky) enough to have our very own ENT living with us, so nasal irrigation is something my son has been doing for years. we make our own, with boiling water, the NeilMed saline packets, AND the magical ingredient of an ampule of TOBI. keep it in the fridge for the couple of days one bottle will last you. my son does it over the sink, nightly... if he is congested, he does it twice or three times a day. i am telling you, it has kept the polyps at bay and his sinuses have been great for over 10 years now. keep it up and i guarantee you will be happy.
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Tara · 801 weeks ago

I have never seen a sinus rinse done like that before. Not my recommendation at all. I use the Neil Med bottle, in the shower or over the sink. I tilt my head very far forward and gush 4 ounces of fluid through one side, let it drain and blow, like you did. The farther forward you tilt your head, the less chance it will come out your mouth (gross!) Then I push the second 4 ounces up the other side. It looked like the sinus rinse you had today was much less in quantity.

Don't worry Mandy, sometimes you do see great snotty globs of green boogers come out. It's gross and it feels so weird when they come out too.

I also add tobramycin (not TOBI b/c tobra is cheaper for me to get) as well as an ampule of pulmicort respules. The pulmicort is a steroid that is supposed to slow the growth of polyps. I add 4mL of tobra plus 1 ampule pulmicort to each 8 ounce rinse. I use the blue isotonic neil med salt packets, not the hypertonic green ones. I rinse twice a day. The shower is the easiest because you can lean far over and not get any coming out your mouth.

I use distilled water and I do not boil mine. I warm the rinse for comfort by holding the bottle (not the nozzle) under hot tap water for 2-3 minutes. It warms the solution to body temp and you don't get that cold rush.

I would definitely not use the same rinse twice, like the previous poster described. If you're using the neil med bottle there could be some backwash from your nose back into the bottle and then you're going to save that in the fridge? NO WAY! I use 4 ounces on each nostril, which is one whole bottle.

When my ENT first told me I needed sinus surgery (before I ever rinsed) he said rinsing now would have been like taking a blow torch to melt an ice burg. Not going to be effective. I needed the surgery FIRST and then continue with the rinses. Honestly, I only started adding the tobra and pulmicort once I got my first sinus infection post surgery. (about two years later)

Hope this helps!

Tara
33w/CF
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candice's avatar

candice · 801 weeks ago

lmao!!! i love how mandi keeps saying dangit!
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Heidi's avatar

Heidi · 801 weeks ago

I also use the Neilmed bottle. I like the mega-Neilmed bottle that is 16 oz. I also do it in the shower, since it's just less messy with water/saline all over the place. I sometimes add TOBI to it, and I also can do a Tobradex (for eye infections) mixed in a little bottle of saline spray. I also wanted to say that you should consider having surgery. Pre-transplant, each of my sinus surgeries resulted in feeling much better, less infections, and an increase in PFTs. Granted, it only lasts 2-3 years for me, but it has always been worth it. Post-transplant also. I have polyps that like to grow back and block an entire side up.
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Terry G. Sterling's avatar - Go to profile

Terry G. Sterling · 801 weeks ago

Never a dull moment!
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Lindsay · 801 weeks ago

Just like everyone else is saying: Get a NEILMED BOTTLE! This makes a world of difference. I'm actually very surprised they didn't use that in the first place. I have had 3 surgeries to remove polyps and it wasn't until I started doing rinses with the NeilMed bottle and the saline packets every day that I quit having issues. I cannot stress this enough. I do my rinses one to two times a day and it is the one thing that I am absolutely compliant in b/c it makes a world of difference. Mandi would love the crap I get out of my nose on a daily basis.

So, here's what I recommend. Have them surgically clean you out and then start using the NeilMed bottle. Not the NettiPot... the bottle, which allows you to really force the water through your nose to get out that hard to get mucus. Also, the saltier and warmer the water, the better. I was on track to have surgery every 3 years until I started doing the rinses and now I've been polyp free for over 6 years.

Holler if you have any questions because I cannot say enough good things about sinus rinses with the NeilMed bottle. Good luck!
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Colleen's avatar - Go to profile

Colleen · 801 weeks ago

I am commentting via my own blog. http://seeingsnowflakes.blogspot.com/2009/12/cf-a...
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Heidi's avatar

Heidi · 801 weeks ago

Oh, I meant to mention that I was pretty bad about rinsing with the Neilmed prior to 2 surgeries ago (early 20s)...when I did have to go in for surgery, it was much more intense because I was not caring for my sinuses well. the only reason I had to do the last surgery is a polyp was blocking up the whole right side, but the left side was GREAT! I flush everyday. When I do have an infection, it's fun to see what comes out when flushing. My husband loves it...he loves boogers though, so it's easy to understand I guess. LOL.

I am not sure how much good it will do if your sinuses are really clogged. Have em' cleaned out, then flush daily and you will notice a huge difference.
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Dad's avatar

Dad · 801 weeks ago

I can actually relate to this...........before I had a polyp removed in 1997 I had to do the sinus irrigation 4 days a week. I am so proud of you and everthing you stand for! Dad
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becca23 1p · 801 weeks ago

That is a very old way of irrigating your sinuses. I havnt done it that way in probably 10 years. I highly recommend getting a Sinus Rinse bottle that you can put some pressure behind the water with and then watch the results you get. When I am having my most problems this relieves symptoms. I have been at sinus irrigation for probably 20 years and seen many different methods from using the ear bulb syringes(like u are using) to using a water pic device but the most comfortable and the one I think that works the best is the bottle.
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Norma Jean's avatar

Norma Jean · 801 weeks ago

Listen up! Unfortunately, I am pretty much an expert on nasal rinses. Have tried all types but what works for me is the pulsatile irrigation via a Grossan Hydro Med irrigation system. Like a Water Pik but for nasal irrigation. I then use distilled or sterile water and add a packet of Neil Med saline or antibiotics as prescribed. This really gets the stuff out. I can do up to two cups of solution to get the stuff out and do more if needed. This does really work. But my sinuses have been basically obliterated by surgeries (no maxillary, sphenoid, frontal or ethmoid sinus cavities. Even the turbinates were obliterated by a roto rooter quack doctor-bad idea. I fought against that but he said it was my only hope. But this type of irrigation really works and does the job if you have serious problems. The other methods are useless for me. Always ask your doctor first but remember how much it helps me.
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Norma Jean's avatar

Norma Jean · 801 weeks ago

The method Ronnie received was good to deliver antibiotics into the sinuses but it really is not irrigation where all the horrible stuff inside is literally flushed out. with a pulsatile nasal irrigation system. I have even had irrigations done at the ENT office and what he uses is similar to the system I use. You see all this terrible stuff come out and feel so much better afterwards. I do it multiple times a day when I feel congested but I always do it at least twice a day whether I needd it or not.
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Norma Jean's avatar

Norma Jean · 801 weeks ago

Yes, to Sandra. You use the Sinupulse Nasal irrigator and I use the Grossnan Hydro Med and they are very similar. It is amazing how much gunk does come out when infection sets in. I can say that the pulsatile irrigations have saved my life literally. About surgeries, when I had the frontal sinuses obliterated, I woke from the surgery in the recovery room feeling so much better without all the pain from the infection. That helped me a lot. Now with the genetics of CF my last name was Marshall. But that is probably your married name or are you a Marshall descendant. I am into genealogy.
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Jessie's avatar

Jessie · 801 weeks ago

Ronnie, sinus rinses are a daily thing for me! With my CF my sinus are hit the hardest. I am 23 yrs old and last friday had my 27th sinus surgery! They Started when i was about 13 and just recently have gotten frequent. My baby is 7 months old and i have had three since she was born! The sinus rinses are gross but trust me you get used to them, and now if i dont do them I actually crave them, if that makes sense! Good luck with everything and remember, it could be worse!
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sharon's avatar

sharon · 801 weeks ago

Holy Smokes!!!!! Doesn't it hurt without being drugged up a Bit? The first and last one I had was before I got pregnant, that was like 9 years ago. It was done in the hospital while I was under locally. I still felt a little something, although it wasn't painful. I had it done so I would be in top shape while I was pregnant. It was a piece of cake the way it was done 9 years ago, but now I don't think I'd be so eager for it. Sorry fo not being more encouraging. I hope this sinus irragtion thingy helps and that u feel better soon.
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ac389's avatar

ac389 · 414 weeks ago

nice

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