Joining the family tradition...

Well, I did it. I joined in the family tradition (Mom's side, not Dad's) of nasal irrigation today. [hoark, gag] Yup, stuck that thing filled with lukewarm saltwater right up my nose and squeezed. [cantbreathecantbreathecantbreathe] Wow... was THAT a weird sensation. [AACCHH!!! SALT WATER IN THE BACK OF MY THROAT I'M GUNNA PUKE!!!!] Like my head was filling up. [ok, I can breathe, I am not going to puke, but I'm getting the willies] And then... IT RAN OUT THE OTHER SIDE!! Just like it did on television! And in all those pictures on the internet (home of all true knowledge and fact). And (insert giant bugs-crawling-on-skin shiver here), well, it wasn't so bad. Sort of. So I did the other side. [mouth open, just breathe in and out] It was okay, I guess. Not sure what I expected. Miraculous clear-headedness? See-thru nasal passages? And where exactly does all that water go? Just around the turbinates or does some of it creep into the frontal sinuses and wash them out too? Questions, questions. If I could be assurred that I was washing out all 4 sinuses with this I would feel a lot 'cleaner' I think. Hmmm... questions for the doc when I see her again.





Thanks, Kay... I think... She and I watched a few minutes of Dr. Oz on Oprah last weekend and some audience member was doing a live demo of the Neti Pot. (Gul-durn-it Mabel, right there in front of everybody.) We had a brief discussion and she was sure that one relative we have was an active participant and that Grandpa did it. (Gramps had well known sinus problems. Forgot to ask Mom if she was Neti Potting.) Didn't give it much thought other than, "That looks gross", but after waking up the last 2 nights with my nose plugged, and not being able to breathe and squirting Afrin up the nostrils at 4 am, I went to the store and procured a nasal lavage device.





It's not as cute as a neti pot, but it seems to do the trick. Will be interesting to see how I do tonight. Although I am thinking I will hedge my bets and do some sudafed at bedtime to ensure a breathe easy sleep.

Side effects seem to be limited to a feeling of fullness in my ears for some time after the lavage.

On the up side, it's been 5 hours now and my nose is remarkably clear. Will see how it goes.

Ta-ta for now.... I must go and sniff some new smells with my clean nose!