I use Nasonex.  It is not used for irrigation.  It is a topical nasal corticosteroid which works by decreasing the inflammatory and immune responses.  I irrigate my nose and then put my two squirts of Nasonex in.  That way my sinuses are clean and the drug can directly contact the mucous membranes of my sinuses and therefore work better.

Vicki


_________________
Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.
Marilyn Von Savant

That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

Someone, unfortunately I don't know who, emailed the ASAA claiming we have been endorsing a particular product "for years", getting kickbacks and threatened to report us to the AMA.  I would like to address this.

1.  We are all volunteers.  How I wish I got compensated for this, but no, we all do this because we are passionate about the cause and the only person who gets paid is our executive director, Ed Grandi, and his assistant, of which he doesn't have one right now.

2.  I started this thread in 2005, when I became a moderator.  I don't believe there were any other systems available then.  I used a WaterPik and a Grossman attachment, which I still do.  It would have been wonderful if you had contacted me to educate me.

3.  If this has been bothering you "for years", why in the world did you not contact me (since I posted the information) or the ASAA years ago?

4.  If there is a superior product, by all means POST it, we discuss CPAP equipment all the time.  Once again, I am a volunteer, I have a full life.  I spend HOURS on the forum researching OSA issues so I can accurately respond to them.  I do not have the time to research and study all potential products.  Please, please help me out here; if you think there is something better, you are very free to talk about it.

5.  I recently got a very long email from the person who designed the Hydropulse (Grossman) system.  They have developed a new system, wanted to post about it and wanted to establish a commercial deal with forum members.  I declined the offer.  This is a not-for-profit organization.

6.  Once again, I wish this person had posted about a better system.  I was wondering if the Hydropulse would be worth it because WaterPiks do not last very long and I was wondering if the Hydropulse did.  The HydroPulse is almost twice as expensive as the Water Pik.  It seems to be the handle part of my WaterPik that goes bad and I just discovered that part is replaceable.  The developer of the Hydropulse system did not respond to my questions about this issue.

7.  We have not planted the people who have recently posted about the Grossman system.  They are simply patients who are posting about their experience, which you could do as well.

8.  I would greatly appreciate it if, instead of contacting the AMA, you post about your experience with the SinuPulse system.  Contrary to what you so strongly believe, I am not endorsing anything, I am just ignorant.

9.  I will now check out the SinuPulse system and who the heck is Dr. Goldberg?

Vicki


_________________
Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.
Marilyn Von Savant

That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

i did my first nasal rinse today, several hours ago. it was fine! easy. not uncomfortable. i am using NeilMed pre-mixed powder, and i would prefer not to smell the slight salty odour afterwards, but i doubt any recipe is gonna get away from that.  it reminds me of swimming in the ocean... getting water up one's nose meant you were probably a bit too far out in the waves, and as a child that was sometimes scary.  so i had a little flashback, sigh.  more income for my therapist.  he can still earn a living in a recession   anyway there was only the tiniest few drops of clear liquid coming out afterwards, and i do feel like the rinse went into the sinuses, i could feel it.  i expected it to be much more gross (but maybe that is yet to come).  in fact on a grossness scale of 1 to 10 at was a big fat 0.


_________________
"Attitude is a little word that makes a big difference" - Winston S Churchill
Machine: Respironics M Series Pro, 17cm
Mask 1: Respironics Comfortgel nasal
Mask 2: Resmed Quattro full face
37yo female, New Zealand, Mixed SA, AHI 45

Hi all.  Well, sinus irrigation is still going well for me, but lately I've had in increase in my allergies and it's not enough to keep my nose clear all night.  I've been waking up in the morning with all the symptoms of mouthbreathing - very dry mouth, blocked nose, and my machine showing a very high leak rate.  I take oral antihistamines, and I use a decongestant nasal spray, but I admit I haven't seen my doctor about this yet so I haven't got a steroid nasal spray to use... I'm guessing that will be the next step that people will recommend...  

Anything else I should be doing?  Would irrigating twice a day help... what about using a different concentration in the recipe?  Thanks in advance.


_________________
"Attitude is a little word that makes a big difference" - Winston S Churchill
Machine: Respironics M Series Pro, 17cm
Mask 1: Respironics Comfortgel nasal
Mask 2: Resmed Quattro full face
37yo female, New Zealand, Mixed SA, AHI 45

Well, I've only been using nasal rinse since March 6th.

At first I was using it twice a day....since it seemed my nose would know that I'm about to start CPAP and get congested...and then get congested when I'm done in the morning.

It was kind of irritating and other strangeness at first....but it is getting better.  The fact that I was particularly congested the first night I tried it and it worked well...means I'll probably continue to use it.

It is kind of icky as continues to ooze out my nose, but one can only hope that things will improve.

At first I was doing it twice a day....but I stopped doing the morning one, because I didn't like the increased ability to smell my surroundings.  Every now and then there's that distinct smell of fresh poop all over the city....well, it seemed so much more intense having rinsed out my nose before walking out my front door.

It was last spring that my parents discovered this, and had been on me to start using it.  They said they even ordered it for me, but I never received any such package in the mail.  But, I kept hearing about it from other CPAP users....so I finally ordered it "Ayr brand"  And, then finally got desperate enough to try it.

I initially only got a bottle and 50 packets...guess I'll plan on ordering the 100 packet refill soon.

OTOH, reading this thread...has made me wonder about checking out the sinus irrigators.  I saw SinuPulse at the drugstore the other day....but again, I couldn't see myself using such a device to do this....  I also saw the Grossan one at brookstone, but I wasn't looking to overspend the gift card I had by too much.  Plus I think I'd want to make sure I can get packets easily.

Allergy season is just around the corner....

If only being DX'd with OSA was a qualifying event to allow me to change my FSA.  Open Enrollment was October, I was DX'd in December....it only took me 2.5 months to save enough receipts to use it all.  Would've been faster, if I didn't lose receipts...or if I had delayed starting CPAP until after January 1st...I started on December 29th.  (sleep study was Dec 1st, and the doctor's letter arrived on Dec 27th.)  But, it was better than I got the bulk of the DME in 2008 than 2009...because my co-insurance was 10% in 2008, but its 20% now.

The Dreamer.


_________________
You may be a dreamer, but I'm The Dreamer, the definite article you might say!

Respironics M Series Pro w/C-Flex=Off w/F&P HC150 Heated Humidifier=Passive - Pressure=7.5cm
Respironics ComfortLite II - Large Nasal Pillows

Dreamer,

Make things cheap and easy.  Be sure to read the first post in this thread.  Studies have shown that pulsed irrigation works best.  It cleans the nose out better and the pulsing helps the cilia work better.  Price shop to see which is cheaper for you a WaterPik or any of the other nasal irrigation systems.  If the WaterPik is cheaper, then you just need to get a special attachment for it.  Directions are in the first thread.

There is a recipe for irrigation solution which just costs a few pennies to use.  Personally, I just use salt in mine unless I have an infection or want a refreshing burst, then I also add a splash of Alkalol.  Order it directly from the company online, it is much, much cheaper than getting it through a pharmacy.

As far as the stuff draining out.  Tilt your head all around when you are done.  Lean all the way forward, lean your head backwards, etc.  If you have allergies, you might consider using a topical nasal steroid like Nasonex, Flonase, Rhinocort, etc.  Do not use Afrin, it does not fix the underlaying problem and is addictive.  Use the nasal steroid immediately after you hose your nose, that way, the medicine goes directly to the mucosal surfaces.

Like I said, make this cheap and easy!

Vicki


_________________
Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.
Marilyn Von Savant

That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

Earlier this week one of my coworkers brought up NETI pots. A few days later I find this forum because of my recent sleep apnea diagnosis and CPAP usage. Last night I see Walgreens has a whole new display of NETI pots in an isle so I buy one.  I did an irrigation before I went to bed and put on the CPAP mask. It seemed to be much easier to breath, when I was aware of it. Now I'm looking for a Rhinotip for my too little used Water Pik.

It makes me wonder why I'm paying my doctor $110 for visits when better information is here.

I was referred to this thread from my post about CPAP problems with congestion and rainout when I turn the humidifier high enough to help me breathe. On my initial consult with my sleep dr (about 6 weeks ago) he proscribed Flownase.
I never get sinus infections and don't have any allergies, just a consistent nasal congestion that didn't realy bother me until I started using a CPAP. Flownase seemed to help at first but now I don't think it is acutaly doing anything. Should I use a nasal rinse instead of Flownase or in addition to it?

Stanps,

Use Flonase in addition to sinus irrigation and use the Flonase right after the rinse.  That way the Flonase is more effective because it is directly touching mucosal tissue rather than gunk.  If you have done this for a couple of weeks and you are still not seeing a change.  Talk to your doc.  There are lots of decongestants to try and, like masks, it can take a few tries of different ones to find one that works for you.

Vicki


_________________
Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.
Marilyn Von Savant

That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

I was curious as to whether or not having a deviated septum has an impact on the efficacy of a netti pot? Forgive me if this has been answered I read through the first 5 or so pages and didn't see it covered there, Btw thanks for a great community what a truly wonderful resource!!

Just a little product review info for folks. I was looking for a sinus irrigation 'device'. I've tried using an ear syringe just because I had one, it was difficult at best. Didn't like the neti pot idea & having to tilt my head, make me dizzy. Ran across an Ayr product at CVS, a small 6oz "sports" bottle with 100 packs of saline mix. Nothing on the box or the mfr's web site as to how it was constructed. I want to be able to hold my head normally over the sink. Took a chance, cut the seal and I was rewarded with a soft squeeze bottle that had a straw inside the cap, just as I wanted, that allows you to hold your head normally and just squeeze the bottle. The top is like that on a dish soap bottle so that you can put the mix in, fill it with water, snap the cap closed & shake it to mix. Pop the cap up, squeeze 3oz thru on each nostril and you're good. Very comfortable, no gagging or waterboarding feeling from having your head tilted.

This is very interesting - I had never considered myself an allergy sufferer, but I have been having a lot of trouble with I guess you'd call a post-nasal drip, i.e., a perpetual flow at the back of my throat. I talked about this with my Dr. 2 yrs ago and he prescribed anti-histomines which gave me a nose bleed eventually- not a long term solution. \

Where do you get these nasal irrigation kits - I saw that someone got one at Walgreen's; are those good or do you need a prescription for the better ones?

Thanks,

Steve

quercus wrote:

This is very interesting - I had never considered myself an allergy sufferer, but I have been having a lot of trouble with I guess you'd call a post-nasal drip, i.e., a perpetual flow at the back of my throat. I talked about this with my Dr. 2 yrs ago and he prescribed anti-histomines which gave me a nose bleed eventually- not a long term solution. \

Where do you get these nasal irrigation kits - I saw that someone got one at Walgreen's; are those good or do you need a prescription for the better ones?

Thanks,

Steve

I actually got my Neti Pot from my allergy doc but its the same thing that's sold at Walgreens.  Was that a nasal spray your doc gave you that caused the nose bleed?

CatJ

Yes, it was a nasal spray; It helped with the sinus congestion, but I guess it was only meant for periodic use. I had used it every night for a couple of weeks and one night I got a bloody nose. eventually it cleared up.

quercus wrote:

Yes, it was a nasal spray; It helped with the sinus congestion, but I guess it was only meant for periodic use. I had used it every night for a couple of weeks and one night I got a bloody nose. eventually it cleared up.

I use astelin and flonase daily.  The nose bleed may be due to how you spray.  Sounds crazy i know.  My allergist showed me the right way.  I'll try to explain but its kind of hard to do in writing.  Once you have the tip in your nostril kind of point it outward (like towards your ear).  If you spray straight up you will get nose bleeds.  Mention the problem to your doc or maybe the pharmacist.  One should be able to show you how to do the spray without getting the nose bleeds.  

Good Luck
Cat J