Pregnancy and Neti Pot (sorry if TMI)

[Tori19]

Hello!

I was just reading the benydryl thread and mention of the neti pot prompted me to post. I have allergies and get chronic sinus infections and use the neti pot every day. Since getting pregnant (I'm 11 wks), I have had the worst post nasal drip ever and have found that the neti pot makes it worse. It's almost as if the flush pushes all the mucus (sorry if TMI) back even further and makes the drip even worse to point of making me throw up from gagging. Now I have a nasty sinus infection and raging sore throat that I think is caused from the post nasal drip. Has anyone else had this problem? Is there a neti pot technique I can do to get the fluid to drain out of my nose instead of back into my throat?

TIA!

[~Demeter~]

Are you doing the breathing technique afterward? Where you kinda blow your nose? Though it's really not blowing because blowing is bad. To me it sounds like your not getting it all out.

[IAMommy]

Is your head tilting forward enough as you rinse?
There have also been some articles recently about how using a neti pot too frequently can cause worse problems. You end up washing the healthy bacteria and mucous out of your nose. I don't remember what the recommendation was, because I only use mine when I have been around sick people or am ill.
If you are having chronic sinus infections, it might be worth looking at an elimination diet and avoiding nasal allergens. I can't be around fragrances and I can't eat dairy if I expect my nose to stay healthy. You might just have to ride out the pregnancy rhinitis. It was bad for me at first, but it cleared up at some point in the second trimester.
Good luck....

[gradstudentmommy]

My experience is that when you're really clogged up, the Neti pot can't get the solution into your sinuses.

I used a Neti Pot for years and recently switched to the Neil Med Sinus Cleanse. I liked it SO much better. You don't have to tip your head and I find a lot less goes down my throat. Plus, since it's a squeeze bottle, the added "pressure" during the squirting seems to do a better job of dislodging congestion for me. My ENT doctor recommended it originally.

[Quinalla]

Definitely make sure you are tipping your head forward enough and yeah, make sure you are blowing everything out, but yeah gentle blowing. I find if I use the neti pot before my shower, then I can just blow everything out in the shower and that helps a lot. Sorry if that is too gross

[chattyprincess]

My husband is a self proclaimed neti pot lover. He never gets sinus infections anymore and has reduced his usage of allergy meds to barely any...it truly is amazing. He now however LOVES the neil med sinus cleanse...my 3.5yr old dd can use it when she is sick (all by herself) and my dh swears it works better then the neti pot because there is some "force" behind it.

[Tori19]

Thanks for the suggestions! I have had to abandon the neti pot since I got sick because on matter how forward I tilt my head, stuff drains back and after throwing up from it a few times, I had to stop. I think that I just might be too stuffed for it to be working properly and then being pregnant on top of that isn't settling right. Maybe my sinuses are more inflammed because of hormones that stuff isn't draining as it should? I have using the neti pot for years and never had this problem before being pregnant. The Neil Cleanse sounds interesting, I may check that out.

[AmyKT]

I wish I had read this thread a few hours ago. I just ordered a neti pot online after suffering from allergies/cold/sinusitis/whatever for 5 weeks. I sure hope I can make it work for me.

Last night I woke up and I couldn't breathe out of either nostril. I nearly suffocated when I tried to take a drink of water. What is someone had broken in and gagged me? I would have died because I couldn't breathe through my nose.

Yes, I'm sleep deprived and going a little crazy.

[Pepper44]

I have the same problem with post nasal drip and the neti pot. I know I am using it right, while in use the water goes out my nostrils like it should and everything. The problem is that the neti pot loosens up everything making it drain out of my head for hours after, which is GREAT from a sinus infection point of view. The downside is that it drains down my throat, because this is just the way my sinuses work...I've always had post nasal drip issues. You can't blow it out your nose...it's impossible no matter how much you blow.

When not pregnant then I love the neti pot despite the drainage issue. I can put up with it and would rather have drainage than chronic sinus infections. When pregnant the drainage makes me too sick!

[Tori19]

I wouldn't count out the neti pot, it may just be the way my pipes are set up that's giving me trouble. I hope you get some relief soon!

Originally Posted by AmyKT

Last night I woke up and I couldn't breathe out of either nostril. I nearly suffocated when I tried to take a drink of water. What is someone had broken in and gagged me? I would have died because I couldn't breathe through my nose.

Yes, I'm sleep deprived and going a little crazy.

You don't sound crazy, I think I"ve probably thought the same thing at one time or another .

[rootzdawta]

Originally Posted by gradstudentmommy

My experience is that when you're really clogged up, the Neti pot can't get the solution into your sinuses.

I used a Neti Pot for years and recently switched to the Neil Med Sinus Cleanse. I liked it SO much better. You don't have to tip your head and I find a lot less goes down my throat. Plus, since it's a squeeze bottle, the added "pressure" during the squirting seems to do a better job of dislodging congestion for me. My ENT doctor recommended it originally.

Thanks for this recommendation. My sinuses are usually so swollen shut, I can't get anything through. I'm going to give it a try.

[ivkins]

I had this same problem. I told My ENT and he said it was b/c I was using tap water from my bathroom sink or shower head. Now I use reverse osmosis water, or if you don't have an RO system, he said to use distilled water, and it works GREAT!!!!!!