Neti pot difficulties

[kamilla626]

I bought a Neti Pot a few weeks ago, and even though I've tried using it 2 or 3 times, I'm really hesitant to keep trying.

One (or more) of these things happen:

The water doesn't go anywhere - as though my nostrils are completely blocked even though they aren't.

The water runs up into my sinus and burns behind my eyes.

The water runs into the back of my throat.

I've only gotten the water to trickle out the other nostril once, but I can't figure out what I did to make it happen and I'm reluctant to keep trying. I'd rather deal with stuffiness than the coughing, sneezing, tickling, and sinus pain that the neti pot is causing.

[pixiepunk]

NAK...

1) sometimes it takes a while for the water to go somewhere, that's pretty common. it sometimes helps to blow gently out the nostril you want it to come out of which kind of directs the flow a bit

2)if the water burns there's too much salt in it. try using less

3) what you need to do is lean forward and tilt your head slightly down and to the side. get yourself set up before you try to do the neti. lean over the sink, then tilt your head down (not putting your chin to your chest, but like 1/3 of the way to your chest). from there, tilt it to the side (so if you're putting the neti pot in your right nostril so it comes out your left, your left ear will be lower than your right - if your head was upright your ear would be about halfway to your shoulder).

keep trying! once you get the hang of it, it rocks!

[Melhow36]

I am glad to see a neti pot thread - I suffer allergies and my sinuses don't drain well (I seldom get the gunk to come out when I blow my nose).

I've gotten to the point where I get a painful build-up of fluid behind my ears which occasionally turns into an ear-infection (which always shocks doctors who seem to think only children get ear infections). As a result, I have to use mucinex almost daily.

I am hoping that a neti pot will help. I just ordered mine this morning.

[crosscat]

Originally Posted by pixiepunk

NAK...
2)if the water burns there's too much salt in it. try using less

OR not enough salt in it. The water should taste like tears.

Good luck with your neti pot. I love mine. DH gets sinus issues and finds the neti pot very helpful.

[fourgrtkidos]

Make sure to use clean filtered water. I used tap water one time and it was a bid mistake. My sinuses became very inflammed and congestion worse..... I think from the hot choline and chemicals......
Michelle

[Ruthla]

I found that I needed to use meds to clear up my nose before using the neti pot the first time, so my nose was clear enough for it to work. Then I was able to cut back on or stop other meds completely. Generally, I use the neti pot then follow up with my nasal spray, but I no longer need to use sudafed.

I use the neti pot in the shower, as I find that its easier to use when I've been breathing in steam for a few minutes first.

Also, the water running into the back of your throat isn't a bad thing. I generally wash "nostril to nostril" first, once in each direction, then intentionally inhale the water so it goes out my mouth, to more thoroughly clean out the top of the inside of my nose.

Here's a good website with lots of instructions, including a video.

[DaMajha]

I have to take long deep breaths through my mouth the entire time I am using my nasal wash (I have the bottle where you squeeze the water into your nose). That seems to help it flow through my sinuses better.

[ParisApril]

My neti pot works great. If I do it every day sometimes 2 or more times depending on how bad my allergies are that day. Sometimes when I wake up my nose is too stuffed to use the neti pot. I will take a homeopathic medicine to drain the sinus' and drink my morning coffee then the the neti pot will work.

You have to try for a while until you get the head tilt down right. Try less or more salt like the others suggested.

I would be lost without my neti pot. Good luck!

[lovemyfamily6]

I tried a Neti Pot for awhile but couldn't get it to work right. I use a nasal irrigation system from Neil Med. I got it in the pharmacy. It's a bottle with a tip that goes into a nostril. You squeeze the bottle and it comes out the other side, then switch. I had sinus surgery a couple years ago and my surgeon recommended it.