I never got out of my pajamas yesterday. Actually, I did get out of my pajamas but only to take a shower and then put on new pajamas. Just because a girl is possibly dying from a sinus infection/cold/seasonal allergies doesn’t mean she shouldn’t practice proper hygiene. Plus I was hoping the steam from the shower would help me breathe.
And, also, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror while I was in the bathroom getting a new box of Kleenex and I was frightened.
Hopefully I’ll feel better tomorrow but in the meantime I’m just sitting here cuddling my box of Sudafed with a side of Bendadryl whispering, “You complete me”.
Also, I know someone is going to tell me that I need to use a neti pot. And I totally would except that every time I’ve tried to use one, I am certain that I am drowning. Am I doing something wrong? Is it supposed to feel like that?
Because, personally, I’ll take the Benadryl hangover over drowning by a plastic teapot.
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yes, I feel like I’m drowning, but so worth it to get the relief.
Yesterday, I tried NeilMed for the first time. It’s the same people who make the neti pot, but it’s way easier. It’s @$10 at Walmart, and I was amazed at how UN-oh-help-me-I’m-drowning it felt, and it worked wonders. I would recommend using it for the first time about an hour after popping some sudafed (or Aleve-D – I love that stuff).
Try the neti pot again…or the neilmed bottle…
Also go to the pharmacy and get some Emergin-C! Get the tangerine flavor… Mix it with water and chug it. It comes with 30 packets…have P drink it too.. (my kids even drink it!) Do this a couple of times/day and you will be amazed at how much better you’ll feel!
you have to breathe deeply through your mouth when using the neti pot. have to. it does work and you know we want you to feel better!
It feels like that – I have a Neti pot, but I never feel desperate enough to use it. (Oooh, I just tempted fate, didn’t I?) My daughter has whatever you have right now. It’s awful. I told her to stay in her room and don’t come out.
It’s probably already been said, but w/ the neti pot, open your mouth and breathe through it. If it’s the right temperature, you may not even feel the water in your sinuses at all. If it’s too hot or too cold you’ll know exactly where the water is. If your mouth isn’t open and you’re not breathing it’ll go down your throat, though! Hope it helps!
I’m curious if you went to the doctor, did they automatically test you for Swine/H1 whatever it’s called flu? Because if I see one more news story about Swine flu in Texas I’m gonna scream.
isn’t “neti” just an old-fashioned word for waterboard?
here in houston, it’s heavy tree pollen & mold spores, and woo hoo…extremely heavy ragweed and grass pollen.
so, stay inside with filtered air as much as possible and feel better soon.
it’s not fun getting older (although the alternative is worse!) but i will tell you i’ve become less affected every year by the airborne gifts of fall, in the swamp houston is built on.
so you’ve got that going for you.
I’m afraid I nearly spewed my Swine Flu germs all over the keyboard when I read the “You complete me” part.
(gotta warn a girl.)
the neti pots do me the same way. so, drugging myself to no end is my only option also.
Mucinex… I (heart) Mucinex. I’m not sticking ANYTHING up my nose. I need that for breathing.
I second the Neilmed (the big huge squirt bottle) and the Costco Nasal decongestant spray. Have you been tested for allergies? The doctor can get you on some type of cocktail (mine is Allegra, Flonase, eyedrops and an allergy escalation serum combination) that will help you along. Also, he/she can kickstart the party with a steroid shot. I hope you feel better.
Hope you feel better soon!
Yes the neti makes you feel like you’re drowning but you get used to it. lol i swear by mine. When I lived in Houston I used it religiously b/c I always had sinus issues. Feel Better!!!
I am going to have to sing Neilmed praises. A few weeks ago I was going through all that you are. My niece works for an asthma and allergy specialist and she suggested the Neilmed system. When she told me how it works I thought….LAST RESORT. Well I got to the my last resort and I wish I had started it earlier.
I don’t know if it does anything for the cause of the problem but it definitly gives enormous relief to a congested head. We I first started it if felt just like when you are swimming and get water up your nose but I just continued to breath steady through my mouth and was able to get through it. It is not the most pleasent thing to do but it does help or it did me anyway.
I’ve found “Shower Soothers” in the cough drop aisle at WalMart and they are very helpful during a shower for congestion. It’s a big effervescent tab with basically Vicks VaporRub in it. It dissolves while you are showering and fills the air with the Vicks aroma. It helped for a little while!
I put neti pots right up there with suppositories in the “scary stuff we force in to our bodies” category. Both work, but I just can’t help feeling like they contradict nature’s intent for those particular orifices. With that said, God bless the neti pot. And suppositories too.
I haven’t read all the comments, so someone may have already answered your neti pot question. If they haven’t, you have the water too cool. Use warmer water and be sure to tilt your head to the side. It’s gross, but it works.
I tried breathing through my nose while using the netipot. Then I felt like I was going to drown. Once I finally figured out how to breathe only with my mouth, it worked a lot better.
There is a saline solution called Ocean that might help for dryness. I know Walmart has it for around $4.
I am sorry for you not feeling well, but your post made me snicker a few times. Thanks.
you poor think, hope you feel better soon. Try Simply Saline from CVS. It clears out and moisturizes the nasal passages.
Don’t use the NetiPot, use the Neilmed. The Neilmed is the one you squirt up your nose and you do get use to it. My ENT Dr. made me use the Neilmed everyday for 2 months before he would do any major sinus surgery. I was miserable and was sure it wouldn’t work but I, and I’m not making this up, am a different person. No more headaches and swollen eyes. And the best part is it made my dark circles under my eyes go away. And yes, vanity now gives me motivation to actually get off the couch and and use the thing every night…
My hubby uses the Neilmed too. He is a different person since starting to use it. IF you can bear the drowning sensation (which I can’t but I WISH I could) I think it would help a lot. If you can’t, you’re in good company. I love me some benadryl also.
According to this article on WebMD it sounds like yes, you should feel like you’re drowning. But why not just use saline spray? I think using hankies is gross, why would you want ot place a dirty-in-you-nose pot in your dishwasher? EEWW
http://www.webmd.com/allergies/sinus-pain-pressure-9/neti-pots
Oh, bless your heart. I’ve had to up my Sudafed/Zyrtec due to the mold in our area. I’m convinced I have a mold allergy. Hope you will be feeling better. Bless your heart.
I am right there with you. Just finished one round of antibiotics for bronchitis and finished two before that for sinus infections. I just started a new therapy for allergies called BAX 3000 by BioVeda Technologies – don’t know if you have one where you are, I’m in GA. Anyway, I’ve only had one treatment, but it it works, I’ll let you know. If you want to read about it, the website is http://www.biovedawellness.com.
Jennifer
Been there!! Here are my sinus relief tips, my instructions for building your own neti pot from a turkey baster (if you’re in a pinch) and other nonsense. Hope you find something of use and feel better soon! I’m snuggling in with some 24 hour Claritin this time of year — no hangover…
http://clowe-imhere.blogspot.com/2009/10/netie-pot-nonsense.html
If you just keep your mouth open and tilt your head so the water doesn’t go into your mouth (EW) and breathe lightly through your mouth then it should be better. It may burn or tickle a bit but if you breathe steadily through your mouth you should be fine. Try to blow your nose before and after. Don’t forget to use warm water, because cold water HURTS!! Also use about 1/4 tsp. of non-iodized salt in your water. Using the neti pot, if done often, becomes easy. It may be uncomfortable at first but you’ll get used to it!! Trust me its worth it. My 15 year old daughter finally gave in once and used it and she was able to breathe enough to lay down flat when she slept! It’s truly a miracle lol..
I spent $15 on netipot/saline solution and it didn’t really work for me. What worked better for me was turn on my Jiffy clothes steamer and breathe in the steam. So if you have a steamer (and are tired of standing in the shower while the water slowly turns cold), give it a try. Just don’t burn yourself!
Netti Pot!
I was a hard to convince but two years of CONSTANT sinus infections made me give in and I am now a covnert.
Lean over the sink..face down, then turn head sideways and keep mouth open to breath.Kepp your face over the sink,as if you were washing it, dont put your head down as if you were getting ready to stand on your head.It works.
Netti Pot!
I was a hard to convince but two years of CONSTANT sinus infections made me give in and I am now a convert.
Lean over the sink..face down, then turn head sideways and keep mouth open to breath.Kepp your face over the sink,as if you were washing it, dont put your head down as if you were getting ready to stand on your head.It works.
Girlfriend,
For real – get yourself some garlic vitamins (odorless so you don’t hurt the rest of the family … grin) and echinacea. They have helped me get over my fierce cold a lot sooner than I’d thought…I was down for the count.
Hope you feel better soon!
Hope you feel better soon!
My allergies are so bad that I am taking prednisone for the itching around my eyes.
I vote for the Sinu-Rinse, too. Breathe through your mouth and you will be finished in 10 seconds.
Um, isn’t it kind of important to actually see a doctor so you know whether it’s allergies or a cold or piggy flu?
My allergies are winning this week and I’m living on Benadryl, but I will not do that scary neti pot!
Yes, at first it feels like drowning (or what I imagine it to be….try to keep my mind out of those places!!) but after using it for awhile you can get past it and it goes really quickly and seems to help
yeah, it feels like drowning, so I’ve switched to the neti-spray bottle, which is like a humongous nasal spray. It chokes me too, but seems to help. What we’ll sacrifice to breathe. Also, I never lay down without Breathe Right strips. They are WONDERFUL
Please step into 2009 and take Claritin or Zyrtec. Both of which last 24 hours with very few side effects. Benedryl is so 1979.
You were a pharmaceutical rep, right?
I ditto all the comments on the NiellMed sinus rinse. We discovered this the last time my son had a sinus infection. He was not a afan at first, but then said his nose felt so much better after he used it!
I thought you weren’t supposed to use the netti pot if you have a sinus infection already because it could spread the infection… anyone know?
NielMed Sinus Rinse BOTTLE – all the way! We use it all the time and the “yuck factor” is greatly reduced – and Costco has them cheap. Between that a Mucinex, you might just make it. I also like to rub a little of Origin’s “Peace of Mind” peppermint right under my nose too – helps soothe the passages.
Oh, and my doctor said to use the “nasal lavage” as she calls it especially with a sinus infection to clear it out – twice a day.
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