I'm tired of my frequent/chronic sinus infections.
So many people have recommend neti pots to me over the past couple years, and I halfheartedly looked around for them at the pharmacy. But even after seeing it demonstrated on Oprah last year, I wasn't convinced I really wanted to poor salt water into one nostril until it ran out the other nostril.
But after my internist and my immunologist started sounding like maybe the sinus surgery my ENT wants to do might be a good idea, I decided I needed to do whatever I could to avoid it.
But I just wasn't sure about the whole teapot-looking thing. I mean, how do you pour a teapot up your nose?
So I was kind of pleased when I found this NeilMed sinus rinse thingie next to their version of a neti pot. It's essentially an extra-large nasal spray bottle. I put the tip of it into one nostril and squeeze gently and steadily until the liquid starts running out my other nostril.
It's weird. It really is weird. There's an instant as the liquid hits my sinuses that if feels a little like drowning. But as soon as the liquid starts coming out the other nostril, it's fine.
The theory is that flushing my nose and sinuses will wash away allergens and bacteria. In theory, I will have fewer colds and other infections. Time will tell.
It's only been a few days, but I definitely haven't seen any improvement in my allergies and congestion yet. But who knows?
Note: I bought the NeilMed sinus rinse. I have not received any payment or freebies from the company for mentioning them. If anyone ever does send me a freebie that I end up writing about, I will fully disclose that fact.