If you are prone to sinus pressure headaches and ignorant like I was...

[Anonymous]

Saline spray may actually help. I have used before when sick, but never for a sinus headache. This morning I had a lot of pain. I took migraine medicine thinking it was just a migraine and that dulled things, but did not get rid of it and I've had this nagging sinus pain for hours. After googling I tried good old fashioned saline spray and low and behold I feel much better, Who knew? probably everyone except me. Hope it helps someone else.

[Anonymous]

My sibling in snot, may I introduce you to the glory of the neti pot?

[Anonymous]

Right now I have to do both neti pot and sinus spray!

[Anonymous]

My ENT told me everyone should be doing a daily nasal saline spray. You don’t realize how many germs, allergens, etc you inhale all day! And then when you’re sick you can do rinses as many times a day as you want to clear out the gunk. Flonase is an amazing thing for sinus sufferers as well.

[Anonymous]

Tell me all about "saline spray." How to use it, what brand to get, what it works for, etc. This is not the same as a neti pot, right?

[Anonymous]

A few years ago I started doing a Neti pot nearly every night before bed and my sinuses are soooo much better - even in allergy seasons. Seriously, start rinsing your sinuses daily and you will be a happier person.

[Anonymous]

Our go to is NeilMed (Costco sells the mega pack w 2x rinse bottles and many many packets) + Nasonex spray.

We began using NeilMed when DD was 6. She was prone to nasal congestion. She is now a freshman in college and still rinses on a daily basis.

I am doing shots in addition to the nasal rinse + sprays. The shots have helped a lot of sinus pressure and curbed the sinus headaches I used to get in the morning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell me all about "saline spray." How to use it, what brand to get, what it works for, etc. This is not the same as a neti pot, right?

Not a PP, but you just stick the bottle in your nostrils and squeeze. Neti pot is different. With those you fill them with clean water (I use distilled but you don’t have to), and salt (not table salt). Then you tilt your head and pour the water into one nostril and it comes out the other. I do half in one direction and the other half in the other direction. It takes a bit of getting used to but is no big deal after a few times.

I don’t use a Neti pot any longer though, I use a Neilmed product. It is a little plastic bottle and comes with premixed packets of high grade salt and baking soda. I warm the water a little, like 20 seconds in the microwave then mix. Make sure the water is lukewarm not hot. You don’t want to scald your nasal tissues. Cold is not good either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sibling in snot, may I introduce you to the glory of the neti pot?

I adored the neti pot in the early 2000s, until PAM deaths scared me that the hygiene effort was too high.

https://www.npr.org/2023/03/03/1160980794/neti-pot-safety-brain-eating-amoeba

It appears to still be happening. The nasal sprays are sterile and safer I believe. But I agree not a perfect substitute to a wave of warm water..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell me all about "saline spray." How to use it, what brand to get, what it works for, etc. This is not the same as a neti pot, right?

Not a PP, but you just stick the bottle in your nostrils and squeeze. Neti pot is different. With those you fill them with clean water (I use distilled but you don’t have to), and salt (not table salt). Then you tilt your head and pour the water into one nostril and it comes out the other. I do half in one direction and the other half in the other direction. It takes a bit of getting used to but is no big deal after a few times.

I don’t use a Neti pot any longer though, I use a Neilmed product. It is a little plastic bottle and comes with premixed packets of high grade salt and baking soda. I warm the water a little, like 20 seconds in the microwave then mix. Make sure the water is lukewarm not hot. You don’t want to scald your nasal tissues. Cold is not good either.

Please please use distilled water

https://www.npr.org/2023/03/03/1160980794/neti-pot-safety-brain-eating-amoeba

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell me all about "saline spray." How to use it, what brand to get, what it works for, etc. This is not the same as a neti pot, right?

Not a PP, but you just stick the bottle in your nostrils and squeeze. Neti pot is different. With those you fill them with clean water (I use distilled but you don’t have to), and salt (not table salt). Then you tilt your head and pour the water into one nostril and it comes out the other. I do half in one direction and the other half in the other direction. It takes a bit of getting used to but is no big deal after a few times.

I don’t use a Neti pot any longer though, I use a Neilmed product. It is a little plastic bottle and comes with premixed packets of high grade salt and baking soda. I warm the water a little, like 20 seconds in the microwave then mix. Make sure the water is lukewarm not hot. You don’t want to scald your nasal tissues. Cold is not good either.

Please please use distilled water

https://www.npr.org/2023/03/03/1160980794/neti-pot-safety-brain-eating-amoeba

I use distilled, but I’ve read that purified is ok. Some people boil their own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Right now I have to do both neti pot and sinus spray!

Be careful with the neti pot! https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/what-to-know-about-another-dangerous-amoeba-linked-to-neti-pots-and-nasal-rinsing

[Anonymous]

I just use pseudoephedrine, but your option seems healthier!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell me all about "saline spray." How to use it, what brand to get, what it works for, etc. This is not the same as a neti pot, right?

OP here. I just have a generic brand saline spray from the drug store. Pretty sure they are all the same. I watched a youtube video on how to spray it since the package didn't say much. I recall a Dr. at urgent care swore by the stuff when I was sick a year ago, just never thought it would help with sinus headaches where there wasn't congestion.

Not the same as a neti-pot. My husband uses one of those daily at the recommendation of his allergist. They scare me. This is easier.

I have used flonase when desperate but you don't want to use that stuff too often. Not as bad as Afrin, but I try to only use it when desperate and congested. Saline is safe to use any day, multiple times a day according to the Dr who suggested it a year ago.

[Anonymous]

I use the Arm and Hammer spray. Feels funny going in but helps.

I used to use the NeilMed bottles but it's a pain boiling and cooling the water if they don't have distilled and sometimes it makes you feel worse.