How To Rinse Your Sinus

Sinus rinsing has changed my life. What once seemed terrifying, has now become part of my daily routine. I rinse twice a day. As soon as I get up and an hour before bed. Here is how I do it.

You will need:
NeilMed Sinus Rinse
Alkalol
a glass measuring cup
8oz of distilled water.

1. Pour slightly less than 8oz of distilled water into a glass measuring cup.



2. Microwave the water on high for 35 to 42 seconds (depending on strength of microwave, newer ones only need 35).



3. Fill the (clean) sinus rinse bottle with the warmed distilled water. Make sure it is slightly below the fill line.



4. Add a full rinse packet into the bottle.



5. Add Alkalol until it reaches the fill line. If it’s a light/medium yellow color you have a good amount. If it’s hardly yellow you might not have enough and it won’t be helpful.



6. Put the top on the bottle.



7. Cover the hole with your index finger and shake to mix the water, rinse packet, and alkalol together.

8. Tilt your head to the left with your nose facing down over the sink.

9. Put the top of the bottle in your right nostril and squeeze the bottle gently forcing the water up in the sinus. Stop at the half way point indicated on the bottle.

10. Tilt your head to right with your nose facing down over the sink.

11. Put the top of the bottle in your left nostril and squeeze the bottle gently forcing the water up in the sinus. Stop when the bottle is empty.



Now blow your nose and until there is no congestion left.

My First Time

Upon learning about sinus rinsing, I was hesitant. The thought of shooting water through my sinus made my stomach turn. Even though I knew it carried great health benefits, I was reluctant. Even after my first visit to an ENT and I was handed a rinse bottle, I didn’t want to do it.

My first attempt pre sinus surgery left me in tears. Once I readied the bottle for the rinse, I just stared at it. I brought it up to my nose a couple times, and then walked away from it. Finally, I mustered the courage to just do it. Since I already knew my left sinus had serious problems, I started on the right side. At the aforementioned first ENT appointment, the doctor was not able to put the scope in my left sinus at all. That was kind of a sign.

So, shooting water up my right nostril I go. From everything I had read about rinsing, I knew the water was supposed to go in on one side and out the other. I shot the water up and it came right back down. Not what I was expecting. I tried again and had the same result. I attempted rinsing on my left side and the water didn’t even seem like it could enter my nostril. Again I tried, and the water went everywhere except where it needed to.

I started bawling. That ENT appointment ended with a prescription for a CT scan and a referral for a surgeon. I was okay with the CT scan, but the idea of having surgery terrified me. The idea that I would never breathe correctly without it, terrified me even more. My epic failure at rinsing proved what I had known in my gut for quite some time. Something was truly with my nose.

My Sphenoid Saga

This year has not been kind to my sinus. Three times in six months, I was on antibiotics. A recent head cold began to morph into an infection and to avoid a repeat of what I went through in February.

The infection I was diagnosed with in February did not clear up until May, after two rounds of antibiotics. Due to my sensitivities, my ENT initially prescribed three weeks of Bactrim. During my follow up appointment in March, I was pleased to learn that my ENT found no pus. He still saw yellow mucus, but did not think the sinus was still infected. Unfortunately, the infection was not gone. By mid-April I was back on antibiotics. This time I was prescribed Augmentin, which finally solved the problem. I saw my ENT at the end of May and he said my sinus was completely clear. In between and during my courses of antibiotics I took guaifenesin  and sudafed as needed. I take the real sudafed from the pharmacy and not the over the counter version. It’s surprising how much relief can come from one small red pill.

By June I was more positive that my sphenoid saga was coming to a close, but by the middle of the month and in midst of the aforementioned head cold my doubt grew. I had my check in with my allergist a couple of weeks ago and he confirmed my suspicions. If it was so easy for my head cold to start displaying symptoms of a sinus infection, my infection was most likely not gone.

Now I wait. My ENT wanted to see me once I completed the antibiotics, but the first available appointment was on August sixth. Almost a month after I completed the antibiotics. I’m on a cancelation call list, but so far there have been no openings. For now this saga is to be continued…

Monday Motivation

1. The Honest Life: Living Naturally and True to You (Enhanced Edition)- I'm finally digging into Jessica Alba's book. So, far I'm intrigued. I had no clue she was plagued with allergies and asthma as a child.

2. How to Choose and Use an Exercise Ball - After a recent move, I finally have a place to store an exercise ball, after this article I have no excuses for not getting one.

3. Watch Out for Backyard Allergy Triggers - Some helpful tips for those with allergies that plan to enjoy these summer days outside.

Reinventing My Wellness

According to The Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale, in just five months’ time I have faced five life events that potentially contribute to stress related illnesses. With my already fragile immunity this is not a good thing.

From January to May of this year I have dealt with:

• Death of a close family member
• Personal injury or illness
• Change in health of family member
• Change to a different line of work
• Change in residence

Bringing my stress score to 216. Which according to the scale means, “you have a moderate to high chance of becoming ill in the near future.” Not something you want to read, especially after dealing with three out of the five in the month April alone.

Ideally, I would like to take the Mindy Kaling approach to stress, “I do not think stress is a legitimate topic of conversation, in public anyway. No one ever wants to hear how stressed out anyone else is, because most of the time everyone is stressed out. Going on and on in detail about how stressed out I am isn’t conversation. It’ll never lead anywhere. No one is going to say, “Wow, Mindy, you really have it especially bad. I have heard some stories of stress, but this just takes the cake.”

Unfortunately, the impact of this stress is undeniable in the current state of my health. Minus the heart disease, the list found here pretty much sums up the way I’ve been feeling. I can’t undo any of what has happened. However, how I cope is completely within my power. So, here today I am dedicating myself to reinventing my wellness. Won’t you join me on this new chapter of my allergy journey?