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can someone tell me which is the safest means to do the lavage? What exactly do you use to do it with etc. Thanks!
Replies to "can someone tell me which is the safest means to do the lavage? What exactly do..."
@irenea8
I use a “Guru Nanda” plastic squeeze bottle, same as the NeilMed squeeze bottle but cheaper ($1.50 on Amazon, I stock up). I fill it with distilled water and add a premixed salt packet, either NeilMed or Guru Nanda, and microwave it for 30 seconds for comfort. (Unless it’s a really hot day, then a cool nasal rinse is refreshing!) Sometimes I use Xlear instead of a regular saline packet, supposedly this is better protection against bacterial infection; dunno if that’s true but I have the packets so might as well use them occasionally.
After each use I thoroughly rinse the bottle and straw with tap water and air dry, then zap in the microwave for at least 2 minutes before using again. This is only if I am healthy; if I think I have a cold or anything more than allergies, I will clean more carefully with detergent (I haven’t had even a cold since I started doing this though, I mask and avoid contagion like the plague). Once in a while I clean with detergent anyway, and of course I replace the bottles every 2 months as directed. If there’s any condensed water in there I rinse again with distilled water before using.
This is definitely not the safest method! Safer is to use a silicone squeeze bottle and boil it after every use. I had one of those and didn’t like it as much as the plastic squeeze bottles, so I made a trade-off. I also don’t have MAC, just bronchiectasis and allergies.
@irenea8 When I am done rinsing my sinuses, I wash the whale in hot water + dish soap, rinse thoroughly then sterilize it in my Bololo after each use.
Best wishes of great health to all of us!
@irenea8 , actually I just found that link that has helpful info:
https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/risks-and-rewards-of-nasal-rinses-what-you-need-to-know
Best wishes of great health to all of us!
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@irenea8, I use the NEIL MED whale (Neil Med squeezie, on Amazon). I fill it up to the line with boiled distilled water, add a packet or 2 of Neil Med salt and once a day I empty a capsule of Budesonide in it (compounded med prescribed by my ENT). My ENT just recommended adding 2.5 ml of a J&J baby shampoo, as it is supposed to inhibit the formation of bacteria film. In my experience, the sinus lavage considerably reduced my sputum production.
Best wishes of great health to all of us!