1. < Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)

Am I using my Netti pot wrong?

Posted by klickman0226 @klickman0226, Jul 1, 2023

I deal with chronic sinus infections. My previous one lasted 7 months. I use a Netti pot. I tilt my head back, insert the spout into one nostril and empty the salt water into my sinuses until it comes out the other nostril, which I assume fills the sinuses with salt water. I then alternate my head up and down several times and tilt to the side all the time pinching my nose to keep the solution from coming out. I then expel the solution, at which time yellow mucus is also expelled. I have tried using the Netti pot the way the instructions say…which is tilting my head to the side and letting the salt water run through to my other nostril, which does nothing. Am I making things worse by my method?? I might add, I use a pre packaged sterile salt solution and distilled water.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Support Group.

@seekinginfo | @nrd1 | Jul 1, 2023

@klickman0226
What are you doing to address the inflammation?

Is your provider helping you to address that?
A sinus infection that lasts that long now has an inflammation cycle involved, so it’s not “infection”.

Also- many think they have sinus “infection” and allergies tend to be the main driver, not bacteria in your sinuses.

So the inflammation component has to be dealt with.

All saline water does is assist to clear the nasal cavity.

REPLY
1 reply
klickman0226 | @klickman0226 | Jul 1, 2023
In reply to @nrd1 "@klickman0226 What are you doing to address the inflammation? Is your provider helping you to address..." + (show)
@nrd1

@klickman0226
What are you doing to address the inflammation?

Is your provider helping you to address that?
A sinus infection that lasts that long now has an inflammation cycle involved, so it’s not “infection”.

Also- many think they have sinus “infection” and allergies tend to be the main driver, not bacteria in your sinuses.

So the inflammation component has to be dealt with.

All saline water does is assist to clear the nasal cavity.

Jump to this post

If I understand what you are saying, my allergies need to be addressed, which would account for the inflammation. Is that correct?

REPLY
@seekinginfo | @nrd1 | Jul 1, 2023

Correct. If you have allergies not being addressed, you will continue to have inflammation and stuffiness regardless of saline rinses

Also-the reason why the Neti Pot instructions feel as if they do nothing is because this is orginally only meant to “gently” rinse the nasal cavity.

You have people whom have had sinus surgery to open their sinus cavity passages specifically to promote healing with topical
nasal steroid irritations specifically prescribed by their ENT. This is much different than a gentle rinse through the nose.

REPLY
1 reply
Valerie | @lacy2 | Jul 1, 2023

... may I mention I used to use neti pot then not for a year or so during which time tinnitus worsened, eustachian tube, hyperacusis etc. then after visiting busy ent he suggested using it again i did and my tinnitus was much worse so much so I haven't used it since,... wondered if anyone else had tinnitus made worse with neti pot, thanks, J. ( for 2 yrs have so much clear non smelling mucous from sinus must blow nose 20 times a day, thick, not runny, and wonder if its from eye drops)

REPLY
1 reply
mexikaren | @mexikaren | Jul 2, 2023

I use NeilMed sinus rinses. I find the NeilMed bottle is a lot easier to use than a Netti pot. My ENT recommended NeilMed. If I feel like I'm getting a sinus infection I add 1/2 teaspoon of Xylitol to the NeilMed saline rinse. It works most of the time to get alleviate a infection.

REPLY
1 reply
klickman0226 | @klickman0226 | Jul 3, 2023
In reply to @mexikaren "I use NeilMed sinus rinses. I find the NeilMed bottle is a lot easier to use..." + (show)
@mexikaren

I use NeilMed sinus rinses. I find the NeilMed bottle is a lot easier to use than a Netti pot. My ENT recommended NeilMed. If I feel like I'm getting a sinus infection I add 1/2 teaspoon of Xylitol to the NeilMed saline rinse. It works most of the time to get alleviate a infection.

Jump to this post

Thank you. I have had the bottle recommended to me previously. I’ll look into it. I have tried Xylitol. Didn’t seem to make a difference.

REPLY
klickman0226 | @klickman0226 | Jul 3, 2023
In reply to @lacy2 "... may I mention I used to use neti pot then not for a year or..." + (show)
@lacy2

... may I mention I used to use neti pot then not for a year or so during which time tinnitus worsened, eustachian tube, hyperacusis etc. then after visiting busy ent he suggested using it again i did and my tinnitus was much worse so much so I haven't used it since,... wondered if anyone else had tinnitus made worse with neti pot, thanks, J. ( for 2 yrs have so much clear non smelling mucous from sinus must blow nose 20 times a day, thick, not runny, and wonder if its from eye drops)

Jump to this post

I have tinnitus, but not linked to use of the neti pot. Thank you for your input.

REPLY
klickman0226 | @klickman0226 | Jul 3, 2023
In reply to @nrd1 "Correct. If you have allergies not being addressed, you will continue to have inflammation and stuffiness..." + (show)
@nrd1

Correct. If you have allergies not being addressed, you will continue to have inflammation and stuffiness regardless of saline rinses

Also-the reason why the Neti Pot instructions feel as if they do nothing is because this is orginally only meant to “gently” rinse the nasal cavity.

You have people whom have had sinus surgery to open their sinus cavity passages specifically to promote healing with topical
nasal steroid irritations specifically prescribed by their ENT. This is much different than a gentle rinse through the nose.

Jump to this post

I have had the sinus surgeries a number of years ago, which was great improvement, but my ENT has prescribed more. I am wary of going thru that again, so I think I will try the steroid nose spray route for now. Thank you for your input.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.