Nasal Lavage

Every day at the direction of my pulmonologists!

@gallahad & @bronchiectasaurus Yes, conditionally. I use nasal lavage (VERY gently) whenever I have an upper respiratory infection - learned long ago that is the only way to prevent a sinus infection for me. Also, occasionally if I have been overexposed to pollen or dust. Then I usually rely on a bottled sterile nasal saline solution.

Two things my ENT's have taught me over the years - gently with no pressure behind the water and absolute cleanliness to avoid introducing new germs and to avoid forcing water into the sinuses.

Yes, I find it very useful. My ENT just suggested to me I might benefit from adding 2.5 ml of Jonson&Johnson tear free baby shampoo to the saline. I have been looking for a J&J baby shampoo that would be tear free and fragrance free, the fragrance free is so far nowhere to be found... I might have to use the Honest baby shampoo, hopefully it has the right surfactants.
Best wishes of great health to all of us!

Nasal saline lavage 2x/day, one of those with budesonisde and saline. Hoping I can decrease to 1x day as symptoms are controlled with daily allergy tablet.

can someone tell me which is the safest means to do the lavage? What exactly do you use to do it with etc. Thanks!

I have been doing saline rinses for years once a day. Mine includes compounded RX Gentamycin/ budes. It makes a huge difference. If I don’t it seems to end up in my lungs.

@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!

@scoop don’t you find that an allergy tablet (Allegra) dries out the mucus in your lungs being a antihistamine, therefore making it harder to expel during airway clearance.

@spider109
Fexofenadine (Allegra) is a good choice for people with bronchiectasis. It does not dry out or thicken mucus the way older antihistamines can, so it shouldn’t interfere with clearing your lungs.

It works on allergy symptoms without affecting the part of the body that controls mucus movement. In fact, it may even slightly help breathing and reduce allergy related inflammation.
Bottom line is that it can help allergies without getting in the way of airway clearance.

You should ask your doctor if you still have concerns.

@sharonednaramsey , Hi Sharon, does the Gentamycin affect your hearing at all?
Best wishes of great health to all of us!