Nasal Lavage

It hasn’t. . It’s in a nasal rinse and I’ve used it for several years. When my son was a NICU baby I knew the IV version was a concern for hearing.

@scoop I thank you for your comment, I have found your information helpful in the past, and I will ask my Pulmonologist at my next appointment which is on 5/5/26. May I ask where you learned that information? Your Dr. ? A Pharmacist? etc. As always scoop thank-you, better breathing for us all🙏

@gigiv do you this as well as airway clearance

@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.

@chattey2, yes I do. I believe my sinus issues play an important part.
Best wishes of great health to all of us!

@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!

@gigiv Thanks for posting. I learned something, so it's a good day! Guilty as charged as using sinus rinsing as a preventative measure. From the article you posted:

"Only use nasal irrigation when you need it

Start by performing just one irrigation a day. If the rinse is helping, you can irrigate your nose up to three times a day. But nasal rinses should not be used as a preventive measure when you don’t have symptoms. It won’t prevent sinus issues and can cause infections to develop.

Your sinuses and nasal passages are lined with good mucus — it traps the irritants and germs that enter your nostrils and can kill some bacteria. Regular flushing can hinder those protective features and increase the risk of infection."

Many of us with bronchiectasis have chronic sinus issues, often referred to as chronic rhinosinusitis, and nasal rinses can make a big difference.

However, I tend to follow a simple rule: if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. Since I do not have significant sinus issues, I do not regularly use nasal washes.

For those who do, I strongly recommend changing your rinse bottle regularly. I have seen GuruNanda suggested as a much less expensive option than NeilMed. You can often find those bottles for about $1.50 each. If you prefer to stick with NeilMed, you can purchase them in multi packs, such as a box of three.

Because so many of us are careful about preventing unnecessary bacterial exposure, I recommend replacing your bottle at least every two weeks, if not more frequently.

There is no reliable way to fully sterilize these bottles, and I do wonder whether nasal wash bottles can become a source of infection.

Another option is to use a Squeezie bottle, which is easier to clean and sterilize.

Happy Sunday,
Linda Esposito

@scoop
Exactly! That is the only time I do nasal lavage is if I am having a sinus issue.