I’ve had it with you two. You constantly bug me all year round. You get SAD every damn winter and bug me to fix it. But now you’ve spent the last two fucking weeks making my life increasingly more intolerable. And what’s with all the banging on the walls up there? You’re not the only ones living here you know!
I’d love to call the landlord and have you two evicted, but he’s not answering his phone, dammit. Can’t he find some time in between saving souls and fighting Lucifer to handle a simple domestic dispute?
uh…
Sorry to hear your holes in the head are making life suck
Have you tried a Neti pot? Those seem to be ranked right up there with bacon as the cure for all Doper ills (more seriously, a lot of people find they are tremendously helpful. I would suggest you not put bacon in it though.).
I am seriously reconsidering my stance on neti pots. My opinion on them has always been “water does NOT belong in the nose”, but now I’m starting to think that I’ll try anything, ANYTHING, for sinus relief. Problem is, when I get to this stage, I am not in any condition to drive, and when I’m well enough to drive, I am no longer desperate enough to search out and buy one.
Agreed. There’s nothing chocolate can’t cure. Except maybe stupidity, but it still tastes good trying
I may have to search out a neti pot, as much as the idea of it creeps me out.
Fortunately, I haven’t really been getting headaches lately, but the stuff is draining down my throat which is affecting my appetite pretty bad. And I really, really do no need to lose weight. I’m curious what’s triggering it, as things rarely get this bad.
Buy a neti pot.
Lock yourself in the bathroom, take a steamy hot shower to get the gunk moving. THEN use the neti pot.
It does creep some people out, as it did me when I first read about it here on the board. My doctor gave me the choice of having my head roto-rootered, or continue having chronic sinus infections (which always spread like wildfire to my ears, salivary gland, eyes). I, instead, chose to buy a neti pot.
Ha! I could have sworn that read “Our neti pot *conversion *thread…”
Give it a shot, Jayn! You can pick up a neti kit at your local pharmacy. Expensive, but well worth the money once you’re able to completely clear your sinuses (which may take several uses).
Yup. I was ready to have my sinuses filled in with epoxy (who needs 'em!) when I started using a neti pot. Now my sinuses and I are in a much better relationship.
It’s not a fun process. The water-up-your-nose feeling can be pretty intense. I’ve even thrown up once, when the salt water drained down my throat. It is, however, worth it.
Not to knock a Neti pot (I irrigate with salt water myself), but have you considered going to an Ear, Nose & Throat specialist just in case you have some larger issue?
I had headaches to the point of migraine (tunnel vision, light & scent sensitivity, etc), and after 2 visits & an MRI they knew I had polyps in my sinuses causing blockage which would not allow my sinuses to drain. The polyps are gone now thanks to surgery, and I still irrigate my sciences as well, but there are many other issues which could cause sinus issues that require an ENT.
I was talking to my pediatrician (who is no longer my pediatrician but now my brother’s father-in-law) about Neti pots and he says they are great, albeit expensive.
He also says that you can make your own saline solution (1/2 tsp salt : 1c water) and snarf it up into your nose from the cupped palm of your hand.
Know what works for me, too? I swim twice a week, and all that horking and blowing that is proper swim breathing is excellent for cleaning out the ol’ crevices.
Not sure why “expensive” - I think I paid less than 15 dollars for one at a health food store, and Amazon lists one that’s about 12 dollars. Admittedly, decongestants etc. aren’t that pricey, but 12 dollars is worth a lot if it works better!
I have, in the past, felt your pain. My sinuses were evil too. Neti pots and saline squeeze bottles helped a little, but not enough. I got lots of migraines, and had the roto-rooter surgery.
What really helped was finding out exactly what I’m allergic to, and taking extreme measures to avoid it. I’ve been allergic to things all my life and had three separate rounds of allergy shots, and am therefore no longer allergic to down or pollen, but am still fiercely allergic to atmospheric mold. I used to live in Austin (and before that, various other moldy places). We ran HEPA filters all day long and cut down on the spores in the air (corroborated by fancy expensive testing) but it wasn’t enough. Solution: move to Maine. Life is so good now!
It’s expensive to do allergy testing and even expensiver to move. I’m very, very glad I did. I hope you find a solution that works for you.
Hope I have something different, 'cause I did the opposite thing (and as much as I miss the ocean, I’m not looking to move back).
Normally I don’t have major problems–the odd headache and minor congestion. Dunno why these last couple weeks things have been acting up. This is minor compared to what a lot of you have shared, but the effect on my appetite is annoying (and potentially worrying–I don’t exactly have large fat stores to live off of).
What to hear something odd? When I saw this thread I got very excited for a moment thinking I would be the one to recommend the neti pot! Man I’m lame…
Oh, and don’t let reports of some bad experiences deter you. I promise that as long as you don’t have some kind of unusual sinus problem that it should help and its not all that hard to get used to.
I have actually had to be “roto-rooted.” You chose well.
If you think water running freely through your sinuses is gross, wait until you have a doctor with giant q-tips elbow deep trying to dig out snot from the middle of your head. That’ll change your mind right quick.
Trust me, (and I’ll admit you don’t know me) this works.
I, too, used to wish for death when dealing with the pure evil of sinus design. Now the roses bloom, birds sing, the grass is green, and rainbows and unicorn farts smell sweet. I don’t love anything in this world, but of all the things I hate, sinuses no longer make the top 1000 list.
Neti Pots and beer^H^H^H^Hbacon are proof that life is worth living.
The sea salt would probably be easier to get if I hadn’t moved inland
Thanks for all the advice. My sinuses have backed off–they’re still annoying but I don’t feel like a have a river running down the back of my throat anymore.
(more seriously, a lot of people find they are tremendously helpful. I would suggest you not put bacon in it though.).
