I’ve had a cold for six weeks now, and the residual sniffles/cough/sore throat just aren’t going away. I finally bit the bullet and talked to my doctor about it. She says that my allergies are probably stopping my shnozz from healing properly after the initial infection. She told me to do “saline rinses” twice a day.
Okay, she prescribed a steroid nasal spray, too, but my DOCTOR told me to use my NETI POT!
I feel so happy.
Of course, she’s Indian, and it’s a yogic thing, which may be why she’s hip to it. Now she knows I’m hip too.
No, I just thought the Dope would be interested to hear that a doctor had suggested it of her own free will.
I use mine, usually, only when I’m severely congested. I had been using it during the worst part of this cold, for example, but given up once breathing got easy again.
My dad is a doctor and my mom is a speech pathologist and they have both heard from colleagues that the neti pot is useful and beneficial to treat nasal and sinus issues. Of course, they didn’t try it until I brought mine over with a new pair for them and showed them it was really OK.
I’ve decided I hate my neti pot. I’m sorry, but my sinuses need more water pressure than just dripping in order to clear the blockage. They’re constantly swollen and icky. I mean really, when I can put my thumb over my nostril and my sinus feels like a stopped up toilet, a little bit of water in there just isn’t going to do! It needs pressure, man! I use a water bottle and the packets instead. That way I can get some manly force going up into those nostrils.
You seem surprised by that. Our own QtM has recommended them in several threads. I happened to read one of those threads which convinced me to try it, although like EvilTOJ, I happen to use the plastic squirt bottle instead of a true neti pot.
QtM’s posts on the subject have led me to believe that quite a few doctors recommend them.
I used one of the plastic bottles and packets for the first time the other week after a long bout of a never ending head cold. It worked fantastic. I got my first bit of nasal relief for weeks. I love the thing now.
My white-as-a-bone midwestern doc told me the same thing yesterday, and even gave me a free plastic one to try out, even though I told him I had one at home. So it seems to me that neti pots have risen out of the Indian Yoga type doc realm and into the traditional medical world.
The guy even tried to convince me with talk about research and studies and all that. He didn’t know he was preaching to the choir.
Hey! I put my pants on one xmex-like snout at a time, just like everybody else!
I got my wife’s parents to start using a neti pot now, which just amazes me. They’re pretty traditional, but it worked so well for them, they both embraced it pretty quick.
I thiink we Followers of the Neti Pot (FOTNP) should adapt a signal, such as the early Christians who (the story goes) drew the little fish thing in the dirt with a stick. Perhaps a stylized face of Jimmy Durante?
When I first saw my most recent doctor and mentioned I used a neti pot he seemed rather shocked that a white girl living in Indiana had even heard of one - but nonetheless very pleased to hear it. (He is East Indian himself - seems I’ve had more doctors in my lifetime of that ethnicity than any other) All the local drug stores sell them around here, as well as the little salt-mix packets. Maybe they’re going mainstream?
What’s the point of neti pots? Is it if you have allergy/sinus problems that constantly give you stuffiness? I only feel stuffy if I’ve got a cold, but otherwise I’m fine. Is this not something to take for granted anymore?
I’ve heard people express this in other threads, too. Am I doing something right or wrong? Because all of the water comes out when I use mine. Whatever doesn’t drain out as it’s being poured is sent out when I blow my nose afterward.
